Page 65 of Tears of Revenge

Lysander looked over his shoulder, giving her a wide smile as he nodded.

Delighted, she jumped out of bed and sped to the kitchen with the other two men on her heels. She’d never had someone to cook with. Troy had always thought it was beneath him. She had cooked with her mother as a child, but it felt special to stand next to Lysander and help him prep his meal—more intimate. Here and there they shared loving touches, with Marcus sitting on the counter and Varos watching from afar.

“Would you like me to pick up anything else while I’m out?” Lysander asked after his meal.

“I can’t think of anything.”

“What about paint supplies?” Varos suggested.

“Maybe a few fresh canvases,” she agreed, “but I still have enough paints for now.”

“Even for Varos and I to join you?” Marcus mused.

“Why was I left out of the equation,” Lysander groused, lip poked out in an adorable pout.

“Maybe because you didn’t want to come with us last time,” she giggled, reaching out to touch him. “Maybe Marcus is right. Wait here. I’ll show you the ones I like.”

“It would be nice to know your favourite store as well,” Lysander told her as she left the room.

When she returned Marcus had also put on his shoes. “You’re leaving?”

“Don’t look so worried, little dove. Varos will look after you.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“I think you are doing a fantastic job,” Marcus assured her, pulling her close. “You are going to do wonderfully.”

“What if—”

“No what ifs, little dove. Varos will keep you company while Lysander and I go out and grab everything your little heart could desire.”

She didn’t like the idea, but clearly they were confident enough in her. “Please don’t stay gone for too long.”

Lysander leaned down and kissed her hair. “We’ll be back before you even know it.”

Then they were gone and she was all alone with Varos.

“I’m sorry. I… It’s not that I don’t want to spend time with you, but what if I…” She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.

“I never thought I’d say these words but Marcus is right: you’re doing well. There is no need to worry. Do you have anything in mind that you would like to do while they’re gone?”

“What is something you enjoy doing?”

“Ah, now I might have to show you my latest embarrassing hobby.”

“Why is it embarrassing? Is Marcus making fun of you? Because that’s not nice and I could have a talk with him.”

Varos took her hand in his and walked her down the hallway. “We enjoy teasing each other.”

“But if he makes you feel bad you need to set boundaries,” she insisted.

“I do love the concern you show for me, but there is no need.”

Before she stepped into his room she paused in the doorway. She hadn’t seen his space yet, and she wanted to take her time absorbing the room. Floor-to-ceiling windows cast a bright light over the room, pulling her attention to the garden and the rose bushes she’d just planted. The furniture was made of a light grain wood and unlike Marcus, he’d decided against a bed, leaving the space wide open. A desk sat against one wall, decorated by antique sculptures on a shelf just above it. A long table sat in the middle, scattered with thousands of tiny puzzle pieces.

She stepped up to the table, running her hand across the edge. Varos had sorted the pieces into colours and had started to fiddle together the edges. “It’s huge.”

“I started with small ones, but then Marcus bought this as a joke. I think he had it custom made.”

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