Macy POV
My mates are here, and I should be excited, but something is wrong. Winston can't speak and Edward isn't acting like himself. I watch as Destin walks away. I know he thinks he is doing the right thing, leaving me alone with my mates, but I am terrified of how Edward is acting right now. He has never physically hurt me on purpose before. I don't know what he will do when we are left alone.
"Destin," I call out after him. "I don't remember the way to my room."
He spins around stiffly, and I pray that he knows I am trying to extend an olive branch. I don't want to be his enemy. I try to convey that message through my eyes, but if he gets it, I do not know. His face remains sullen as he turns in a different direction.
I chase after him, not caring if the twins are following me or not. Well, that isn't true. I want Winston to follow me. Edward can suck my big toe for all I care.
I am careful to keep my wings off the ground, but it is hard to do so and keep up with Destin's long strides. He stops in front of a door and pushes it open. My room. I step to the side and gesture for the twins to go inside. Winston does as he is told, but Edward seems to be looking for a fight.
"Why can't you find your room on your own?" He snaps at me.
I bite down on the inside of my cheek until it bleeds. "I have only been here a short time."
Edward scoffs but does not go inside my room. He leans against the doorframe and crosses his arms over his chest. "Whatever you have to say to him, you can say it in front of me. That is unless you have been unfaithful."
"She has not," Destin answers the question for me.
"Then why does she reek of you? Why is she wearing your shirt?" Edward shouts.
"Please, Edward," I beg. "Just go inside."
Still, he doesn't budge. I can feel the tension and anger between him and Destin. Neither one of them is willing to back down. Destin's wings are twitching angrily behind him, and he refuses to take his eyes off Edward. Gently, I touch my hand to his bare chest, gathering his attention.
A growl rips out of Edward, and he yanks me backward. His shoe digs into the tip of my wing, and I scream out in pain. He doesn't realize what he has done until Destin shoves him away. The edge of my wing is crumpled and dripping blood onto the floor.
Destin drops to his knees in front of me and looks up as if he is worshiping me. I tilt my wing in his direction, knowing he can heal me. He does so without asking for anything in return. His green eyes are locked on mine as the warmth spreads throughout my injured wing. When he is finished, he gets back to his feet and turns to Edward.
"I have healed her twice tonight because of your recklessness," he scolds him like a child.
"I didn't mean to hurt her," Edward replies, and he actually looks ashamed. But only lasts for a moment. "I can heal her too, you know."
Grabbing my hand, he slices through my palm with his claw. Once again, I scream and clutch my hand to my chest. "What has gotten into you?"
"Let me heal it," he demands.
"No," I shout.
Winston grabs Edward by the collar and yanks him back. His teeth are bared, and he glowers at his brother. Ever so gently, he pulls my hand away from my chest and licks the wound. The tingles from the mate bond spread across my bond, and I suppress the moan in my throat. When he is finished, he steps into my room and drags Edward with him. The door slams shut, and I jerk in fear.
I don't dare look at Destin. I am embarrassed at how Edward has acted since arriving. I understand he is angry, but this is unlike him.
"Is this what you want?" Destin finally speaks. "He is brutish and volatile. He will hurt you over and over again."
"They were selected for me," I whisper.
"Yes," Destin laughs sarcastically. "They were selected for you by a Goddess that wanted to imprison you. I highly doubt she has your best interests at heart."
"That isn't fair," I whine. "You don't know them. They aren't always like this."
"Of course not," he groans. "You told me today that you can't remember the last time you had fun. They should have been worshiping you, making you laugh, letting you have fun. Instead, they chose to tear you down and call you Crazy."
"Stop, please," I beg. I cannot bear to hear anymore. It hurts. My heart feels shattered.
Destin doesn't speak, but he closes the distance between us. He tips my chin up, and his eyes glisten with tears. I don't know if I can't stop him or I won't. But I let him kiss me. His lips brush lightly against mine, and I lean into his warmth. No sooner has the kiss started, it is over. The heat from his body is gone, and he leaves me shivering in the palace hallway.
I steady myself against the door before opening it to see Edward glaring at me. "He loves you."
"At least someone does," I spit at him.
"What are you trying to say?" he growls.
"I think you know exactly what I am trying to say," I shout. "You can't just show up here and act like an asshole."
"Are we not good enough for you now?" Edward hisses.
"I never said that," I groan. "I smelled like him because I was wearing his shirt. I was wearing his shirt because we went swimming, and the dresses here are impossible to put on."
I push past Edward and curl up on the bed beside Winston. He wraps an arm around my shoulder, and I nuzzle into his neck. I try to breathe in his scent, but without Nyx, they don't smell as strong. The tingles from the mate bond still cause electricity between us, and I try to take comfort in that.
Winston brushes my hair out of my face and tentatively touches my wing. It tickles, and I squirm and giggle. Winston's chest shakes under my head, and I know he is laughing.
"I wish you hadn't given up your voice," I sigh. "I will miss talking to you."
He stops laughing and the room is silent. Edward is no longer looking at me, and his face is red.
"What are you hiding from me?" I ask. When neither responds, I get up from the bed and head for the door.
"Where are you going?" Edward asks.
"To get drunk on fae wine with my grandfather," I respond, and I slam the door behind me.