Chapter 28
SHARNIZA
“A nd you have to keep stirring like this,” Touron says to Derek, moving the spatula in figure eights in the pan to scramble the eggs.
Derek looms over Touron, his diamond eyes watching every move carefully. He’s a head taller than Touron, his shoulders wide and powerful, taking up so much space at the stove that Touron has to stand to one side.
“Here, you try.” Touron hands over the spatula.
Derek begins to stir.
“Perfect,” Touron says. “Now you don’t want them to dry out, so when you take the pan off the heat, don’t let the eggs sit in it. They’ll continue to cook and go rubbery.”
“Cameron will eat this?” Derek asks in a voice that is deeper and gruffer than a few hours ago.
“Yep. She’s joining us for breakfast. Should be here soon.”
He nods. “And you will tell her that I made them for her?”
“Yep.” Touron butters some toast and pops it on a plate. “Eggs can go here.”
Derek slides the eggs onto the spot beside the toast. “I did it.” He slides a glance my way, and our gazes lock. My pulse flutters, but I keep my expression neutral because what the fuck?
“Now pop it on the table next to her coffee,” Touron says.
“Those eggs look amazing!” Ginia says with genuine enthusiasm.
Derek beams at her, and knots form in my belly.
“You okay?” Palia asks, handing me a cup of coffee.
“I’m fine. Why?”
“You just had a weird look on your face.”
“Oh?” I take a sip of the coffee, reveling in the burn of it on my tongue.
“Yeah. Kinda like you licked a lime.”
“I’m fine.”
She shrugs and takes a seat at the table, but I settle against the counter, needing a moment to sort my head out.
I’ve been spending too much time with Cameron’s shield, that’s what it is. He’s sweet and charming without realizing it, and it’s messing with my head.
I need to focus on the tangible achievements we’ve made.
He’s quickly assimilating to being outside his wardrobe and developing a sense of self.
Teaching him how to do basic life skill things will help with that, and once Yarrow gets stuck into training him, Derek will have the confidence to stand alone, if need be.
It’s as if his growth was stunted for a long time, but now he’s flourishing.
I’m proud of him.
Pleased that I could help him.
That’s all.
He looks up sharply. “Cameron is here.” His eyes narrow. “She is upset.”
Cameron enters the room a moment later, eyes red-rimmed, hair windblown. She looks like shit, and smells…Oh fuck. Why does she smell like arousal and…Serath?
“What happened?” Derek demands. “I sensed no danger.”
She yanks out a chair and sits, elbows on table, head in hands. “Arghhh, I am such a fucking idiot.”
Derek takes the chair beside her and puts his hand on her back. “Breathe, my Cameron.”
“Tell us what happened,” Touron says.
* * *
I can’t believe Serath would hurt Cameron this way. It makes no sense because it doesn’t fit with the picture of the male I’ve built in my head. Derek strokes her back, his diamond eyes dulled by her sorrow.
“I’ll be okay,” she says. “I just…I need some time.”
“What you need is to get laid,” Ginia says.
Cameron’s jaw tenses. “I don’t want that. I’m not…I’m not ready.”
“You don’t have to do anything but heal,” Palia says softly. “He did what he felt he needed to, now you do what you need to.”
Cameron sighs heavily, then fixes a smile on her face. “I need to pass the cadet exams, that’s what I need to do. If I can do that, then I may just be good enough to be the elite the team needs to save my brother.”
“Your brother?” Curi says from the doorway.
“Mother!” Touron says quickly. “She said mother.”
Curi pays him no attention. “Cameron, what’s going on?”
Cameron looks to me. I know she doesn’t need my approval. This is her story to tell, but reassurance is another thing.
I nod.
Cameron smiles faintly at Curi. “You’d best sit down.”
Over the next few minutes, she fills Curi in on the truth about Romi’s ‘death.’ When she’s done, Curi is silent for several beats.
He now knows something that the Stone Council is desperate to keep under wraps. So desperate that they may have tampered with a ghost’s memories and messed with Flora Yarrow’s mind too.
