Page 102 of Dark Souls

“Not cool, Leif Romano-Black! I may laugh about this one day, but today is not that day!” Dad roared.

“Leif Anderson,” Leif corrected. “Might as well call me what I am. The greatest Anderson that’s ever lived!” He looked at me and scoffed. “Wait? You didn’t know? I’m more famous than our parents now. That’s what they’re calling me. The Greatest Anderson to ever live like I’m some kind of legend or hero. Greatness becomes me!” he said in a dramatic voice while he lifted his arms out wide with the bottle in one hand. “What a pile of absolute wank.”

Dad shook his head and turned to me. “Sort him out. Give that ridiculous head of his a good fucking wobble because I just can’t with him right now.” He stormed past me as Leif sniggered and I pinched my lips together to keep more laughter at bay.

“Fuck, I’ve missed you.” I smiled, strolling over and plonking myself on the floor next to him. I grabbed the bottle from his hands and took a drink mainly to avoid him from drinking anymore but also because I really needed it myself.

He dropped his head back against the bed and closed his eyes. “Life’s really been that boring here without me then?”

“Actually, no. It’s been rather… eventful. But all that’s for another day.” I leaned my head back on the bed and turned to the side to stare at his profile.

My brothers were blessed with insanely good looks like all the men in my family, yet they were still so unique. Lorcan, with his tanned skin, muscular body, black wavy hair and piercing green and gold eyes, was the image of male masculinity and perfection. But Leif was beautiful. He had the same handsome facial structure but his light-brown floppy hair, full lips and entrancing multi-coloured eyes that swirled with enchantment were other-worldly. He wasn’t as built with muscle as Lorcan, but he still had a physique that made girls drool. And guys, for that matter.

Leif’s sexual preferences were anyone with a pulse. But it was his cheeky charm and charisma that seemed to make him so irresistible. Frequently, he took advantage of his ability to get away with just about anything. He never took life seriously. He believed life was all about the three Fs. Fun, fucking and freedom, apparently. If there were no three Fs being had, you were living it all wrong. His words, not mine. But as I studied the dull bags under his eyes and his slightly bedraggled appearance, I had to wonder if he still believed that after his time in Heroux.

“You okay?” I asked softly as he stared up at the ceiling, looking a million miles away.

“Just dandy,” he replied, shooting me with that lopsided smile.

“Cut the bullshit, Leif. This is me you’re talking to.”

He groaned, grabbing the bottle back and drinking way more than he needed to. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as I waited patiently.

“I don’t get why everyone is on my case all the time. The war is over. Peace is restored. Life goes on. So why won’t they leave me alone and let me live mine?”

“Perhaps,” I argued, snatching the bottle back. “Because you are living life shitfaced.”

“That’s my prerogative,” he mumbled, closing his eyes again. I could tell he was close to passing out and I knew I’d get hardly anything out of him like this.

“They are just worried. You don’t normally let shit get to you like this, so of course they are. But what happened in Heroux—”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he snapped, lifting his head and glaring at me. I blanched back in surprise. It was the first time Leif had ever snapped at me like that. “Sorry,” he mumbled before flopping his head back again. “I just—”

“Don’t want to talk about it. I get it. And that’s fine. Whenever you’re ready, you know I’ll be here.”

His arm looped up and over my head, resting heavily around my shoulder as he gave me a clumsy pat on the head. “You’re my favourite sister.”

“I’m your only sister, moron.”

“Exactly.” He smirked.

I sighed, leaning my head into his shoulder. “Remember how I used to always say I was the best sibling? Well, I lied. Because you are pretty awesome, Leif. I know you don’t think so, but they are all right. You are a hero.”

“Heroes save lives.” He took another swig from the bottle.

“You saved mine.”

“And I’d do it again in a heartbeat. But the question is, would you do the same for me?”

“Of course I would, you idiot!”

“Would you fight a dragon for me?”

“If they still existed, yes.”

“Would you fight a really, really angry squirrel for me?”

I snorted at his randomness. “Without question.”