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We carry everything up to the landing outside Raven and Phoenix’s rooms where we find Baxter waiting, leaning against the wall and dressed like he’s going to a wedding or some shit. Doesn’t that guy ever dress down? Even when he was torturing Charlie he still wore tweed.
“I’ll grab Phoenix. You guys better go in without me because she’ll probably try to kill you for waking her up,” he says, disappearing into Nix’s room.
I knock gently on the door and when there’s no answer I let myself in. Crossing to the bed, I sit down beside her and gently brush the hair from her forehead.
“Wake up, princess,” I say. Her brow creases and she mutters under her breath, burrowing down under the covers a little. Thorn and Rebel place the breakfast trays on the dresser at the end of the bed, and Ace opens the curtains a little to let some natural light in.
I try again to wake her, carefully giving her shoulder a shake this time. Her eyes fly open and she looks about ready to attack me until her brain registers who I am and she relaxes. Then she frowns.
“You’re not who I fell asleep with.”
“Well I’m glad you can tell us apart.” I chuckle. “Morning, princess. We’ve brought you breakfast.”
“Who’s we?”
She blinks, sits up and stretches as she yawns.
“All of us,” Thorn says from the bottom of the bed. She looks at the others and smiles.
“That’s amazing. And a really nice gesture, but if it’s all the same, I’d really love a few more hours of sleep. I had a late night…”
“We know.” I smirk. “I think the whole street heard. I’d probably consider it an early morning too.”
“Sorry,” she mumbles, blushing. It’s really cute.
“Don’t be.” I kiss her cheek and pass her the hot chocolate Thorn has just handed me. She eyes it thankfully, takes a sip and lets out a blissful sigh.
“Where’s Baxter?”
“I’m here,” he calls from the doorway.
“Come in. You can tell me all about yesterday. I hope you’ve got loads of photos to show me.”
“Actually we have a surprise for you,” he replies. I quickly take the hot chocolate back out of her hands.
He steps to the side to reveal Phoenix standing behind him, clad in her PJs, a bright purple plaster cast on her arm. What the fuck?
“Mummy!” Nix screams, running full pelt at the bed. I stand out of the way to avoid covering them both in hot chocolate as she dives onto the bed into Raven’s stunned arms.
“Baby?” is all she manages to choke out before bursting into tears and hugging her back tightly.
“Why are you crying, Mummy?” Phoenix asks, sounding affronted.
“I’m just so happy to see you, baby!” she sobs, pulling Nix even closer. She glances over Nix’s head at Baxter. “How?”
“Later. Just enjoy.”
Fear flashes across her face but she closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and when she opens them again all traces are gone, a perfect happy mask for Nix fixed firmly in place.
“Oh my baby! This is the best surprise ever! Tell me all about your time away.” She beams at Phoenix but her face falls when she sees the cast on her arm. “Baby, what happened?”
“I hurt my arm,” Nix replies.
Baxter shoots me a significant look and I place the drink on the bedside table so that I can pull out my phone to record.
“Okay, baby. I can see that. How did you hurt your arm?”
“I’m not supposed to say,” Nix whispers. Raven’s face whitens and I grip the phone too hard in my hand. The others shift restlessly.
