Page 90 of Crystal Luna
“Vel, you alright?” Ash asked, his voice thick with sleep.
“Fine,” she snapped, annoyed by his simple presence.
If he was awake, so was Isaiah, which meant her quiet time was over.
She closed her eyes and attempted to ease some of the tension. She curled her hands into fists, counted to ten, then released. She did the same with her arms, then her shoulders, rolling them out as she exhaled a deep breath. The process repeated itself through her whole body until she felt she could face the twins without killing them.
She towelled off before brushing her teeth and choosing a loose dress to wear, then stepped into the living room. Asher seemed to have been watching the door like a hawk, his eyes immediately locking on her while Isaiah laid on the couch with his phone held above his head.
She gave them both the cold shoulder and beelined to the kitchen and pulled out some leftover pancake batter. While the pan heated up, she poured herself a cup of milk and added in some chocolate powder.
“Are you always up this early?” Asher asked, cautiously approaching her from behind.
“Sometimes.”
He rested against the counter—a little too close for her liking—and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Do you need us to help you pack?”
“No.” Velora poured some batter into the pan and waited for it to start bubbling before she flipped the fluffy cake.
“We can stop on the way home for anything you need to buy.”
“I don’t need anything.”
Asher opened his mouth, but she silenced him with a glare that could put someone six feet under.
“Don’t. Just don’t. I don’t need you to do anything other than leave me alone. I don’t care for you or anything that comes out of your mouth. So shut up.”
She didn’t miss the way his eyes flashed with anger before it was replaced by pure heartache.
Something in her stirred and for a second, she regretted her words. But they were true. She didn’t need him or his brother. She’d been happy with the Howlers. They couldn’t offer her anything she didn’t already have.
His gaze dropped to the floor. “I’m sorry, Vel. For everything.”
“And yet your words mean nothing to me.”
“I know but I don’t know what else to say.”
“Just keep your mouth shut and your hands to yourself.”
She reached out for a plate, only to find him handing it to her instead. Then he did as he was told and stood by her side silently, stationary unless he was in her way. When her plate was piled high, she turned off the stove and added syrup to the stack of pancakes before stepping out onto the porch to enjoy her breakfast in peace.
She began to stuff her face and debate meeting Rayan elsewhere. Then, she heard the water running inside and a familiar clattering. One of them seemed to be washing her dishes. It was odd to have the tables turned, yet so satisfying. She wasn’t there to serve them anymore—they would now bend to her will.
It seemed that she would do as she’d promised to Heath after all: she’d make them beg.
“I thought you might be up already,” Rayan chuckled as he walked down the pathway to her cabin. The smarmy look on his face made Velora roll her eyes. “Did they not let you sleep?”
“Fuck you.”
“C’mon, little beast. I know you’d never let them touch you.”
She stuffed her last bite into her mouth, set the plate aside, and stood up. “Let’s go.”
“Oh, I’m in for a feisty last patrol, huh?”
“Sorry, not sorry,” she murmured, walking towards the trees furthest from the village.
“You and I both know I enjoy being your punching bag.” He pulled her into a side hug. “But did they bother you?”