Page 52 of The Aether

“I’ll prepare a feast for everyone. I imagine we’ll be hunkered down here for a while.”

“Thank you, my love.”

As he strode off, Vivian couldn’t help but compare his fluid, graceful movement to a jungle cat. Damian had a barely suppressed energy about him, as if at any moment, without warning, he could strike.

Dangerous.

And sleek.

And beautiful.

And sexy.

“And yours.”

She meeped when his voice reverberated in her mind.

When he reached the French doors, he glanced over his shoulder and winked.

“And mine,” she murmured aloud.

After he left, she shoved aside her obsessive thoughts and sought her sisters to help clean the dining room and set the table for the others.

She felt it was her job to make things as normal as possible in the midst of the madness. If she could help everyone retain a calm demeanor, then they could keep the life-giving negativity from Morcant’s hands. Anything she could do to support Damian and Sabrina in this endeavor, she would. Even if it meant clubbing her own sisters over the head to keep them from becoming hysterical at every turn.

Not that they were inclined to. Josie was fiery, not stupid. Her emotional plea earlier had been understandable. Especially because she’d believed she might be dying.

Taryn wasn’t prone to strong feelings in general. Not unless they had to do with a sister stealing her boyfriend, as Josie had done with Morgan/Morcant. They all knew it was good riddance, and Taryn was learning to live and let live. Her main point of contention was that Josie hadn’t told them the truth from the start.

Taryn wasn’t wrong.

Neither was Josie.

Since none of them could see through Morcant’s glamour, she did the only thing she could to keep them all safe. Betrayed trust and all.

Leaving her younger sisters to set the table, Vivian went upstairs to check on Josie before the scheduled feeding for Nate.

As she peeked inside the door to the guest room, she noticed her sister dozing and Alexander Castor watching her from a comfy chair in the corner. Unnoticed, Vivian witnessed his melancholy expression.

He’s lonely.

Deep inside her mind, she heard Damian reply,“I believe so, yes.”

“Stay out of my head, stalker. It’s creepy.”

His chuckle made her grin.

Castor glanced up, and a warm smile curled his lips. “Viv.”

“Hey, Alex.” She crossed to the end of the bed and looked down at her sister. “How is she?”

“Right as rain. No need to stress it.”

A pang struck her heart. “I had no idea Morcant had his claws so deep in her. I feel like a horrible person for not seeing it.”

“People show you what they want you to see,” Alex replied simply. “Some have more to hide than others.”

Facing him, she cocked her head and studied him, with his suddenly blasé attitude. “Like you?”

---