He’s alive.
Both our brothers are still in this world.
Vaughn growled. “They’re all rotten. Every last one of them.”
Jasmine scowled.
We didn’t have time to fight.
“We’ll talk about that later. For now, tell me if you’re alright. No broken bones or anything?”
V sighed, hugging me again. His strength hinted that apart from a few bruises, he wasn’t too damaged. “I’m stronger than I look, little sister.” He couldn’t stop touching me—tucking my hair behind my ears, tracing my cheeks and arms. It was tender, but it wasn’t because of love or the need to connect.
Ever since our mum became Hawk property, Vaughn had always patched me up. He’d find me sprawled at the bottom of the stairs from tripping with vertigo and plaster the scrapes on my hands. He’d somehow be there first if I fell and cut myself—always armed with bandages and painkillers for his delinquent sister.
He was so used to me hurting myself, he had a system. A process.
Words could lie about a fall—brush it off as if it were nothing. But touch couldn’t hide the truth. Touch could feel the heat of a new bruise or the bump of a broken bone.
Even hurt himself, he was still trying to fix and protect me.
I pushed him away. “I’m okay, V. Honest.”
“We need to get you out of here.” He swung his legs off the bed. “Now. Tonight.”
“You’re not going anywhere.”
Both our heads whipped up to face Jasmine. She’d rolled closer, sitting with her hands in her lap. I didn’t trust for a second she was as meek as she seemed. She probably had hundreds of weapons hidden in her blanket.
“I’ve given you time to say hello. I’ve given you time that I didn’t have to give. But now you have to come with me.”
Vaughn stiffened. “I don’t have to do anything.” Grabbing my hand, he squeezed. “I’m taking my sister, and we’re leaving.”
“No, you aren’t.” Jasmine’s face darkened. “You’ll do what I say.”
I froze. Once again, my loyalties split. I used to belong to Vaughn entirely. He was blood. He was the exact replica of me in every way. But my heart had replaced him with my chosen one.
The one I thought was dead.
We would never be as close because we would never need each other as much as we once had.
It was both sad and freeing at the same time.
“She’s right, V. We can’t leave. Not yet.”
Vaughn’s eyes popped wide. “What the fuck does that mean?” Raising a finger, he pointed at Jasmine. “Wait a minute...who are you?” His voice slipped into a hiss. “Are you one of them? Because if you are, so fucking help me I’ll wring your neck—girl or not.”
Jasmine didn’t back down. She didn’t even flinch. “If you’re asking if I’m a Hawk, the answer is yes. If you’re asking if I love my brothers as much as you love your sister, then the answer is yes. And if you’re asking if I’m on your side, the answer isn’t so simple.”
Vaughn let me go, pushing off the bed to tower over her. He stumbled a little, but it didn’t stop him from sucking in a breath and whipping the room with temper. “If what you say is true, then you know what I feel and I’ll do anything to protect my twin. I won’t put your needs before hers.Ever.”
Jasmine gritted her teeth. Her eyes flashed with frustration for Jethro and Kes. The longer we argued, the less time we had.
They need us. Now. Before it’s too late.
“Vaughn, listen to me—”
“No, Nila,youlisten tome. I don’t know how she brainwashed you, but it’s over. They’re all noxious; therefore, they’ll all die.” He took a step closer to Jaz. “And if you don’t move out of my fucking way, you’ll be the first to go.”
