Page 32 of Entwined

Of course, the murmurs about the two girls have already begun, and I’m sure that just as many blessed will now obnoxiously demand the chance to protect and escort them. Before all that nonsense can begin again, I decide to disperse the gathered crowd.

You may all return to your duties. I’ll distribute more details about Thanksgiving and our upcoming departure through your leaders soon.

Once Liz is satisfied that her siblings are on their way back to the tower, Euphrasia following the soon-to-be-berated Gordon and Rufus, I launch into the sky, this time with my bonded safely on my back and a lot less anger simmering.

“Why didn’t you tell Asteria?” Liz asks. “And why were you and Hyperion fighting?”

I’ve noticed that Liz changes the subject when she doesn’t want to talk about something I’ve asked. I decide to try it myself. What exactly do you do at this Thanksgiving?

“Nice try, buddy. I invented that. Why didn’t you tell Asteria that you two need to mate?”

I decided to move up the timeline instead.

“You what?” She leans down closer to my neck, her arms wrapping around me tightly. “But I already kissed Gideon.”

And that did not help us find space. In fact, it resulted in me picking a fight with Hyperion and nearly burning the city down.

In an uncharacteristic move, Liz is quiet the rest of the way back to the tower, keeping her arms wrapped around me in a way that pleases me greatly. When we land, she slides off my back and walks toward the door.

Where are you going?

She freezes. Slowly, very slowly, she turns. “I have some cooking to do if tomorrow’s Thanksgiving.” She looks up at me slowly. “I—we can practice being apart for a little bit.”

Nice try. I shift into Axel so fast, it makes her stumble back a step. “I’ll come with you.” I start to walk toward her.

She throws up a hand, which almost immediately intercepts the forward momentum of my chest.

I like the contact.

I lean further against her hand.

“Axel, you have to stay here.”

“Why?” I ask, the heat rising in my body again, for some reason.

“I just told Gideon that tomorrow—” she chokes.

I wrap my hands around both her wrists. “No.”

“We decided.”

My hands tighten. “It didn’t work. Undecide it.”

“Axel, after I kissed Gideon, I told him?—”

But I can’t hear the words. Even the thought of her kissing him floods me with fury. I step closer. “If you kiss him again, instead of leaving, I’ll raze your precious Houston to the ground. Every last building. Every single tree. Is that clear?”

Her breath catches.

“It was a bad idea for us to try to force a wedge between us. It didn’t give us more space. It just caused misery for me.”

Liz’s heart is racing. Her breaths are coming fast and shallow. “Is that why you didn’t tell Asteria?”

“Mating with Asteria shouldn’t interfere with our bond. But until we get that worked out, I’m not willing to risk any more damage.” Plus, for some reason, the idea of finally mating with her fills me with dread.

Instead of yelling or shoving me like I expect, Liz just nods. “Fine.”

“Okay.” I release her wrists, even though I don’t want to. I’m not sure why I keep finding myself doing so many things I don’t want to do right now, but I can’t seem to help it.