“You’re a dick,” He muttered, and honestly, he wasn’t wrong.
“Not the worst thing I’ve been called,” I said, stepping away from the door and giving him room to breathe.
He lingered there, throwing a look toward Daleyzas' room, then back at me, clearly debating if I’d break his legs for walking out.
“Fine,” he huffed. “I’ll stay. But seriously, I can’t keep playing stay-at-home brother. I’m twenty-two, Darian. I have a life—or at least I’m supposed to. I love her, obviously, but a guy's got needs, you know?”
I knew exactly what he meant.
“You’ll live,” I said dryly, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.
He grinned, clearly pleased with himself, and dropped onto the couch like he owned it—boots and all, right on the table. My eye twitched.
Don’t kill him.
“You know, you can smile. I won’t tell the wicked witch you’ve got emotions.”
I tipped my head back with a short laugh, the fight draining out of me, too damn tired to argue.
Still in my towel, I dropped onto the couch beside him, letting my head fall back against the cushion.
I was gone too much, away from my family, so I could afford to stay a little longer with him. Glancing outside, I noticed the sky deepening into a rich indigo, the first bright stars beginning to peek through. It was a beautiful sight, a reminder of the normalcy I craved amidst the chaos of my life.
“Sorry if I come off pissed all the time,” I murmured, the weight of everything I’d been carrying pressing heavier than usual. Drew gave me a nudge; it was light and quick.
“I know, man,” he said, eyes serious beneath the usual mischief. “I just worry, you know? One day, all this playing soldier for Vesperas is going to get you killed.”
I didn’t answer, jaw tightening.
“She’s got you on a leash, Darian. And it’s not just me—Daleyza sees it too. You haven’t been yourself since that manipulative bitch slithered her way into your life. And don’t even get me started on Sera. She gives a new meaning to toxic.”
I snorted under my breath, eyes fixed on some dirt on the ceiling.
Ah, Sera, now that’s a little complicated.
She was trouble, pure and simple. I let her in, thought I could move on from someone who was in my life before joining the Veilguards. Turns out Sera opens her legs for anyone who looks her way.
She didn’t get on with anybody in this house, tried turning us against each other. There’s no escaping her, though; she thinks she has a right to me, doing everything possible to get back into my life.
I think the fuck not.
“I know she’s toxic,” I said, voice low with frustration. “But she doesn’t get it. It’s like chaos feeds her, and I can’t do anything about it because she’s a woman.”
Drew shifted. That shit-eating grin is creeping onto his face. “So, get yourself a woman and let her knock Sera’s teeth in. Problem solved.”
I laughed, throwing my head back at his ridiculous suggestion, although the thought of letting another woman into my life didn’t sit right with me. Nothing serious could ever happen between us.
Even if I could, they would have to be seriously special for me to lower my guard. Plus, I didn’t want to drag someone I would genuinely care for into the turmoil I was dealing with.
I wasn’t an easy person to love. Hell, I've already had my one that got away—and I'm still carrying the weight of it.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said just as Daleyza’s bedroom door creaked open.
She shuffled out, all sleepy eyes and a smug little grin, wrapped in cat-print pyjamas and slippers. Her curls were piled on top of her head in a messy bun that defied gravity, and somehow, she still looked like sunshine.
“Look who finally emerged from her royal chambers,” Drew said, flashing her a grin as he flicked one of her curls. She shook her head, then dropped herself right between us.
I counted silently, trying to forget the slight brush of her leg against my skin.
