Page 15 of Legendary

I would make him fight for me.As he should.

I hadn’t realized that Natalia had moved closer to me, and I took a small step back, needing space. As if my intruding thoughts could somehow be read by her once she was close enough to me. “Dani, let me tell you that I understand the need for revenge, but I wouldn’t let it cloud your judgment. I want to see her hurt more than anyone, but my head is always level, I know how to bring myself back from my rage and remember who I am.”

I blinked, really taking in her words. She always spoke as if she understood my feelings, my motivations. My time spent in Oculus with her had been enlightening, since I tried to avoid Elise at all costs and Natalia made it easy coming with me as I explored. She tried to talk me down during my moments of pure insanity. She didn’t have all the answers, as crazy as that seemed, but she had become a confidant even through all of her own emotions.

“Do you doubt me?” I questioned, looking up at her quizzically.

Natalia shook her head vigorously. “Of course not. I believe in you tremendously. My only quarrel is that you are going into this with less than great relationships.”

I propped myself on top of Nicholas’s end table next to his bed. “Do tell.”

Natalia rubbed her hands together and the spot between her perfectly arched eyebrows wrinkled. “You are clearly fully aware of this disconnect you have with Elise…” I opened my mouth to speak, but she shot her hand up to stop me. “Which I’m sure you can work out on your own, but your angelic companions are a different story entirely.”

I tapped my index finger against my bottom lip, rolling my eyes. “Beating around the bush really isn’t your style, you know. If you want to ask me about Nicholas, you can.”

The High Priestess looked towards where the living room sat beyond the wall she stared at, as if she could see right through it. “A conversation might be in order.”

“Then he can talk to me.”

It was her turn to roll her eyes and it almost made me laugh to watch her perform such a casual gesture. “You say that as if it’s so simple.”

“Because it is.”

“Put yourself in his shoes, Dani.”

I bit down on my tongue so hard I tasted blood. This was ridiculous. “I don’t have to. He can say he’s sorry and that he cares all he wants, but that’s not what I want to hear. I appreciate his words, I do.” I placed both my hands on the sides of my head and ran them through my hair, ripping through thesmall tangles I felt. The pain somehow easing my annoyance. “I won’t make things awkward for either of us. He’s the one that keeps staring at me all the time, maybe you should have this conversation with him. It won’t be my fault if he gets torn to pieces because he couldn’t stop watching me.” I let out a frustrated groan as if the thought of him getting torn to pieces didn’t make my chest constrict.

Natalia nodded slowly and placed a hand on my knee. “I will only say this once and then I’ll drop it, alright?”

I got off the end table and rocked back on my heels as I waited for her to say what she needed to say.

“You are fully entitled to how you feel, but when he does talk to you hear him out.”

“I already told you if he wants to talk to me, he can talk to me.”

Natalia tilted her head in my direction as if silently questioning my words. “But are you prepared tolistenand perhaps forgive, or will you act like you’re listening and then remain in this same state of mind.” There was no inflection like she wanted me to answer, but it was like she wanted me to marinate with her words.

If he wanted to talk, I would listen…at least I assumed I would listen.Fuck, as much as I liked Natalia, she was annoying as hell.

I glanced down at the ground, digging the toe of my boot into the cream-colored carpet. I let out a huff, shrugging. Without looking at her I let her in on my thoughts. “That all depends on what he says, now doesn’t it.”

“I suppose it does,” she answered, walking past me towards the door. “I am sorry about your hair, again. I promise I’ll ask next time.”

I spun around following her towards the door. “The answer will be no, so let’s just make that clear.” I gave her a snarky smile before grabbing the door handle and walking out. I hit a hard body that I was all too familiar with.

I instinctively lifted my hand and placed it on his chest. He was warm and solid. His heartbeat was steady but beating so loud I’m surprised the house didn’t vibrate. I counted to three before I looked up at his face and saw that he was looking down at me and that his hands were on my waist. His eyes were a little sad as if he was remembering all the time I spent in his arms and how much we both had enjoyed it.

I’d let him keep those thoughts. I just so happened to enjoy them myself.

I wrapped his shirt in my hand and lightly pushed him away, the warmth from his palms taken away. He blinked rapidly as if he had suddenly brought himself back to reality, realizing that it wasn’t just the two of us.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to…” He trailed off, motioning his hand towards the open door to his room. Natalia looked back and forth between us, pressing her lips together, hard.

I cocked my head to the side, waiting to see if he would keep talking. It was extremely funny watching him be flustered by my very presence. Not funny enough to let him kiss me again, but funny, nonetheless.

Nicholas scrubbed a hand down his face, swallowed and then proceeded to start again. “My dad is making food and I was sent to let you know.”

“That sounds delightful, Nicholas.” Natalia looked over at me with one of her eyebrows raised.

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