52. Confessions

Sona’s impatience was nearly brewing over by the time she and Taos returned to Redtown. Edom parted from them as soon as possible when Taos ordered him to take his “sickening prize” home—wherever that was since he didn’t go to his residence—and confess to Cerise what had happened. Despite it being in the ungodly hours.
“Every day is eventful with you,” Taos mused, holding the front door open to his residence.
She didn’t know why—or how it was even possible—she felt coy. “Would you rather it be boring?”
“Do I seem like the kind of male who likes boring?”
“You like calling others boring.”
“Because I like others who cause eventful days.”
Sona snorted and let him take the lead; the house had far too many halls and rooms for being so moderately sized. “You haven’t answered my questions despite promising me you would.”
“You know, I noticed it didn’t take much for you to stop calling me ‘Alpha.’ It seemed easy for you to use that pretty mouth to speak my name.” He glanced over his shoulder with that damned smirk. She gave him her best scowl, but it only made him bark with laughter. “I have a disarming personality, don’t I? Impossible not to fall for me.”
“Fall for you?” Sona repeated in disbelief, now recognizing the hallway they turned down—toward the bath. “No. I still despise you.”
Taos stopped in the doorway of, yes, the large bath room. He crossed his stupidly large arms. “I believe that. But I haven’t shown you the violent nature I supposedly inherited. Well, besides that Epsilon that followed you…”
The stirred memory eliminated the coyness. She crossed her arms too, but it was not in amusement. “You thought now was a good time to bring that up?”
“Yes, trinket, because that wasn’t me.”
“It wasn’t?”
“No.” His tone took on a serious note, smile gone, torchlight flickering in his eyes. “It was one of my Epsilon.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“To prove I’m not a villain.”
Sona’s brow furrowed. It was a profound sentence, almost like a promise, like a confession. “Why let me believe it in the first place?”
“You wanted me to convince you of my innocence in that moment?” he asked with a tilt of his head. “You were going through trauma and you wouldn’t’ve believed me anyway if I told you I didn’t kill him for information.”
“I admit, yes. But why were you covered in blood?”
There was a glint of deviousness in his eyes. “Theatrics of course. If they believe a lie, why not have fun playing the part?”
“You know how sad that sounds, right?”
“I do.” Taos leaned on the doorframe; it creaked with his weight. “I’m charming, disarming, and an advocate for existential dread.”
Sona threw her head back and laughed—quickly slapping her hand over her mouth in horror and embarrassment. Taos’ grin grew with delight. She turned that hand into an accusing finger at him. “Don’t think I’ll laugh at every bad joke.”
“Disappointing, knowing that I want to hear it more often.” Quick as lightning, Taos snatched her wrist and brought her hand to his lips, kissing the back of it. “You smell terrible, dear.”
“Stop calling me that,” Sona blurted, trying to get her arm back, but he held fast, tugging her into the warm room.
“Trinket?”
“...No.”
“Sona, then,” he asked, raising a brow.
She swallowed hard. “I guess.” She tugged; he released her and she locked her arms behind her. “Answer my questions.”
“After we get in the water.” Taos pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it on the damp floor. When he started to shimmy out of his pants, Sona whirled around. He chuckled. “You so eagerly want to show me your breasts but won’t give me a chance to show you my—”
“Get in the damn water,” she snapped.
“Eagerly.” A moment later he confirmed, “In.”
She turned around hesitantly. Partially because he slipped in far too quiet and could be completely naked in front of her and partially because she was utterly unsure of the situation. Was she still keen on baring herself?
*Yes*, her betrayer’s mind muttered. *Just get it over with*.
*Just the top part. Lower half later.*
Before she could overthink it and hoping this would get her answers out of him, Sona slipped into the firelight waves fully clothed. She sank to her shoulders and glided slowly toward Taos who was standing near the center of the pool watching her with an expression she could only call pleasantly pensive. It didn’t fit his features that were made for war, not thoughtfulness. A complete turn from the savagery not too long ago.
It only just occurred to her that when he smiled, his teeth were no longer fanged.
“Edom didn’t—couldn’t—do shit to me,” he murmured, gaze following her like a predator to prey. “Normally. I never expected to be punched so hard that I blacked out. I told you; I found you by scent. Something I…”
Sona paused in front of him. The water only rose to just above his hipbones. Above that, all dewy, scarred skin stretched over muscle and bone. And Sona couldn’t stop her mouth from going dry.
“Something I…could never forget.” Taos’ voice had never been this soft or unsure. It was raspy and hesitant as if it struggled to convey his thoughts. That did not fit his appearance either. “I scented Edom, too, the bastard, but…I smelled your fear. And I’d never felt fear before until that moment when I realized you were in danger.”
Sona’s heart was throbbing. Why was he so vulnerable? How could he be? And why in any hell was she so special to him? And yet the stupid bastard was right again: he was disarming. All his teasing, his sneaky touches to her back, every time he defended her against hate…he’d become… Godsdamnit, he’d become likable.
She stilled hated him, though. She couldn’t stand his perfect teeth or his sharp gaze or his cocky attitude. He annoyed the shit out of her and that was one thing she couldn’t stand.
And he’d done it again without telling her this time: giving her an assumption and using her expressions as a confirmation of its truth. At some point she did start calling him by his birth name. She’d been disarmed and it was a grave mistake.
*Fall for him. Huh*.
Sona quirked her mouth. “Thank you, Taos, for showing me the cave.”
“Even though it went to shit?”
“Yes, even though it went to shit. You…you did prove yourself not a villain.” She remembered his words spoken in the dark. “I am not unloveable. That is my promise. To do everything in my power to make you love me.” She inhaled deeply. On the exhale, she started to rise to her feet, not breaking eye contact with him. “And I’m not letting you get away with talking more about what…what you tried to say.”
“And stopped me from speaking the truth?”
“About your promise,” she redirected. “I learn you, you learn me. Which includes more truths. But for now…”
This time, Sona had more courage and more importantly, sensibility. Her mind wasn’t addled by lack of sleep or food. So when she peeled her shirt off and her breasts bounced back into place, she didn’t back down.
*Upper half achieved*.
*Let’s see what he does next.*