Page 4 of Fixation of the Mind

Tipping my head back, I smiled, looking at him. “Yep. As long as I'm with you guys, everything will be fine.”

The two other brothers turned around on their bellies, all of them doing that triplet mind-reading thing I hated. Roux was the first to break the silence.

“We’ll always protect you.”

Ravi's voice sounded next. “We’ll provide you with anything you need.”

I smiled at them, nodding like an idiot when Rion finished with, “We’ll be everything you need from here on out. Just…” Rion's gaze deepened, his hand going to his pocket as he added, “Stay with us. Always be by our side. That's all we need.”

He shocked me when he flicked open his switchblade and ran it down his palm. He handed the knife to his side, then Roux did the same, and so on with Ravi. Once all of them were bleeding, they turned to me.

I knew a good thing when I saw it. I grabbed the knife and made a shallow cut to mimic theirs. Rion snatched up my hand, our palms slipping around before his fingers curled around mine. “I promise on my soul that we will always be together.”

My eyes went wide upon hearing his words, and I was transfixed by the sight of him kissing my knuckles. Ruby red liquid escaped our entwined hands, dripping down my forearm, but all I could pay attention to was the prince making a vow.

He nodded and let go of my hand, making me crave that comfort again. It was claimed by Roux next. “I promise on my soul to always save you when you need it.”

My normal haughty response to him vanished when I saw his sincerity in his eyes. Never taking his eyes off me, he pulled our hands apart and gently set a kiss at the center of my palm. A small hiss fell from my lips, and when he pulled away, his jackal of a smile was covered in blood. It should’ve scared me, but all it did was fill me with awe.

Ravi pulled my hand from Roux, weaving his fingers through mine as he pulled me closer, resting his forehead against mine, smiling at me so brightly I had the urge to cover my eyes. “I promise on my soul that you will always be the one.”

“Layrin, we need to talk.”

I pulled myself out of the sweet memory that now felt tainted to look at Rion. He had twisted around in his seat and was watching me expectantly.

Steeling my heart, I faced the three of them with a cold, serious face. “I think you have some explaining to do, but who knows if you’ll tell the truth. I guess you’ll have to see if I believe you or not.”

Roux’s shoulders tensed up while Ravi’s head sunk into his hands. Rion was the only one who looked unaffected by my words. His eyes still held that air of authority and power I’d felt earlier, but I didn't give a crap.

Yanking on the car door, I glared at him, making sure he saw I wasn’t going to take his shit. The door opened with a kick, and I threw over my shoulder, “I’ll wait in the living room, giving you all time to get your stories straight.” The door slammed behind me.

The clicks of the other car doors didn’t stop my speed. I stomped off, opening the door as quickly as possible. I knew it was a little much when I stomped my way to the chair next to the couch, sitting down with crossed arms and legs, drumming my fingers against my biceps, but it couldn’t be helped. I was being rocked with a million emotions right now, but the biggest one was a feeling of betrayal. I covered it up with anger since feeling betrayed came from a point of weakness, and I was going to do anything in my power to not look as weak as I felt.

Rion was the first to enter, looking cool as a cucumber. His stupid calm face made me want to throw a pillow at him just to see his lips quiver. He made a beeline for the couch, sitting the closest to me, and calmly folded his arms in his lap, like he had expected all of this. My teeth ground down on each other, and I glared at him. If anyone was the mastermind behind this, it would be him.

Roux came in next, head high as he maneuvered his way next to Rion. He sat down with ease, keeping his chin up like he had nothing to be sorry for, but his eyes spoke a different tale. Those blue-green pools kept flicking my way before looking away again. Did he feel at least a little remorse?

Ravi was the only one giving me the despair and regret that I wanted to see. Being the last one in, he closed the door with slumped shoulders, head hung, and his lips set in a deep, depressing frown. He didn't look up from the ground when he plopped himself next to Roux with a deep exhale.

“Rin—” Rion started, but I wasn't having any of that. The time for them to be in charge and have my full trust was over.

“No.”

Rion’s mouth pinched, and Roux’s face snapped back toward mine.

“No?” Rion’s incredulous question had me realizing he must hear that word a lot less than the regular population.

I shook my head and sat up straight. “No, Rion. This is not going to be a conversation where you take control and spin whatever narrative you’ve decided to convince me of.” I glared at Roux in emphasis. Ravi still hadn't looked up from the ground yet. Good boy.

“I will be the one asking the questions, and you will just sit there and answer.” His mouth opened, and his eyes told me he was gearing up for a fight, so I cut him off at the knees. “It's either that, or I leave right now.” Rion’s eyes narrowed. I imagined him weighing out the pros and cons of my threat. For once, I felt like I could read what he was thinking. “And yes, while I know you would find me eventually, that doesn't mean you will have me. You can spend the rest of your life looking at me from a lens.”

Roux’s eyes ping-ponged from mine to Rion’s, holding his breath. Finally, Rion closed his eyes and sighed. “Fine. You have the floor.”

Letting go of my biceps since I was currently squeezing the life out of them, I folded my hands in my lap, mimicking Rion’s calm demeanor. Fake it ‘til you make it, right?

“What was all that kidnapping business about? What's really going on between you and the Riccis?” Now that I’d gotten started, the questions just kept tumbling out. My eyes burned a hole into Rion’s as I spat, “How long have you been spying on me?” I turned my venomous rage in Ravi’s direction next. “What the fuck is the shrine for?” He flinched at my words but didn’t move otherwise.

Fear and pain filled my heart before I turned to Roux, eyes watering without my permission. “Why do you have those jars?” Before I thought about it, I choked on a sob. “Do you know what you did to me? How much people hated me because of you?”