Page 28 of Gathered Sparkle

He doesn’t know what she looks like?

“Yeah, that’s her,” Koen replies, a weary smile crossing his face, like he’s exasperated but amused all at once. “Looks like she’s fine. Fuck, that girl is trouble.”

“No, she’s fucking not!” Alaric turns abruptly, storming off without another word.

I blink, watching him disappear. “What’s his problem?”

“I have no idea.” Koen shakes his head, sighing. “I’m gonna go get her.” Without waiting for a response, he turns and walks out, leaving me alone with Levi, who is still unconscious on the couch.

The silence that follows is suffocating, broken only by the sound of Levi’s shallow breathing. I force myself to look back out the window in time to see Sylus and Rosie climbing the steps to the front door, hand in hand. My stomach twists, and I can’t help the rush of bitterness that rises in my chest. They look close.

Too close.

What the hell have I gotten myself into here?

I’m tangled in the middle of something full of lies, secrets, and people who despiseme.

And in the midst of it all, there’s her.

Rosie.The girl who lied to me, manipulated me, and shattered my heart. The girl who, despite all of that, still has a hold on me.

I sink down into the armchair across from Levi, my body finally giving in to the exhaustion, and let my head rest back against the cushions.

She’s not mine.

Maybe that’s the cruelest truth of all. She was a lie from the start, a beautiful lie that I fell for.

She was never mine.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Koen

The sight of her stops me dead in my tracks.

My little thief stands there, partly blocked from view by Sylus’s back. He’s positioned in front of her, but the little I can see is enough to make my stomach drop. She’s wearing a Harrington Heights uniform that’s way too big for her, and her hair is a mess, strands sticking out every which way. She’s utterly disheveled, worn out.

But God, she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

Every ounce of caution I’ve held onto shatters in an instant. She ran headfirst into danger to bring my brother to me. No questions asked, no hesitation. And if she’s willing to risk everything for me, then what the hell am I waiting for? I’m done being careful. I’m done holding back.

I need her.

Sylus turns, catching sight of me, and there’s a smirk on his face as he steps aside, but I barely register it. All I see is her. A tired smile tugs at her lips as she lifts her gaze to meet mine when I come to stand in front of her.

“Levi?” she asks, her eyes searching mine.

“Still unconscious but safe, thanks to you.”

“Good.” A long breath leaves her, her shoulders dropping. “That’s good.” Her eyes flick around the room, then back to me. “So… where’s the bathroom in this big-ass mansion?” she teases, a hint of humor trying to break through the exhaustion. “I don’t want to bleed all over your marble flo—”

“Forget being careful,” I cut her off and step in front of her. My fingers brush her hair back over her shoulder before my palm cups the side of her neck, my thumb resting against her cheek. Her eyes widen, her breath catching as she looks up at me.

She’s here. Bruised, battered, but unbroken. Still standing. Still fighting. And all I can think is how much I want to be the one she leans on, the one she trusts enough to fall into. “I’d rather crash and burn than never try.”

My other hand moves, brushing her hair back from the opposite side, and I let my fingers slide down to her throat as my thumb tilts her chin up. I don’t give her a chance to reply. I close the distance between us, my mouth crashing against hers. She lets out a soft gasp, her hands gripping my shirt, fingers curling into the fabric, pulling me closer. I deepen the kiss, my thumb brushing along her jaw, my other hand cradling the back of her neck, keeping her close, anchoring her to me.

I want her to feel everything I’ve kept hidden—every ounce of fear, hope, and longing that’s been clawing at me. I pour it all into the kiss, every raw, desperate emotion, and when she clings to me just as fiercely, I know she feels it too. She makes me want to tear down every barrier, to let her see all the messy, broken parts of me because somehow, I know she won’t run.

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