Page 19 of The Stone Secret
Curi shoved his chair back and left.
Touron shrugged, mumbling something incoherent around a mouthful of food.
“I sense a backstory here,” Ginia said.
Palia just stared at the doorway in concern. “He’s hurting.” She looked over at me. “Maybe you should—”
I was already on my feet. “Keep my plate hot for me, would you?”
* * *
I caughtup to Curi just outside his room.
“Go away, Basque,” he drawled. “I don’t need to share my feelings.” He stepped into his room and made to close the door, but I slipped inside on impulse, regretting it as soon as I caught the flash of anger on his face. “You have serious boundary issues, you know that?”
I crossed my arms. “Maybe. But sometimes you need to cross boundaries to reach someone.”
He rolled his eyes. “I don’t need your sympathy or an ear, or a shoulder, but if you want to offer me your cunt for the night, I’ll take it. I could do with a little stress relief.”
My cheeks flushed, but I held his gaze. He was trying to push me away with his crude talk, but I was beginning to understand him. This was his defense mechanism. His shield.
“Is that what you really want, Curi?” I took a step closer, and lo and behold, he took one back.
“Dammit, woman.”
“Look, you don’t have to tell me what happened between you and Selas. It’s none of my business, but don’t hide from us. Dayn and his cronies are assholes, but we’re not. I think…I think you might like being friends with us.” I shrugged. “I think you belong with us.” Fuck, had I said that out loud?
He ducked his head and snorted. “You’re a pest, you know that?”
“I’ve been called worse.”
He nodded. “Fine. Tell me the real reason you want to keep Levi Halle at arm’s length, and I’ll tell you about Selas.”
Damn, he was more perceptive than I’d given him credit for. “I told you. He won’t take no for an answer, obviously, because he’s here.”
Curi gave me a closed-lip smile, then grabbed his gym bag. “I’ll speak to you later, Basque.”
“Wait, you said you’d tell me about Selas.”
“I did. But only when you tell me thetruthabout Levi.” He held open the door for me, watching me with dark, knowing eyes.
There was no way I was going to spill the beans about Serath to him. Curi might have an invite to the friend group, but he didn’t have one to the circle of trust.
Not yet.
I shrugged and strolled past him.
“Whatever. Knowing Dayn, he’ll blab about it eventually.”
“Yeah? And if you want to believe the bullshit that’ll come out of his mouth, then be my guest.”
He stepped out after me, slammed the door, and stormed off.
I’d pulled him close only to shove him away.
Urgh. I needed to learn to keep my mouth shut.
* * *
