𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅

chapter fifty

Emriana

"You don't like it?" I snorted a laugh, and he shrugged. He was still holding on to my hand and had never loosened its grip since we left the forest a while back.

"No, it tastes weird," he chuckled, and I gasped in disbelief. He pulled me into another hallway, confusing me further.

"But it's so good. How can you not like blueberries?"

"I don't like it. It's always a guess. You take one, and it might be fucking sour, and the next tastes like trash," I shook my head, insulted for my fellow blueberries.

"It's not trash! And language!" I replied, and he chuckled again.

"Well, it tastes like it," he grumbled under his breath.

"Can you believe it, Aki? He doesn't like blueberries!" I whispered to the tiger following right behind us.

"I can hear you, you know," he smirked, and I scoffed.

"I'm not talking to someone who doesn't like blueberries," I said with a glare, and his face broke into a smile.

"I know I should be mad right now, but you're too fucking cute," he grabbed my cheeks and kissed each one making a squishing sound like I was some kid. I glared at him.

"Come on now, grumpy. We'll be late," I narrowed my eyes as he yanked open a door on our right and pulled me into the room.

"Do you have to do it so hard?" I asked him as the door cracked and smashed against the wall.

"Of course, princess," he smirked as we walked a narrow corridor that led to a spacious living space. Long chesterfield sofas covered in a luxurious dark velvet red color faced each other in a square. The entire area was outlined by a chic beige rug that matched perfectly with the pale walls. The opposite wall was one large window that would bring in a lot of natural light if it wasn't so late at night. If it weren't for the grand crystal chandeliers dangling above our heads, the room would've been swallowed by the darkness.

"There you are," I whirled around to see Drakkar, followed by Zander, walk into the room through another door. Zeke chuckled, pulling me toward the sofas before letting go of my hand. I immediately missed the warmth of his hand as the cold hair brushed my skin.

"Where the fuck were you?" Drakkar asked, his eyes following Zeke to the liquor cabinet at the back. Zander lowered himself into one of the sofas, his expression too cold and guarded for my liking.

"Out," Drakkar rolled his eyes at Zeke before he turned to me, his eyes softening.

"I heard about what happened today with your father. Are you okay?" He asked, and I nodded, biting my lip, not loving how everyone knew about it.

Drakkar stared at me for a few more seconds before moving to the sofa across from Zander's. I stayed standing there awkwardly, not really knowing what to do or who to go to. It was the first time I was with all of them at once after everything that transpired between me and each of them in the past few days. If one of them brought it up, I think I would crawl under the table until I died of embarrassment.

Zeke came back with a drink in hand as he settled on the left sofa next to Zander, raising a brow at me.

"Princess, what are you doing?" What was I doing? That was a good question. I didn't really know, frankly. The logical side of my brain was telling me to use this opportunity to talk to them about what I'd been thinking for the last few days.

My face heated up at their combined stares directed at me. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, biting the inside of my cheek as I glanced at Akira behind me. I went to the only free sofa and slowly lowered myself on it, watching their gaze narrow. I smoothed the dress before fidgeting with my fingers.