Page 13 of Cryptic Dreams

Another eye roll. “I can smell the sorosis, O. His liver is giving out and when it does, well, that’s when I can finally find a place of my own.”

“You could do that now,” he mutters.

“I’m not getting into this with you, Orion. The money my parents left me is for a better life, the life they hoped I’d have—”

“Then borrow it from us.”

“No!” I whisper-shout. “There is no way I’d do that, and even if I agreed, you know how much it would cost you to break the contract and get me out. It would easily be your life savingsandmine. I just have to wait for Ian to die and then I can move on with my life.”

There’s a long pause and I know what’s coming next.

“Or you could be a little more proactive when it comes to finding your mate. You know your parents put that in the contract as basically an escape clause.”

Yep.

Called it.

“Orion...” I swallow hard, my throat suddenly tight. “You know... you know things like that aren’t so easy for me. I don’t even talk to anyone other than you and Aries. I can’t make friends without feeling like I’m going to have a total meltdown, so to think I could actively look for my mate”—who probably doesn’t exist—“is ridiculous.”

“You talk to Mr. Albright.”

I snort despite the tears stinging my eyes. “You’re right. Idotalk to a seventy-year-old human male that runs the library where I work. So far he hasn’t invited me to go clubbing or out for a drink. Pretty sure it’s safe to say he is not my mate or my friend. He’s my boss, my super kind boss, but that’s it and just because I can talk to him doesn’t mean I’m suddenly able to connect with other people while using words and eye contact.”

My cousin sighs. “Z, I just—“

“I know and I love you for it, but that’s just not in the cards for me, ok? You and Aries are all I need, and I’m one hundred percent fine with that.”

Another few beats of silence pass and I hate the way it makes me feel. Not Orion, he makes me feel loved and appreciated, but the look of pity and sadness I can see on his face without him being present, that’s what makes me hate the way I feel.

Because it makes me feel so very alone and pathetic.

I clear my throat. “Hey, I have to finish up here. I don’t want to be late getting home this morning, and I really need to study for an exam on Wednesday.”

Orion mumbles something aboutkicking his ass for making me paranoidthen says, “You don’t need to study. You’re a fucking genius, Z.”

“Hardly.” I laugh a little as a tear rolls down my cheek then wince when I wipe it away. “My GPA is only a 3.8 this semester. If I want to keep up my perfect 4.0 streak I need to study so I can ace this test.”

“What’s it on?”

“Egyptian gods and how they intertwine with vampire history.”

Orion barks out a laugh. “Seriously, Z? That’s basically your life story. You don’t need to study for your own history.”

I giggle a little then sigh. “I know but since ninety-nine percent of the questions aren’t about me, I still need to study.”

“Well, that other one percent should be a cake walk then.”

“Dork.”

“Nerd.”

“I love you, Orion. I’ll text you when I get to the house, ok?”

“Ok.” A long pause then an even longer sigh. “I love you too, Zephyr, and so does Aries. Are we going to see you this week?”

I finish shelving the last few books then return the empty cart. “I work tomorrow, but maybe Tuesday. I’ll be cramming for this test though, so please ask Aries not to bring over anymore Viking-wannabe-idiots that are hoping for a quickie in one way or another, ok?”

“Ok, ok,” he chuckles. “No more Nordic morons.”