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She doesn’t need my permission. She knows she doesn’t, but the fact that her eyes are drilling a hole into me, almost asking for my approval, makes me loosen my hold a little.
“I liked it better when we were just riding horses all day,” I tell her honestly.
She grins. “And prank calling the queen?”
I smirk. “I love you, Eden Astor.”
“I love you, Number Five.”
23
Sir Franklin Jarvis
Igrind my teeth together. Smoke from my half-enjoyed cigar wafts in front of me, temporarily distorting my view of the servant in the off-the-rack black suit who stands just inside the doorway to my office, wringing his hands.
I pick a leather-bound book off my desk and throw it. It hits the doorframe behind him with a loud thud, and he practically runs out of the room, tripping over himself in the process.
Hethinks he can get away with that, does he?Hethinks he can take something that belongs to my family?
He’s gone too far.
Now, he’ll pay.
24
Eden
Untangling myself from Oliver’s long limbs is a feat. Actually, what will be a feat is if I can get my legs to work. With the way he enjoyed me last night, contorting my body in any way he pleased, I’ll be lucky if I don’t collapse as soon as I put weight on my feet.
I slink out of his hold and push my pillow closer. His hands wrap around that, snuggling it tight. I so badly want to take a picture, but I have no idea where my phone is. It’s in moments like these that I’m thankful Oliver was persistent. I couldn’t see what was right in front of my face, and that was a shame. I’d hate to think what it would be like if he never pursued me.
Taking a deep breath, I watch his lips purse in his sleep before I grab some of my clothes from the floor. In the low light from the first rays of sun, I dress silently and then crack the door open to leave. Oliver’s been so worried about me, and trust me, I get it. I’m worried about all of us.
Tiptoeing down the stairs, I grab my jacket and scarf. Footsteps sound behind me. “Miss Astor, are you needing anything?”
I turn to find James. I swear the man has motion sensors in every area of the house so he can pop up and ask us if we need assistance. “I’m fine, James. Thank you.”
Backing toward the door, I watch as his brow furrows. “I can retrieve something for you, if you need.”
I shake my head. “No, I’m okay. I’m just going to get some tea for Oliver. Maybe some scones. Do you want anything?”
“Miss?”
“At the café. Do you want anything?”
“No, miss. Thank you.”
Ha. I knew that would do it. He always gets confused when anyone asks if he wants something, and I take his stunned silence as the opportunity to sneak from the house and head toward the garage. Oliver’s Minis are in there, and he keeps the keys on a peg inside the door.
Leo’s loud engine would wake everyone up, and they’d come barreling after me like I’m going to get kidnapped if I go anywhere by myself. I’m not in the Knights anymore, right? Therefore, I’m one hundred percent fine. No Elders are going to throw me into a car and blindfold me for some Trial.
I grab the keys and press the button on the fob. It takes me several tries before I find the one that’s on the far end of the garage, the one less likely to alert anyone sleeping inside when the garage door opens.
The engine hums, barely a blip. I press the button to lift the door. The sky is turning lighter by the second. They’ll wake soon.
I’ll get tea and scones for Oliver, but he’ll complain about how terrible they are, so I’ll have a hot chocolate and doughnut as a backup. For Leo and Alaric, I’ll get coffee and doughnuts and muffins. Maybe I’ll just buy the café out. I check my purse to make sure I have my credit card, then I pull the car out slowly.
There’s an icy sheen on the road to town, and a few inches of snow are on either side of the pavement. The plow must have been through already, clearing my path.