Page 31 of Jacinth

Orion fell into a restless pace, clearly unhappy with the turn of the conversation. “Can’t you just leave it be? He’s dead, and I’m not talking about this anymore.”

The following silence was so thick I regretted my timing. We had all been enjoying ourselves, and I went and ruined it.

Why did I feel the answers were so time critical? Only the Fates knew, and they were being so damn cryptic it was hurting my already scrambled head.

“So, Orion. How are you going to go about apologizing to my sister?” Birdie asked loudly, clearly attempting to break the sudden drop in mood.

“Whatever she requires of me to believe that I recognize what a fool I was. I am happy to pay in jewels, songs, orgasms—”

“La la la!” Birdie clapped her hands to her ears quickly. Jacinth laughed and pulled at her twin’s arm until she subsided.

“Truly, though. Whatever you wish for, I will make it happen.”

He was going to live to regret that. I could almost see the evil cogs turning, not just in Jacinth’s mind, but in Birdie’s, too. Note to self: If you screw up, never give her carte blanche to plan with her sister.

“Famous last words, my man,” I said, and went to help Niko pack up.

“Hell of a night, huh?” Niko said as I held out a trash bag for him to dump plates into.

“Definitely.”

“So, what was that little Q and A back there? You’ve seen my hand of cards... is there something you wanna share with the class?”

I wanted to share. Desperately. And if I looked a little deeper, I may just have seen that I asked the question, not only to discover the answer, but with the hope that my brothers may finally see me. The time wasn’t right for disclosure, but I found it more difficult by the day to look at these men I respected—had looked up to my entire life—and know that they thought I was insane.

Since I didn’t want a bitch slap by the Fates, I kept it simple.

“It was the question that needed asking.”

Niko grunted. “As someone who was keeping everything quiet and destroying myself in the process, all I can say is it is freeing to let that shit out. We are stronger together. I’m starting to see that. It’s... it’s good that we’re talking, and I think you should try it too.”

“Ok, we’ve decided.” Jacinth and Birdy stood shoulder to shoulder with identical wicked smirks in place. A glance at Orion showed the poor guy knew he was in for it.

This was going to be good.

Or not so good.

If you were Orion.

CHAPTER 23

Jacinth

He wasn’t goingto do it.

Birdie and I were hanging out in the ice cream parlor—jokes, we were totally at my graveside—waiting to see if Orion would pull off the great ‘apologize to Jacinth and win her heart’ caper.

There was no way I would let him know I was already half in love with his arrogant ass.

But seriously, what chance did I have against all of that dark and broody covered in tattoos, obviously powerful—yeah, the necro thing—but also strong?

Wait... that didn’t come out right. Meh, I’d run with it. I mean, technically, Niko got down and dirty with my dead ass so... no, y’know what? That sounded wrong, even for me.

Anyway, add all that irresistible to the fact that he so obviously loved his brothers, and I didn’t stand a chance. Family was everything to me. Well... my sister was, at any rate.

Wow, I was so anxious I was thinking with no filter today.

“He’ll be here,” Birdie said with a soft smile.

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