Inside my room, I change into a silk nightgown with lace at the hem and sit on the bed facing Talon.
“She’s safe,” I remind him.
He breathes out. “I keep waiting to wake up and have it all ripped out of my hands.”
“You won’t.”
“You don’t know that, Penelope.”
“You’re right,” I murmur. “But I know she’s not alone. That’s what matters.”
He looks down at his hands, jaw tight. “You were good with her tonight. You kept talking to her, and she calmed down. Ihaven’t seen her breathe like that since Dad…” He stops, curses. “Thank you.”
The gratitude hits deeper than anything else tonight.
“You don’t have to thank me. She’s family now.”
Something cracks inside of him. He leans forward and presses his lips to mine, and for a moment the world holds still. No school, no wedding, no Abi hovering in the background.
When he pulls back, I’m the one who feels unsteady.
“I’m going to sit with her,” he says. “Just so I know she’s still breathing.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
He leaves my room, and I stay on the bed, collecting my thoughts. A soft knock taps at my door. Silas slips in without waiting for permission, leaning against the frame.
“You look wrung out.”
“Gee thanks. So do you,” I counter.
“Probably.” His mouth tips in a tired half-smile. “But you’ve been carrying everyone tonight. Minxy, Talon. Hell, even Gideon. Come breathe for a minute.”
I raise a brow. “In here.”
“No.” His eyes soften. “Out. With me. You need noise and something that’s not our family dumping their shit on you. So Gideon and I think you should go to Velvet.”
I blink. “Silas…are you asking me out?”
“I’m asking to take care of you before you break.”
“And you two think Velvet…tonight?”
He nods. “Right now.”
“Talon…”
“Talon has his sister for the first time in years. He wants you to go.” He steps closer, his fingers brushing my hip. “You’ve got anxiety humming under your skin. Let me take it from you for a few hours.”
My breath catches. “Okay.”
His eyes darken. “Wear something you can move in. And something I can take off.”
Heat flashes through me so fast I nearly pass out.
He smirks. “Ten minutes, Angel.”
“I’ll just wear this.” I stand and smile at him, his eyes running the length of my body and the sapphire nightgown I’m in.
