Page 154 of Gathered Sparkle

“Good,” I mutter, shifting the bouquet in my hand. Alaric’s eyes land on the flowers, and his face softens.

“Nice flowers,” he compliments. “Fits her.”

“Thanks. I thought so too.”

Sylus looks between the bouquet and me, his grin widening. “What are you planning to do?”

I hesitate, hating that I have to open up to them. But as much as I want to brush him off, I need someone to tell me I’m not completely insane. “We were stargazing on our date. And, I don’t know, I brought these glow-in-the-dark stars. I thought I could put them on her ceiling and—”

“Sure, bring your stars.” Sylus interrupts. “Her favorite is in my pants anyway.”

“Shut up, Sy.” Alaric chides him, his tone sharp but amused. He turns back to me, his expression softening. “That sounds perfect, Nicholas. She’ll love it.”

I blink at him, caught off guard by the sincerity. “You think?”

Sylus steps forward, clapping a hand on my shoulder with enough force to jolt me. “We’ll help you, dickhead. Make sure you’re quick.”

“Seriously?”

What is even going on?

His smirk widens as he yanks me into an unwelcome hug, his arm slinging around my shoulders with a theatrical sigh. “Welcome to the family,Short King.”

I groan, trying to shove him off, but he only laughs, tightening his grip like an annoying little brother. Still, there’s no denying the warmth that spreads through my chest, the unexpected feeling of belonging that I’d been missing.

As Sylus finally lets me go, I glance between the two of them. “Thanks,I guess.” I shake my head, but there’s a smile tugging at my lips now, one I can’t fight.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Novalee

The softest touch pulls me from sleep, gentle hands brushing against the side of my head. A kiss follows, warm lips pressing lightly against my temple, and then a voice drifts into my consciousness.

“Wake up, precious,” Koen murmurs, his breath tickling my ear. “Sylus’s going to take you to bed.”

I cling to him instinctively, nuzzling closer to the warm cocoon of vanilla and spices that ishim. The day floods back to me, the hours we spent together eating, watchingMasterChef, and curling up like we didn’t have a care in the world, like lovesick puppies tangled in a heap of soft kisses, strokes of his fingers along my arm, and the occasional press of his lips to my hair.

I don’t want to move. I don’t want to leave this. “No,” I mumble, my voice thick with sleep. “Not yet.”

“Come on, Little Thief,” Koen chuckles softly, his hand gliding down my arm in lazy strokes. “Sylus is waiting.”

“You heard him, Sparkle. Let’s go. I don’t have all night.”

I groan, burying my face in Koen’s shoulder, but he shifts, his hands sliding under mine as he pulls me upright. “You’ve got to go upstairs now.”

“Why do you want me to leave,” I protest like a toddler, making them both chuckle.

“Because you’re going to bed now.” Reluctantly, I let Sylus guide me up, his hand wrapping around mine as he helps me to my feet. I follow him up the stairs, still half asleep, expecting him to turn into his room. But he keeps walking as we pass his door and head farther down the hall toward mine.

Fine by me,I think groggily, though part of me wants to pout at the loss of his bed and his scent.

When we reach my door, Sylus turns me gently, his hands framing my face as his lips brush against mine. I melt into him, his touch anchoring me even as it steals the breath from my lungs. Then his lips glide to my neck, kissing and nibbling, making goose bumps rise in his wake.

“I fixed it for you,wifey. Enjoy your night, but don’t forget to miss me.”

“What?” I manage, my voice thick with confusion and the haze of his kiss, but before I can ask more, Sylus knocks lightly on my door.

I’m even more confused when he steps back, giving me one last smirk, then turns and heads down the hallway with his hands in his pants pockets.

---