"I told her not to tell anyone." Brennan chuckled but it sounded strained and full of fear "Promise me you will protect my face when Stone comes to pummel it."

I could not help but admire their relationship. They really were brothers in every way that mattered.

"You two are so cute" I mentioned.

"You are insulting our masculinity, Little Ella." He joked before adding seriously "You need to tell Stone."

"It does not matter." I argued.

"Yes. It does." He affirmed

"What is done is done." I sighed.

Brennan noticed my dishearten behaviour and wrapped his arms around me before pulling my body into his embrace as he spoke "You need a Brennan-hug."

Deep determined footsteps were heard from behind me.

Stone was standing in front of us like some avenging fallen angel. He towered over my sitting stance, casting a shadow.

"Give her to me." Stone growled.

I pulled away and rolled my eyes at his terminator stance.

The dark gaze flicked over my face determinedly. Then his expression contorted to an alarmed expression.

I blinked and he had moved in front of me. He kneeled beside me so he could cup my face in his large hands.

I thought that I was good at hiding what I was thinking. Even when I was upset. Turned out that I was not.

At least not with the person who knew me most.

"What is wrong? What happened to you?" He tried to ask softly but it came out as pressing and darkly impatient.

"Nothing." I gave him my best attempt at a smile "I am fine."

His tone was rough and commanding as he spoke my name "Ella."

It both made my heart soar and annoyed me how he seemed to know my thoughts better than myself.

When I just kept staring into his eyes and not saying anything, he scanned up and down my body until his attention lingered on my arm for longer.

I looked down at where he was frowning at. There was no explanation needed, the redness and the faint marks of a hand mark spoke for itself.

"I am fine" I tried to reassure again.

At this point, Stone was shaking with anger as he gnarled at Brennan "What happened?"

"Well—" The surfer began.

Stone cut him off as he snarled in a dark and threatening tone "Who do I need to kill?"

I shot Brennan a pleading look.

He ignored me as he told Stone "Chase said some stuff to Ella and—"

That was all the giant needed to hear because he took his hands from my face and clenched them into fists.

If he was angry before then he was outraged now. It was the most wrathful I had seen him. His dark pupils darkened further, his jaw clenched, and his nostrils flared.

Before I could even comprehend his intentions, he was already storming down the halls away from us. Away from me.