- 5.
“I refuse… What? The Siren Clan and which
clan?”
Darian’s smug grin vanished. He stared, jaw
slack.
The whole place went dead silent. Everyone
was staring at me, then at him.
Whispers snaked through the crowd. “What
the hell? I thought she was going to pick
Darian. She was all over him before.”
“Maybe the shaman messed up?”
I shook my head. “No mistake. I chose Sylar.”
Darian snapped. He yelled, “Why didn’t you
pick me? Is this because I’ve been distant?
Are you trying to get back at me?”
He seemed to convince himself it was true,
because he glared at me, pissed off.
“Alliances are important. You can’t just mess
around with everyone like this! This isn’t some
game for you to play!”
“Go up there and tell the shaman you made a
mistake!”
く
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Yesterday, he thought I wanted him, begged
me to ask the king to change my mind.
Now that I didn’t pick him, he was still furious.
Darian saw me laughing, and his eyebrows
knotted even tighter. He even reached out to
grab me.
“What are you laughing at? Get up there!”
I dodged him. “What are you so worried
about? Aren’t you happy I didn’t pick you?”
He softened, thinking I was just being a brat.
“Bella, be mature. Don’t pick someone
random just to make me jealous.”
I snorted. “Darian, I told you already. I didn’t
pick you.”
“My taste used to be shit, but I can’t be blind
forever, now can I?”
The crowd burst out laughing. “I didn’t know
Darian was so full of himself! She doesn’t
pick him, and suddenly it’s childish and
く
irresponsible?”
“Did you hear him earlier? He was all like, ‘I
told you to call it off, but you wouldn’t listen. I
had to reject you in public.‘ Gag me with a
spoon!”
“Yeah, it’s not like our Saintess even chose
him. He’s just acting. Someone give him a
stage and let him sing a song.
وو
I couldn’t help but laugh at their spot–on
impressions.
Darian turned red, furious and embarrassed.
He turned on me, rude as hell.
“Your taste is getting worse! Sylar looks like
a goddamn ghost! He’s not a real man. You’ll
be sleeping alone every night.”
“Just wait. You’ll regret this!”
I nodded. “Yeah, yeah. You’re just jealous
because Sylar is better looking.”
“Don’t be so insecure. You might be ugly,
with a shitty personality and no talent, but
く
you and Finny are perfect for each other.
Neither of you are worth a damn.”
Finny burst into tears and ran off. Darian
followed, cursing under his breath.
Neither of them even had the decency to wait
until the ceremony was over.
Good riddance. I let out a breath.
There was only Sylar left. I turned to look at
him. He was staring at the ground, looking
miserable.
Remembering Darian’s awful words, I was
about to say something comforting when the
shaman called us up to the altar.
It was time for the final part of the ceremony.
–
the binding.
