Page 64 of Entombed By Blood
Evie is soshocked by the bombshells Frost keeps chucking at her that she just stares at him in a silent daze. I can’t say I really blame her. If I were in her shoes, I wouldn’t feel much like talking either. Waves of her distress and confusion emanate from the thrall bond. I pull her closer, trying to calm her with touch, like I would any other member of the pack.
“Well, that was a lovely bedtime story,” I mutter, eyeing the two alphas of the pack grumpily. “But I think our vampire could do with a break from you two right now.”
Right now, Frost will lay out every secret we have if it will get Evie to trust him, and Gideon has decided he doesn’t trust our little vampire. That kind of powder keg isn’t something we need exploding in our faces while Evie is so obviously hurt. When Gideon and Frost work together, it’s a match made in heaven, but on the flip side, they can also argue for days.
“Want to come on a tour of the house with Silas and me, sweetheart? Or we can watch a movie if you want.”
She shakes her head silently. “I think I need some time alone.”
Evie doesn’t know what emotional rejection does to an omega’s instincts, or she’d understand the blow she just dealt me. I have to grind my teeth against the urge to push her. The downside of being an omega is the literal compulsion to fix everything wrong with my pack. I’ve got a lot of love to give, and I don’t deal well with anyone rejecting the care I’m programmed to provide.
My pack knows, though, and that’s why Silas gives me a soft, reassuring squeeze to the shoulder as Evie stands and heads back to the stairs.
“Well, that went well,” I mutter, the second she’s out of earshot. “You did such a good job of convincing her that you dug her up for love rather than to just manipulate her further. We didn’t even get to the part where you beg her to help us take down her psychopathic sire.”
“Finn,” Silas warns, but he’s too late.
Gideon’s growl sends my instincts haywire. Every part of me wants to bare my throat in submission. I expect the same from Frost, but it seems our illustrious leader doesn’t have it in him to censure me after being rubbed raw by the past. He just stares at the stairs where Evie disappeared like a kicked puppy.
I barely even notice myself moving over to him until I’m there, taking the seat on his other side and letting my leg press against his. Offering him comfort through the casual touch.
Lycans rely on our sense of touch to bond our packs together. Frost isn’t a lycan, but he’s still used to being surrounded by us. It takes a few seconds, but he eventually relaxes, his head falling back on a groan of frustration.
“Well, it was never going to be easy,” Vane grunts.
At least we can all agree on that.
“I’m going up to check on her,” Silas says, after a long minute of silence.
Of course, a beta’s protective instinct is almost as bad as an omega’s need to care for the pack. The brothers must be going out of their minds over this girl.
He stands and makes it to the bottom of the staircase before Frost says, “Don’t keep things from her.”
Gideon’s head snaps up. “Are you sure that’s wise? She could be biding her time, waiting to take our heads back to Cain on a silver platter.”
“I fucked things up the first time by keeping shit from her,” Frost growls. “I’m not going to make the same mistake a second time.”
Silas looks between the two, then rolls his eyes. “If she asks me a question, I’ll tell her the truth, but I’m not going to go out of my way to spill secrets. Isthatan acceptable compromise?”
Not waiting for an answer, he disappears up the stairs, leaving the rest of us sitting in an uncomfortable silence.
“I’m going to run the perimeter,” Vane growls, fists clenching as he glances after his brother. “Coming, alpha?”
Gideon gives a strained nod and strides away from us with a last warning glare. The door echoes as it slams behind them, and the echoing howl of Gideon’s lycan side fills the silence for a long second.
Footsteps on the stairs make all of us turn as one, only to lose interest as we see Silas.
“She okay?” I mumble, standing.
“She says she wants some space.” He shrugs, but his dejection is plain to see.
Draven shoves off the wall, frowning, and heads for the door in silence. Unlike Gideon and Vane’s exit, I barely hear it snick closed.
“What’s up with him?” Silas asks.
“No idea.”
It seems Evie’s presence has everyone acting out. Frost is still sitting in mournful silence in the centre of the room, and none of us really seems to know what to do with ourselves.
