Page 23 of Tarnished Embers

“Um, yes, it was lovely,” I reply, Oct’s oomph sound letting me know that he probably said something to either Cas or Prince and got a kick under the table for it. “We went to the National Gallery.”

“I’m so pleased to see you having fun and with people your own age.” He pulls away, studying me, and his brows dip slightly, his blue eyes so like my own dulling a little, and I worry I didn’t school my features quickly enough to hide exactly how much I’ve been enjoying my new brothers’ company. “I’ve been worried about you, Ember,” he adds, his hands squeezing my upper arms as his eyes rove over me. “But I think having brothers suits you.”

Oh, my god, can the floor open up and swallow me whole now, please?

I can’t even focus on the fact that he’s never before mentioned his worry as my cheeks flush hot. I know exactly how well having brothers suits me, but I’m damn sure it’s not in the way that he’s thinking.

“Having a little sister certainly works for us,” Kit comments, coming over and taking my hand in his. I give him wide eyes and suck in a sharp breath, but as I flick my eyes to my dad, all I see is an indulgent father looking at his daughter and her new stepbrother.Can he not see the way Kit looks at me? Like he plans to devour me whole? Can he not feel the tension between us, that unfulfilled promise from the other morning?

“Let’s eat. Odette and I have some exciting news for you all,” my father announces, and my stomach swoops as I wonder what new revelation he will drop on me next. A bitter taste fills my mouth, my anger from earlier returning full force. He’s been so absent for the past five years, and then to keep dropping bombshell after bombshell on me as if it means nothing... As ifImean nothing to him. I pull up short on my way to the table, Kit stopping too.

I’m happy for my dad, glad that he’s finally found someone to share his life with, but was he so blinded by his own grief, consumed with his own life and the woman at his side, that he couldn’t see mine?

“You okay, Pretty Thing?” Kit asks me quietly, and I take a stuttering breath, noting that the others are staring at me, a mix of concern and worry on their faces.

“Yes, sorry,” I mumble, letting him lead me towards the table. I try to see things from my dad’s point of view, it must have been unbearably hard for him to lose the love of his life. My muscles tense at the thought of losing even just one of the guys, and I’ve known them for far less time than my dad and mum were together for.

“We’re all here, Pretty Thing,” Kit whispers in my ear, and I realise that I’ve got his hand in a death grip, my breathing grating in my chest.

“How did you know that’s where my mind went?” I ask under my breath as he leads me to my chair, in between him and Oct this morning. He lets go of my hand to pull out my chair, bending down to speak in my ear as he pushes it in for me.

“You looked as panicked as I feel at the thought of anything or anyone taking you away from us.”

My heart gives a solid thud inside my chest, the pulse reverberating across my entire body like a gong has been struck, and I let out a trembling exhale. This is just so fast, too fast for me to keep up with it. One minute I’m alone, getting through each day as if wading through a thick, grey fog, and the next, my life is filled with the bright colours of four boys who have taken me as their own and are carving their way into my heart.

I can’t find it in me to regret meeting them though. Albeit the strength of my feelings is terrifying, I want to live in technicolour. I want to experience the world feeling the way they make me feel, like I finally belong.

“Morning, little sis,” Oct greets, his hand landing on my thigh, his palm warm through my cotton tights, and it’s enough to jolt me out of my panic. I’ve opted to wear a long-sleeved, flouncy mini dress with a blue, floral print and some knee-length, brown leather boots. “You look beautiful this morning, and so thoughtful of easy access for your brothers.” His voice is a low whisper, but my eyes still dart to my father to check he didn’t overhear. He’s oblivious though, leaning down to listen as Odette murmurs something in his ear.

Kit sits down as Oct’s palm coasts upwards and I squeeze my thighs together, blood making my cheeks heat once more, and the pit of my stomach tingles as his fingers brush my apex. My eyes close, my hands clenched in my lap as I try to breathe through the heady rush of desire that floods my veins. It doesn’t matter that I have cotton tights and knickers on, he may as well be touching my rapidly soaking core.

I should try and stop him, but clearly, I’m more fucked up than I knew because I love the thrill of the threat of exposure as much as I dread it. It makes my pulse sing, makes me feel alive.

“Now that you’re all here,” my father begins, and I snap my attention to him, even as my legs part slightly of their own accord. “Odette and I have decided that we ought to go on honeymoon, now that we’re married and all.” My father looks over at Odette, and she simpers in a way that I can’t help feeling is a little false. Do I look like that when one of the guys looks at me? I fucking hope not. “So we’re leaving for the Cayman Islands first thing tomorrow for three weeks of sun and sea.”

Oct’s hand pauses, and I stare wide-eyed at my father and Odette as the realisation hits me smack in the face; I’ll be at home, alone with the guys for three weeks. No dad. No Odette. Just us. My mouth goes dry at the same time adrenaline rushes through my body and sets my pulse racing.

Fuck.

“That sounds fantastic,” Cas says, but I can’t look at him, at any of them, because I can feel their eyes burning a hole in the side of my head. If I do, I won’t be able to hide the excitement, the raw fucking desire that’s coursing through my body this very moment, sore cunt notwithstanding.

“Your tutors will still come Monday to Friday, starting tomorrow,” Odette tells us, and I can’t decipher the look she gives the guys. It’s almost as though she knows what’s going on between the guys and I, and I catch Prince’s slight nod in Odette’s direction as I quickly glance at him. “Don’t worry, Ember. My boys will take good care of you.”

I don’t realise I’ve been worrying my bottom lip until she speaks to me and I go to answer. “I–I’m sure I’ll be fine. It’ll be nice to have some company for once. You guys just have a great time.”

“Oh, we will have the best time, won’t we, Richard darling?” She turns her hazel eyes onto my father, and I can practically see heart-eyes emojis in his. My chest aches fiercely as a sense of loss washes over me. It feels like I’ve finally lost what little I had left of him.

He’s happy, Ember. That’s all that matters.

“Let’s have breakfast, then we can all have a lazy day together,” Dad suggests, and I go to reach for a bowl and some muesli.

“Oh, Ember, honey. I had the kitchen prepare you something special,” Odette says, and there’s just something about her tone that feels disingenuous. I pull my hand back from the bowl and muesli, a heaviness settling in my stomach.

Sally, one of our staff, places a tall glass in front of me, full of what looks like green sludge.

“What the fuck is that?” Oct exclaims, his nose wrinkled, and I’m inclined to agree with him, my nose twitching as I try to stop my upper lip from curling and failing.

“Octavius Dante Johnson, you watch your language at the table!” Odette scolds, her face full of a rage that seems far too extreme given the situation. Oct looks down, his ears reddening.

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