Page 56 of Realm of Flames (Reborn 3)
The conviction in her voice had me searing my lips with hers as thankfulness and adoration for this woman shocked my system. I cupped her jaw as she sighed into it, deepening it as I let out a low rumble. I didn’t realize someone was trying to reach us until I heard Marco’s voice.
“Don’t.” Marco’s tone was calm. Way too calm, which told me all I needed to know. I ended the kiss and pulled back, looking up to find Gavriel standing there looking pissed. My own temper spiked, annoyed that he would try to interrupt our moment together.
I knew it was ridiculous since they were her fathers and brothers, but I hated the idea of any man outside of our flight having a claim over Maya. It made me angry that they felt like they had any say in what she could and couldn’t do when she was not only capable of making her own decisions but had chosen us. She wanted us, so they could fuck off.
“I don’t like this shit,” he said in a voice filled with more emotion than I thought possible. “How the hell do we even know you’re her actual mates? It sounds like you just happened to be the first people she came across—”
“They are my mates.” Maya’s voice was harder than I thought possible as she stood up next to Marco, her hand running through my hair as I grabbed it gently and pressed kisses to her long fingers.
Gavriel frowned, looking at Marco. “You understand how goddamn odd that is, right? That she escapes after being imprisoned for years, and then all the sudden she happens to run into your goddamn flight. She shouldn’t be with you guys and you fucking know it, Marco.”
Marco’s eyes went cold. “I’m not doing this here, Gavriel. Maya is our mate. Whether you like it or not isn’t something that matters.”
“It's not like you have much room to talk,” Henry added, his eyes narrowing.
Gavriel let out a growl. “I’m not taking advantage of a fucking mate who has no idea what I’m capable of.”
“You don’t have a mate,” I added as I watched Eleven go completely still, making me wonder if my prediction was correct.
Gavriel’s gaze was cold and a bit terrifying as he seemed to consider something while looking at me before shaking his head. Eleven stepped in and spoke. “Just give them some space, Gav. You don’t have a right—”
He turned towards her and spoke softly. “Seems I don’t have the right to do or fucking say anything, Eleven.”
Maya made a concerned noise as the Group Leader offered him a look that told me everything. Her words were careful. “Some situations are out of your control.”
I honestly had no idea what the man would do, but after a long stare off, he broke and looked back at Marco. He was gone then, leaving all of us in a moment of silence. I ran a hand along the back of my neck, glad to have the distraction from my father being here, but also annoyed with his words.
I let out a chuckle as Marco was suddenly striding away with Maya, her eyes wide in surprise.Yep, I had guessed that was coming.
Turning back towards the room, I shared a look with my brother, his eyes filled with a stark sadness that I no doubt reflected. I hadn’t planned on ever confronting my father again, but Maya’s strength was inspiring something inside of me. I just wasn’t positive if it was a good thing or not.
More so, I wasn’t positive if he would survive that confrontation.
