Briar knelt in front of a trunk that had been pushed against the wall.She swiftly jammed a key in the lock.After it let out aclick,she lifted the lid, then stepped back, gesturing inside.
“This,” she said, “is my collection.”
Kieran stepped forward, terrified of what she might be showing him.He peered inside gingerly, practically waiting for some kind of strange beast to jump out and bite him.Instead, however, he had to withhold a barking laugh as he realized what he was looking at.
Inside were at least fifty paperback romance novels, all with illustrated covers of couples in various states of undress.People of all genders clung to one another, hair windswept and chests exposed.A few even had humans held in the clutches of various half-human, extremely muscular beasts.
Kieran’s jaw hung open, and he found himself unable to speak.
“There are a few in here that may speak to you,” Briar said.She reached inside and grabbed one featuring two men on the cover, one shirtless while the other wore a heavy trench coat.She handed it to him.“This one has a nice friends-with-benefits storyline.”Kieran took it, and she shoved another in his hand.“This one has a relationship with three men.Just in case polyamory is of interest.”
“I—” Kieran’s shock silenced him for a beat.He could say with total certainty that he’d never considered anything of the sort.One partner was enough anxiety for him to deal with; he severely doubted he had the communication skills for two.“Briar, how many of these have you read?”
“Rough estimate?”Briar considered it.“A thousand, maybe?This isn’t my entire collection, obviously.I have way more at home.If I’m not spending money on necessities, it’s going to this.”
Kieran was agog.Instead of elaborating, Briar handed him a third novel.This one pictured a shirtless, extremely built man, grinning with a mouthful of fangs and a trickle of blood running down his chin.
Despite himself, Kieran blushed.“Does Delilah know you have all these?”he squeaked.“In your…smut trunk?”
Briar snorted at that.“Of course.Sometimes I read them out loud to her when she’s baking.She thinks they’re hilarious.”
“Oh.”Kieran’s eyes scanned the covers again, wondering just how many of them had been read aloud in their apartment while he was at work or asleep in his room.“Interesting.”
“Listen,” Briar said, getting to her feet as Kieran stood frozen with an armful of books.“Everything I know about relationships, I learned from these.If you’re not sure what you want, fiction’s agreat way to figure it out.There are no unspoken romance rules you have to follow.You just have to figure out whatyouwant.Does that make sense?”
Kieran frowned.He’d been asking himself what he wanted a lot recently.
“So…you don’t think I’m a terrible person for kissing Sebastian?”
Briar scoffed.“Of course not.Granted, you should probably tell him that you’re in a weird place with all the Ash stuff just so he knows what he’s dealing with, but no.”
“And I wouldn’t be a terrible person if I wanted to kiss him again?”
“I don’t think so.”Briar pointed to the books.“I’m serious—read those.Think of it as a learning experience.A crash course in different kinds of relationships, if you will.”
Kieran swallowed, the lump in his throat bobbing.He had, admittedly, never been one to consume this sort of literature.In fact, he’d read nothing but elegant love poetry about undying romance for most of his life.Maybe that was why everything else seemed so strange to consider.
Kieran held the books to his chest like a secret to keep.“I…I think I will.”
Briar closed and locked the trunk.“Good.If you ever want more, just let me know.”
“Noted.”He nodded.“Thank you, Briar.Genuinely.”
“Anytime.Now let’s get out of here and see if breakfast is ready.I’m starving.”Briar headed for the door, Kieran nodding in agreement as he followed.Then she paused.
“Might want to drop those off in your room first, though.”
“Oh—sure.”Kieran held them tighter.“Will do.”
After he had tucked the novels under his pillow, he followed his sister down to breakfast.
Maybe Briar’s right,he thought, eyes bright.I just need a little perspective.
Chapter Seventeen
Down on the main deck, Delilah and Santiago had just finished cooking.Soon, the table was filled with the usual spread of fluffy scrambled eggs, pork sausage, golden pancakes, and—special for that morning—flaky chocolate croissants.Santiago put an upbeat jazz record on.While everyone loaded up their plates, Kieran took a head count.
Sebastian was missing.
