Before I can think too hard about it, I’m inside the shop, the bell above the door jingling softly. I grab a pack of them, then another, just in case, then pay quickly, heading back to the car and sliding the stars onto the passenger seat next to the bouquet and the folder.
Twenty-five minutes later, I punch in the gate code and pull up to the mansion. The headlights wash over the driveway as I park near the front, far enough from the garage to keep the noise down. I step out, clutching the bouquet, the folder, and the bag of stars, feeling like an idiot and hoping I don’t look like one.
The front door opens as I approach the stairs, and I’m greeted by Sylus’s smirk and Alaric’s unreadable gaze. Perfect. Just what I needed. The welcoming committee.
“Where is she?” I ask, skipping the pleasantries.
Sylus leans against the doorframe, looking far too amused. “Hello to you, too, asshole.”
Alaric crosses his arms but tilts his head toward the house. “Living room. She’s with Koen, Levi, and Ezra, watchingMasterChef. I think she fell asleep.”
Sylus snickers. “Yeah, she didn’t see you.”
“Good,” I mutter, shifting the bouquet in my hand. Alaric’s eyes land on the flowers, and his face softens.
“Nice flowers,” he compliments. “Fits her.”
“Thanks. I thought so too.”
Sylus looks between the bouquet and me, his grin widening. “What are you planning to do?”
I hesitate, hating that I have to open up to them. But as much as I want to brush him off, I need someone to tell me I’m not completely insane. “We were stargazing on our date. And, I don’t know, I brought these glow-in-the-dark stars. I thought I could put them on her ceiling and?—”
“Sure, bring your stars.” Sylus interrupts. “Her favorite is in my pants anyway.”
“Shut up, Sy.” Alaric chides him, his tone sharp but amused. He turns back to me, his expression softening. “That sounds perfect, Nicholas. She’ll love it.”
I blink at him, caught off guard by the sincerity. “You think?”
Sylus steps forward, clapping a hand on my shoulder with enough force to jolt me. “We’ll help you, dickhead. Make sure you’re quick.”
“Seriously?”
What is even going on?
His smirk widens as he yanks me into an unwelcome hug, his arm slinging around my shoulders with a theatrical sigh. “Welcome to the family,Short King.”
I groan, trying to shove him off, but he only laughs, tightening his grip like an annoying little brother. Still, there’s no denying the warmth that spreads through my chest, the unexpected feeling of belonging that I’d been missing.
As Sylus finally lets me go, I glance between the two of them. “Thanks,I guess.” I shake my head, but there’s a smile tugging at my lips now, one I can’t fight.
TWENTY-EIGHT
The softest touch pulls me from sleep, gentle hands brushing against the side of my head. A kiss follows, warm lips pressing lightly against my temple, and then a voice drifts into my consciousness.
“Wake up, precious,” Koen murmurs, his breath tickling my ear. “Sylus’s going to take you to bed.”
I cling to him instinctively, nuzzling closer to the warm cocoon of vanilla and spices that ishim. The day floods back to me, the hours we spent together eating, watchingMasterChef, and curling up like we didn’t have a care in the world, like lovesick puppies tangled in a heap of soft kisses, strokes of his fingers along my arm, and the occasional press of his lips to my hair.
I don’t want to move. I don’t want to leave this. “No,” I mumble, my voice thick with sleep. “Not yet.”
“Come on, Little Thief,” Koen chuckles softly, his hand gliding down my arm in lazy strokes. “Sylus is waiting.”
“You heard him, Sparkle. Let’s go. I don’t have all night.”
I groan, burying my face in Koen’s shoulder, but he shifts, his hands sliding under mine as he pulls me upright. “You’ve got to go upstairs now.”
“Why do you want me to leave,” I protest like a toddler, making them both chuckle.
