Page 41 of Dawn to Dusk
“And?”
“And?” The red of his hair grew darker, and his rainbow eyes pierced me like a harpoon. “Edur and I thought you were kidnapped or something!”
A laugh tore through me, which he didn’t appreciate based on the stern expression he wore. “That fear is adorable.”
“I fail to find anything humorous about this.”
My smile fell off my face, and I stared at him. His expression irritated me. Who did he think he was?
Hot simmering rage crawled up my chest and warmed my face. I couldn’t think clearly enough to string two thoughts together. All I knew was I didn’t deserve that attitude from him.
Before I could get the words of appalled, righteous anger out, he smashed a desperate kiss to my lips, disarming me. My heart softened, smoothing the rough edges his abandonment left. He threaded his fingers tightly through mine when separated from me. “We need to find Edur.”
Balthazar jumped out of the dirt in his wyre form with Edur hot on his trail. Edur’s eyes landed on me with a frosty glare. “Where the hell have you been?”
A foolish reaction sat right on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it down. Stomping it back deep on the inside so I could keep an emotionless face on. “Why does everyone suddenly care?”
Edur and Ziam looked away with the rightful shame they deserved for being assholes. Balthazar shifted to his human form and crossed his arms. I stared at him to get some answers. Balthazar huffed. “I care because I’m responsible for your well-being.”
“I apologize.”
“It is not your fault.” Balthazar’s lips tensed with frustration before glaring at the other two men. It was clear who he put the blame on.
“I’m going to work now.”
“Why didn’t you warn anyone you weren’t coming to the compound last night?” Edur asked, stepping to cut off my leave.
“I don’t report to anyone but Balthazar.”
“You didn’t report to him.”
“He doesn’t seem to care.” I gestured to Balthazar.
If the way he pressed onto his back foot was any indication, Balthazar was waiting for an opening to leave. “Yes, please leave me out of this.”
“You—” Rage threatened to explode out of Edur’s mouth, and the only person allowed to do that was me.
I forced my expression to go as flat as possible. I wanted a dead rat to have more emotion on its face than me. I refused to let them think they hurt me. “I recommend carefully considering your next words and remember who you are speaking to. I’m not a beast you can bellow and beat your chest at. I will smite you with the force of the great goddess Mirneax and not blink twice.”
Edur flinched at my words and stared at me like I grew another head. Balthazar pressed his lips together and stared safely at the ground, not involving himself further. It was Ziam who spoke up in a much calmer voice than before. “The rain washed away your scent. I apologize for the misunderstanding.”
My eyes landed on his and narrowed on my next victim. “I appreciate your concern for my well-being.”
Ziam closed his eyes, and his hair turned a deep shade of blue. “We clearly have a miscommunication here.”
My eyebrows shot up at his assessment. Miscommunications required some type of communication to happen first, not heartbreaking silence.
“You should have told us—” Edur started up again.
“Why would I report anything to people who are not relevant in my life anymore?”
Ziam crossed his arms and tensed his jaw. Edur took a deep shaky breath. “I understand—”
“You seem to lack any understanding at all.”
“I deserve that.”
“You do.” I said.
