Page 88 of The Sorrow of Shadows

“Alright, chocolate cake it is. I’ll meet you at her room.”

It takes me no time at all to find the chocolate cake once I’m in the kitchen. The benefit of being ignored by most is they rarely care where you go or what you do. The kitchen and I were well acquainted as a result. Grabbing two pieces, because I couldn’t leave without one for myself, I exit the kitchen. Elijah is already by her door when I arrive, cake in hand.

“Two pieces?” He quirks a blonde brow at me.

“You expect me to say no to chocolate cake when it’s right there in front of me? Clearly, you know very little about females.”

His grin turns flirtatious as he says, “Oh, I know quite a bit more about females than you might expect.” The statement is full of innuendo, and my cheeks heat.

He opens the door without knocking and enters. I follow behind, setting a piece on the dresser and holding one in my hands.

“Jade, you smell like shit,” Elijah says bluntly.

All we receive in return is her middle finger thrown up in the air toward us.

“You know what Julian would say to you right now?”

“Go away, Elijah.” Her voice is weak and hoarse from crying.

“Mmm, no. Julian never told me to go away. If anything, he was begging for me to come?—”

A pillow hits him square in the face, cutting off his current statement before it could get uncomfortable for us all. “Shut the fuck up, E. I’m not in the mood.”

“Not in the mood for what? Living? Yeah, sure seems that way.” He’s provoking her, and by gods, it’s actually working.

“Fuck you, Elijah. You have no idea what I’m feeling.” She spits the words at him.

“I’m not pretending to know how you feel, Jade. I can’t possibly fathom what it feels like to lose the other half of my soul. But I do know how it feels to lose my sometimes lover, my forever friend, and companion. You don’t think my heart is shattered, too?” A rogue tear streaks down Elijah’s cheek as his voice softens.

Jade’s shoulders sag, and her head hangs low. “I’m sorry, I didn’t?—”

“You don’t have to apologize, but you are disappointing him. You know he wouldn’t want to see you like this. You have to eat, you stubborn ass.” And just like that Elijah is back to pissing her off.

She snaps out of bed and storms toward him, her hands balling into fists. Just as her fist rears back to let a punch fly, Elijah catches it midair and stops her in her tracks.

“Ah ah ah,” Elijah tsks. “You can have one free shot once you eat.”

“Excuse me?” She’s as confused as I am at Elijah’s bargain.

“One punch for one meal. I brought your favorite, but you have to eat it first.” He pulls the chocolate cake from behind him and holds it right next to her face.

Her stomach rumbles loud enough that we all hear it. She rolls her eyes, grabs the plate, and gives into Elijah’s demand.She shovels the chocolate cake into her mouth, faster than should be possible. I wish we could have gotten her to eat something more substantial, but I’ll take what I can get at this point.

“Happy?” Jade grumbles.

“Ecstatic,” Elijah says, grinning.

“Can I punch your dumb ass now?” Something sparkles in her eyes at the request.

“A deal’s a deal, just please not the nose.”

She strides across the room, a slight grin on her face. I hear a sick crunching sound as Jade’s fist meets the flesh of Elijah’s face. He lets out a low grunt but doesn’t resist or say anything else.

“Now get lost, both of you. I need to bathe.”

We both grin, knowing we got two wins out of this visit. Without needing to be told twice, we back out of her room to let her bathe in peace.

“Well, that was an interesting but effective tactic,” I muse once outside her room.

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