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“But we love them too,” Natalie said.

“So we’re secretly strategizing.” Kiera smirked.

“We need to protect our men too,” Michelle said, looking at me. “We can’t just sit around and let The Trogyn hurt them.”

Elena wrapped an arm around me. “You can help us strategize.”

The love these women had for their men and each other inspired me. This was more than friendship. This was a family, and now I was a part of it.

I’d come here tonight thinking we’d be discussing my fake marriage, but the gathering had turned into a bond of friendship I’d never experienced.

We decided the first Chill and Chat would be for us girls to discuss how we could help the boys without them suspecting anything.

CHAPTER TWENTY

ATTIKUS

I satat the table with a wide view of Orion’s yard. The magnolia tree was blooming. My yard had the Yoshina Cherry and Magnolia trees. More flowers surrounded his yard and home since Orion got married. More importantly, it was now full of dandelions, Elena’s favorite flower.

My head kept turning toward the other room, where laughter echoed.

“Sounds like they’re having fun,” Orion said, offering me a glass of wine.

Remington, Grayson, Royce, Arrow, and Forrest were all playing the demo for my Level Seven. An element was missing from my fantastical world, and I needed more time for the solution to come to me.

“Are you nervous?” I sipped the wine and let the warmth coat my throat. “Having two babies won’t be easy.”

“Scared shitless.” Orion smiled. “But Elena doesn’t know that. I don’t want her worrying about me.”

“It’s natural to be scared. This is a major life change. You’ll have mini versions of you and her running around the house.”

I recalled playing with my sister when we were younger. Five years younger than me, Amelia had looked up to me, wanting me to teach her how to draw and claiming I was better at it than her.

“Elena is the one having to deal with most changes. She has two humans growing inside her. That’s a miracle to me.” I could hear the joy in Orion’s voice. “I didn’t have any siblings growing up, so I’m happy my kids will have each other.” He turned to the lounge area with the wide TV screen. “I bet Forrest feels the same way. But he’s a doctor, so he can check up on Kiera more than I can with Elena.”

“I thought you had a nurse coming here to examine Elena?”

He waved a hand. “I did, but Elena claims it was obsessive and unnecessary.”

“You’re also having a life-changing event with this marriage thing.” Orion tossed me a look. “I have to ask—is the contract tight?”

My best friend was being protective of me, and I appreciated his thoughtfulness. “Yeah. Don’t worry.”

Orion nodded and finished his wine. “I can see why you’re helping her.”

“Why?” I arched an eyebrow.

“Because she’s an artist like you and your sister.”

The truth of it hit me hard. I knew that was the reason, but I’d let it linger on the side. Facing it would acknowledge that I was no longer an artist. That my passion had died a long time ago. Those assholes took that passion away from me.

Of all the boys, Orion knew me best. Vanessa was like my sister and me—victims of a greedy and callous society. I didn’t want her passion destroyed the way mine was. I didn’t want her to lose her life and the opportunity to share her creativity with the world. Amelia would have been an astounding artist if she were still alive. She was more of a painter, and I was more ofan illustrator. Based on the art I’d observed, Vanessa had both skills.

I lifted my hand and wiggled my fingers. “I have drawn nothing since that day.”

“You should try again,” Orion said.

I lifted a shoulder. “Maybe.”