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Chapter 16
Cake Flavor? Sakura, Please!
Baby-blue eyes glared at her accusingly, and that pretty face scrunched with disgust.
“You can’t steal Darcy from me!” nine-year-old Alaina hissed.
Ten-year-old Sakura looked down at Alaina’s small hands that were squeezing hers so tight it was painful. She wanted to tell the girl to stop hurting her and let her go, but Alaina only sneered at her.
“You want me to let you go?” Alaina asked sarcastically, her head cocked to one side, her eyes narrowed darkly.
“Let her go! Let her go!” Ten-year-old Tara’s voice echoed all around her, singing and laughing merrily. “Let her fall. Let her fall.”
“I’m letting you go,” Alaina said. “So go and die.”
Very slowly, Sakura watched in horror as Alaina unwrapped her hands. “No!” she screamed, watching Alaina as she slowly fell backward from the tree house, her small body flying down toward the ground as if she were falling from a cliff edge down to the angry sea below.
Sakura screamed, her eyes wide with fear, as Alaina was about to hit the hard ground below. Suddenly, it was Sakura who felt her own body falling—down, down, and down.
Splash!
The hungry water was everywhere around her, engulfing her, wanting to eat her alive. She struggled and tried to scream for help. She was dying, and she knew she couldn’t do anything about it.
Blue eyes. A pair of beautiful, sky-blue eyes were watching her. A boy’s hands were reaching out for her.
“Sakura!” he seemed to be shouting. His voice, however, was muffed by the water as his hands desperately reached out for her.
“Sebastian!”
Sakura woke up with a start, her body hot and sweating and her lips chanting Sebastian’s name. Her heart pounded hard within her chest, and her head was spinning out of control.
She closed her eyes again, told herself to calm down because it was only a dream. No! A nightmare. A long-ago nightmare she thought she’d forgotten, but in fact it had lain dormant deep within her mind.
She turned on her side and tried to sleep, but it was impossible. She kept seeing those blue eyes, wide with fear, as they stared at her.
“Sebastian,” she said under her breath as she gazed at the bright moon that shone through her opened curtain. She touched her hand to her chest where she felt the pounding of her heart. “Why?” she whispered. “Why would you sacrifice your life to save me?”
Soon she closed her eyes again and returned to sleep. This time though there was no nightmare.
The next morning, Sakura felt like a zombie. She was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn’t know she’d reached the dining room.
“Good morning.” Conrad greeted her the moment she stepped through the door. In fact, she didn’t even have time to take a seat when he instantly had his strong arms around her person and gave her a really tight hug.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked.
Sakura wanted to tell him of course not. She had a nightmare, if he wanted to know the details. But instead she watched in horror as Conrad moved his face toward her, his lips coming down fast toward her forehead. She closed her eyes, wondering what Conrad wanted to do, when she felt strong hands around her slender arms and then a hard, swift pull of her body, releasing her from Conrad’s hug.
She found herself in Darcy’s arms, his hands tight around her, her face only inches from his massive chest. She could feel his body heat radiating, causing her to feel warm and dizzy at the same time. She tilted her face to look at him and saw he was gazing down at her, his eyes deep and intense. She felt her tummy flutter and her head started to spin. Perhaps it resulted from her tiredness due to her lack of sleep last night. Well, at least she hoped that was the reason, not Darcy’s presence.
Without knowing it, her knees weakened and she lost her stance. Darcy swiftly tightened his hold on her, bringing her closer to him. His lips were warm near her forehead as he asked, “You’re unwell?”
“Sakura, are you all right?” Conrad queried with concern.
Sakura wanted to tell him she couldn’t sleep a wink because she’d been up all night thinking about many random things but especially about that nightmare and Sebastian and his kiss last night.
She managed to get hold of herself and shook her head to tell them she was fine. When she glanced over at the large dining table, she noted all the brothers were there, sporting rather concerned looks on their faces, which confused her. Shouldn’t they be pleased she was suffering?
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Tristan asked.
“Yes,” she replied. “I’m very sure.” She moved away from Darcy’s arms and came to sit down at the end of the table as far away from the brothers as possible. Conrad would have none of it, however, and dragged her around the table to sit next to him and Darcy.
“What would you like, my dear sister?” Conrad asked, and Tristan nearly fell off his chair. Sebastian flashed Conrad a watch what you’re saying look. Though Conrad had seen it, he decided to ignore it and hid a smile. Tristan laughed, and Nicolas, Logan, and Hayden watched the scene before them with interest.
“It’s okay. I can take care of myself,” Sakura said, somewhat confused as to why the brothers didn’t seem to mind her presence all of a sudden.
What she’d just said didn’t please the brothers one bit. They didn’t like the fact that she thought she could take care of herself. Yes, of course she could take care of herself on most things, but certainly not one thing. She couldn’t protect herself against Mark Chatsworth, whom the brothers had agreed was a wolf and out to snaffle Sakura away.
Sakura grabbed some toast and proceed to spread some strawberry jam on it, wondering where Daddy James and Mom Brenda had gone off to.
“Mom and Dad are already out,” Conrad volunteered as if sensing her questioning look.
“They’re early,” she said.
“So,” Tristan started, “what are your plans for the day, Sakura?”
She blinked and then took a bite of the toast.
“Well?” he prompted.
“She’s going to be busy today, boys,” Mary announced at the door. “Smells good,” she said as she came in to sit beside Conrad. “Hmm, I’m hungry this morning.”
Sakura smiled the moment she saw her friend. “Here, eat your fill, my bride-to-be, ’cause it’s going to be a day filled with chores,” she said, grabbing another toast and giving it to Mary across Conrad.
“Why thank you, my dear Sakura,” Mary said politely. “How nice you put it. I shall indeed eat my fill afore you condemn me to an eternity of labor.” Then they both laughed.
The brothers were interested in their odd behavior. It looked as though Sakura and Mary were very close friends.
“What labor are you talking about?” Logan asked, then sipped his standard coffee.
“We’re going out today to do bride-to-be stuff,” Mary said.
“Which is?” Hayden put in.