Curi’s smile is bitter. “Typical Stone Council bullshit. Liars, every one of them. I can’t imagine the pain of not knowing. Of wondering what he’s going through right now.”
“It sucks,” Cameron says. “I just want to make elite so I can help get him back.”
“And you will,” Curi says. “I know things got off to a bad start between us. I acted…terribly. I treated you as if you were lesser, but you’re not.
Cameron, you’re one of the strongest females I know.
You can’t shift, you don’t have the same strength as us, but you’re here, and you’re surviving. That’s no easy feat.”
“I have help.” Cameron’s gaze sweeps over us. “I’d be lost without it.”
“Why?” Palia asks Curi. “Why were you so awful to us all?”
If he’s thrown by the blunt question, he doesn’t show it. “It’s easier to be a monster and rule with fear than to care and risk getting hurt.”
I can empathize with that sentiment. All my life, I’ve stifled my feminine side and nurtured my masculine traits to please my father. I’ve denied myself the tiny things that give me pleasure. I’m still hiding who I truly am from the world.
I can understand why Curi came here wearing a facade, but Cameron has found her way beneath it, just like she found her way beneath mine.
This female has somehow brought us all together, and for the first time in my life, I have a family who accepts me.
I’ll do whatever it takes to preserve and protect that.
“You can trust me,” Curi continues. “Your secret is safe with me, always.”
Cameron looks deep into his eyes. This is the moment to tell him about Serath, to reveal all and bring him completely into the circle of trust.
She smiles warmly. “Thank you.”
The moment is gone.
I don’t need to ask her why she’s decided to keep him on the edge of the circle of trust. Telling him that Romi is alive puts no one in danger but herself.
Telling him that Serath is her mate puts Serath’s life at risk.
She had no choice when it came to telling us…
Heck, we’re the ones who figured it out for her, but with Curi, she has a choice.
Curi leans in and sniffs her, his nose wrinkling slightly. “I thought you were going to wear my shirt last night?”
Cameron’s cheeks go pink. Curi doesn’t know about her interlude with Serath this morning.
“I did,” Cameron says. “But then I was hanging with all the elites so…”
Curi frowns. “That shouldn’t mask my scent when it’s been against your skin all night.” He sniffs her again. “You smell like…” His eyes flare. “Arousal.”
“I had a sexy dream, okay?” Cameron blurts out.
Curi smirks. “Oh…”
Cameron’s cheeks go red. “It wasn’t about you. Just…no one. Faceless males.”
“Males? More than one?”
“Shut up.” Cameron slaps his arm. “I had a dream, and then I was with the elites at breakfast so…”
“Those elite have potent aromas,” Touron says with a chuckle that sounds forced, even to me.
Curi doesn’t look convinced, but he doesn’t press the issue.
Instead, he reaches over his shoulder, tugs his shirt over his head, and hands it to Cameron.
“Wear this for a little while before class.” He pushes back his chair.
“I’ve got a few errands to run, but I’ll meet you there.
Save me a seat.” He heads out, and for a moment, there’s nothing but silence.
Palia is the first to break it. “I think we can trust him about…you know.”
Cameron slips on Curi’s shirt. “I know I can, but is it fair to put that weight on him? You guys kinda stumbled onto it all. But honestly, if you had a choice, would you rather be clueless about it? Knowing has made you an accessory to whatever crime hiding this mated bond falls under.”
“I’m glad I know,” Palia said.
“Me too,” Ginia added.
“Me three,” Touron said, then looked at me expectantly.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m glad too.”
Touron rolled his eyes. “You need to say, me four .”
I stared at him flatly. “No.”
“Spoilsport.”
I take the seat opposite Cameron. “But you’re right to keep him out of it. You’re keeping him guilt free.”
“Now Cameron eat food.” Derek pushes the plate of egg and toast toward Cameron. “I made it.”
“You did?” Cameron looks up at him in surprise.
“Yes.” He watches her expectantly.
The eggs are stone cold now, but Cameron picks up her fork and digs in anyway.
Derek beams at her, showcasing his fangs and even white teeth. My pulse jumps slightly, and I look away.
Nope. I do not have a thing for Cameron’s shield.
Do I?