She raised her hands to sign.I waited so I wouldn’t walk into one of your fights.
I quickly squeezed her hand, then placed it back in my lap, my usual edge softening a fraction.
“Not today, D,” I push to my feet with a stretch that cracks half my spine. “I’ve got shit to do. Drew's on babysitting duty.”
“We aren’t kids.”
I looked at them both, ignoring that. “If the fridge is empty—which it probably is, just use Kieran's card to order something, he won't notice.”
That fridge is never full, Kieran devours half of it whenever he's drunk, and Ronan… Well, Ronan is Ronan.
Drew snorted from the couch. “He’ll notice when there’s no money left for his stupid, expensive whisky,”
I smirked. “Then maybe he’ll finally drink water like a normal person.”
Daleyza tapped me.I helped Ronan bake a load of cupcakes yesterday. There are some leftovers if you want before you go.
I nodded, grateful for the thoughtfulness.
Before heading to my room, I swung by the kitchen and gave it a once-over—spotless, thankfully. I stepped back and immediately caught the looks on their faces. Drew was trying not to laugh, Daleyza smiling way too innocently.
“What?” I grumbled.
“Nothing,” Drew said, way too fast.
I narrowed my eyes. “Why was he baking cupcakes, and where the hell is he?”
They exchanged a look. Drew's smirk widened. “Think he has a lady friend, and they’ve been gone since the meeting you went to.”
“They haven’t been home?”
They both shook their heads, and I clenched my fists. Daleyza stood up and stopped by me.“Please eat before you go. I’m heading to my room, goodnight.”
Turning to Drew, he was already looking through a takeaway menu.
“I hope Ronan’s getting laid, at least one of us should be having fun.” Rolling my eyes, I couldn’t help but chuckle at his dramatics, the weight of the day momentarily lifted by our banter.
I left Drew in the living room, quickly slipping into my gear, making sure my weapons were fastened in place. Once I was satisfied, I stepped back out, ready to leave.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” I shot him a pointed look as I opened the door.
Drew gave a lazy salute, smiling. “Yes, Commander Killjoy,” he drawled, flipping me off as he slouched deeper into the couch.
Really mature.
I rolled my eyes and tossed the gesture right back at him as I walked out, his laughter trailing behind me like the pain in the ass he was.
The walk to the woods was peaceful, the night air crisp and cold, only a few people wandering the streets, wrapped in scarves and bundled against the chill. Usually, I would take the car, but I needed to clear my head.
With Christmas approaching, the neighbourhood I lived in was aglow with twinkling lights strung across porches and trees, their colours reflecting off the fresh blanket of snow that had begun to fall softly to the ground. I paused at the edge of the whispering woods when I finally made it, the familiar tug at my chest intensifying, urging me to step forward.
As I stood beneath the canopy of trees, a few Shadowstags drifted past—silent, watchful, and utterly uninterested in me. I was just about to step deeper into the woods when movement caught my eye.
Kieran and Ronan emerged from the shadows, both looking like they hadn’t slept at all. Kieran gave a curt nod. Ronan, of course, went for dramatics—slapping a hand to my shoulder hard enough to make me shift my stance.
Boundaries.
“Look who finally decided to show up,” Ronan said with a crooked grin. “Missed your brooding face.”
