149 Recovery before lunch (1/2)

Raven heard the slam of the back door and followed its slammer out. She crossed her arms and leaned against the glass doors. ”Was that necessary?” She asked her eyes staring daggers into the rippling, tattooed muscles of Arei's back as he gripped the railing of the deck tightly.

Arei let out an irritated sigh, ”I suppose not...” He turned running his hand through his loose hair. ”That kid really knows how to push a man's buttons though.”

She arched her brows. ”And?”

He let out an irritated laugh, ”And it bothers me to no end, knowing that brat has his claws so deeply embedded into Jos's heart.” He shook his head. ”It seems like no matter what the boy does, she automatically forgives him and he's always doing something...” He let out another irritated sigh and turned back toward the cliffs and the turbulent ocean below. ”I wish she'd been that forgiving when we were together.”

Raven pushed away from the door and walked over to him leaning against the rails and following his gaze to the harsh waves. ”She was, you just never came back to see it for yourself.”

”She demanded that I leave, told me she never wanted to see mine or Ry's face again... Not too forgiving if you ask me.” Arei huffed out.

”I know... She's all but said so already.” He turned away as shame and regret colored his words. ”And seeing them together is a constant reminder of what I gave up all those years ago...”

”She'll not leave him no matter what he does, deep down you know that already. It's more than love for her. She feels obligated in a way. She would never want him to feel the abandonment that she did all those years ago.” Raven said, trailing the movements of the others through the glass doors. Ry was gathering some towels by the pool as Shelly stood by nervously glancing back and forth between the pool and the hallway leading to Jos's room. ”It's the biggest reason she didn't want to be in a relationship with him in the first place...” She mumble more to herself than to Arei.

His head snapped around to her. ”What do you mean 'didn't want to be with him'? If she didn't want to be with him, why the hell is she now?”

Raven sighed. ”You're not the only one who's fucked up... I encouraged it from both sides.”

”Why the fuck would you do that?!” Arei roared.

Raven shrugged, ”It seemed like a good idea until it wasn't... I had noticed his feelings for her and the way hers were beginning to change for him... I thought it would be an organic relationship, something beautiful for the both of them.” She frowned. ”I guess I thought with some work they could have something special like Isha and I had... like Shelly and Rin had...”

Arei let out an understanding grunt, ”Key word... had... Relationships like theirs are doomed to failure and if not failure then years and years of pain, heartache, and struggle.”

Raven shrugged, ”Some of us believe it's all worth it in the end if it means being with the person we love.”

He arched a brow. ”Is that so? I guess it's easy for you to say, but you really shouldn't compare your situation with theirs. It's not fair.”

Her brows furrowed defensively, ”How so?”

”You and Isha are both fae which means as long as nothing unexpected happens you will share the same lifespan. The fact you're a gay couple is now celebrated.” He nodded toward the house. ”Shelly's child will not be celebrated any time soon out side her family, and neither will a child of Russ and Jos's. Even though the curse could never be passed that way people will still worry, it wont matter to most that she's a demi-god.”

Raven let out a long breath. ”You're probably right... but what can ya do... As I said those two are as stubborn as they come.”

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