Not liking the pain in my flirty, bright twins, I try to take some of the sadness from Mason’s eyes.
“Will you help me put them on?” I murmur softly.
Mase takes a deep breath before nodding. He stays there for a moment before lifting his head. There’s still a deep rooted pain in those light blue irises but it’s lighter.
Mase turns me in his lap to face the others. He leans forward to pick up my kindle and the case case to put it on. His arms around me make it clear he doesn’t want me to move.
My eyes flick up to Alec’s and he gives me a small nod.
After he was scared he’d hurt me, Dominic sent Mase to get me an icepack as a way of distracting him.
Mase slips the technology into their cases and I pick them up to admire them, not moving out of Mason’s arms.
“Uhh,” Jace starts before stopping. I look up and he gives me a guilty look.
“Do you remember that necklace you used to have?” He starts again, the guilt never leaving his face.
“The heart one?” I ask and he nods. “Yeah, you gave it to me for my thirteenth birthday. I had it on me when my…when Marcus came to get me and the chain broke.” I don’t let myself think back on it, knowing nothing good will come from that memory.
Jace raises his hands to the back of his neck and undoes the clasp on the chain around his neck, letting it pool in his palm. His eyes linger on it for a brief moment before he grabs my hand, dropping it onto my palm.
I gasp when I see it. “You’ve been wearing it this whole time?” I look up from the necklace up to his grey irises.
He nods slightly. My eyes go back down a I realise there's a new pendant on the chain along with the heart one. It's six tiny gemstones on the petals of a lotus flower surrounding a small pearl.
The chain's long enough that I just pull it over my head.
Speaking of Jace, his eyes are starting to darken. If I know him, he won't want me to say anything in front of the others. I almost leave it alone but the pain never leaves his face.
I seek out Luc's gaze and give him a pleading look I hope he can translate. His eyes flick to Jace before he nods slightly to me.
"We'll start getting breakfast organised while you get ready," Luc announces.
The guys grumble but listen, heading for the door. Maverick kisses my temple before climbing out of bed. It's like they do it almost subconsciously now. Like it's just normal.
Mase's hands squeeze my waist. I give him a confused look and he smirks, raising one eyebrow.
Oh. Right. I clamber out of his lap. I wait until he leaves before sitting directly in front of Jace.
I'm not even sure if he even realises the others have left. His eyes are staring straight at my necklace, his chest rising quicker and quicker and I realise he's having a panic or anxiety attack.
"Jace?" I say softly, reaching out to grab his hands. Panic clouds his stormy grey eyes.
"Jace, look at me, sweetie," I murmur. I squeeze his hands and he looks up.
"Ro," he manages to get out, tears filling those gorgeous grey eyes.
"Yeah, J. I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere," I promise him.
I squeeze his hands again to show him I'm really here and he squeezes mine in response. He pulls me into his lap and I go willingly. His arms reach around me as his head drops to my shoulder. Jace takes sharp, harsh breaths as he struggles to pull himself out of the darkness he’s in.
And I’m the one who put him there.
I run my hand up his back, unsure how to help him. An idea pops into my head. I hesitate for the smallest moment before mentally shaking my head.
“J, let me see you.” He pulls back so I can see his eyes and pain fills me.
I place my hands on his face and Jace closes his eyes, squeezing them shut. He’s struggling.
