Page 23
Story: Princes of Ash
Of course, it could be Wicker’s or Lex’s, but it wouldn’t matter. There’s no way the three of us didn’t make that baby together, imbuing our Princess with the essence of us. That’s something my brothers don’t understand yet. I can see it in them. The bitterness. The anger. The misery. They still think this is a punishment, something we’re enduring.
But for me, nothing has ever felt more right.
Or more mine.
She eats a bowl of cereal at nine and goes to the bathroom shortly after. Then, into the bedroom at ten. She probably doesn’t even realize her dresser mirror is placed in an unfortunate location, where someone looking through her window can glimpse half a tit when she dresses for bed.
I get frustrated and tense when she turns out the light, but then a blue glow appears, illuminating her face as she settles into bed.
The laptop.
Instantly, I pull up the screen mirroring program, feeling more of those electric zings as I watch her cursor move on my screen. It’s better than having her here with me, this knowledge that I’m getting her unfiltered, without reservation.
She opens her email first, sending a document titledGeopolitical Structures of North Asiato her poli-sci professor.
“A little light reading for us before bed,” I say to Effie, downloading the file.
Next, she does some searches on morning sickness. Apparently, there are a million different ‘cures’, and each personal account would swear on their fetus thattheirsactually works. I watch her expression on the screen, nose wrinkling with every disgusting recipe.
There’s a moment where the cursor pauses over the search bar.
Then, she begins typing in the text box.
“Forsyth abortion providers.”
I jolt from my seat, startling Effie into a flapping fit, but before I can grab my phone and send Verity a text, she begins backspacing.
On the screen, a tendril of her hair flutters with a sigh.
“Maternity jeans.”
Slowly, I set my phone back down, sinking back into my seat. “You’re goddamn right.”
Effie squawks. “Please, god, no.”
I don’t even realize how long I’ve been watching her until a knock sounds at my door. I jolt again, this time fumbling to pull up the feed of the hallway. If Father finds out about these cameras…
But when the door swings open, it’s just Lex, shirtless and mildly disgruntled. “It’s after midnight. Are you going to—” His words cut off when he sees the screen.
Immediately, he shuts the door behind him. “Is that…?”
Releasing a breath, I sink back into my seat. “Yeah. It’s her.”
Lex steps closer, zeroing in on her face. “How the fuck are you watching her right now?” He cuts his eyes to me. “If you crossed into Perilini’s territory—”
“Give me some credit.” I reach down to adjust my cock, which I now realize has gone from semi-hard to full-on boner. “I’ve got friends in low places.”
Lex’s gaze tracks my hand, eyes narrowing. “Why are you even bothering? Personally, I’m glad to be rid of her for a month.”
There’s a tinge of betrayal in his voice that makes my shoulders tense. “We have to make sure she’s not organizing against us,” I offer, trying to make it casual.
Lex can sense how weak that argument is. “Let her. So long as we get a baby in eight months, we win.” Straightening, he nods to Effie. “Put her away and come to bed. We have that job tomorrow, and you still have to show up at practice. You and Wicker need to rest.”
Shrugging, I turn to put Effie back into her cage. “Then I guess you don’t want to hear about the coffee she had today.”
As expected, the room grows tense with a sudden silence.
“Excuse me?”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156
- Page 157
- Page 158
- Page 159
- Page 160
- Page 161
- Page 162
- Page 163
- Page 164
- Page 165
- Page 166
- Page 167
- Page 168
- Page 169
- Page 170
- Page 171
- Page 172
- Page 173
- Page 174
- Page 175
- Page 176
- Page 177
- Page 178
- Page 179
- Page 180
- Page 181
- Page 182
- Page 183
- Page 184
- Page 185
- Page 186
- Page 187
- Page 188
- Page 189
- Page 190
- Page 191
- Page 192