Free Evans, Gabrielle - Reckoning [Fatefully Yours 9] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever ManLove) by Gabrielle Evans

viewed him as weak because he was the “sensitive” one. Well, not any more. He was a warrior, a demon, and born for battle. He could be just as cold and ruthless as anyone.
    Echo came running out of Hex’s room, shouting Syx’s name. “Will you just calm down and talk to me?”
    Stopping just before he entered his room, Syx turned slowly and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m calm. There’s nothing to say, though. Apparently, one screwup, and I’ve been tried and convicted without a word in my defense.” He held his hand up when Echo opened his mouth to argue. “I’m calm,” he repeated.
    “Syx, it wasn’t like that. We’re just worried about you.”
    Syx snorted. “I got drunk, Echo. It’s not like I set the house on fire, stripped naked, and danced around it.”
    “It’s not like you, though.”
    “And what exactly am I like? Sensitive, understanding, the guy who lets everyone walk all over him because he doesn’t have the balls to stand up for himself?” Syx shook his head. “I’m done being that guy.” He was also done with the conversation. Entering his room, he closed and locked the door right in Echo’s protesting face.
    “Syx!” Echo pounded on the door. “Open this damn door. I’m not finished talking to you.”
    Stripping out of his clothes, Syx crawled into bed and closed his eyes. It only took a few minutes for someone to come and lead Echo away. The blissful quiet settled over him, and Syx sighed in relief. Maybe if everyone was pissed at him, they’d keep their distance, and he’d finally be able to find a moment’s peace.

Chapter Eight

    By the time the sun went down, Echo had worked himself up to the point of nausea. He locked himself in his room, refused to eat, and wouldn’t talk to anyone. Syx hadn’t emerged from his room, either. No one could get him to say a word, not even Vapre.
    The silent treatment was beginning to gnaw at Eyce’s nerves. He could understand why the men were upset, but they were acting like a couple of women. Not that Eyce knew much about women, but they seemed more emotional and prone to tantrums—which is exactly what Syx and Echo were doing. They’d had their feelings hurt, overreacted, and were having themselves a good little pity party.
    “Still nothing?”
    Eyce looked over his shoulder at Fiero. He hadn’t even realized he was standing in front of Syx’s door, just staring at the wood. Okay, maybe he wasn’t as immune to the situation as he’d like to believe. It killed him that his men were hurting, and he didn’t know how to fix it.
    They were still being immature assholes, though.
    “No, nothing. Should we just kick the door down and drag him out?”
    Fiero snorted and shook his head. “Yeah, I see that going over well. Maybe we should just leave him alone until he’s calmed down and pulled his head out of his ass.”
    Though stubbornness played a major factor, Eyce suspected there was more to Syx’s meltdown than they knew. The screaming fit the warrior had when none of them had uttered a word out loud was one clue as to Syx’s state of mind. Eyce wasn’t sure what happened after that.
    Syx had gone quiet and seemed angrier than ever. He’d also looked hurt before walking out of Hex’s bedroom. The fact that he wouldn’t even allow Echo to talk to him spoke volumes. No one could resist Echo no matter how upset they were.
    “If you’re going to think so loudly would you please do it somewhere else?” Syx yelled through the door, causing Eyce to jump.
    “Or you could just open the door so I can say it out loud and to your face,” he countered.
    “Go away.”
    “You’re acting like a child. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and just talk to us,” Fiero yelled right back.
    Eyce closed his eyes and groaned. That wasn’t the way to get through to Syx. The harder they pushed, the more the demon retreated into himself. Putting demands on him and calling him names was not the way to get the response they