Page 37 of Starborn Husbands

“You’re going to have to move your hand, Treyu.”

Of course, the Gods would send him to do it, to make my utter humiliation complete. I shake and curl my fingers, but eventually force myself to snap my hand away. On top of my burning skin, my stomach churns. Wouldn’t that be something if I puked all over the Garrison’s finest angel warrior?

Pulling all my resolve to me, I take my hand away, fighting the lip wobble. I’d rather get beaten by that awful strap again than this. But I refuse to close my eyes. New tears drip down my cheeks, but thankfully I can pretend they’re from the pain. And there is pain, flaring through my body, twisting with the build of emotional torment, but that’s not why my chest heaves with sobs.

How will I look in the mirror? Will it leave a scar? What will I do without my sunstar?

Merrick leans over. “Take a breath, darling,” he whispers.

It’s the perfect thing for him to say because now I just want to punch him in the fucking face. How dare he call me darling? I am not his darling anymore. It’s the distraction I need from the new burst of bone-shattering pain that’s capsized my insides. I thought it would be a hot sensation—I’ve witnessed a few rune removings—but it’s a terrible icy burn that freezes me to the spot.

In some ways, it’s over too fast, leaving me without the mark that most of my family has. The sunstar is the mark of a guardian. A source of pride for me even through all the years that I was a fallen star.

Now it’s gone.

Uncharacteristic creases mar the angel’s eyes. It’s the only evidence that maybe—very maybe—he cares at all. That he regrets. As soon as the creases appear, they’re gone. Deep anger carves itself there instead. Furious darkness clouds his sharp-boned features. “I never would have allowed this to happen,” he says.

What the fuck does that mean?

Turning on a fine-booted heel, he storms out of the Guild. Good. I never want to see the bastard again.

The scent of moonlavender flower fills my nostrils, and I flinch when cool fingers touch me. Something cool and silk hugs my skin, but even that hurts. My foggy brain devises it’s Gemini.

“He didn’t come, Gem,” I force out, breathless. “Why? He always comes.”

“I know. He’s sorry. Even if he doesn’t say it, he’s sorry.”

Why wouldn’t he say it? He fucking should. At least I’ll have the rest of my sorry life to make him pay for this.

* * *

My eyes open, I’m in my room at home. My real home. Shit, I must have passed out. Dad sits in a chair by my bed. Trinket’s fast asleep on him. I try to sit up, but everything hurts.

“Shhh. Don’t get up.” He does instead, laying Trinket on the large space beside me, and then he lifts my head to help me drink from a cup. “This will relieve the pain. I’ve dressed the welts. You’ll be up and about by tomorrow, fully healed by the day after. It’s over, sweetheart. You did well.”

I nod, unwilling to comment on that. The physical part is over, but everything else has just begun. I can’t breathe a word of any of it. I don’t even want to look in the place my sunstar used to be. I’ll face that another time. Or never.

“Is Father okay?” I ask with a raspy voice.

Dad frowns. “He’ll be alright. He’s worried about you.”

“Tell him not to worry. I’m fine about all of it.”

He raises a brow. “You are?”

“I am. You know being a Guardian is a hard life, and that I want children. The universe is telling me it’s time, and I accept that.”

He knows everything I’m saying is bullshit. Orions live to create children to follow our legacy. He and Father have nine of us and counting. I hope he’ll let it go anyway—at least for now.

There’s a knock at the door and then Gemini and Joshie enter. I shouldn’t be a dick to Gemini for many reasons, not the least of which includes him sticking his neck out for me even if it didn’t work, but Zhang’s not here to yell at.

“What are you still doing here, Centaurus?”

He laughs. “I’m glad to see they didn’t beat the snark out of you, Treyu. Zhang’s going to have his hands full.”

That reminds me. “Uh, about all that stuff I said earlier, I was just nervous. I didn’t mean any of it.”

“Sure, Orion.” He doesn’t believe me either. “I do need to retrieve your husband-to-be, so I must be off.”