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“Okay,” I said, agreeing with him quickly. “No more sharing. I promise.”

It seemed it was my turn to do the promising.

He sighed loudly and gave me a squeeze.

“I didn’t actually mean it. You can share whatever you want to with me and I will listen to every single word you have to say. I want to know everything you have to tell me.”

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. Not after telling me how my memories made him feel.

His chest shuddered as he blew out a deep breath, causing the hair around my head to stir. His arms lowered, moving away from me and he took a giant step back. I missed his heat and had the urge to be the one to make the next step, to step into him and wrap my arms around his middle. I didn’t. With Addison, I needed him to make the first move. For now. Hopefully not for forever.

Chapter Nineteen

Ten minutes later when Abel breezed through the door with an armful of unmade cardboard boxes, Addison and I had an entire garbage bag filled full of dresses. They had been folded and carefully placed inside the bag. Watching the plastic bag fill up made my heart feel incredibly light.

“I’ve got more in the truck,” Abel said as he dropped the cardboard to the floor. “There’s also a role of tape out there, too.” He clapped his hands, loudly, making me jump. “Alright, pretty girl, where do you want me?”

I grinned at him, making him pause mid-step and blink at me.

“Yeah,” he muttered under his breath. “A seriously fucking pretty girl.”

My grin turned into a flat-out smile. I had no problem with them calling me a pretty girl.

A black, high heeled shoe flew through the air and smacked Abel in the cheek. It clattered to the floor as Abel pressed the palm of his hand against the side of his face.

“Explain yourself, twin,” Abel snarled at his brother. “And do it quick or else we are going to have more than words.”

“Maybe I just felt like hitting you with something.” Addison shrugged, like he didn’t have a care in the world, like his twin brother hadn’t just threatened him with violence.

Abel folded his arms over his wide chest and scowled at his brother. A visible red mark marred his cheek. His vibrant green eyes heated, lighting from within with a burning hot rage.

The hair on my arms stood to attention as the atmosphere in the room went electric. Power danced along my skin, making me shiver.

Whatever they were doing, I didn’t think it would end good.

“Calm down, twin,” Addison said as he waved a hand dismissively in his brother’s direction. He hadn’t even bothered to look in said direction. His entire focus was on the clothes hanging before him and if he felt the atmosphere in the room change he didn’t let on. He seemed as cool as could be and completely unconcerned.

Maybe I should pick up a shoe and chuck it at his head? He looked like he could use a good thumping. Then I remembered the look on Quinton’s face when I’d hit him in the head with that rock and thought better of it. Addison was here to help me, and I had already gotten crazy on him once, he didn’t need to add me injuring him to the list.

If I started assaulting all of them, they would likely contact the Council and see about trading me. Not really, though. They weren’t getting rid of me that easily.

Another shoe sailed through the air, this one purple and had a freakishly sharp looking heel about 4 inches long. That sucker could do some serious damage and was probably capable of taking out an eye. It collided with the back of Addison’s white-haired head with a smack before dropping to the floor.

I made a rough, disbelieving noise as my head whipped around, seeking out Abel with my eyes.

He stood there with an angry glower on his face, his wide, thick thighs spread apart, feet planted firmly in the carpet. His arms hung loosely at his sides and he looked alert and ready for almost anything.

What he didn’t look like was someone who had just thrown a shoe at his brother’s head. I should have at least caught his arm lowering.

Hmm… curious.

“Did you… did you just use magic to throw that shoe at your brother’s head?” I asked in an excited voice.

“This isn’t funny, Ariel,” Addison grumbled darkly.

“I’m not laughing,” I told him without taking my eyes off of Abel.

Abel ignored his brother and asked me, “Do you want to learn?”