Page 9 of Underworld

“So it’s not something I’m doing wrong. Is that what you’re saying?” Howe asks.

Alec rolls so he can crawl across the bed to Howe. He quickly kisses his lips and replies, “You could never do anything wrong. I love you just the way you are.”

I watch the blush crawl across Howe’s cheeks as he nods. “Okay. I suppose a shower is in order, and then cuddles.”

Chapter Nine

Jane

I wake surrounded by warmth. Mhm. That’s nice; I could get used to this. I snuggle deeper into the heat and then realize in my sleep-ridden state that two bodies are engulfing me. My eyes slowly open to find Alec snuggled close to me with one arm lying over my torso while the other is tucked under his head. His leg is also propped over my own. I look at his face and smile. He looks so peaceful.

I shift just enough to look over my shoulder at Howe. My head is lying on one of his arms, using it as a pillow, and his other arm is wrapped around me and holding onto Alec. The lanterns in my new room provide a soft glow that illuminates Howe’s light-chocolate skin perfectly. He looks like a bronze god or something.

Soft piano music floats down the hallway, bringing a smile to my face. Jace! I slowly shimmy out of my cocoon so I don’t wake the boys. Once out of the cocoon, I grin as I watch Alec and Howe move into the warm spot I vacated. They wrap their arms around each other, and I hear Alec hum in contentment.

The floor is a bit cold, so I slip on a pair of socks. Slowly, I make my way out the door and down the hallway toward the music. I notice none of the bedrooms have doors, and all are softly lit. I pass what I assume are Alec’s and Howe’s rooms because they are both empty.

Jace’s room is to my right, and as I look to my left, I notice what I assume is Zane’s room due to how dark it is compared to the others. I can barely make out the form of a body on the bed. Looking back into Jace’s room, I see it’s brighter with black and white geometric tiles and black industrial-looking lights hanging from the cave ceiling.

I slowly enter his room and see Jace playing piano in the corner. His eyes are closed, and he’s smiling softly. His fingers are graceful as they glide across the piano keys. I instantly recognize the music he’s playing. It’s one of the few songs he used to play for me as a kid. River Flows In You. The version I first heard was from a guy named Yiruma. Jace would have his music on repeat all the time. I used to beg him to play over and over again.

Not wanting to disturb him, I tiptoe to his bed. I situate myself so I’m lying on my belly, watching him play. I close my eyes and enjoy the music as it takes me back to a time I’ve missed dearly.

“Play it again!” I squeal.

Jace laughs. “You’re going to make my fingers fall off if I play anymore, Princess.”

“Please. Just one more time, J.” I pout.

He sighs. “Fine. But I’m only playing it one more time.”

I nod enthusiastically and smile as he plays my favorite song again. Humming along with the music, I close my eyes and lean my head against his shoulder while he plays. “I love this one. It’s my favorite,” I say with a sigh.

I can hear the smile in Jace’s voice when he says, “Considering the number of times I have played this for you, I’m sure you could play it yourself by now. I could download the song for you.”

Shaking my head against his shoulder, I say. “I don’t want the other version. I want yours.”

“Why’s that? It sounds exactly the same.”

“No, it doesn’t. Yours is different.”

“How so?” he asks as his fingers glide across the keys.

I shrug. “It just sounds different. It . . . feels different.”

He hums. “How does it feel different?”

I smile against his shoulder and reply, “When you play, I feel like it’s only you and the guys with me. I don’t have to go home. I’m free . . .”

He’s silent for a moment as he plays the last few notes. I’m sad because I don’t want to go home once the music ends. He presses the last key but then flows back to the song's beginning again. Leaning his head on mine, he says, “Then I’ll play this song for you forever.”

The silence surrounding me jerks me out of my memory. I open my eyes to find Jace staring at me from his seat at the piano. He raises a brow in question. “You seemed lost in thought there, Princess.”

I smile. “I was lost in a memory.”

He hums as he turns back to the piano and starts playing the song again. “Which memory was that?” he asks.

Shifting from my position so that I’m sitting cross-legged on the bed, I answer, “I was remembering when you would play this song for me over and over again.”

---