Page 55 of Gathered Sparkle

Koen glances at Nicholas, then asks, “Is Nicholas there with you now?”

“No,” Veronica replies smoothly. “I haven’t seen him today, but I’ll let him know about the dinner when he gets home. What do you say?”

Koen hesitates for a fraction of a second. “Of course, Veronica. We’re looking forward to it.”

“Marvelous,” she purrs. “See you and your family in a couple of days, Koen.”

The call ends with a click, and the room is silent again.

Koen’s hand falls to his side, and he exhales sharply. “Well, that’s… a trap.”

“Obviously,” Ezra mutters, running a hand through his hair.

Levi glares at the floor, but it’s Sylus who speaks next. “So. Dinner with the devil. Should be fun.” He turns to Nicholas with a faint smirk. “Sounds like you’re going to survive if you go home now, dickhead. At least until Friday.”

“Sylus…” I shoot him a glare, but he holds up his hands in mock surrender.

Koen sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Maybe we should discuss—”

“Nope, I’m out.” Nicholas is already moving toward the door.

“Nico, please, can we talk?” I almost beg.

He can’t leave like this.

“The car keys still in the box in the garage?” Nicholas asks, ignoring me.

“Yes, but—” Koen starts, his words trailing off as Nicholas strides out of the room.

“I’ll take the Mercedes,” he shouts over his shoulder without looking back.

The door to the garage slams, and it’s like the sound cuts the last thread holding me upright. All the energy I’d been clinging to seeps out, and my chest feels hollow like I’ve been holding my breath for hours, and now there’s nothing left to inhale.It’s too much.

Nicholas leaving, Veronica’s voice in my head, Ace so close but still so far, the weight of Levi’s glare, the pain that’s still there whenever I move. It’s all pressing in, and it’s as if I might shatter under it. But then Sylus is there, his arms wrapping around me.

“C’mere.”

My body folds into his without resistance, like it’s been waiting for permission to let go. He sits down with me still in his arms, and I realize my hands are shaking, gripping his shirt, afraid to let go. My head presses against his chest, and the sound of his heartbeat cuts through the haze in my mind.

“Take a nap.” Sylus’s fingers trail soothing patterns along my back as warm leather and amber envelop me.

“This day was way too fucking long.” Koen joins us, sitting on the other side of the couch. He lifts my feet and places them in his lap, massaging them.

Levi collapses into the armchair with a groan while Ezra follows suit in another chair. Ace is still standing, Good Lookin’ cradled in his arms. I glance up at him, my heart tightening at the uncertainty I see in his eyes. His gaze flickers between Sylus, Koen, and me, and I catch the faintest hint of hurt before he looks away.

Fuck.

What does he think about this, about me being with them? What the hell am I supposed to do? I told Sylus I wouldn’t abandon him because of Ace, but I also can’t lose Ace again. The swirl of thoughts and feelings is too much for my exhausted state.

Just as I think Ace will retreat to his room, he steps forward and sinks down onto the floor in front of the couch, crossing his legs with Good Lookin’ still in his lap. He leans back against the couch, so close his hair almost brushes my hand.

I want to stroke his hair like I used to, but I don’t. Him sitting here next to me already means so much, and I don’t want to ruin it, so I blink against the burn in my eyes, not daring to speak for fear of breaking whatever surge of braveness brought him here.

Ace tilts his head back to look at me, the motion bringing soft strands of his hair to graze the top of my hand. The light, accidental touch is enough to make my eyes sting with tears threatening to spill again after all.

“You can sleep,” he says quietly, “We’re all here.”

I nod at him, swallowing past the lump in my throat.

---