Page 48 of Of Bone and Ash

“Attie,” I warn, keeping my amused gaze on Teos when Atlas yanks his arm back. Teos grunts in surprise when he’s pulled down on the desk. Atlas leans forward and whispers something into Teos’ ear, making his eyes double in size. Scowling, I lean closer to them, wanting to hear what Atlas is saying, but my brother has released Teos, letting him stand back up.

“Got it?” Atlas whispers, flexing his big hand that he used to crush Teos’ before placing it back in his lap. Teos nods.

“Loud and clear,” he rasps, shaking his hand out at his side.

“Good,” Atlas snaps, then nods towards his door. “Leave.” Teos frowns, looking at me before crossing his arms over his chest and I just know he’s about to make this situation so much worse.

“Teos. I’m unsure how many times I must ask you to leave before you listen, but it's becoming increasingly annoying. You’re using my fear of hurting you to get what you want,” I point out, making Teos purse his lips and look away from me. “I need to talk with my brother without you here. Speaking of…” I look at Attie. “What happened to not letting anyone know we were related?”

“He won’t tell. Will you?” Atlas murmurs, his voice hard as he steeples his fingers in front of his face and glares at Teos.

“No. I won’t. But I’m not leaving until she sees a healer!” Teos snaps, throwing me under the bus so damn fast I wasn’t prepared. Atlas blinks at Teos, then looks at me, letting his hands fall as his eyes dart over my body.

“What?! Why?” he asks, anger melting, turning to concern as I glare at Teos and mouth ‘I’m going to kill you,’ which only makes him smirk and cross his arms over his broad chest.

“He’s being ridiculous. Ignore him. I do, however, have a few things I need to talk to you about,” I say, trying to turn the conversation away from me and back to the actual problem at hand.

“No, I’m not! She’s lying!” Teos growls, anger filling his tone as he brings his fist down on the desk at his side, startling Atlas and making me even more upset.

Atlas looks between us, a contemplative look on his face as I glare death at Teos, my magic whipping around me in a spiral, excited to come out and handle business for itself.

“Get out,” I snarl at him, jumping off Atlas' desk and reaching up. I snag Teos by the ear and yank him toward the door.

“Ow! Ouch, dammit, Fina! You’re like a rabid animal when you're mad,” Teos complains before he winds an arm around me and picks me up off my feet. I bite back a squeak of surprise, not used to someone picking me up like this. The bruises on my back ache at the movement, but I ignore them, yanking on Teos’ ear harder and earning a girlish squeal.

“Let me go,” I warn, fury building as Teos wraps one arm around my middle. He yanks at my fingers, still pulling on his ear, while shaking me a little, trying to get me to let go.

“You first!” he glares down at me, his warm amber scent filling my senses, covering me in a layer of calm I wish I could escape.

He’s got me so close our noses almost brush, and I simultaneously want to lean forward and kiss him as much as I want to reach up and poke him in the damn eyeball for being so fucking annoying! Almost like he can read my thoughts, Teos’ lips quirk up at the sides, and he leans a fraction closer, making his dark curls fall over his forehead.

“Do you even want out of my arms, Bella? I promise it’s much better in them. You always shiver, always rub at your arms in an attempt to get warm,” he points out, head tilting a fraction, his breath whispering over my lips and making my body freeze like a damn deer in the headlights. “I can keep you warm, Bella.”

“Let me go,” I whisper, wanting it to come out strong, but my voice cracks, making me sound pathetic.

“Never,” Teos says with such conviction that I’m actually scared he won’t let this… me… go. Fuck that! I can’t deal with this shit.

“Uh, Teos. I would listen to her. She’s not…” Atlas trails off as I throw my weight back, startling Teos enough that he loses his grip on me.

“What the—” Teos shouts in surprise.

I twist in his arms, hooking my foot around his leg and yanking it forward, making him lose his center of gravity before throwing my head back and hitting him square in the chest. The grunt of pain followed by the slew of curses Teos lets out as he crashes to the ground in a heap at my feet is music to my ears.

“First off,” I whisper, my rage cooling at the sight of Teos on the ground at my feet. I crouch down, getting on his level as he pushes up to his elbows, his hazel eyes burning with anger as he brings a hand up to push his thick black curls back. “When a girl says to let her go, you listen. And second…” I trail off, leaning closer so that Teos gets my point. “It’s not cute to stalk a girl who said to leave her alone. You want to be helpful?” I ask, tilting my head to the side, watching his expression carefully. “Then stay out of my business. I don't have the time to deal with you.”

Teos’ jaw clenches as I stand back up and turn my back on him, only to find Atlas frowning at me. I hear Teos get to his feet and ignore his hulking presence behind me. Atlas’ eyes move from me to Teos, hardening slightly, and I give him a slight shake of my head. I don't need him to intervene, and honestly, I don’t think I can control my magic if he does. When Teos’ fingers started to turn purple, my magic had grown still, quiet, and deadly; the rush to set it free had hit me square in the chest, but it wasn't to hurt Teos, but to protect him.

“I’ll leave,” I hear Teos mutter. “And I’m sorry for not letting go when you asked,” he adds, making Atlas’ shoulders relax just a bit as Teos takes a small step forward, and I feel his warmth against my back. “But I’m not staying away, Bella. You already know that won't work for either of us, and you know fucking why. I’m not willing to feel half-dead for the rest of my life just because you are too scared to deal with the shit between us. Three years of hell was enough for me,” he whispers, ducking his head so only I can hear him.

I feel my hair move as his hand soothes the strands, combing it back into place for me. I frown, looking at my feet as I listen to him.

Half-dead? What the hell is he talking about?

“You can kick my ass, yell at me, and hell, you can even kill me as much as you need to until you get it through your thick head. You’re just being too damn stubborn to admit the truth to yourself.” Teos' voice is soft and I swear I hear a hint of sadness lingering there. “I’ve waited three years, Bella, and if you need me to wait more, I can. But don't ask me to leave you alone—to live without you. Because that will be the only death I won't be able to come back from.”

I feel the lightest brush of his fingers against the skin on the side of my throat, and like a flame, warmth courses through my body, eradicating the chill that had only increased since my magic leapt out at those girls on the steps. I shiver in response, the feeling moving from my neck all the way down to my toes, making me close my eyes and bite my lip so I don't embarrass myself or gross my brother out. A moment later, Teos’ warmth disappears, and I hear the soft click of Atlas’ door closing.

TWENTY-TWO

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