No reason existed for her to say it.He certainly didn’t feel as though he deserved it.Yet, without breaking eye contact, she whispered for only Saer’s ears.“I believe you.”
He couldn’t move.It felt so tenuous.
Kalia closed the distance for him, just as she had before when he felt close to breaking.When hewasbroken.She released his hand, then wrapped her arms around his neck.His breath left, and Saer cradled her closer, tucking her head under his chin so he could hug her for all he was worth.
The tension in the space snapped like a harp string wound too tight.From behind, harried footsteps sounded at the same time Gluttony took off.Meeting in the middle with a concussive embrace, the Twins collided and buried each other’s heads in one another’s shoulders.Arek’s hand fisted in Alus’s hair.Alus’s arms held so tight that the muscles stood out, sharp and defined.
Muffled, Arek berated his twin, the strangled tone belying his words.“Youidiot.”
Alus’s bittersweet laugh served as a balm to emotional wounds.“It’s good to see you too, Handsome.”
Something between a snarl and a cry came from Greed, heedless of anyone else witnessing the loss of self-control.“If you ever,everchallenge one who can destroy us again—”
“Violet.I got you.”Alus’s sentence was punctuated by Arek’s strike to his back as he continued to hug his twin.Gluttony laughed again, then spoke with the remainder of a chuckle in his warm drawl.“Thanks for holding down the fort.”
43
OnceKaliadriedhereyes, Saer made a motion to Errshek to collect the remaining garments he’d picked up months prior.Errshek even kept his grousing to a minimum as he handed the first pile to Sloth.The second set he presented to the Twins who continued to talk in hushed tones, close enough their foreheads almost touched.Arek kept a hand on Alus’s elbow while his twin mirrored the gesture in kind, unwilling to part from one another.Even so, as Envy approached, Gluttony smiled so brightly that Errshek couldn’t help but smile back.
Alus ruffled Errshek’s dirty blonde hair, his smile extending into a grin.“Glad to see you again, Pup.”
Errshek’s happy expression dashed away as he ducked and slapped Alus’s hand away, throwing the clothes at him.“Don’t pretend I’d be missed.”
Gluttony snatched the garments from the air.“Bambino, if you weren’t around, who could I trust to bring me…” Detaching himself from Greed for the first time since they’d embraced, Alus used both his hands to shake out the clothes.“...Wow.”Alus glanced around at the rest of theDaemoenicaand shook his head.“We’ve got to do something about this.You all look like you belong in a compound.”
“Not my fault.”Errshek straightened his hair as he walked away.
Runeak had long since lost interest in the conversation at hand and retreated under the canopy to gather items from her stores.
Pride approached the newly arrived Gluttony who swiped dust away from his freshly donned garment.Alus half shrugged and tilted his head to meet Saer’s gaze.True to his particular quirk, the twin’s eyes reflected the ivory hue of his shirt.“What can I do for you, Boss?”
The more wary twin stilled, but laid fingers on Alus’s upper arm—a protective touch.
Alus had already moved on.
Arek didn’t trust it.
All was back in balance.
Saer opened his mouth but paused—there was so much, yet so little to say.He let out his breath in a mirthless huff.“You did it.”
The words helped Arek to relax a fraction.
Alus grinned.“You planned the party, I just solidified the guest list.”
“Party is a strong word—”
“You telling me my better half lied to me?”
Saer glanced at Arek in confusion, who loosened up enough to wear his usual sarcastic lip curl.“I may have gathered some supplies from town without your knowledge.”The way he said ‘supplies’ implied more than the word suggested.
Saer glanced between the glowing eyes of the Twins.“We have matters to discuss.”
Alus reached forward to clasp the side of Saer’s neck.More impressively, Pride allowed the touch.“We will, Captain.But first…” The corners of Alus’s lips could never keep from grinning for too long.“We drink.”
Sloth had the hiccups.
Greed and Gluttony lay shoulder-to-shoulder, one of Alus’s ankles crossed over Arek’s lower leg.
