472- Learning to Howl
POV Thalyndra Moonclaw:
"Do I need to draw it for you?" I snapped.
They burst out laughing again. I turned toward Anton, raising an eyebrow and asking for some plausible answer. He shrugged, his expression impassive, but I could see in his eyes that he knew what his siblings were laughing about.
Aurelka wiped the tears that had gathered at the corners of her eyes with her fingertips. She was red and breathless.
"Thalyndra, he tricked you," she said sincerely, her blue eyes fixed on mine.
I opened and closed my mouth, speechless.
"Excuse me?"
She sighed, settling into her seat. She pulled another grape from the bunch and tossed it into her mouth.
"Anton will never, absolutely never, get lost in this forest, not even if it's the end of the world, let alone just because it's nighttime."
Myrion laughed.
"Is our keen eyesight good for nothing? Or do you just prefer to pretend it doesn't exist?" he murmured.
I paused for a moment, analyzing the situation more carefully. Anton had taught me to focus, and I'd managed to see the weasel perfectly, every small detail, even through the darkness.
I'd asked several times about the keen eyesight, but he'd dodged the question, as if the lack of daylight somehow hindered it.
I spun around toward Anton.
"You lied to me?" I hissed, my voice nothing more than an irritated whisper.
He huffed.
"I didn't lie to you, I just... didn't tell you the truth," he confessed, his dark brows drawing together in a frown.
I started trembling with rage; my heart felt like it was about to leap out of my mouth.
"And how is that not lying, in your conception?" My voice came out hoarse through my dry throat.
I was one step away from jumping on his neck to strangle him.
It was obvious he'd know the way, even blindfolded; he'd know how to get back home. He'd grown up in that forest.
"Anton, you're such a cretin," Aurelka commented.
He shot a look in his sister's direction, the silver in his eyes dancing across his irises.
"She's the one who got lost, not me!" he protested.
"You said you didn't know how to get back, that you couldn't see well at night," I accused, raising my voice.
Myrion spat out all the coffee he was drinking, choking on another fit of laughter.
"Dude, that was genius; I'm going to use that excuse someday," he praised his brother.
Aurelka rubbed her forehead.
"Don't trust my brothers, Thalyndra. Trust only me in this family."
I dropped my arms to my sides and clenched my hands into fists, feeling the irritation corrode my veins.
"Why did you do that? Was it some kind of punishment because I was walking alone at night?"
He scoffed, shaking his head.
"What kind of male do you think I am? I would never do that to you."
"Never? You lied to me, made me spend the night in the forest for nothing. What am I supposed to think?"
He raised an accusing finger.
"If I remember correctly, you slept like a rock! You even drooled on my arm, so deep was your sleep."
That was my limit!
I pulled the dagger from my back and lunged at him. Aurelka clapped, and Myrion laughed out loud. Anton circled the table, dodging behind his sister.
"You're an idiot, a cretin!" I roared.
He gestured.
"I'm a gentleman! I kept my arm still all night, just so you could use me as a pillow."
"Oh, how immensely grateful I should be for that, it's not like you were the one who made me spend the night in the forest!"
"I didn't drag you there! I just kept you company so you wouldn't be lost and alone."
I pressed my fingers to my brow and closed my eyes. When I reopened them, I felt a little calmer and not about to sink my dagger into the middle of his chest. That was a recurring desire of mine, actually.
"Why didn't you just come back home, Anton?" Aurelka asked the obvious.
He rested his hands on the back of one of the empty chairs and shrugged.
"I wanted to spend more time with Thalyndra."
I glared at him.
"And to do that, you had to make me sleep in the woods?"
A crease appeared between his brows.
"And would you have let me sleep in your bed?"
"Of course not!"
He gestured in my direction.
"Well then, I just found an easy and quick solution because I knew your answer would be no."
"You're completely insane!" I accused, pointing the dagger at him.
He placed his hand over his heart.
"How about... a madman in love?" He gave a quick, suggestive wink.
Myrion gurgled.
"Just taking notes."
Aurelka huffed.
"You're both fakes, completely clueless."
"I'm not faking; I'm telling the truth," the firstborn cut in.
I put the dagger back at my waist and pulled out the empty chair in front of me, sitting down. I was hungry, irritated, and needed a bath. So before locking myself in my room, I was going to eat.
I filled my plate with bacon and cheese and poured a cup of coffee, all under the scrutiny of the Eldorian siblings.
Anton pulled out the chair across from me meticulously, as if examining my reaction. He cleared his throat.
"I was also trying to teach you to connect with our roots," he said after a moment of silence. "We have a unique connection to the forest and to hunting. I thought that spending the night in the middle of it all might awaken your primitive instincts."
I chewed a piece of crispy bacon. I looked up and stared at him, bored and sulky.
"I'm sorry, but it didn't work."
He put some scrambled eggs on his plate.
"You might think it didn't, but... do you feel uncomfortable because of it? Tired, stressed?"
"Oh, stressed, I certainly am!"
He looked at me through his long lashes.
"You understood what I meant."
"Yes, I understood, and I don't care what you think. I believed you; I thought you were actually telling the truth. So I have every right to be furious."
He leaned in and rested his elbows on the table.
"Can I sleep in your room tonight?"
"Do you really want me to answer?"
"If I didn't, I wouldn't have asked, Little Beast."
Myrion and Aurelka watched us in silence. She popped one grape after another into her mouth without taking her attention off us, while Myrion remained still with his arms crossed.
"Fine. My answer is a clear and resounding NO!"
He huffed a laugh, settling back in his chair. He picked up his fork and speared a bunch of eggs, bringing them to his mouth.
"That's what I was talking about. I had to take drastic measures to achieve my goal. And for that reason, I can't be condemned."
I didn't bother to respond.
"I'm ready for the next episodes," Myrion mocked.