Page 83 of The Devils Melody
I stare down at the messages and try to keep the butterflies at bay. For whatever reason, I toss the names around in my head like a kid in elementary school. I might as well get my notebook out and doodle our names together in hearts. Oh, maybe I should play M.A.S.H. I am already in the mansion.
Hmm…
Wren Daniels.
Wren Monroe.
I guess it does kind of have a ring to it.
The questions keep coming.What’s your favorite color? Where did you grow up? What do you like to do in your free time?For two guys who, just this morning, said that they can’t think straight around me and that I’ll be the reason they fuck up some “mission”, they seem awfully interested in my life. We text for what feels like hours until I finally fall asleep with my phone in my hand and a smile on my face.
29
Wren
THE SONGBIRD
The slam of a door startles me awake and I scramble on the couch. The movement sends the popcorn bucket on its side, spilling it haphazardly on the floor. I must have fallen asleep with it on my stomach. I guess it could have been worse. It could have been ice cream.
I rush to clean up the mess before the boys see how jumbled I am. I’m shoving small handfuls of popcorn back into the bowl when I hear the sound of heavy footsteps make their way towards me and my nerves start to eat at my insides. They know so much more about me now, I feel like the walls I’ve built up are practically in hell at this point.
“Did we wake you?” Nox asks in a whisper, walking over to where I lay on the couch. His hand darts out and snags at my hair, pulling a piece of popcorn out of it.
How fucking embarassing.
“You know you’re supposed to eat it, right? Notwear it?”
“Ha ha,” I laugh sarcastically, crossing my arms. “You guys are home late. Where’ve you been?”
The words are so casual, I don’t even recognize my own voice as I glance past Nox. Kage walks in right behind him and my heartbeat picks up at the sight of him. He looks different than when he left. Freshly showered I’m sure based on the soapy scent that I can smell even from here. But it’s his shirt that gets me. It’s not the one he left in. Although he did leave in a black shirt, the one he left in was baggy. This one is fitted.
Did he think I wouldn’t notice something like that just because it’s the same color?
It’s stupid, so fucking stupid, but my chest tightens, jealousy spiking deep in my chest. Where have they been that required a shower and a fresh change of clothes? What—or who—was he trying to wash off? The question simmers in the back of my throat, but I hold it back.
I paste on a tight smile and focus on moving popcorn around in the bowl like it’s the most fascinating thing in the world.
“Out,” Kage answers casually with a grin as if nothing's wrong.
Out. That’s it. No explanation or detail.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as Nox drifts towards the sleek, black bar set up along the far wall of the living room. He doesn’t say anything as he pours himself a drink and sits down on the chair opposite of the couch. I need to leave before they notice the absolute storm that’s brewing beneath my skin.
“I think I’m just gonna go to bed,” I say softly as I stand from where I was laying on the couch and make my way towards the hallway, not looking at either of them as I go.
“Wait.” Kage’s voice is loud and commanding, causing me to stop dead in my tracks.
“What?”
“We haven’t spent any time together today. Where are you running off to?”
The words ignite something violent inside me and I spin to face him, anger and hurt bubbling up before I could swallow it down.
“Well, whose fault is that?” My voice shakes but I don’t back down. “You disappeared for hours for some supposed ‘business’,” I gesture towards him, my hands trembling. “And then you show up like this, freshly showered and in a whole new shirt, and I’m just supposed to sit here like a good little pet and not wonder where the hell you were?”
Kage’s expression hardens and I see the moment his jaw locks tight.
“Wonder?” he questions.
