Page 63 of Beautiful Exile

All my siblings burst into laughter, but a concerned Nora crossed the space, looking between us. “Kill Linc?”

Heat hit my cheeks, but it was Linc who stepped in. “Just a little innocent mishap. I hardly bled at all.”

“Bled?” Nora gaped, her eyes going wide.

Rhodes just grinned from the arm of the couch as Anson gazed up at her adoringly. “I gotta admit, I feel safer having Arden around, even if she is a little violent.”

“Says the woman who threatens to de-ball anyone who even sends a scowl in the general direction of someone she loves,” Anson said, amusement lacing his words.

She stuck out her tongue at him. “I only threaten castration to those whoreallydeserve it.”

Anson shook his head. “I really am going to have to build you a murder shed, aren’t I?”

She leaned over, giving him a quick kiss. “You might.”

Lolli frowned at the two of them. “Now, why would you want to get rid of a perfectly good set of balls?”

“Lolli!” a chorus of voices shouted.

Nora covered her face. “I’m so sorry, Linc, Ellie. I’d like to tell you she isn’t normally like this, but it would be a complete lie.”

“I love it,” Ellie called from the kitchen. “Lolli’s my girl.”

“Danged straight,” Lolli called back. “You want to hit up the cowboy bar with me later?”

Ellie laughed. “I don’t think I could keep up with you.”

“But you’d have fun trying,” Lolli singsonged and then looked atLinc. “You know, I think you’d look pretty good in a pair of Wranglers and a cowboy hat. What do you say?”

Linc looked slightly terrified at the prospect of Lolli dressing him up and taking him out. I patted his chest. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”

He glanced down, amusement dancing in his hazel eyes. “I do feel safer knowing you’ve got that switchblade.”

“Oh, that won’t save her,” Lolli called back. “I’ve been getting Kye to teach me on the side.”

Lolli took up an elaborate fighting stance that didn’t look like any martial art I’d ever seen while calling out some sort of battle cry.

Kye dropped his face into his hands. “Please don’t tell anyone I’m your trainer.”

“Rude,” Lolli huffed, then eyed Linc again. “Okay, you’re not ready for the cowboy bar. How about a little one-on-one sparring?” She waggled her eyebrows.

Linc grabbed my shoulders and moved me so my body was in front of his. “You said you’d protect me, right?”

A laugh bubbled out of me, light and free. “I don’t know now. Pretty sure Lolli could kick my ass.”

Movement caught my attention, and I looked over to see Nora with her hand hovering over her mouth, her eyes misty.

My stomach sank. “Are you okay?”

She shook her head, waving a hand in front of her face. “I’m fine,” she croaked. “It’s just—I haven’t heard you laugh like that in a long time.”

My insides twisted as guilt dug in. I’d worried her, the woman who’d given me everything. I hated myself a little for that.

Nora’s hand lifted to my cheek. “I’m happy. Love seeing you like this.”

I swallowed, then nodded quickly.

“Lincoln,” Lolli called, breaking the moment and saving me from an overload of emotion the way she often did. “I want to make you a welcome-to-Sparrow-Falls gift. What do you say?”

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