Page 4 of Kindred Sky

Samuel snorted. “If it’s the book I remember, it’s a romance novel. I don’t think anyone would’ve cared if it had been ruined, but if you care so much, I can agree with that—”

“The book matters. It doesn’t belong to you, and you’re not allowed to ruin it.”

Samuel crossed his arms over his chest. “Did I ruin it?”

Matthias really needed to get out of there. The problem was that he didn’t think he could. Moving meant getting the men’s attention, and he really didn’t want to be pulled into this conversation. At the same time, staying here meant that he had no choice.

“You have no respect for the people who live with you,” Thorne accused.

“Of course I do. If I didn’t, I’d be walking around naked.”

Thorne made a strangled noise. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Why not? I used to do it all the time in my birth clan. It’s normal.”

“This isn’t your birth clan, and no one wants to see you naked.”

Matthias secretly disagreed. He kind of did want to see Samuel naked. The man was gorgeous, and most of the time, he was sweet. The only person he seemed to antagonize was Thorne, and part of Matthias wondered if he was doing it on purpose.

“This is my home,” Samuel argued. “Or at least, it’s what I was told when I moved here. I should be allowed to feel comfortable in my home.”

“But not at the detriment of others. It might be your home, but you’re not the only one who lives here, and no one wants to smell your dirty training gear that you abandoned in a corner.”

Matthias understood both points of view, although if he had to pick a side, he’d probably pick Thorne. Samuel wasn’t wrong that this was his home and he should be allowed to feel comfortable in it, but he didn’t live alone. There were rules to living with other people, and that included not leaving smelly training gear around. It also included not abandoning coffee cups all over the castle, not folding the blankets on the couch, and all of the other things Samuel routinely did.

There was no way Matthias was saying any of that out loud, though. This wasn’t his battle. It was Thorne and Samuel’s, and from the looks of it, they were about to make it a real one.

* * * *

THORNE HAD A STICK up his ass. That was the only explanation for the way he was behaving. Samuel had tried to befriend him when he’d first arrived at the castle and it had been clear that he and Winter would stay, but Thorne was aloof. He behaved as if Samuel wasn’t good enough for him, including today.

So what if Samuel was a bit messy? Everyone was, yet Thorne didn’t complain about having to empty coffee cups from the living room when others left them. It was only Samuel, and Samuel had had enough of it.

“Everyone leaves stuff around,” he said.

“I have never once had to pick up smelly training gear from anyone else,” Thorne snapped. “No one else leaves that around.”

“So I made a mistake. Sorry, but there’s no need to yell at me or humiliate me in front of someone else.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t be doing this in front of someone else if I hadn’t tried talking to you several times before and you hadn’t listened.”

Thorne’s gaze flickered to Matthias, who looked like he would rather be anywhere but here. Samuel didn’t blame him. He, too, would rather be anywhere but here.

In fact, he didn’t have to be here. He didn’t have to listen to Thorne berating him. It wasn’t like listening to this man would change anything. He was just ranting and taking out his frustration, and Samuel happened to be his target, but he didn’t have to be.

Samuel turned around to leave. He felt Thorne move and froze, wondering if the man was about to grab him. He wasn’t sure what he would do if that was the case. He didn’t want to start trouble, but if Thorne thought he could touch him in anger, he was wrong.

But nothing happened. Samuel was pretty sure that all three of them were holding their breath, but no one said anything, and Thorne didn’t touch him. In fact, no one moved until Samuel started walking away.

He briefly thought about pausing and asking Matthias if he was coming, but he didn’t. He felt a little guilty about leaving Matthias behind, but it wasn’t like Thorne was going to yell at him. Matthias hadn’t done anything. No, it was only Samuel.

He wound his way through the castle until he reached the small sitting room off his bedroom. He slammed the door open, then slammed it shut, turning to glare at it.

“Damn. What has that door done to you?” Winter asked from the couch in the corner by the window, where he was stretched out, his phone in his hand. He arched a brow, but Samuel just glared at him.

That didn’t faze Winter. He knew Samuel, maybe better than Samuel knew himself. He was used to Samuel’s moods. He would be honest and tell Samuel to fuck off if Samuel was out of bounds.

“Thorne just yelled at me in front of Matthias,” Samuel declared, going over to flop onto the couch next to his best friend.