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Chapter-53. For us
[Ezra]
As I entered the dining room again, the first thing I noticed were the two flower pots placed in the middle of the table.
I squinted my eyes.
Aren't they the same flowers Xanthea had in her garden?
I looked at Raven. He cocked a brow, gesturing towards Asher who was in the kitchen preparing something.
"How does he always know what others need the most?" I asked, taking my seat.Property © NôvelDrama.Org.
Raven shrugged.
"Beats me. I have been needing government funding for my research for a long time, but the money still hasn't miraculously shown in my account. Seems like the Alpha of our pack loses all his clairvoyance when it comes to me. Wasting my money on my own research isn't fun," Raven said, raising his voice for Asher to hear.
"You want to dig the graves that neither of us thinks is intelligent to temper with. Why would he fund you? Be grateful he isn't trying to stop you." I said. "Anyway, what's he doing now?" I asked.
"Probably making some camomile tea that helps mortals relax," Raven said, texting on his phone.
"Does it?" I asked, and Raven shrugged. "What kind of alchemist and healer are you if you don't know this much, Mr. Perfect?"
Raven landed an annoyed glare at me before he looked at his phone screen again.
"I am the immortal kind, dear brother. But what is going on with you?" He asked in a nonchalant tone.
"What is going on with me?" I asked, prodding at the pasta in my soup with the spoon.
"It is actually not unusual to see you soothing our bride. You were the same with all our previous brides, too. But something seemed off right now," Raven said.
I didn't reply because he was right. I acted on my impulse again.
"I am starving. I am going to dig in," I began stuffing my mouth with the soup and pasta, relishing on its deliciousness and ignoring Raven's words that left a bad taste on my tongue. "There you go, closing up again." Raven commented.
"Ummm... this eth swoo gud..." I spoke with my mouth full of pasta.
"Exactly what I was talking about," Raven sighed. "Ignore me, change the topic, but don't talk about it. When will you change, Ezra?"
"He doesn't have to change," Asher said, walking closer to us. Shifting his gaze on me, he continued. "Just don't get too attached to her," he said casually, but it sounded like a warning.
My hands holding the spoon froze midway as I looked at him. He placed the camomile tea near Xanthea's meal and took back his seat.
Finishing the food in my mouth, I frowned at Asher.
"Just because I soothe our bride doesn't mean I am getting attached to her. There's just one woman for me and she'll forever be. No one can take her place," I said in one monotonous breath.
The fiery sensation rumbled through my chest. I could feel my heartbeats getting more enraged. I quickly averted my glare from Asher.
Raven stopped typing on his phone and looked at me and then skimmed his eyes at Asher, who was looking just as intently at me.
We remained silent, but I just couldn't hold back my words.
"And what about you?" I raised my voice. "What the fuck are you even doing, huh? This tea? These flowers? What fuckery is this? We come later. The things you have done and are doing for her are questionable. What do you have to say about that?" "Nothing," Asher said.
Annoyance zapped through my head..
"It's not nothing! This is the only thing I don't like about you. You keep everything to yourself, you don't talk. And when you do. You do it for a reason. I've known you for years and that is why I know that there are reasons behind your every action and your every word," I said.
"You praise me too highly," Asher said, sipping tea like we weren't having a serious conversation.
"I am serious right now," I grunted.
"Me too, Ezra. I am serious so that you don't have to be. And everything I have done so far and am still doing is for us. To end what our father started, to fix what he ruined-" "Alright!" I snapped, clenching my fists.
Asher let out a sigh.
"And you still ask why I don't talk? Because you are not ready to talk and I don't want to force you. You ask why I keep things to myself? I do it so that you can live however you like, so that Raven can do whatever he wants, so that our family doesn't have to worry about us," Asher said in a soft tone.
I lowered my gaze, clenching my jaws. With a quick gulp, I shut my eyes.
"You resent us, don't you? Raven and me?" I spoke through the tightness building in my throat.
Raven lowered his phone and peered at Asher.
"We left you all alone with... with that... with him?" I said, my nails digging into my palms. My breaths turned shallow as memories I had buried far away from my consciousness threatened to resurface. Asher contemplated me with eyes just as cold and blank as they have always been.
"No, Ezra-"
"If you don't, then you should, because we deserve it!" My voice trembled through my gritted teeth. My eyes stung as my gaze turned misty.
Raven let out a subtle sigh, lowering his gaze.
Before our conversation could turn any heavier, Xanthea trudged towards us like a small flicker of light that somehow dissipated the darkness that lurked around the three of us.
I glanced at her, settling down my aura, and forced a faint smile onto my face.
Raven cleared his throat.
"Yeah, so... I think I should go," Raven said, turning all attention from Xanthea to himself.
"Go where?" I asked.
"Hospital, genius. Where else?" Raven said.
