Strange Love by Ann Aguirre

Author:Ann Aguirre [Aguirre, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-01-14T16:00:00+00:00

13

Zylar had never despised Ryzven as much as he did right then.

The urge toward violence surged through him, even though he knew that the kith would not side with him, should the situation escalate. Beryl stepped between them and set a grabber on his thorax; he couldn’t feel it, but he understood her intentions. He stilled.

“It’s a misunderstanding,” she said. “I brought Snaps over so we could both apologize for being rude. That’s all.”

That might be true, but he couldn’t bring himself to step back. “Have you accepted their apologies?” he asked curtly.

“You did not give me the chance, nest-mate.” Ryzven might sound calm and amused, but his eyes said he would rather finish what Zylar had almost started.

“Continue,” he bit out, though every instinct called for him to put as much distance as possible between Ryzven and Beryl.

He could read his nest-mate’s inclinations well, and this flavork had more than a passing interest in her, only intensified by her apparent loyalty. Ryzven would soon view her as a challenge, if he didn’t already, and that didn’t bode well for a peaceful completion of the Choosing. Zylar fought a wave of sheer nerves; he couldn’t lose again. Couldn’t lose her.

“That’s all I meant to say. I hope we can start over and that you won’t hold onto bad feelings about Snaps and me,” Beryl said.

“Since you are brave enough to admit your mistakes, it would be paltry of me not to forgive you,” Ryzven said. “Before, I had invited you to a gathering. You will certainly accept my goodwill this time?” Despite the pleasant tone, Zylar understood that wasn’t a request, more of a demand for compliance.

But would Beryl grasp that?

She stepped a little closer to Zylar, and he responded instinctively, pulling her against him in a protective gesture that came from the depths of his being. Then she said, “It’s fine with me as long as we don’t already have plans. Zylar?”

Oh, that was clever. Ryzven hadn’t included him in the invitation, but now there was no polite way for his nest-mate to exclude him. Zylar churred. “Your parties are famous,” he said deliberately. “I would love to partake of these great amusements, so we accept gladly.”

“I’ll send word when the arrangements are finalized,” Ryzven muttered.

The fact that he left without a final flattering word for Beryl spoke of how annoyed he was. Snaps watched him go, then said, “I hate that guy.”

“So do I,” Beryl said.

“I appreciate your attempt at appeasement, but please don’t seek him out alone again. He is…” Zylar hesitated, unsure how to phrase the objection. “Not to be trusted.”

“You think he might abduct me?” Beryl asked.

The mere thought sent a chill through him. “Not precisely, but I fear he may become even more enamored of you, and then he’ll seek a lawful way to take you from me.”

“You think they’d let him do that?”

“Ryzven always gets what he wants,” he said somberly. “Always.”

Her face contorted into an expression he couldn’t read easily, but then she slammed her furled grabber against the open one, resulting in a martial sound.

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