Page 147 of Scattered Glitter

Levi is there in the next breath, pulling me into a hug and pressing a grateful kiss to my cheek. “Thank you,” he whispers, his voice full of relief. He releases me, grinning as he pulls out his phone. “I can’t wait to tell Alaric.”

“Speaking of,” I start, frowning at the group. “WhereisCaptain Bossy? How come I never see him?”

Levi’s smile dims, and his gaze drifts to his boots, which are also covered in fringe. “He’s… not in the best place right now.”

I want to ask more, but something about Levi’s tonemakes me hesitate. Koen, as I should’ve known he would, picks up on my curiosity and answers my unspoken question. “Losing Oscar hit all of us hard,” he explains. “But it threw Ric into a spiral. Leaving the house is… something he’s not capable of right now.”

I swallow roughly, thinking of Captain Bossy being holed up at their home this entire time he’s been texting me, and it adds another layer to the tangled mess of emotions I feel.

Fuck, this is all so much bigger than me.

Sylus drops into one of the seats in the front row of the stage and pulls me into his lap. I tense briefly, but his warmth, paired with the solid feel of his arm wrapped around my waist, has me sinking into him in seconds.

And it almost feels…safe.

Levi settles into the seat beside us, reaching for my hand. His touch is gentle but confident, and when our eyes meet, there’s only sincerity there. “Ezra told me you wouldn’t even rat me out with a gun to your head.”

A shiver skates down my spine as flashes of the momentDetective Hillproduced the gun fill my mind, which triggers Koen to tense in front of Sylus and me from behind. Then Sylus pulls me flush against him, one of his arms banding across my chest protectively, his forehead pressing into my shoulder. My gaze flicks to Ezra, who stands a few steps away, looking a bit sheepish.

“I don’t have a lot of friends,” Levi admits, looking directly at me. “Certainly not friends who would risk their lives for me.” I pat Sylus’s hand soothingly, instinctively, as I prepare to argue that it couldn’t possibly be true, but before I can get a word out, Levi reaches out and squeezes my hand, the one on top of Sylus’s, stopping me. “All I want to say is…thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Levi,” I say just as seriously, matching his tone.

“Call me, Dove, Little Bird.” He smiles as he intertwines his fingers with mine.

For the first time in a long time, I don’t feel completely alone. However, trust is a fragile thing, and I wonder how long it will take before one of us drops it, leaving the rest of us to watch it shatter.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Novalee

There are a hundred reasons not to trust them, to walk away now, to protect whatever is left of my battered heart. Maybe that’s why I say yes because I’m tired of keeping everything locked up, of holding onto walls that only serve to isolate me.

“Stop flirting with my girl, Dove,” Sylus warns in a low rumble as he leans in, letting his lips brush my ear before he nips the side of my neck.

I swat him away half-heartedly. “Seducing Nicholas won’t work if you leave a fucking bite mark.”

He pulls back enough to meet my eyes, a grin spreading across his lips. “Can’t help it, baby,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my skin. “Your neck turns me into a damn vampire.”

I roll my eyes while a reluctant smile edges onto my face. “Yeah, well, save it for later,Dracula.I have to be at the gym in a few.”

“You think he’ll show?” Sylus asks, kissing the place he just nipped.

“We’ll see.”

I fucking hope so.

Sylus chuckles, his fingers brushing lightly down my arm.

Ezra leans against the stage next to Koen, one eyebrow arched. “Are you two a thing now?”

“Yes,” Sylus answers at the exact moment I blurt out, “No.”

Koen snorts, his gaze dropping to the floor as he tries and fails to hide his amusement. Ezra only looks between the three of us, his expression unimpressed. “Well, that clears things up,” he deadpans. “Anyway, if we’re going to trust you, I need to know you can handle yourself.”

I lift my chin as a grin breaks through. “I don’t get caught.”

He crosses his arms, the corner of his mouth twitching with a hint of challenge. “Except I caught you just fine.”

---