Page 78 of Tower

Forever memorializing her naivety and stupidity.

“Hey, it’s getting cold out here.” Damien, her brother—she had an older brother, spoke softly as he joined her on the porch. He took the seat beside her, looking out at the gardens.

“I’m warm enough,” she said, still trying to get used to the idea of having family. Damien had been with her every moment at the hospital. He’d never left her bedside, and when it came time to leave, he’d taken care of everything and brought her home.

She should be more grateful. If not for Damien, she’d be on the street. Peter never had come for her.

She had waited. Once she found out the extent of his injuries, she was so relieved, she cried. He wasn’t dead. He was going to be fine. And she had figured once he felt better, he’d show up.

But he never came.

She’d stopped asking about him after the second day of being home—at Damien’s home. If he hadn’t bothered to see her at the hospital, he wouldn’t now.

Why would he? The thrill was gone. She was no longer his little mystery to solve or his toy to play with.

“I know this has been a lot for you. It’s been a little weird for me, too. I remember you as a baby. I remember Mom rocking you in your room and Dad holding you while trying to play catch with me in the yard at the same time.”

Damien painted a picture she wished she could remember. She never had anything like that growing up with Bellatrix. She’d suffocated her with protection—but as it turned out, it was to keep her hidden away from anyone who might recognize her and return her to her family.

“They sound perfect,” she whispered.

“They were,” he said.

She’d learned both of her parents had already passed away. Which was why Bellatrix had let her go out of the house now and again. Even if she was recognized, there were no parents to return her to. Her revenge had been carried out.

“I don’t remember her at the house at all,” Damien said with hesitation. Edging toward a conversation he’d probably been cautious about bringing up.

Azalea inhaled a long breath. “She said she loved your—I mean our father—but he refused her. I don’t know how she knew him, or if she lived with us.”

Damien nodded. “I’ll take you to the townhouse tomorrow so you can pack anything that you want to keep.”

“Thank you. What happens to all of her estates now?” Azalea asked.

“It’s complicated. You see, Bellatrix Gothel doesn’t really exist—not on paper, anyway, and her death—well, it also didn’t really happen.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt.” Jaelynn, Hunter’s wife opened the back door. “Azalea, you have a visitor.”

“Who is it?” Damien asked in a tone with authority similar to Peter’s, except Damien’s came from a brotherly place.

“It’s for her,” Jaelynn answered, swinging the door open more to give Azalea room to walk into the house.

“Jae, who is it?” Damien asked again. The two of them seemed to enjoy biting at each other’s nerves. Azalea found it endearing that they were more like brother and sister than Azalea and Damien were.

“Is it Peter?” Azalea asked.

Jaelynn smiled. “Yeah, and he looks all surly about something.”

“Why would that make you smile?” Azalea asked. Out of her new family, she’d found an instant friend in Jaelynn.

“It’s the same sort of surliness Hunter gets.” Jaelynn leaned closer to Azalea when she walked past. “It’s a good sign. Trust me.” She patted her shoulder. “No. You stay away from them.” Jaelynn blocked Damien when he tried to follow.

Azalea giggled. For the first time in days, and it felt good. “Just give us a few minutes, okay, Damien?”

The irritated look he flashed Jae made Azalea laugh again.

“Fine. But only a few minutes.” He turned his attention to Jaelynn who remained a solid block. “Jae, if you don’t get out of my way, I’m going to pick you up and take you to your room.”

“Pfft. Like that scares me,” Jaelynn teased.

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