Page 46 of Falling for Famine
“He didn’t?” Emily asked, her perfectly formed eyebrows knitting together. This girl was seriously pretty. Everything about her drew the eye, and from what I’d seen, even her personality was spectacular.
“No, I don’t think so. He’s been worried about Ares, so he wasn’t there for me at all, really. He never planned to stay. He was there because he was playing a role for Michael.” That statement snagged both of their attention.
Asha got her question in first. “Michael is after him?”
“She’s after Ares, but yes, now him as a result.”
“What do you mean he didn’t plan to stay?” Emily asked me, her hand grabbing mine. The worry in her eyes was clear, so I suddenly felt the strong need to defend him.
“He needs to find her. He’s worried about Ares because Michael knows where she is. I didn’t get all the details, but he was waiting until Michael let her guard down so he could find Ares’s location. He cares about her, and I understand that feeling.”
I ignored the little pang in my chest when I thought about what I meant to him. It wasn’t likely to match what he meant to me. Sure, we had sex and he’d decided to take me along for the ride, but did that mean he was falling for me? I was too scared to ask. I wanted to believe this all had a deeper meaning, but no matter how much this all felt like a romance novel, it wasn’t.
“Limos isn’t the type to do anything for anyone. Thanatos told me he keeps to himself and doesn’t bother with much else. Ares is the exception.” Asha tilted her head, spearing me with her intense gaze.
“He’s decided to keep protecting me,” I explained, hardening mine because she didn’t seem to believe me. “He’s a good man.”
The two fell silent and traded glances.
I was suddenly uncomfortable and wished Ghost would come back. He always made me feel relaxed, and I hated that they had a poor opinion of him. Neither seemed to know him personally, which meant it was built entirely from what others said about him.
As much as I liked these women and how welcoming they’d been, it was frustrating that they’d drawn conclusions without bothering to get to know him. I’d often been put into a box because of my past, because of what happened to me, and I didn’t like that they were doing that to Ghost.
He didn’t deserve it. He’d been nothing but wonderful to me. He never misrepresented himself. He never lied. He did what he said he’d do, and that meant a lot to me.
Giving myself something to do, I checked the cobbler. It was finally ready, so I set it on top of the stove to cool for a fewminutes. The two women drooled as they stood over it and took in deep whiffs of the fragrant dessert. It broke the tension that had formed after our conversation.
Glacies and Ignis flew and swirled around me, but it appeared neither woman saw my cuties. Luckily, they weren’t making nuisances of themselves. It’d be a bit weird to have to explain the random damp spots or water trickling down my arms and cheeks. Though, these two had probably seen weirder things.
Without thinking, I started to plate them each a serving. I didn’t have any because my stomach couldn’t be trusted, but I still watched with a smile as the two dug in and made noises of sheer pleasure at the taste.
“Oh. My. God. Shewassent from Heaven,” Asha said over a mouthful, moaning.
Emily nodded with a little too much gusto. “An angel. A sweet dream. A living goddess!”
I bit my lower lip, trying not to laugh. “That good, is it?”
“Good?!” Emily exclaimed in outrage. “That word is blasphemous to this godly treat of delight. This rich, decadent mouthful of deliciousness that transcends sugar and sense. I’m tempted to make this berry cobbler my new religion, Nomi. It’s out of this damn world.”
“Too late,” Asha said after another swallow. “It’s already my religion. Find your own.”
“You sneaky little bitch.” Emily pointed her spoon at Asha in mock anger. “I should make you walk the plank for such mutinous language.”
“Just try it, Ems. I’ll Judo-style kick your ass.”
I was massively entertained. These two would be great around Felix. He’d have a goddamn field day with them. My Old Man was absolutely obsessed with women who weren’t afraid to speak their minds, no matter how much he griped about me doing it. He enjoyed a woman with spirit, as he called it.
“So, we should probably tell you about how dying might be your only option for survival…” Emily started, earning herself a glare from Asha.
Dying might be my only option for survival? What did that even mean?
The men returned before she could explain.
“Limos, you didn’t let me finish,” I heard one of the men say, his voice dripping with frustration. He didn’t sound happy at all.
I opened my mouth to get more out of Emily, but Ghost was already in front of me, having deftly maneuvered his huge frame between me and the other women. He guided my arms around him, his own wrapping tightly around my waist. Still confused, I peered up at him, and once our eyes met, I saw the rage burning in all the red.
I’d never seen him angry. I’d never seen anything close. Whatever they’d said had bothered him. So much so it was beaming down at me, blatant and blazing.