It was better to not pay attention to her and give her space to settle down, yet I couldn't unsee how her eyes lit up when she looked at the flowers. The faint smile that adored her face and the blush she tried to hold back.
The increase in her heartbeats as she stole a nervous glance at Asher and the comfort she had on her face when she sat beside him.
"Is mother ok?" Asher asked and Xanthea's attention shifted on Raven as well. I glanced at Asher and narrowed my gaze.
"Yeah. She's fine. But I need to discuss her new treatment plan with the board of healers. Nyssa just texted me that the meeting's today," Raven said.
"I have a meeting with Kyrell," Asher said.
Kyrell was our gamma. Or mostly Asher's gamma. I didn't need him much, nor did Raven. Military remained under Asher's control.
It's not like we couldn't control the military. It's just that we couldn't handle its intricacies like Asher did. He had been trained for it ever since he was a kid, but Raven and I weren't.
Abandoning the Alpha training to become a healer and then an alchemist was Raven's choice, while I never got a chance and when I did, I refused to take it.
"I can drop you at the hospital and visit mother, then I'll go for my meeting," Asher suggested.
"Sounds ok to me," Raven said.
Xanthea hesitated before speaking up. "Um, can I... visit the High Lady as well?" she asked, her voice uncertain yet hopeful.
Raven and Asher exchanged a glance.
"Visit her once you become a healer. From this moment onwards, I want your complete attention on your studies, your health, and nothing else. You'll be joining mid-semester, so there will be a lot you'll have to catch up on," Raven said sternly. "I'll complete your enrolment process today. Tomorrow will be your first day at Helxton. Prepare for it. There are a lot of things you'll have to do. The most important being choosing a healing partner."
"Can I-" Xanthea wanted to say something, but Raven cut her in the middle.
"No," he said with finality in his tone. "You don't have time to waste on that cat."
"A cat?" Asher chimed in.
"Not now, Asher. We're talking about a werecat who cannot control her healing powers," Raven stopped Asher before he could obsess over cats again.
"But she controlled her powers. You saw her," Xanthea said.
"Yeah, and you almost got yourself killed," Raven said. "Do you think I'll be around you all the time to save you from that cat's overhealing? While you are there, you won't go close to that cat. And I will choose the best healing partner for you who will help you complete the healer's course within a year."
"But Zosha can handle her powers," Xanthea said. "If we put in just a little effort, she has it in her to become one of the best healers. She can even help me complete the course faster than any other healer. I know her potential. Alpha, you gave me a chance. I request you to give Zosha a chance too. Please."
Raven's expression remained stoic as he studied Xanthea for a moment before rising from his chair.
"I'll ask Nesryn to help you get the other supplies you'll need for the college," Raven said as if he never heard her sweet plea.
Xanthea's shoulder wilted with disappointment as she lowered her gaze.
"No need," I said. "I am taking her shopping, anyway. I'll get her whatever she needs."
Raven and Asher gave me a look as though I had said something forbidden.
"What? She can't go back to the Aile castle looking like that. She needs clothes, and she needs proper clothes for college, too. She can't wear gowns at the college, nor will I allow her to wear the kind of attire she was wearing earlier. No shorts, no skirts, no crop tops, nothing that will highlight her figure or her body. That's something I will not compromise with. She is our bride. I don't want other men even glancing at her the wrong way," I said.
"You didn't want her to attend the college and now you want to take her shopping and get her stuff for college? Are you hearing yourself? Do you think you are making any sense right now?" Raven said. "I still don't want her to go to college. I am just taking her shopping. And I see nothing wrong with that," I shrugged.
"Asher, say something," Raven said.
"Nesryn has been a little busy with my work recently. Ezra seems to be free. And if he is with her, we won't have to worry about her safety from the other demons, so... I'm fine with it," Asher said. "Fine," Raven grunted.
"Cool. Then we'll see both of you later at the Aile castle tonight," I said. "Let's go, Xanthea."
"Aile castle? Bring her back here." Asher said and then looked at Xanthea, who was about to finish her camomile tea. "You like it here, don't you, wife?"
"Even if she does, she cannot stay here. I'll take her back to Aile castle. That's where the bride stays and that's something I'll not allow any of you to change. Aile castle is her home and she'll stay with our family. End of conversation," I said, walking closer to Xanthea.
As soon as she had finished her breakfast, I held her wrist and grabbed my car keys.
"We'll be off then," I said. "Raven, send me the list of things she'll need."
"I think I should come along with you guys-" Raven began.
"Nope. You're doing the dishes," Asher said, handing him the empty plates.
"Seriously, keep a house help..." Raven growled.
"I can do the dishes-" Xanthea said.
"No, angel. Didn't you hear what Raven said? All you have to concentrate on is your studies and your health. Dishes don't come into either of these categories..."
Raven snarled at me, and I broke into laughter, leaving Asher's penthouse with her.