Caden slumps, his head falling into his hands. “Not gonna happen. I can’t stand her. She will abide by my rules, or she’ll get punished. Simple. She won’t get a thing from me until that sinks in.”
I chuckle at the absurdity. Considering he’s the one who gave her that fucking book. I won’t confront him about it now, though. No matter how badly I want to grab him by the shoulders and fucking chin him for his naivety. Sure, it’s a gesture for him, but how does he expect her to get it? Maybe that’s the point, he can show her his affection in his own weird way, and she can’t throw it back in his face. If I say anything, he’ll just shrivel up and lie through his teeth. Or, by the look in his eye, attack me. Despite any Blackwood laws, I wouldn’t put it past him not to go for me right now if I push him enough. I’velearned that when it comes to Elodie Valor, Caden has no limits and barely any restraint.
“You’ll get tired of it eventually, you are already,” I say, instead of spewing all the stuff I want to. “You should just try another way.”
“Might be worth a shot, bro,” Fiz chimes in, “can’t be worth all this agg.”
“It’s not how I do things,” Cade mumbles, “never has been.”
“Well, you’re just being stubborn then,” I say.
He exhales long and slow. “I’m in too deep now, she won’t change her behaviour for me just because I’m nice.”
“Then you’re going to have a long, miserable life.”
Caden drops his hands and pushes upright. Walking away from us, he mutters, “That was already the case long before she came along.”
CHAPTER 42
FIZ
It’s safe to say this house is one big eggshell on the edge of cracking the whole place in two. I went back up to my little brunette last night and filled her little pussy up three times, picturing Elodie the entire time. Then the sun came up, and I kicked her out. I assumed Elodie would have been busy with Caden, but when I went to have a little peep and saw her riding the fuck out of Alfie’s face, I was more delighted than I expected. She is a cheeky little minx. And Alfie’s a lot braver than I thought.
I was expecting it to come to blows last night between the two of them, but this whole situation has been exhausting, so it’s no surprise. No girl has ever come between any of us, this is unfamiliar territory for all of us. I was pleased that Caden kept his head screwed on and didn’t lose it. No one’s worth splintering us. We’re better than that. Maybe he had his way with her in the woods before she hopped on Alf anyway. I’m still yet to learn the details.
Maggie’s got a feast of a breakfast set up for us. It’s later than usual, knowing we’re all probably hungover or exhausted. The house is already clean when I come down, Maggie wouldhave had an entire crew here from the crack of dawn to get it disinfected.
I’m the first one down, not having got a lick of sleep yet. I suspect I’ll be sleeping until sundown later. No work for the next couple days, we all get to refresh and relax for a while after a gruelling forty days, and I cannot wait to dive back into my vices. I’m the least interested in this bullshit than everyone else. I suppose that’s stemmed from not being an official Blackwood or just part of this world in general. Another thing that sets me apart from all the people I call family.
I get the dogs fed and wait at the table for the others. Alfie comes first, wearing nothing but a pair of grey shorts. Blonde hair dishevelled and eyes puffy.
He heads straight for the coffee machine.
“Morning, sunshine,” I say.
He grunts in response.
“How was the nut in the end?”
He huffs. “Very underwhelming.”
I chuckle. I know the brown-haired girl Alfie had swept up downstairs left the house, and there were no girls left available by the time we all went back up to bed. “Shower or bed?”
“Shower. So I could wash away the shame at the same time.”
I burst into laughter. He laughs too, despite himself. He takes his seat next to mine when Caden walks in, looking just as broody as he did last night.
He plops down in his seat at the head of the table and scrubs his face roughly. This is probably the worst we’ve all looked after a hunt. All because of one girl. What the fuck’s happening to us?
We’re just about to dive into breakfast when movement in the corner of my eye makes me look up from my plate of sausages.
“Well, well, well, good morning, Sleeping Beauty.”
She’s standing in the doorway, hugging herself, looking timid and sleepy.
The boys look at her too, but Alfie only spares her a quick glance over his shoulder before looking back down at his plate. Sheesh, the awkwardness is tangible.
“Is there enough for me?” she asks quietly.
