Page 45 of Orange Spell
Chapter Eleven
“Ihate this,” Marlindeclared, even though both Killian and Birch already knew how he felt about the situation.
Killian gave him a patient smile, but Birch nodded, agreeing with him.“There has to be something more we can do,” he said.
“We’ve already gone through this several times,” Killian pointed out.“We can’t afford for my sister to find out what’s going on, which means we can’t look into her and what she’s up to too deeply.Someone would talk, and we don’t want that to happen.”
Marlin already knew that.“There still has to be more.I can’t believe no one wants to talk.Can’t they see how dangerous she is?”
“It’s why they don’t talk.They don’t want to end up on her bad side.I have, and it’s not a comfortable place to be.”
Marlin agreed.Pearl might not hate him as much as she hated Killian, but he was one of Killian’s best friends, so she hated him by association.She wanted him gone right along with Killian because she knew that both him and Birch would always stand up to her, even if she somehow managed to kill Killian.
She was willing to use Curran to obtain that.
Curran was scared, but he was also angry.They all were.There was no reason for Pearl to be doing any of this beyond wanting the throne.Killian was a good clan leader.He did his best to protect his people, to make sure they were safe and happy, and to lead them in the right direction.Pearl would be none of those things if she ever became queen, but then, she wanted to be queen for the power, not because she cared about the clan.She might claim that she did, but it was a means to an end.
“So we have nothing new,” Birch said, looking at Killian and Marlin.
Marlin shook his head.“Not that I know of.”It was infuriating.They knew that Pearl was up to something, but they didn’t know what that something was.They knew she was dangerous, but there was nothing they could do about it right now.The only thing theycoulddo was wait, and it was driving Marlin up the walls.
He was about to become a father.He should be dedicating his time to Curran and the baby, but instead, he was here, obsessing over what Pearl was up to and wondering if, by the time she was done, they would still all be standing.
“He’ll be fine,” Birch murmured.He was looking at Marlin, so Marlin knew who he was talking about.
The two of them hadn’t talked yet.Marlin couldn’t say he was looking forward to that conversation, which was one of the reasons he’d avoided Birch.The other reason was they were both working overtime to protect both Killian and Curran.Marlin couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so tired, and he couldn’t see that ending anytime soon.There were other guards, but Birch and Marlin didn’t trust them as much as they trusted themselves and each other.
“I know he will be,” he confirmed.“It doesn’t mean this isn’t nerve-racking.”
“I know it is.I’m afraid for him, too, but he’ll be fine.”
Marlin glanced at Killian.He had no problems talking about that in front of him.The three of them were best friends—brothers—and that was never going to change.“You don’t have a problem with Curran and I being together?”he asked, turning back to Birch.
Birch arched a brow.“Are you?Because the last time I asked, Curran was pretty adamant that the two of you weren’t a couple.”
“It’s complicated, but we’re getting there.I want to be with him.”
Birch nodded.“I’ve known that he was in love with you for a while.He deserves to be happy, and apparently, he’s decided that you’re the only one who can give him that happiness.”
“How long?”Marlin asked.
Birch looked amused.“How long has he been in love with you?”
Marlin nodded.He knew how long he’d been in love with Curran, but he hadn’t realized that the other way around had been true, too.It made him feel like they’d wasted time.
“Since he was a teenager.I’m sure he’ll be happy to tell you more about it.”
Marlin snorted.“Are you kidding?This is your brother we’re talking about.He’s going to want to kill you as soon as he finds out that you told me.”
Birch cursed.“Dammit.You’re right.”
“You never said anything before.”
