The In-Between

Chapter 7 - Blame

Colin snorted, and I reacted before I knew what I was doing. My power reached out and grasped him by his throat. Belittle me, babysit me, whatever, but he did not have the right to judge my relationship with Ollie. Colin did not grow up with the three of us. He did not see Calden's betrayal. As the fire ignited in my chest, I knew I could kill Colin right now. I would kill him for merely snorting at the idea of Ollie and I would revel in it. Then later, when I got the chance to eviscerate Calden, I would do that too.

Colin's eyes had gone wide, and his hands instinctively went to his throat, attempting to remove whatever tightened around it. He was panicking, not even trying to push back with his magic. Maybe Colin did not have offensive magic...only gifted with the power to read others' emotions. I hadn't seen him shimmer on his own. It was a possibility. Fascinating.

I felt his presence before I saw him. Calden had shimmered in from gods knew where. Colin was still clawing at his throat, trying to remove the hold my magic had on him. His fingers scraping against his skin almost drew blood as I tightened my hold on him. I felt Calden's magic reach out to break my grip on Colin, but I raised my hand to put up a shield.

"Adelaide!" Calden barked at me.

"Say what you both want about me. I. Don't. Care." I let Colin breathe for a moment before I gripped his throat again. Another blast of power from Calden at my shield, it wavered but held. "But you leave your opinions about Ollie out of this. Especially you, Colin."

"Colin crossed a line, Adelaide." Calden said. I didn't feel his power trying to break through anymore. "He won't do it again. I give you my word."

A doubtful laugh slipped through my lips, but I dropped my shield and released Colin anyway. "Do not get me started on your word, Calden." Colin's hands slammed on the table as he gasped, trying to get air back into his lungs. "The next time you pick a fight, Colin, I hope you have the balls not to summon your bodyguard. I thought you were supposed to protect him."

Colin glared at me as he curled his hands into fists so tightly, his tanned knuckles turned white. His entire body shook, and I idly wondered if he might try and hit me. I stifled a chuckle, which only made his head snap toward me and his eyes alight with fury.

"Go, Colin." Calden ordered.

"And we were getting along so well." I purred as Colin pushed back from the table and stormed out of the room.

I sat back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. Calden was silent as he took a seat across from me.

"This can't happen, Adelaide."

I narrowed my eyes at him and scoffed. His voice was resigned, but there was no anger in it. None that I detected anyway. It was the voice you'd use to calm down an erratic child. I didn't speak. Calden ran a frustrated hand through his dark hair.

As if he could expect me not to react this way. It was not news that I did not wish to be here. Marrying Calden would literally be sleeping with enemy. An enemy I went to war to fight against. How could expect me to-

"Gods, is this even worth it?" He murmured, more to himself than to me, but it got my attention.

I wasn't sure what he meant. Was what worth it? Letting me live? Marrying me? Killing Ollie? The possibilities were endless, and I had no interest in his self-doubt. If there was a way to escape this fate, I would find it.

"Excuse me." A voice called from the doorway. "Should I wait to serve lunch?"

Our heads turned to see Lottie carrying two trays of food, but her eyes were wide as they flickered between the two of us. I waved my hand and they shimmered from her grasp to the table. Lottie let out a small gasp.