37. Xander
Chapter 37
Xander
8 years ago
“ W hat’s wrong, Sissy?” I ask.
Selena sighs, but it’s a feeble thing. “Nothing, Xander. Let’s talk of happy things.”
I frown at her, sniffing the air and scanning her body for some physical ailment. “Like what? Everything is boring since you married and left me. There is no one left to talk of intelligent things.”
Her lips twitch and she rubs her stomach. Then, in a soft as down voice says, “Like…Ragnar and I are having a baby.” Her golden eyes glisten as she looks at me hopefully.
“What?” I breathe. “Wild Goddess!”
I reach for her and she pulls me into her arms, though I’m already taller than she is so I rest my cheek against her temple. “I’m so happy for you, Sissy. But…why don’t you look happy?”
“I am. Oh Xander, I am. I just worry, you know?” She reaches up to swipe at a tear.
“I think that’s normal—” I freeze because I’ve just seen the skin of her wrist.
Three finger-shaped bruises mar her skin like three marks of doom. I grab the offending wrist, an emotion I’ve never felt steadily growing within me.
“What is this?” My voice sounds like the scrape of a heavy boot.
“It’s nothing.” Selena pulls her wrist away, frowning at me. “It’ll fade to nothing by tomorrow.”
But this rage inside me will not. “Who did that? Was it one of the servants? I will flay him. Or her.”
Selena pulls down her long sleeve to hide the bruise. “It’s literally just an accident. No harm, no foul. Drop it, Xander.”
“Anyone who touches my sister deserves a slow death, Sissy. Don’t forget that. Ragnar would know that too.”
She rolls her eyes and swings around to loop her arm through mine. “As I said before, let’s talk of happy things.”