Page 109 of Seeking Shadows

I put my hands on my hips and glare at my brother, who just shrugs with that smug smile of someonelovingevery second of this.

I lost my cat to a sociopath.

Perfect.

“How are you?” I ask.

“I’m fine. Let’s not talk about this.”

“Why? Does it make you sentimental?”

“You’re the sentimental one,” he shoots back.

“You were the one who ran out of the cabin like a little bitch.”

“Language, sis. I miss you the most when you’re excited to see me.”

“That lasted five minutes,” I scoff, sticking my tongue out at him—but we both know it’s a lie.

The truth is, I didn’t want to meet with Seth because I was afraid he’d figure out something was wrong. I hate lying to my brother. He camesoclose that day at the lake, and I’ve been avoiding him ever since.

Not that things are any better now. I’m up to my neck in shit, but Seth looks happy.

Even though he doesn’t say much aboutwhyhe’s happy, I can tell.

And that makes me happy.

I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him that way.

If he knew the kind of mess I’m in right now…

He’d be furious.

And worse, Zane is caught up in it too.

Seth would probably kill him on the spot.

Figaro, still perched on Seth’s shoulder, seems to assess the situation with a suspicious gaze before slowly moving, wrapping his tail around Seth’s arm.

I reach out to pet him, testing my luck. Figaro stares at me like he’s evaluating whether I deserve his attention.

Then, with a dramatic sigh—the kind only an offended cat can make—he allows my fingers to graze his head.

My heart tightens. He’s starting to forgive me.

“How’s your relationship?” I ask, shifting the subject.

Seth gives me a sideways glance. The last time I tried this, he got annoyed and walked away. Maybe this time, I’ll get the same reaction.

“I know what you’re doing,” he says with a lazy smile, leaning against his bike. “It’s not going to work. I’m not leaving.”

“Shit.”

Figaro shifts again, sliding into Seth’s arm, but this time, his attention is on me. He hasn’t climbed into my lap yet, but it’s progress.

Then Seth surprises me.

“Audrey likes you.”

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