Page 95 of Fallen Princess: Shadow Stalker

“Life is too short to ponder it. I’m already talking with Liam about the business and the future of me spending less time in England.”

“Does Eden know?” I ask because I used to think I was the impulsive brother. Seems like the roles have now reversed.

“She knows how I feel about her.”

He’s going to send her running for the sand dunes.

“Does she know you’re rearranging your whole life because of her?”

“It's not because of her.”

Bullshite.

“Yes, it is,” I stare at him as if he’s lost his marbles. And they said I was the lunatic brother. “She deserves to know, you’re already making permanent changes to be with her.”

The momentary silence is cut short by Jagger’s mobile ringing, and as soon as he sees the caller, he gets up to answer it and walks out of the room.

“So, this isn’t much of a first aid kit,” Eden remarks upon entering the room. I observe my brother's eyes light up, not in the conventional sense of seeing a bright light but in the manifestation of a blazing, dark possession that is only reserved for her.

If he had that kind of look for her ten years ago, I don’t remember, but it’s strange seeing him this way. Before we arrived in America, he was the most outspoken against her. I wonder if he told her aboutJessie and how he almost married someone. Eden wasn’t the only big love in my brother’s life, but I wonder if he looked at his fiance the same way. This is the first time in years since I had any relationship with him, but if he wants to dive headfirst into this relationship without caution, that’s his prerogative.

Better him than me.

I watch Eden bring a large bowl of water to the kitchen island where we sit. She lays out the soap, some cotton buds, and ointment cream on the counter in front of her.

We’ve been in fights before and never really tended to our raw knuckles, but I don’t think anyone plans on stopping Eden from wanting to play Florence Nightingale with us. Actually, I like the attention she’s giving me as she holds my hand in hers and dabs the dampened cotton against my swollen hand. I observe her as she’s utterly focused, silently biting on her inner cheek as if she's restraining herself from uttering something significant.

“Got something on your mind, siren?” I inquire.

She flickers her deep green eyes at me.

“I’m thinking about how it’s not the first time I've come across my symbols. The first week I moved here, while walking Storm, I stumbled upon it spray-painted on a neighbor's fence. I had an unsettling feeling of being followed and narrowly escaped being hit by a speeding car. It's not there anymore, so I assume the property owner noticed and had the fence repainted.”

I was right about more things going on and cast a sidelong glance at Haze, who remains silent but exchanges knowing glances with Asher.

He leans towards us. “Why didn't you mention this earlier, princess?”

“For many reasons, none of which I want to elaborate on. But I think now with Oliver Jones admitting he was responsible for the video and leaking it, things will be a lot different between all of us. Maybe we can learn to trust each other again since that weight has been lifted off our shoulders. Not trusting you is my biggest remorse. I don’t want that between us anymore.”

She lightly squeezes my hand as she says it as if to emphasize the meaning of her words.

Haze reaches out and pulls her to him. She stands up from the stool, and the height difference between them is dramatic. Eden isn’t a tiny or petite woman, but my brother’s height and athletic build dwarfs her. Actually, we all do with Eden, especially when we’re ina group, it becomes even more noticeable, which is why I’ll never understand how the media and public targeted her in the video scandal and tarnished her image instead of the four giants.

I watch my brother take the cotton wool from her hand, settling it on the counter, sliding his hand up her arm, dipping behind the nape of her neck, and drawing her closer as his mouth claims hers in a slow, intimate kiss.

I look away, reminding myself that longing for her will only lead to a more fucked up mind than I already possess.

Reaching out, I rip the plaster off Eden had just put on my broken skin. The air in the room feels heavy, and a sense of unease settles over me as I sit alone at my end of the island. The faint sounds of groans coming from these two lovers only intensifies the overwhelming silence within my mind.

Jagger’s heavy boot stomping echos through as he returns, providing an unexpected but welcome relief as it interrupts the two lovers who pull away from each other. I watch his eyes immediately lock onto Eden, mirroring the possessive intensity I observed in my brother earlier—only now, it adorns the face of my best friend.

I need to get the fuck out of here. The prospect of cohabiting with my ex-girlfriend becomes increasingly daunting as my three mates strive for her attention with an unsettling fervor like she’s a dog in heat.

“That was Quantum Records,” he announces, his gaze pulling away from Eden as he addresses all of us. “They’re interested in signing us on.”

“Who?” I ask.

“They saw the figures,” Haze says, relaxed as a button as if he understands what this is about. I haven’t got a clue what he or Jagger are going on about. I glance at Ash and Eden, who are as baffled as I am.

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