Page 23 of Summer

I gather the file and tuck it under my arm, heading toward the sitting room where I know Aaoric likes to spend his evenings. I don’t bother to knock; I don’t want him to turn me away. I try the door, only to find it locked. I rattle the handle before banging a few times. “Aaoric? Open the door, I need to speak with you urgently!”

I hear him curse and the sound of fumbling. When he eventually answers the door I push past him, dropping the file on his table. The room is warm and smells of sweat.

“Gennelle,” Aaoric warns, but I raise a hand to silence him.

“Do you know anything about your betrothed?” I interrupt, pointing to the file. “Have you looked into that school our parents bought her from?”

“Why would I?” Aaoric hisses. “It’s not as if I have a choice in the matter.”

“Oh, so you’ve given up?” I ask, pointing to the file again. “You’re just going to accept that you’re to marry a stranger and move on?”

“What would you have me do?” he asks. His gaze ticks from me to a spot behind me, but I don’t take the bait. He won’t distract me from this, he needs to know.

“For starters, look at this human they’ve purchased. She was a criminal,” I say.

He raises his eyebrows, laughing. “Summer? A criminal?”

“Yes,” I grind out, picking up the file from his desk and slamming it into his chest. “See for yourself – she’s got a mug shot, and it’s most unflattering.”

Aaoric opens the file and his gaze fixes on the photo. He removes it, examining it before flipping it to face me. I try to look away but I’m unable, my gaze fixed to the tight fabric across her breasts.

“This mug shot?” he asks, his lips turning to a smile at my reaction.

“It’s vile,” I say.

“Hmm,” he hums, handing me the photo. When I refuse to take it, he lets it fall to the ground. My fingers itch to grab it, but I resist. Aaoric skims the file, not bothering to read any of it.

“This isn’t a joke!” I practically yell.

Aaoric sighs and closes the file, placing it on his desk once more. “Gennelle,” he says gently, and my temper flares.

“Do not use that tone with me,” I hiss.

“Fine,” he says, his smile gone. “Why were you sneaking around Father’s study to find Summer’s file?”

“You need to know…” I start.

“Yes – I need to know. This has nothing to do with you,” he continues.

“But you’re my brother, and I don’t want you to have to marry someone you don’t love,” I protest.

“Is that what this is about? Truly?” Aaoric asks, his anger rising to meet mine. “You care so much about my happiness? What do you intend to do, Gennelle? Talk Father and Mother out of this?”

My mouth opens and closes. That’s exactly what I intended to do, with his help.

“Why should they listen to you when they don’t listen to me? Hmm?” He tilts his head, his voice soft. “Let me be frank, sister. This is not about me, it’s about you. You have nothing else to do. You’ve abandoned your friends, and you have no hobbies except running Father’s ridiculous empire. The only thing you have is my life, which you’ve overstepped into. Your obsession with this must end.”

“I am not obsessed…” I start, but he interrupts.

“You are. You entered Father’s private study to find the file of the human they bought for me to marry. You spend all day with her, following her around, introducing her to the local society. It is because you have no life of your own, and it won’t be much longer until that is not acceptable to Mother and Father.” His words are calm, but the anger is palpable. My skin bristles, my heart hammering in my chest.

“It is because I love you,” I say softly. “You are my brother. You’re all I have.”

“I love you too,” he says, though he keeps his distance. “Which is why I am saying this to you. Focus on your own happiness, Gennelle. Do not make my life a sport.”

“So, you’re just going to marry her?” I cry. “What about…”

“I have no choice,” he grits out, again his gaze flickering behind me. I start to turn my head, but Aaoric reaches out to grab my arm. His touch is gentle as he pulls me to the door.