Page 26 of Dark Night Golden Dawn
Selene poked her head in. “So that’s where my cashmere sweatsuit went. Time for waffles, my darlings.”
Harlow gave Larkin a meaningful look as she climbed out of bed. “Talk to her. I’ll send Mother in.”
Selene looked concerned and Harlow kissed her cheek as she passed. “I love you, Mama.”
Selene pulled her back before she got out the door, into a massive hug. “I love you too, dear girl. I’m so glad my babies are all home.”
Harlow grinned and sent Aurelia to Larkin’s room as she entered the kitchen. The twins were already planning a lazy day of a family movie marathon, taking their waffles into the living room. Only Thea was left in the kitchen.
“So, Alaric Velarius, and you’re the swan of the season.”
Thea blushed. “No one is saying that.”
Harlow grabbed Thea’s phone, clicked open the Section Seven app and scrolled down past news of a human celebrity’s party. Then she flipped the phone around to show her sister the headline.
Sorcière heiress the swan of the Orders’ mating season.
Thea looked horrified. “Oh dear. Mating season?”
Harlow shrugged as she piled waffles on her plate. “The app is run by humans, what do you expect? Plus, it’s not altogether inaccurate.”
“Crudely put,” Thea said ruefully, closing her phone.
“So, is he serious about you?” Harlow cut right to the chase. She had no desire to question her sister after the morning she’d probably already had.
Thea’s smile was small, but joyful. “Yes.”
“And you’re serious about him?”
Thea nodded, looking pleased.
Harlow ate her waffles. “Sounds good.”
Thea started to say something, then seemed to think better of it. “Was Finn here last night?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Harlow…”
“Leave it.” Harlow’s voice was sharp as she pushed away from the table. Explaining things to sweet, sensitive Larkin was one thing, but she couldn’t talk about this more today. “I’ve gotta go home.”
Thea grabbed her hand. “Please don’t go. We’re supposed to have a movie marathon and eat junk food all day. It won’t be the same if you go.”
“I can’t talk about him,” Harlow rasped, her voice rough with unshed tears. “Please, don’t make me.”
“Fine,” Thea said, guiding her back into her chair. “Finish your waffles.”
Harlow did, as her sister watched in perfect silence.
* * *
The restof the weekend slipped by in domestic bliss. The maters tended to the shoppers and the girls took shifts helping, but mostly they lay about enjoying themselves. When Sunday night came, Harlow dreaded going home to her near-empty apartment.
“Why don’t you move back in?” Aurelia suggested, as though reading her mind.
They’d been reading together in the study for over an hour, but Harlow was distracted by thoughts of her lonely apartment. “I can’t.”
Aurelia put down her book. “Why not?”
