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I barely recognize her from my first meeting with her. Back then, she’d looked like a scrappy college kid in frayed jeans and sneakers.
It’s Julian, I realize with a start. There’s no way that abandoned Collins girl could look this way on her own.
“Get over here,” I hear Raiden’s voice from the corner.
“Why didn’t anyone wake me up?” I ask.
“You came in late last night,” says Julian with a mouthful of toast. “I didn’t want to wake you up.”
“You should have,” I say in a grim tone. “Dad’s coming to visit us today.”
Iris walks toward the table and tips out two French toasts onto a large dish.
“Park your ass and have some breakfast first,” says Damon, pushing a chair toward me.
“Breakfast can wait.”
“They’re really good when they’re hot,” says Raiden, drizzling his toast liberally with syrup.
“Even better with bananas and blueberries,” says Julian.
“I’ll grab you a plate,” Iris says, moving toward the counter.
“I don’t need you to do anything,” I say, feeling out of patience. “You shouldn’t even be here when we’re eating. Just cook and leave.”
Her expression falters at once.
“Caleb,” Julian’s voice is sharp.
I glance toward my mate and find him frowning at me. My brothers are also staring at me with disapproving looks.
Did I say something wrong? The Collins girl was supposed to do the cooking and stay in the attic. I never agreed to have her hover around us when we were all together.
“Didn’t you hear what I just said?” I bark, seeing her standing by the stove with her back toward me. “Get out.”
“Sorry,” she blurts, hurrying toward the doorway.
“Wait. Leave the apron here,” I say in a loud, grim tone. “It belongs to Julian.”
She comes to a halt and stares at me, her eyes flashing with wariness. Without a word, she takes off the apron, folds it neatly, and places it on the counter.
“Can I go now?” she whispers.
I nod.
She turns away at once and walks out of the kitchen.
When I turn around to face Julian and my brothers, they’re all staring at me with varying degrees of disapproval.
“Did you have to be so mean to her?” Julian explodes, dropping his fork and knives on the plate. The metal chinks loudly as it hits the porcelain.
“I wasn’t being mean,” I say. “I simply told her to leave.”
“Was that necessary?” Damon asks with raised eyebrows. “Now, I won’t get any more food and I’m still hungry.”
“I know,” Raiden says with a scowl. “Wish he’d come in after she’d fried some bacon.”
Julian’s mouth twists. Pushing his chair back, he gets to his feet. “You’re still hungry?” he snaps at Damon. “Iris didn’t even get a chance to have a bite. I’m going upstairs to bring her some food.”
