Page 7 of Brandy Snap: Part Two

I wasn’t going to tell them about Zania’s money. I didn’t want to give them any other excuse to get rid of me when they were my only way to get to her.

He paused, his lips parting like he was going to argue. We stared at each other as he considered it, and I could have urged him on, told him to give me whatever thoughts were racing behind his rage. Because I wanted some honesty.

Instead, he growled, turning from me, instantly striding away through the office door.

“For fuck’s sake,” Kai muttered as his hand swept over the patch Caspian had left. “Honestly, and he complains about me being the dickhead.”

He couldn’t get rid of me just because he hurled cruel words at me. None of them could.

Kai bunched his sleeve, dabbing it to my chest.

“You don’t have to do that,” I said, placing my hand over his. Whenever they were kind to me, it made the situation worse.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” he snapped, knocking my hand away. “I’m not having people pay more attention to the marks on your body. My dress has to be centre stage. That fucking bruise on your cheek is bad enough.”

Maybe I didn’t understand Kai, but it felt like he was comforting me in his own way. Though I knew he wouldn’t admit it.

As he made slow strokes over my chest, he scowled while his other hand seamlessly slipped into mine.

“Stay still,” he murmured as he leaned in close. I didn’t miss the way he squeezed my fingers, and I was sure he saw how Isoftened for him. “I guess that will do. It’s only my design that matters anyway,” he grumbled, nodding with a rare seriousness.

His eyes flicked to my cheek, dancing over the bruise again, and he sighed.

“It’s not that bad,” I said softly.

“Yeah, sure, keep telling yourself that. You know how hard someone has to hit you for it to get like that? I mean, seriously, you’re fucking—”

I squeezed his hand in return. I didn’t know how I did it, but my aura crept out towards him, tentatively reaching for him with my energy.

He stilled as it brushed him, and my back straightened in surprise that I managed it.

“I’m really okay,” I replied, trying to soothe him the same way Sin soothed me.

Kai huffily blew away a strand of hair which had fallen from his tight chignon. “Whatever, come on,” he said. He tugged at my hand, acting as if it was natural for him to keep clasping me as he turned, aiming for the door.

My heart burst at how affectionately he was treating me, even if he was being shy about it.

Maybe it was only for this moment, but I wanted to savour it as much as possible. Because Kai’s kindness felt like it could vanish in a second.

A smile spread my lips, confidence building inside me as Sin strode behind us. It was the first time I’d felt accepted by them both.

I glanced back, holding out my other hand, asking Sin to take it. The silken cotton of his gloves stroked my fingers as he curled his around mine. With the two of them backing me up, I was sure I could take on a storm and come out the other end kicking.

Melanie

They didn’t announce us like in the movies or anything. But there was a moment before we entered the ballroom whereKai deliberately shifted us so he and Sin looped their arms through mine, and I felt like a star.

I stood in the centre, Sin on my left, Kai on my right as we walked in. Caspian strode behind us, guarding us, scanning for anyone who might attack us. Though it probably wouldn’t happen when there seemed to be security guards standing every ten feet against the walls.

People noticed us instantly, conversations falling into judgemental stares and whispers. One young omega even looked at the floor as if it was too much for her to bear.

But, most of all, there was confusion.

The further we walked, the more people crowded around us, all watching us with varying levels of judgement. But no one acted—apart from Caspian, who beat everyone back with growls and a glare.

The other guests didn’t matter.

I tried to be as subtle as possible, casually turning my head as if I was speaking to either Sin or Kai as I looked for her. I didn’t want to miss her face when she saw me again after she’d threatened me to stay away.