Page 27 of Gathered Sparkle

“Watch his head,” Alaric directs, holding the door to the garage open as we shuffle inside.

The mansion is spacious, as expansive as my mother’s penthouse, but entirely different. It’s lived in, homey, filled with mismatched furniture and personal touches. I can almost feel the memories hanging in the air. This place was once a home for me too.

“Nothing’s changed,” Koen mutters, catching my gaze as we pass into the hallway.

I nod, biting back the knot of bitterness rising in my throat. He always could read me better than anyone. And he’s right. It still feels like a home,which is something I haven’t had in a long time.

We make our way into the living room, a big, bright space with a lot of windows looking out onto the side of the mansion. Alaric walks ahead of us, clearing the way as we carry Levi to the sofa.

“Put him here.” He gestures toward the couch, and Koen and I lower Levi, arranging him as comfortably as we can. Alaric kneels beside him, immediately checking his pulse and breathing.

“You a doc or something?” I ask, trying to break the awkward silence. I know almost nothing about this guy—just had glimpses of him with the others.

“No,” Alaric mutters.

“He almost is,” Koen adds, leaning back against the armrest of the sofa. “Did some courses and read a lot when he joined us.”

Alaric glances up, a flicker of discomfort crossing his features. “Oscar thought it would help if I could take care of myself when no one else could touch me.”

I frown, looking between them.No one can touch him?What the hell is up with this guy?

“But I can do the basics,” Alaric adds, straightening up a bit.

“Is this basic, or should we head to the ER after all?” Koen asks, concern etched on his face.

“No, I think he’s fine. His pulse is steady… breathing is normal. He’s got a shiner, but I think he’ll wake up with a headache soon. If he doesn’t in an hour or so, though, we should get a real doctor to check him over.”

“Okay, thanks,” Koen says to Alaric, then turns to me. “Do you know where he was being held or where she found him?”

“No.” I shake my head. “Rosie said it was a life-or-death situation, and she needed my help to get him out while she was being chased by security.”

Koen’s expression darkens. “She was chased?” The growl in his voice is unmistakable.

“Yeah, she—” I start, but Alaric cuts me off.

“Glitter’s real name isRosie?”

“I mean, that’s what she told me,” I reply, shrugging.

Why wouldn’t he know her name?

Probably because that was a lie too.

“She was fucking chased?” Koen’s frown deepens as he repeats his question. “Is she okay?”

“I don’t know.” I swallow, remembering the chaos, the bullets. “They were shooting at her and—”

The sound of a roaring engine cuts me off. The three of us instinctively turn our heads toward the window. Outside, a motorcycle comes to a halt in front of the mansion.

Sylus is the first to dismount, pulling his helmet off, lifting Rosie from the bike, and setting her carefully in front of him. His hand moves to her cheek, his thumb brushing over her skin. Amazing.Another lie.

She said that she didn’t like him. And here she is, holding onto him as if he’s her anchor.

Are they together?

Jealousy claws at me. It hurts in a way I didn’t think possible and makes me want to be anywhere but here, away from the sight of them.

Next to me, Alaric sucks in a breath, the sound sharp in the quiet room. Both Koen and I turn to look at him. His eyes are locked on Rosie, disbelief mingling with something else in his gaze. “That’s her?”

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