Page 51 of Gathered Sparkle

As we reach the bottom step, the hallway opens up to the view of the kitchen. Sylus is leaning against the counter, his arms crossed over his chest. When he hears us, he lifts his head, his eyes locking onto mine, a hint of relief flickering in them when he sees Ace with me.

I start to move forward, but fur brushes against my legs. I glance down, startled, and find a tabby cat gazing up at me with green eyes. I can only stare as I try to make sense of it.

“Good Lookin’?” I crouch down, scooping her up more out of instinct than intention, and she nuzzles into my neck right away. The movement pulls at something in my arm, sharp enough to make me wince, but I ignore it. “Where the hell have you been?” I glance up at Sylus, my smile wobbling with disbelief. “You brought my cat?”

This boy would do fucking everything for me, and I love him for it.

Wait, love?

Sylus raises an eyebrow, confused. “Yourcat?”

“Yes!” I laugh, stroking her fur. “The one I told you about? The stray that comes up to my apartment? How the fuck did you find her? She was gone for so long.” I turn back to Good Lookin’, whispering, “I was so worried about you, you little rascal.”

“Wait.” Ace murmurs from beside me. “That’smycat. Jinx”

“No. I know my girl. She has a dark speck in her green eyes, and here, there is a splash of white on her chest and a tiny scar near her ear.” I turn her in my arms so she’s laying in them like a baby and show him the scar on her lower belly. “I took her to get spayed. This is my cat. Or at least the stray that belongs to me. I don’t know where Sylus found her, but—”

“Holy shit.” Ace’s eyes go wide as he stares at Good Lookin’, then Sylus, and back at me. “I remember that. Oscar said she disappeared for a week and came back fixed.”

I stare at Ace, then down at the cat in my arms, my mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “Are you telling me… we’ve had the same cat this whole time?”

“Of course, she’s your cat, Sparkle.” Sylus laughs, leaning back against the counter. “She’s a smart pussy.”

Ace shoots him a cold stare. “Could you not call my cat a pussy?”

“Oh, but that he calls me one is fine?” I huff, thankful for the break from the heavy feelings as I stroke Good Lookin’—Jinx—whatever her name is. “And here I thought you were out there starving,” I murmur to her, and she responds with a loud, contented purr.

Traitor.

“Well, you can fucking leave! Nobody wants you here anyway!” Levi’s outburst from the living room is so unexpected it makes me flinch. My gaze snaps toward the sound, and dread curls low in my stomach.

I already know who he’s yelling at.

Without thinking, I hand the cat over to Sylus. “Hold her.”

He frowns at me and hands her to Ace, but I’m already marching to the living room. Pain and exhaustion are smothering me, pressing down with the weight of everything I haven’t let myself feel yet. It all swirls together, louder and sharper than it should be, and I can’t tell if it’s frustration, guilt, or sheer exhaustion clawing at me. Maybe all three.

But I can’t afford to fall apart. Not now.

Not when Nicholas risked so much only to get yelled at.

The scene that greets me in the living room makes my blood boil.

Levi, Ezra, and Koen are standing shoulder to shoulder, glaring at Nicholas like he just declared war.

Nicholas stands on the other side with his hands shoved deep into his pockets, but there’s vulnerability in his eyes.

Oh, hell no.

I stride forward, planting myself directly in front of Levi, shielding Nicholas from his wrath. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

I’m glad to see him standing and apparently feeling good enough to cause drama, but I’m not letting him go after Nicholas when he risked so much for us.

Levi’s glare snaps to me. “Stay out of this, Little Bird.”

“No.” I cross my arms. “You don’t get to shout at him like that. Not after what he’s done for us. Foryou.”

“Little Thief—” Koen starts, but I cut him off.

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