Page 126 of Crystal Luna

“That’s true,” Isaiah answered honestly. “But we all know you’re going to make us suffer as long as possible. You’ll fight us until the day you die, and we won’t fight back.”

Asher was quiet, his feelings speaking for him. He agreed with his brother.

She ran her hand through Asher’s hair, the situation so surreal that she wasn’t sure it was actually happening. She hated Asher. She had no desire to be near him, pulled out of his touch every chance she got. Though with him kneeling before her, she had to admit it felt good. She enjoyed being in a position to choose whatever she desired to do with him. She could stroke his hair one second, and cut his scalp with her claws the next. Which was exactly what she did. He didn’t flinch or move to get away from the pain, just let her do as she pleased. After a moment she soothed his pain by scratching his ear again, silence filling the room.

Taking in the space, she remembered the hours she spent there, cooking and cleaning—desperate to please them. So often she’d fallen asleep on the counter because if she’d gone to her room, it would’ve taken too long to respond if they wanted her.

Velora’s eyes fell to Isaiah again, who hadn’t moved. His emotions were guarded. He was—as always—the more level-headed of the two. She always thought he would be the more submissive one, given the stories she heard about Asher’s sexcapades. She knew Isaiah had been with someone before, though he’d never talked about it.

“Gemma.”

She crooked her eyebrow. She wasn’t surprised that it was Gemma, she was shocked that he wilfully admitted it.

“Why wouldn’t I? You have the right to know.”

“Because I’m your mate or because I was your maid?”

“Mate.”

Gemma was quiet, not one of the popular kids. Her father had spent a lot of time away from home, providing for the pack. Unlike Asher, who paraded his conquests around proudly, Velora had never seen Isaiah with anyone.

“Why her?”

“I knew she’d keep quiet. I didn’t need someone to use me for my title.”

“Like Larissa?”

Asher stiffened beneath her—she’d hit a nerve.

Isaiah, on the other hand, grinned down at his brother. “Like Larissa.”

Isaiah was the one who calculated his every move. Nothing he said or did was a coincidence. It wasn’t that Asher wasn’t capable of that, but he preferred to shoot and ask questions later. They were Yin and Yang, bad cop and good cop. Asher didn’t mind showing how he felt, which was why he knelt on the floor before her.

It only dawned on her then that Isaiah had never touched her out of desire. He’d only ever come closer when necessary—to soothe a bruise or to hold her hair when she got sick. Unlike Asher, he waited for her permission rather than ask for forgiveness afterwards.

The moment she pulled at his mind, Isaiah closed the distance. He stood close, though not too close, and reached out to touch her jaw with his fingertips. His touch tingled on her skin as he danced along to her ear. He didn’t pet her like she did Asher, letting her lean into his touch as his thumb caressed her skin.

She was still surprised to see their roles reversed. She’d always assumed Asher was the dominant one. Yet, he’d been the one to throw himself at her feet.

“Tell us what you want changed around here and we’ll do it,” Isaiah said, bringing her back to the topic at hand.

Velora sighed and pulled away from both of them. Asher shot to his feet a moment later, but his aura hadn’t changed.

“Everything you left behind is still downstairs. I can bring it up for you if you like,” Isaiah suggested.

Did she want that? She wasn’t even sure. She clearly hadn’t missed any of it. She worried it would only make her feel worse.

Ely walking through the door saved her from having to admit that to the twins. He froze in place, eyes flickering between the three of them. Before he could close the door properly, she was up the stairs and out of sight.

“Dinner didn’t go well, huh?” Ely commented. He was met with stone-cold silence.

She quickly made her way to the master and closed the door behind her, wanting to stay as far away from Ely as she could.

She found Asher waiting for her in the kitchen early the next morning. He was dressed in athletic gear, his eyes tired but still happy to see her.

“I was hoping we could work out together.”

“What makes you think I would want that?”