“I just called for a little bit of reinforcement,” he mumbles, and my mother releases me to sweep him up in one of her special hugs, just like she did me.
Leaning back in my chair, I don't get the reprieve I hope for as Aster falls into my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck as she holds me tight.
“Not right now,” I grumble, but she only squeezes tighter.
“You're welcome, Baron,” she muses, and I narrow my eyes at her when she finally slackens her hold.
“Why are you here?” I mutter, and her smile grows soft as her gaze travels across the room to the sleeping form that fills the bed.
“She's family,” she states, as if it's that simple.
As I part my lips, ready to correct her, no words come out.
“Thank you for being here,” Hugo mumbles, brushing his hair back off his face as he stares down at his sister in continued despair.
“When will it stop?” Cami asks, folding her arms over her chest as she blinks at Ivy with growing concern.
I follow her line of sight. She looks peaceful, but it's been a really long time.
My stomach churns, but before I can let the sensation completely consume me, a hand pats down on my shoulder. Tilting my head, I find Garside silently present beside me. He offers me a nod that I don't respond to as my gaze lifts to my father across the room.
His jaw is set tight and firm, a likely mirror replica of mine, one that I can't stand to look at, so I return my attention to Ivy, only to find my mother hovering beside Meadow with her hand pressed against my fated mate’s.
Seeing Ivy and my family in the same room is a blessing and a curse.
Everything feels real, and too much, yet not enough, all at the same time.
My sisters talk quietly among themselves as I fixate on the way my mother strokes her thumb across the back of Ivy's hand.
“It's okay, sweet girl, we're here when you're ready, but if you could do me a favor and stop my son from fretting, I would be eternally grateful,” my mother whispers, and Hugo snickers, the sound light despite the oppressive sense of dread that continues to fill the room.
Aster approaches the other side of the bed, but she doesn't reach for Ivy's hand as she speaks to her. “Although, if you do want to keep my brother waiting a little longer, it's nothing morethan he deserves. I can't wait for you to wake up so we can discuss how much of an asshole he actually is.”
She takes too much pleasure in saying that.
“Which one?” Teddy grumbles from his seat, and Cami grins at him widely.
“Both,” she declares, and the air continues to lighten just a touch.
It steals my breath away to realize how much of an impact my family can have. Regardless of how much I struggle with it.
“Thankfully for us, she's not going to remember who she hates the most when she first wakes up,” Archer says, twisting the knot in my gut that continues to grow with every passing minute.
My mother clears her throat. “Well, while we're waiting for that time to arrive,” my mother states, giving everyone a firm look. ”Maybe you can come up with a plan about how you're going to make up for all of this shit.”
“Mom,” Cami gasps with a gleam of humor in her eyes, but my mother lifts her brows in question.
“If your fathers put me through what you've put this girl through already, I would not have four children sitting in this room right now. Bear that in mind.”
Her words pierce my soul in a way I didn't think was possible.
We've had these talks many times before, but hearing it while we’re all crammed into such a small space, I’m faced with reality: if my fathers had acted in the same way as I did, I wouldn't exist.
Now it doesn't bear thinking about.
“Buckle up all your ridiculousness. Your focus should be on making sure she is safe, protected, but above all else, happy,” my mother proceeds, and my gaze returns to where she still holds Ivy's hand. ”Don't worry, Ivy, I'll make it my mission to make sure that these boys?—“
“We're not boys,” Archer grumbles, and my mother rolls her eyes at him before giving him a stern look that transforms her face.
