"I'll talk to you," Ronan said softly, twirling the crystal fruit bowl that he'd cleaned and set back out on the breakfast bar. "Just promise you'll try not to get mad because even though I know you're not mad at me, at the time, it feels like you are and then sometimes I get scared that you're angry with me."

"Fuck me." Slamming his peepers shut and raking his hand through his new cut, Raven cursed a series of words so vile, a sailor of the black seas would have tipped their hat in respect. Ronan watched, nails biting into the loose skin around his nail bed, digging in until...