Chapter 763: Who Is More Scary?
Chapter 762: Who Is More Scary?
13 Days To Go
Annabeth’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson at his words.
That pet name... she had no idea what she had done to deserve one from him, but suddenly he now referred to her as sweet girl.
She did not understand it, but more than that, she could not explain her reaction to him.
The way he made her heart rate quicken. The way she always searched for him with her eyes most times, as if trying to reach out to him.
Perhaps if Benny or Nathan had been here, she would have told them about him and how she always reacted to him even when she didn’t plan to. And maybe, just maybe, they would have been able to explain what was going on with her and why she reacted the way she did when he was near.
She cleared her throat, her eyes looking everywhere else except at his.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly.
Ronan’s gaze didn’t waver.
"Look at me."
"Why?" she asked him, refusing to do as he said.
He chuckled softly.
"Because I want to see your eyes. I quite like them."
Annabeth blushed even more and used her hair to hide her cheeks as she looked down. The strands fell across her face like a curtain, shielding her from his intense gaze. She could feel the heat radiating from her skin, and she wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
Ronan chuckled again, the sound rumbling through his chest.
"You’re cute."
Then he grew serious, his voice dropping lower.
"I’m serious though. Are you okay?"
"I’m as okay as I can be after a fight like that," she told him, gesturing vaguely toward the training grounds, toward the churned snow and the lingering scent of blood.
Ronan shook his head.
"That’s not what I mean. I’m asking you to answer me emotionally. Especially given how much I know that Josiah being who we found him to be affected you."
The blush on her cheeks receded slowly, replaced by a more somber expression. Her gaze dropped to the ground again, and when she spoke, her voice was quieter, more vulnerable.
"Some of my people are of the opinion that perhaps Sophia is wrong. But I know that’s not true. I know Josiah really is a traitor. And if not for what Sophia discovered, then it would have destroyed all of us."
She paused, her fingers curling at her sides. The snow continued to fall around them, but she barely noticed it.
"But it hurts though. Because I knew Josiah. I knew him before all of this. I trusted him. We all did. He was one of us, and now..." She trailed off, shaking her head.
She took a breath, steadying herself.
"I’m taking your words though. Just because I knew Josiah doesn’t mean I get to blame myself for something he did. I’ll forever feel the guilt, but I understand."
She let out a nervous chuckle.
"So... that’s a roundabout way of me saying I’m doing better," she told him.
Ronan nodded slowly, his gaze steady on her.
"I’m glad you’re doing better."
Annabeth nodded in return, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. The tension that had been coiled in her shoulders began to ease. She felt lighter somehow, as if sharing the weight of her guilt had made it more bearable.
They stood in silence for a moment, the snow falling around them. The distant sounds of the pack faded into the background.
Then Ronan spoke again.
"You know, after a fight like what we just did," he said, gesturing toward the training grounds, "we should get our injuries treated, right?"
Annabeth frowned, wondering what he was getting at.
"Okay," she said, dragging out the word.
"Walk with me to the medical facility?" he asked her.
She paused because that was not what she had been expecting, but after a while, she nodded, falling into step beside him.
They walked together, their boots crunching against the snow.
After a few steps, she spoke again, her voice hesitant.
"Can you teach me more? How to fight better?"
Ronan glanced at her, surprised.
"I’m not the best though. Orion is better suited for that. Or Brynhild."
Annabeth made a face and then shook her head.
"I can’t meet Orion for that."
He blinked.
"He can teach you though."
Her cheeks flushed again.
"I’m a bit scared of him."
Ronan stopped walking, his eyes widening in shock. Then he burst out laughing, his hand clutching his stomach as he doubled over. The sound echoed across the training grounds, drawing curious glances from the few warriors still lingering nearby.
Her blush deepened.
"Stop laughing!"
Ronan tried to compose himself, but the laughter kept spilling out.
"Are you serious?" he managed between breaths.
She nodded, her embarrassment evident.
He started laughing again, even as he apologized.
"I’m sorry—I’m sorry—it’s just—" He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "You’re scared of Orion?"
"A little bit," she admitted.
"What about that man is scary? You should be more scared of Lysander than Orion," Ronan said to her.
Annabeth frowned at that.
"But Lysander isn’t scary though," she said.
"He’s a big grumpy giant. What is not scary about him?" he asked her. "Orion is a teddy bear compared to Lysander."
She frowned again.
"Lysander is just tall though."
Ronan stared at her, then shook his head.
"Let’s continue letting you believe that delusion then."
---
Meanwhile, at the warehouse, the air was thick with the smell of dried blood. Mary stood near the entrance, her arms crossed over her broad chest, her eyes scanning the rows of materials that had been brought in from the latest hunt.
A worker from the carpentry shed burst through the doorway, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps. His face was flushed with excitement.
Mary frowned as she saw him.
"What’s wrong?"
The worker’s face broke into a wide grin.
"I’ve done it."
Mary’s eyes widened. She turned to someone beside her and gave a series of quick, sharp instructions. Then she walked up to the worker, her voice low and urgent.
"Show me."
Comments