“What’s stopping you?”
“I…” Her mouth closes as she swallows.
“The fun we’re going to have, darling,” I say, other hand wrapping around her cheek. “The things you didn’t know you desired… All of that starts here. With each of us. All together and apart. I can’t wait to show you everything.”
She steps out of my grasp so quickly that I nearly fall forward.
“Oh, god,” she says, hands threading into her hair. “Oh, god. This is bad. This isso bad.” She begins pacing in a circle, agony stretched across her features.
“What is?” I ask, though I already know the answer.
“How is there two of you?” she mutters under her breath. “How is this even happening?”
“Why is this so bad?” I ask.
“Because I like you, Jax. But I also really like Nick, and you’re brothers. It isn’t like you’re strangers. Strangers, I would be fine with not telling one about the other. But you’re not.”
I consider her conflict, the anguish on her face. I can say that this is okay all day, but she won’t believe me until she hears it from him.
“Okay,” I say, and I think it’s the first time in my life I’vevolunteeredto wait.
She stops looking like she’s going to rip her hair out and peers at me surprised. “What?”
I take a step forward and bring her into my arms again. “Love, whenever you decide to let me in, I’ll be there. Sunset. Sunrise. The middle of the day or night. Today, tomorrow… I’ll come running when you’re ready.”
Chapter 14
Blaze
Ikeep tapping my phone to make sure I haven’t missed any updates. It’s past six, an hour later than I know Juniper got off from work. It doesn’t bother me that I haven’t heard from either of them, though it is taking most of my strength not to walk to her house to see if he’s inside.
I push the Codex copy away from me and slump into my seat. My eyes are beginning to cross from staring at the words and symbols all day. I’m looking for the loophole I missed last time, familiarizing myself with every phrase and conjunction that could ever get thrown at us for keeping her.
If she’ll have us.
The last sprite was no help. She’d just repeated back her oath to my godforsaken mother, refusing to spill whether she’d told her what I was up to yet. Finally, I grew tired of trying to get it out of her, and I’d squashed her like the absolute cockroach she was.
It’s been a while since I’ve lost control like that over another magical creature.
Maybe my brother is right.
Maybe it’s high time they remember who I am.
Luckily, sprite blood isn’t visible to humans. I can’t imagine trying to explain this to Juniper.
My phone vibrates just as I rub my hands over my eyes. Shit, I need a break. I pick up the device eagerly, hoping it’s one of them to break me free from this labor.
Juniper
I need to see you.
Her eagerness perks my curiosity.
Is everything okay?
Can you come over?
Yeah. Are you okay?
