Page 37 of The Stone Survival
“It’s good. We have a connection.” I placed the plates on the table and pulled out a chair.
Serath took the seat next to me.
“That smells delicious,” Sharniza said, entering the room with Derek close behind. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, or was that blush?
Curi carried the huge bowl of pasta over, and Levi brought the garlic bread.
“We need grated cheese!” Palia hopped up and hurried back to the kitchen.
“Grab the jug of water while you’re up,” Ginia called.
Finally, we were all settled, piling our plates with spaghetti and delicious meaty sauce then stuffing our faces.
Silence reigned while we got in those first few mouthfuls.
“You’ve got to give me the recipe for this sauce,” Levi said to Curi.
“Not a chance,” Curi replied. “It’s a family recipe only to be passed down generationally.”
“Really?” Palia asked, intrigued.
“Nah,” Curi chuckled. “But that might be kinda cool to do.”
He seemed more relaxed and upbeat this evening, and it left me feeling lighter. “What did you guys get up to today?” I looked between Levi and Curi.
Curi glanced my way but didn’t hold my eye. “We jogged, chatted, trained.”
“And you guys?” I asked the twins and Touron. “How was training?”
“Good,” they replied in unison.
Ginia sat forward, her gaze flicking between Serath and me. “I don’t suppose there’s any point asking you two what you got up to. I mean, we all heard it.”
Touron choked on his pasta and fell into a coughing fit.
“Ginia!” Palia glared at her sister.
My cheeks burned, and I dropped my gaze, but not before catching the raw devastation on Curi’s face.
His obvious pain burst my bubble of happiness, and an awkward silence fell over us.
Levi was the first to break it by diverting attention to Sharniza and Derek. “I saw you two headed to the main building earlier.”
Shar stared at Derek in panic, but Derek looked unfazed.
“We should tell them,” he said.
Shar groaned. “I don’t want to.” Her cheeks were definitely flushed now.
“Then I will,” Derek replied. He looked straight at me. “I’m going to mate with Shar. Tonight. But we won’t make any noise,” he added quickly for the others.
Touron choked on his food again, and Palia patted his back.
Shar groaned and covered her face with her hands.
I cleared my throat. “O-kay…I mean, you can do whatever you guys want to. You don’t have to tell us…that.”
Shar uncovered her face. “Mate as in bond.Notsex.” She blew out a breath. “Derek is in trouble, and this is the only way to keep him safe.”
