Chapter 8

• I wandered around the room as the ten sat at the long table, going through my notes. I didn’t know much about what they talked about. Their father—and yes, they were all brothers, which explained how they lost one in the first place, with so many to watch over. I back-tracked, they didn’t know how dad had managed to have a child with someone not his wife, or how Emil had had children. It was all very strange and mysterious to me, and I couldn’t get too bogged down with figuring it out because my brain already had more than enough to process, I didn’t need to add to it right now.
• I found the tattoo on Daxx’s arm intriguing though, and the fact her king had one to match was something I made a note to inquire about later. Nibbling on the second piece of toast, I stood back and looked at them. Never having had family that I knew of, it was so clear the connection they had by how they interacted, that I’d missed out on something became quite obvious. Then again, with my tendencies, I doubt a family would have wanted me.
• My eyes stopped on Victor, I still couldn’t figure him out. The way he held himself, I was fairly sure he was the eldest, he just had that watchful way about him that told me he’d been looking out for all of them the longest. He wasn’t a bad man, but there was something hard and unmovable about him. I may have to ask Rafael or Quinton about him, not knowing always bugged me. It was better to ask and get answers, so not to tax my mind with things I didn’t have space for.
• Chewing the last bite, I glanced at my plate at the other end of the table, then decided not rushing to eat the last piece was a better idea. Meals weren’t always guaranteed in my life, so when I could, I took my time. I did.
• Hands tucked into my pockets, I wandered closer to the end of the table where Victor sat. His dark red hair was brushed carefully back from his face, and I swear there wasn’t a hair out of place. How did one manage such a thing? My hair did not follow instruction at all, but hung to my shoulders in every direction possible, some wavy, some straight.
• I didn’t miss how his green eyes tracked my every move, and that was fascinating to realize. When I watched him watch me, I felt… I wasn’t sure, warmer didn’t quite cover it but I didn’t know how else to describe the feeling. Normally, when someone looked at me too closely I felt uncomfortable, with him it was kind of like a fever, but without the germs and sickness.
• Deciding I needed to study him closer, maybe to get some answers, I went and hopped up and sat on the table right where he was sitting and leaned in closer to look into his green eyes. So many emotions went through them I didn’t catch one long enough to be sure of anything, they changed that fast. “You feel like an allergic reaction, minus the sickness.” I told him.
• His eyes widened and then he scowled at me. I realized everyone had stopped talking then and was glad my back was to all of them. I didn’t like being watched.
• “Are you demented?” he asked me in a quiet tone, then glanced beside him to where Daxx sat, “Is she crazy?”
• “Do I need to be?” I asked him, I tilted my head and continued to watch him, “I can do it if there’s a need…” He didn’t answer, just sat there and held my stare. His eyes started to change and I knew there would be fangs to go with it, but I didn’t want to touch him to see. A cool hand touched my shoulder and I scrambled across the table off the other side. Hitting the floor, I turned and backed into the corner.
• Victor jumped up and knocked the chair back, but didn’t move any closer.
• Troy stood there beside him and held his hands up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
• My heart was in my throat and beating too fast. “I don’t like…” I exhaled slowly, “being touched.” I told him quietly. “Unless I know, then it’s okay, but not before.” I nodded, hoping he understood.
• Victor took a step toward me, then stopped and jammed his hands into his pockets and just stared at me.
• Quinton got up and came around the table to me. I almost jumped into his arms, needing to feel the steady calm he always projected when I was near him. “It’s okay.” He said hugging me back. “Troy wouldn’t hurt you.” I looked up into his brown eyes and he nodded.
• Letting go of him, I turned so I was facing the others again. Uncomfortable didn’t begin to describe how I felt, every single one of them was looking at me.
• “How is it, Quint that women new to Alterealm throw themselves in your arms?” Chase drawled with a smirk on his face.
• Quinton looked down at me and winked, then back to his brother. “Its my irresistible charm.”
• Chase snorted, “It’s your something.”
• Troy moved around the table slowly. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, I only wanted to ask if I could take a look.”
• My eyes darted from him to Daxx, then back. “A look?”
• He stopped and nodded. “I can read people’s minds, see their thoughts…” he glanced to Daxx and smirked, “mostly. I just wanted to see if I could see yours. Maybe see our brother for myself?”
• I crossed my arms over my chest and frowned. “You want to look inside my head?” He nodded again. “I don’t think you’re going to enjoy that.” It was fascinating though, that he could do something like that.