“Well then, what do you think I should do?” I asked her.
“Stay,” she said plainly. “I can help, and even though I’m still pissed at my asshole boyfriend for what he did, I can’t leave him. Besides, you need me because I’m your best friend.” She looked down at her cuticles nervously.
A small smile played on my face and I glanced back and forth between Xander and Matias, then over to Amos who was standing by the back door watching it all. He seemed to be waiting for my decision too.
“What do you think we should do?” I asked Xan, my eyes resting back onto him.
He looked thoughtful for a moment, then replied, “What do you want to do, Emi? Do you feel safe here? Honestly, I don’t know who we can trust from the people in this place, but I don’t think that’ll change wherever we go, if we decide to leave. Camille is here to help with your caster side, and even though I still want to tear Amos to pieces for the shit he had a part in, I think you want to forgive him, and I won’t stand in the way of that. One thing shifters respect is family.” He leaned down and kissed me on the top of the head. “If you want to stay, then I’m with you one hundred percent. If you want to go, then I’m with you there too. It’s up to you.”
My heart softened during his speech and I turned to Matias to get his opinion. “Whatever you think is best, little one. Like your dragon mate, I still want to destroy everyone who hurt you, but I will contain my anger if you’d like to stay and learn to control your intertwined powers.”
“Anyone who hurt me? I asked, quirking an eyebrow. “That would be a long list, Matias.”
“Just let me know who and I will take care of it all for you.” I saw the raw honesty in his eyes and I knew he meant it. I needed to be sure to say what I meant and not say things foolishly in the future.
I cleared my throat and turned back to Camilla and Amos. “We’ll stay. For now,” I said. “As soon as I have a handle on it all, we’ll be on our way.”
Camille looked up, a small triumphant smile on her face and Amos nodded his understanding. He looked relieved at what I agreed to. I hoped that it was the right decision.
Chapter Eighteen
“So, why did Di call you Butcher?” I asked Matias between bites of bacon. Xander choked on his coffee and reached for a napkin to wipe the little bit of drink he spit out.
Matias stilled, setting his glass of blood back down and several other residents gathered their plates and exited the room hurriedly. It was strange, like they couldn’t get away fast enough. Their eyes darted between Matias and the exit before they all found their way out, leaving only Xan, Matias, Camille, and a few other people. The ones who stayed had looks that ranged from fear to awe as they stared at Matias.
“Oh, shit,” Camille said quietly, and her eyes went round. She pushed back in her chair and I wondered if she was going to leave too. “You’re the motherfucking Butcher?”
Matias sighed. “Yes, I am. Although I’ve never been referred to quite that way.”
“Wait. What does that mean?” My full attention was on Matias and the answer I was waiting for.
“It means he’s a legend!” Camille exclaimed, making me jump in my seat. “The Butcher, I mean Matias,” she quieted her voice when she saw she had startled me, “was a soldier for the Council before they were the Council. Like, they wouldn’t have been able to take power if it weren’t for him. He was given the nickname after he slaughtered an entire village in one night. He worked for them for years after. Then one day, he just vanished. People fear the name like you wouldn’t imagine! Your mate here is one terrifying guy. ”
Matias sighed again and looked away from my eyes. It was easy to see he was tired of the nickname and the stigma attached to it. He didn’t like what it meant, even if he did horrible things to get it. I didn’t know if I believed everything Camille said about my vampire mate, because stories get stretched the more people told them, but I was sure there was some kernel of truth to it.
Just watching him sit there and listen to what Camille was saying about who he was while he took it, made me angry.
“That’s enough, Camille,” I ground out through my teeth. I felt my fangs lengthen in my anger and I closed my eyes, willing them to go back where they came from.
“What? It’s the truth!”
“And you’ve made your point.”
She slumped back in her seat, angry at my chastising tone and muttered to herself I shouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want the answer.
Rolling my eyes, I ignored her and focused on Matias.
“Are you ready?” I asked him, trying to change the subject.
I could see his jaw flexing and releasing as he calmed himself down. Eventually, he nodded his head, brought his glass of blood to his mouth and drank it down in one single gulp.
“Are you sure you’ve had enough?” Xan asked me. His eyes were locked firmly on Matias. They weren’t angry or annoyed, but cautious and protective. Not that I needed protecting from Matias.
“Yeah,” I replied. “I’m okay.”
I rose from my seat and held out my hand for Matias. He eyed it for a second before taking it and getting up out of his seat too. I leaned over and kissed Xan on the lips, gave him a sweet smile, then led Matias from the room and toward the gym.
We were quiet the whole way to the gym, as I tried to wrap my head around what Camille said
