“I’ve sat back and watched you passively pick on each other, and it’s only getting worse every day. We need to figure it the hell out. We have too much going against us right now to not present a unified front out there.”
Pointing at Kylo, I started, “You used to just deal with his antics like it was a funny nuisance. Yeah, you said shit to him, but it always had an underlying tone of love and humor. Now you just sound like a patronizing dad who’s exhausted and done with his shit. It’s not cool.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lucien smirk, which only fueled the fire rising within my chest. “And you, Lucien–you want to be accepted for who you are, but you need to accept Kylo too. You’re the goofy, sometimes crazy one, and he’s the steadfast, calm, and collected leader of our family. You both need to learn how to coexist without bottling up and simmering on whatever the hell you’re annoyed about until it explodes and bleeds into the rest of our relationships.”
They at least had the decency to look ashamed as my rant ended.
Alexandra pushed away from my chest, crossing her arms over her chest. “Look, I feel extremely guilty for the situation we’re in right now. I think it’s been really hard for all of us to go from the relationship we had when I was creating our stories in my notebook to the relationships we have now. Not only that, but I wouldn’t blame you all if a small part of you resented the fact that I created you. While I lived a shitty life for twenty-one years, I still had all those years to experience the world around me. Somehow I trapped you all in a creative state, not quite alive but still sentient and waiting on me to return each day.”
I could say wholeheartedly that I didn’t feel that way, but I couldn’t speak for them.
She took a deep breath before continuing in a softer, more vulnerable tone as her eyes fell to the floor, “And part of me feels really awful that I formed you into my idea of perfection for each of you…and now you’re stuck in those molds. I want you all to feel comfortable and free to be who you are, but I feel like I’ve taken away that opportunity.”
NowthatI could speak on. Snagging her hand, I gave it a squeeze. “Alexandra, I can tell you that’s not the truth. Maybe we were unable to deviate from the mold while you were writing our stories. The second we came to life, though, I found my true voice and had the freedom to try out new desires and mannerisms that came to me. We absolutely have our own free will here.”
Her beautiful eyes misted with tears, but I saw the instant the desire to fight them off and hide her emotions took over. The urge to hide her emotions was ingrained in her from her lonely, harsh upbringing. Tugging her to me, I wiped away the few that trailed down her cheeks. “Do not feel guilty for creating us, love. If you hadn’t, we’d never get to experience this beautiful life together, even if it has only just started.”
She sniffled while nodding at me, and I found myself hoping that she knew I wasn’t just saying that to ease her fears. I truly meant it.
Silence descended, and as I turned my gaze to glare at my brothers. I was ready to chew into them some more but held my tongue as Kylo swung his gaze to Lucien.
“I’m sorry, Lucien. I have been a prick to you recently, but it’s because I know I’m kind of our lead person. I’m feeling wildly out of control, like I can’t do anything to help prevent the war that’s coming for us. I can’t bear to think of anything happening to you three, and it’s been tearing me up inside to feel so useless.”
The hardened front Lucien put on since Kylo cut him off earlier melted away in an instant. Lifting a hand to run his fingers through his hair, as he always did when he was uncomfortable, he nodded for a moment before taking a deep breath and looking Kylo in the eyes.
“It has been very hard to feel like I’m a disappointment or that it’s embarrassing to be around me.” His gaze swung toward Alexandra before continuing, “You may have created us, but I am truly trying to embrace who I am, and that’s why I think it’s been hitting me so hard recently. I’ve started trying to temper my anger slightly, trying to lean more into making the people I love smile instead. I don’t feel stuck in any type of mold, angel. I’m trying to find myself, and I just want to be accepted for whoever that ends up being. You’re my family, and I’d have nothing without you all.”
Finally.
The hurt feelings and truths were surfacing. Relief crashed through me at the thought of all of this finally coming out so we could heal the wounds and fears they were hiding.
“I think the one thing we can all agree on is that we want to love and support each other through whatever is coming our way next, yes?” I asked. It was partially rhetoric–I knew that was the case, but I think everyone needed to hear us acknowledge our joint truth.
“Yes, absolutely,” Alexandra agreed, squeezing my hand as she looked between Lucien and Kylo.
A tense, quiet moment passed before Lucien cracked a smile and opened his arms, “Come here, brother.”
My shoulder sagged as Kylo let out a laugh and embraced him, clapping him on the back as he did.
I spared a glance at Alexandra as they hugged and found the light within her eyes more vibrant.
I knew things wouldn’t suddenly be perfect now that we’d had this talk, but it was a massive step in healing the cracks in our foundation. And for now–that felt like a huge blessing.
Snagging the tonic from the counter, I passed it to Kylo as they separated. “Drink all of this so we can head over to the main house and try to come up with a plan moving forward.”
Alexandra’s stomach growled loudly, and we all turned our eyes on her. The sound was so loud, it was almost like she had a fourth monster stuck in her stomach.
Her cheeks turned pink as she grinned sheepishly. “And get breakfast, hopefully.”
Damn, she was so adorable. And entirely ours.
Chapter 9
ALEXANDRA
Crossingto the main house was a much more enjoyable experience this time. The clouds and I had come to an agreement that they weren’t going to suddenly send me spiraling through the air to my death. Well, I made that agreement with them, but they didn’t make it back with me. I convinced myself they would have if they were sentient, though, and that made me feel better.
I gave a quick knock to the side door of their kitchen before cracking it open. “Hello!” I called as cheerfully as I could. “Can we come in?”
