Page 66 of The Artist
“Aubri, butt out of this,” Thor warned through gritted teeth.
Indiana landed his drone and it made Thor jut his chin toward the entrance. “We have to tell Magni and Khan.”
“Are you crazy?” I narrowed my eyes and shoved his shoulder. “I’m not fucking suicidal. Belle and I had consensual sex that doesn’t concern any of you. Magni and Khan are from a different generation, they’ll never understand.”
“Well, I’m three years younger than you and I still don’t fucking understand how you could risk everything.”
“What did I risk? Huh?” I turned to walk into the house and away from this conversation.
Behind me Indiana was approaching with Victor. Reading the tension on everyone’s faces they asked what was going on.
I heard Celeste update them while I made my strides longer to get away. The last thing I needed was for everyone to be in my business.
Running steps behind me made me turn my face to see Belle catch up.
“Why the fuck did you tell them?” I muttered without slowing down.
“I didn’t. Celeste heard us last night. She was the one who told them and then they started asking me all these questions.” She was panting as she ran to keep up with my fast pace up the stairs.
“Mason.” The deep sound of my uncle’s voice slowed me down. “Mason, come down here.”
Stopping, I grabbed onto the railing and squeezed tight. Below us Thor, Indiana, Victor, Celeste, Aubri, and Freya were all entering the grand foyer and Thor shouted up at me.
“Get away from Belle. If you touch her again, you’ll end up with a prosthetic arm like your dad. Do you hear me? I’ll fucking rip your arm off at its socket.”
“Thor, stop shouting,” Freya urged him. “You’re scaring our guests.”
While the few Motlanders who were still around scattered at the sound of conflict, the noise brought the attention of my parents and aunt, who all came to see what was going on.
“Someone please explain what the shouting is about,” Pearl said.
“You all, get into the dining room,” Khan commanded and pointed to his left.
Placing a hand on the small of Belle’s back, I nudged her down the stairs. “Come on.”
“Do I have to?”
“No, but I’d appreciate if you at least confirmed that I didn’t rape you.”
Belle looked disturbed but walked stiffly beside me into the dining room, where everyone was standing up.
Khan stood in his ruler pose as Freya liked to call it. His legs were spread a little, his shoulders squared, and his hands clasped at his back. “Why are you two fighting?”
As the future ruler, Thor ranked above me and had the right to speak first. I stood fuming on the inside while he told them everything; from our saving Belle, to my keeping her warm all night, to his finding out that I violated their trust and touched her inappropriately.
A small tic at the edge of my left eye was betraying how stressed I was.
The color on Khan’s face shifted to red as he stepped to the dining table and bent down to place his fist on the wooden surface.
We all stood silent, waiting for him to speak and when he finally raised his head, he looked straight at me. “A man who doesn’t honor his promise is no man at all.”
The hairs on my neck stood up and it took everything in me to control my temper.
“You four all gave a solemn promise not to fraternize with outsiders.”
“Khan.” My aunt Pearl placed a calming hand on his arm. “How about we ask the young people what happened before we draw any conclusions?”
“Yes, how about it?” My father, who had been standing to the side with his arms folded, scowled at me. “I’d like to hear his excuse.”
