“You tell her the truth,” I say firmly. “Anything she asks. You tell her anything. Everything.” My gaze never wavers. “Can you do that, brother? Can you do that for us?”
Chapter 6: Jasmine
“You like him,” I say with a sly smile, leaning over the marble island in the kitchen.
Kacey and Amon spent the whole morning and afternoon together. She came to me a few times, looking slightly frazzled as he trailed behind, with his soft smile and eager eyes. Always waiting for her attention.
There was a hint of her being overwhelmed, but mostly, she was excited.
And Kane… well, he never reappeared.
I could barely feel him as he hid deep in the realm. Even when it was time to leave, he never returned.
Early in the evening, Kacey and I watched Amon leave the atrium alone, a small smile on his face and an adorable little wave in our direction. Hours later, we returned to Ezekial’s empty office before flitting back to her apartment.
Kacey has been silent ever since, and I haven’t pried. Until now.
“Do you want tea or coffee?” Kacey mutters while refusing to look at me.
She’sverypreoccupied by the kettle, studiously waiting for it to finish boiling.
“I want to know what you think ofA-mon,” I tease, drawing out each syllable of his name.
Kacey’s shoulders tense, just as the kettle clicks off. “You’re having tea.”
I mute my laughter. This is a new version of Kacey, and I loveit.
“Yes, please. Give meallthe tea.” I’m nodding away as though she can see me. “Tell me all the piping hot tea of what you and Amon got up to, especially when I couldn’t see.”
I never knew you could angrily pour water into a mug, but it seems Kacey knows how. She barely fills mine, the water almost sloshing over, before slamming the kettle back onto its stand.
“I gave the signal and you ignored it.”
“Oh, come on!” I move from my side of the island, reaching for my half-filled mug. “You didn’t need it. You knew you didn’t. And you know I would’ve stepped in if you really did.”
She finally looks at me and I see the blush she’s desperately tried to hide. I decide it would be too cruel to point that out, but I’m definitely cruel enough to continue my investigation—until her phone goes off.
Just one little ping, but she’s racing over to it, reading the message without a single glance my way.
“Who’s that?” I tease, leaning over and trying to see. “Is it Amon?” I smile.
She snaps her phone away and backs up, her mild irritation at my light teasing quickly disintegrating into a frenzied panic.
I freeze. Her panic twists into a thick mass of anxiety, churning concern, desperation, and…
Guilt.
“Who are you texting, Kacey?” My voice turns low, biting.
She hesitates, eyes flicking from me to her phone.
I stare at her. “Who?”
“It’s… They’re—they’re just worried about you.”
Has… has she just taken an axe to my chest?
I search her hands, the hands that grip her phone too tightly and nothing else, but she must have? Because that’s the only plausible explanation for how I feel.
