Marked By Lies: A Reverse Harem Series (The Marked Series Book 1) by Paige Orr (the red fox clan TXT) 📗

He gets to his feet, grabbing the box from the top of the pile and heading back to his seat in science. I watch him for a moment longer as the others apart from Morpheus get to their feet and get their own box. My eyes flick to Annika who has been silent since she introduced me and Elias to Melissa and feeling my gaze, she glares at me before stomping back to her seat. Morpheus catches everyone's attention as he gets to his feet, joining Melissa at the living room door.

“Try not to kill each other while we go and do our detective shit guys. I doubt Melissa would like to come back and find that her house has been turned into a bloodbath.”

This draws a few chuckles from the room as I flip him off. He really is cheeky sod, but I’m just thankful that his winning personality managed to ease some of the tension in the room. I watch him and Melissa leaving, and once the sound of the front door closing reaches my ears, I turn to the others.

“We all know what the sigil looks like apart from Eric, so first find that in the books. The chapter I remember had a picture of the sigil, so it should be easy enough to find. Once we know the name of the ritual, we can do a more in-depth search.”

Eric catches my eye and I can see the questions filling his eyes. I wave him on wanting to get the questions out of the way so I can start to do my part.

“I know my tracking skills didn’t come in handy for this, but I’d like to stay and help you guys get through this lot quicker if you’ll allow me.

I look around the room for the notebook, finding it lying underneath the coffee table, and get to my feet to collect it. I pass the notebook to Eric as I make my way back to my seat. I know that he will do everything he can since his sister is involved, so I don’t see any harm in him helping out.

“You will find the sigil drawn in that notebook, all you have to do is let us know if you find it in one of these books. I know that this is personal for you, do you think you will be able to put your emotions aside to do this?”

“I don’t have the luxury of letting this shit get to me, you know that better than anyone. Annabelle is only seventeen, she needs me to do my job and bring her home. If that means turning my emotions off, then that’s exactly what I’ll do.”

I never meant to make him feel like he had to close himself off completely, and guilt fills me as I take in his serious expression. Thankfully, Eli saves the day as usual.

“You know that’s not what he meant Eric. he just wanted to check and make sure you're up for this, he’s just shit at putting it into words. He doesn’t want to see you hurt if things end badly, and he sure as shit doesn’t want you to blame yourself.”

I see a tear trail down Eric's face that he quickly wipes away before giving us a weak smile. I hate that I’ve made him feel this way. I’ve never been good at putting what I’m trying to get across into words, and it is even worse when I make someone feel like shit because of it. I give Elias a thankful smile that he quickly acknowledges before turning back to Eric as he begins to talk.

“I know that’s not what he was trying to say, I guess I’m a little rawer than I first thought.”

Put his mind at rest, hoping that I don’t fuck this up as well. I swear after we get our people back I’m going to pay more attention when Elias tries to teach me how to interact with people properly, it’s about time I learned.

“Don’t worry yourself about it, Eric. With what you’re going through right now, it’s expected. Just do what you can and if you need a minute to yourself none of us will mind.”

“Thanks, Cail. I mean it, you're good for our people and I’ll never be able to repay this debt to you.”

“You don’t owe me a thing Eric, it’s my job to protect our people.”

“But we aren’t nobles, your father would never put his neck on the line the way you are for us.”

“I know, and that’s exactly why I need to make sure he has no reason not to step down when it’s time. Many things need to change, the first being how the lower classes are treated. You are my people, no matter what family you’re from, which means you have my protection.”

Eric gives me a watery grin at my words, and I realize once again just how much my people need me. These are the people I’m fighting to protect, as far as I care the nobles can look after themselves, but the lower classes don’t have the same privilege as they do.

Being typical males, we decide that we have had enough soppy bullshit for one day and turn back to the task at hand. The sooner we manage to find some answers, the sooner we can be out there looking for more clues.

We spend the next hour looking through all the books until finally, when we move on to the last box, a shout of victory comes from Annika.

“Guys! I think I found something.”

She leaps to her feet, coming over to the coffee table where the notebook is lying and the rest of us get up to join her. We all look down at the page she has her book opened to, and I can feel