Page 36 of Aria's Desire

“Am I wrong?”

She answered with an irritated grumble because he wasn’t wrong, and he damn well knew it.

Sin chuckled lowly, the sound shocking her enough that she momentarily forgot about the coffee Rellik was holding hostage. Staring up at him, at the way the laughter transformed his face, left her feeling breathless.

Had she ever seen him laugh? The realization that she hadn’t extinguished the brief moment of levity and left her feeling… deprived and regretful.

She forced herself to stop staring, eventually, but looking back at Rellik and the playfully sexy grin he was aiming at her wasn’t any safer.

For just a moment, Aria had the sensation of seeing the scene through someone else’s point of view. She saw herself, the bright sparkle in her eyes, the smile curling her lips. She saw Rellik, the way he leaned toward her, the hunger in his gaze, the way his eyes never left her as if nothing else mattered. She saw the lighthearted mirth in Sin’s expression, the confident set of his shoulders, and the calm intensity in his eyes, so different to the man she’d met in that dungeon.

But, more than anything else, she saw the yearning on all three of their faces.

And… she didn’t want to lose it. She didn’t want to losethem.

Had she ever truly thought their feelings for her were anything but genuine? Or had she been denying the truth of what was between them this whole time?

She knew the answer, she just didn’t know what to do about it.

She’d been telling herself this whole time that she couldn’t have anything with them because they hadn’t ever shown her what they felt was real. But if that was a lie…

Panic tried to flicker to life, the urge to retreat from that realization, and the feelings that accompanied it, making her heart beat faster. Aria felt like she was getting emotional fucking whiplash. Too many feelings, and a subpar ability to deal with them. She needed her mates, needed their comfort.

She needed to stop playing with fucking fire and leave the room, do what she’d come there to do, and stop letting her emotions slip their leash.

And, yet, when she saw their expressions begin to change at whatever they saw in hers, she felt a different kind of panic.

How many times could she push them away before they stayed away?

With that thought echoing in her mind, Aria did something she didn’t normally let herself do: she acted on impulse.

She stepped closer to Rellik, so close their chests almost brushed. Tipping her head back to meet his surprised gaze, she murmured, “I guess I was curious as to what a Gaiaeshi male might be packing.”

That had the desired effect of stunning him speechless. Snagging the carafe from his hand, she turned and finished filling the cup.

“Temptress,” he growled with a low chuckle.

* * *

Another knockon the door came a few minutes later. Finding Nichi on the other side, she smiled in greeting. “Forget something?”

He flushed and grimaced sheepishly. “I was to wait and lead you to Queen Ishtal.”

Rellik walked past her out into the hall, clapping Nichi on the back as he did. “Don’t fret. She has that effect on a male.”

Sin rumbled in agreement, sending her a look she couldn’t decipher as he passed by her to join them, and added in a soft murmur, “Confounding.”

He said it as though he liked it, which caught her off guard.

Left feeling a mix of flustered, oddly relieved, and, absurdly, a bit shy, she looked away and gestured for Nichi to lead the way.

They followed him up roughly six million stairs to a large room near the top of the castle where Ishtal awaited them, seated at a round table, this one again laden with food. Eyeing the spread, Aria wondered if everyone in the Queendom ate as well as those who resided in the castle.

“Warm greetings, Queen Aria. If you’ll join me?” Pausing to glance at Sin and Rellik on either side of her, Ishtal smoothly added, “Your harem, as well, of course. Regarding, have you spoken with your absent mates? You must miss their attentions terribly.”

Curious as to whether she was digging for information or making small talk, Aria offered a polite smile. “I did. They’ll be here tomorrow.”

Even if I have to hunt them down and drag them to my rooms…

---