Fractured Souls(23)

“You didn’t make me,” Laylen intervenes, putting weight on my hand as he leans in.
I shoot a glare at him. “But I told you to.”
He rolls his eyes, yet keeps his lips fastened. I return my focus to Alex who looks utterly confused.
“If you’ll just go inside with me,” I say to him. “We can sit down and I’ll explain everything.”
I expect him to argue, let his rage rain down over me, however rather than do so, he shakes his head, steps back, and says, “Okay.”
Confused, I nod, lowering my hands from their chests. “Okay then.” Maybe Laylen was right. Maybe I do have more influence over him than I thought.
We head inside, Laylen on my right side and Alex on my left, with thoughts of both of them floating around in my head and, honestly, at the moment I couldn’t say who I have feelings for anymore.

Chapter 6
 
I should never assume things. This is the lesson I learn the moment we step foot into Adessa’s living room. It’s a beautiful room that has shelves built into the walls with the black and white tile on the floor that goes well with the velvet couches. There are little knickknacks sporadically placed all over the shelves, the apothecary table is decorated with candles, and the chandelier above my head glistens. I’m taking it all in when Alex turns to me and takes me all in; the blood drenching my torn shirt, the open bite marks on my neck, and the scratches on my chest. Jesus. They go all the way from the hollow of my neck to the curves of my breast. It looked less severe in the darkness, however, in the light, I look like a train wreck.
His eyes widen, his chest puffing in and out as he shakes his head. “I don’t…” A million different emotions flash across his expression, and for a second, I feel the tingle of the sparks reemerge. Yet, as quickly as they appear, they vanish as Alex rushes forward.
I skitter to the side as he dives into Laylen. Laylen stumbles back as Alex slams his head into his chest and both fly across the room and ram into the wall. The sheetrock cracks against the force and splits from the floor to the ceiling.
Laylen quickly regains his footing, standing up straight, and he shoves Alex. Alex recovers swiftly, his boots squeaking against the tile as he stomps toward Laylen, whose appearance I’m sure is making the situation even worse. His hair is damp with sweat and a little bit of blood, his shirt soaked in it. His skin is stunningly more smooth and healthy looking than before, his lips an even deeper red, probably from my blood. His eyes are blue again, but a deeper blue, like the ocean instead of the sky.
“I can’t believe you fucking bit her!” Alex shouts as he heads for Laylen who refuses to back away. “Of all people, her.”
“I told you that I told him to do it!” I cry, moving forward, but I gasp and step back as Laylen rams his head into Alex’s chest, wrapping his arms around him, and making them fly backward onto the apothecary table. It instantly buckles beneath their weight and they roll around on the floor; a violent ball of punches, kicks, curses and bruises as they crash into the shelves and the sofas.
“Stop!” I demand, leaping out of the way as they roll to my feet. “This is ridiculous! You guys are acting like lunatics.”
Suddenly, Aislin and Adessa appear in the doorway, looking sleepy-eyed and kind of annoyed. Adessa has on a long, navy blue robe and Aislin is wearing a pink plaid pajama set.
“What in the world is going on?” Aislin cries, her bright green eyes extensive as she takes in the broken furniture, shattered figurines and cracked walls. Then she glances up at me and the color drains from her face. “What on earth?”
“Um…I think—”
“Subsisto,” Adessa screams with her hands out in front of her. Sparks shower from her fingertips and soar across the room toward Alex and Laylen.
They fly away from each other, Alex landing by Aislin’s bare feet and Laylen beside mine. He smacks his head on the floor and I peer down at him as he blinks up at me. There’s a moment that passes between us, a need that wants to be fed, but there’s still a part of me that rebels against the urge. I won’t let it happen right now; not in front of an audience.
“What the hell are you two doing?” Aislin asks as Alex stands up, dusting wood chips and glass out of his hair. He’s dressed in the same t-shirt and jeans as when I saw him last, only now the jeans are torn at the knee.
Alex wipes his bleeding lip with his arm and then shakes his head. “He fucking bit her.” His voice trembles and he lacks his usual composure, alarmingly so.
Laylen gets up, brushing his hair out of his eyes, and Alex instantly moves toward him like he can’t control himself.