Chapter 63: Jasmine
When I enter the walk-in wardrobe to finally get dressed, I try not to spend too long being enamoured by the clothes again. Deciding to opt for something simple, black jeans, and a deep violet jumper.
Julien waits for me in the bedroom, but when I enter, we end up back in the wardrobe for a few more minutes…
When he finally flits us to Ezekial’s office to be with the others, I take a moment to appraise them, because they’re all dressed in their enforcer uniforms.
And I suddenly find myself wishing I could go back and change, maybe source something to almost match…
But Sai’s wicked smirk catches my attention as he scales me from head-to-toe.
“Those jeans are dangerous, Red,” he murmurs, tilting his head for another angle. “They don’t leave anything to the imagination.”
“Did you find the accessory drawer, Jasmine?” Ezekial doesn’t look up from his desk as he asks.
I frown at the sudden question. “I don’t think so… I only really looked at the clothes.”
“You might want to find it next time,” Ezekial adds, eyes still on his monitor. “You’ll find something to shut up Sai.”
“Fuck off,” Sai growls, but there’s no heat in it, just excitement. His grin turns feral. “You actually bought me a muzzle?” He leans over the desk, eyes glinting. “What colour is it?”
Ezekial tries to ignore him, but Sai keeps pushing. “Tell me it matches the collar.”
Julien mutters something in French under his breath, while Kane stays silent beside his brother, gaze narrowed in concentration on Ezekial’s screen.
And I find my gaze drifting to the wall of glass, seeking out the barrier I imagine is there. But not for much longer.
“Mon âme,” Julien murmurs from behind. “Have you thought about what you want to do, when they come?”
“Ifthey come,” I mutter, eyes fixed on the city beyond.
Sai suddenly slumps against the pane to my side, shoulder pressed to it.
“I know you love a hypothetical, Red,” he murmurs, smirk tugging at his mouth. “So, hypothetically…”
I let a small laugh slip through at that, and his eyes catch the sound, brightening just for a heartbeat.
“Ifthey walk through that barrier,” he says more seriously, “what do you want to happen?”
I think. Really think. Not as a threat waiting in the distance, but as somethingrealand imminent.
“I think…” I chew my lip. “I think,hypothetically...”Sai smirks as I play along.“I’d like to speak to them.”
I turn away from the glass, slowly putting my back to the city.
Julien steps behind me, arms settling loosely around my waist. I sink into him, letting his heat and calm surround me. He’s too tall to rest his chin on my head without bending, so he just holds me closer instead.
“I know that makes you nervous,” I continue, glancing at them all. “They’ve lied to me once, why won’t they do it again? But it won’t change what I want, or what I think.” I try to make those words clear, my intentions clear. “I want answers, and I think they know more than I ever realised.”
My response seems to lie heavy on us all. Through the bond, it’s a firm pressure causing just the slightest ache.
“But…” That one word, and there’s the faintest lift in pressure. “Then I start to think… do I really need to know about the past? Does it matter? Maybe…”
I glance down, embarrassed. Too much of a coward to say the rest.
A sliver of shadow races along the floor, snaking up my ankle and curling around my calf.
Kane is already there when I look up, his cold calm soothing my panic. He doesn’t ask me to say anymore, because he doesn’t need me to—he can feel it.
