Page 113 of Fate of the Sun King

“Tris!” we both exclaim.

He slowly peels open his eyes, his mouth stretching into a lazy grin.

“How long have you been awake?” Willow demands, and he rolls his eyes.

“Unfortunately, long enough to hear that both of my sisters are fucking the offspring of the man who killed our parents.”

“Amya and I aren’t fucking!” Willow exclaims, and then Tristan and I exchange a look as we both start laughing. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Willow curse before.

“Look at you,” I say. “A few weeks out of prison, and now you become a cursing, kissing, sexual being.”

A pillow whacks me in the face, and I fall off my chair, laughing so hard I’m clutching my stomach. I look up to find Willow with her feather-filled assault weapon gripped in her hand and a grin on her face.

“Did you just hit me?” I gasp, still laughing.

Willow looks at the pillow and then at me with a satisfied smile. “I did. That felt good.”

“Oh gods,” Tristan says. “What have you done, Lor? She’s going to turn into you.”

“Shut up,” I say as I drag myself back up onto the chair, but I’m laughing so hard that I keep missing the seat. “It’s rude to pretend you’re asleep while people are talking, by the way.”

Tristan shrugs and then winces. Willow drops the pillow and is instantly at his side.

“Are you okay?” she asks. “Do you need some water?” She picks up the glass on the nightstand and helps him sit up.

“I’m okay. Just sore and tired.” He takes a sip of water. “What happened?”

We fill him in on the bombing in the square and how it knocked him out. Mael and Nadir have been out trying to gather information, and I’m trying not to worry about how many hours they’ve been gone.

“You healed me?” Tristan says. “A wound that severe? You haven’t done anything like that in years.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever done anything like that,” I say. “But I couldn’t let you die, Tris.”

He nods, a shine appearing in his eyes. “Thank you,” he says.

“I couldn’t have done it without Nadir’s help.” I say the words pointedly, hoping they’ll make some kind of impression on my brother. His expression darkens.

“I’m trying, Lor. You can’t expect me to just trust him after everything that happened.”

I dip my chin. “I know. I’m only asking you to try.”

“I will. I am. I promise.”

I blow out a breath. “Thank you.”

“It’s not like Tristan can claim innocence, though, can he?” Willow says, batting her eyes. “Why don’t we talk about Nerissa?”

Tristan’s brow furrows as though in confusion, and it’s my and Willow’s turn to laugh at our brother’s expense. I think I like this sassy version of my sister.

“Are you seriously pretending you haven’t been making googly eyes at her since the day we got here?” I ask, and Tristan frowns harder.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says. “Maybe she’s kind of… pretty.”

Willow rolls her eyes, and Tristan shrugs with a sheepish grin. “Hey, if you two are allowed to explore things, then so can I.”

“Fine,” I say. “Fair enough.”

We all fall into silence, enjoying this comfort of being together, but I already know I’m going to have to pull us back to the teetering edge.