Page 34 of Glass Hearts

Learning more about Arabella makes me weak. Weak for her, ready to give her everything, potential broken heart be damned. After Sylas found out why she became a thief, I went back to the enforcer’s crime records. All those who reported the theft were, in fact, terrible people.

One of them, for example, was a woman named Clarice.

I did more digging to see why The Shadow would have targeted her.

Shocked to have realized we had met the woman.

She visited the castle once as her father was considering applying to become a council member.

We didn’t get a good feeling from her as she invited her naked self into our beds.

We never took the bait. Turns out she and her father had been using slave labour to make all their textiles, and not paying them a cent.

They provided only a meager meal and crowded housing.

The enforcers intervened, yet the only justice was a financial penalty.

Considering they were swimming in gold, they continued their same abuse until The Shadow righted their wrongs.

Their business went under shortly after the theft when it was ‘released’ that they had still been continuing the awful practice, and punishing those who complained.

It was on the front page of the newspaper last year.

We never bothered to look at how corrupt some of our people have become. Our biggest ‘problems’ was that we had to get married. As if that is a real hardship.

All the ire I spewed her way twists in my gut. I grip the sink basin as I look up at myself in the mirror. Shame mars my features. She could never want me now. I don’t deserve her.

All three of my brothers have filled me in on all things Arabella. From brief notes of her likes and dislikes, to the way she tastes. It’s a torture I deserve. I watched as Koi brought her to his room, Grayer sneaking in shortly after. I am happy for my brothers, yet pain squeezes my heart in envy.

So, I have stayed away. Watching her from a distance.

The only time I feel peace is when she is near or when I am drawing her. Though as I finish each drawing, I long to run my hands through her silky blonde hair. I crave hearing her giggles and moans as I kiss the spot on her collarbone that Koi says drives her wild.

My dick instantly hardens, but I don’t seek release. I go for a whiskey instead. Sitting on my leather chair in front of my fireplace, watching the fire as it crackles. She never takes a break from running around in my mind.

Finding her in the library the other day, I was a hopeful idiot, wishing she had come looking for me.

I wanted desperately to push her against the shelves and kiss that beautiful mouth.

Lift her dress and slide into her warmth.

Taking her in my dark corner, wrapping my hand around her delicate throat as I instruct her to keep quiet.

The only sound is our bodies writhing as she sighs, little moans just for me.

A knock on my door breaks me out of my heated thoughts.

“Hey, brother, you decent? Can we come in? We haven’t seen you all day,” Sylas asks through the bond. I opted not to go to today’s brunch event. It feels wrong even trying to be around other females when all I want to do is get on my knees and beg for Arabella’s forgiveness.

I adjust myself as I yell out, “Come in.”

“How were today’s events?” I ask, not looking away from the fire. I hear them helping themselves to a whiskey, joining me at the fire.

“We didn’t go either. I’m through with trying to please them. I love Arabella, and I am not putting her through that any longer. I would be rioting if the roles were reversed, and I saw my woman dating other dudes.” Grayer scowls.

“Then what were you guys doing all day?”

“Getting a surprise together for our girl. If you have finished moping, you could join us if you want.” Koi sits next to me on the other chaise.

“What kind of surprise?”

“Arabella is back in her room, though she says just for the night… like that’s going to happen.

She is moving back up here. Anyway…,” Grayer rubs Jett’s belly as he continues.

“She gathered her friends for a sleepover. She is so cute. Hopefully, I’ll get another sleepover soon.

I have a few ideas.” He wiggles his eyebrows. I can’t help but laugh at the mongrel.

“What Grayer is trying to say, but keeps getting distracted, is that we put together a bunch of items to make her gathering extra special. Some snacks, sparkling wine, chocolates, this spa stuff that looks like liquid dirt, and other little things to enhance her ladies evening experience. Margie helped, of course,” Koi amends.

“Yes. We are looking to score some friend points. We need to make sure we are in the good graces of the friends of the woman we love.”

Love. They keep dropping that word.

“Arch, I am sure if you talked to Arabella, she may understand your hesitancy with her. The Vixen is quite level-headed, definitely more than the rest of us.” Sylas chuckles.

I have never seen him so relaxed and happy, not since he started to spend more time with Arabella.

All my brothers have a lightness to them. A dull ache beats in my chest.

“Maybe you are right. I just don’t know what I am going to do if she doesn’t return the interest. It would be quite warranted with the words I have said to her.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that, Arch. When I dropped off Arabella in her room this morning, I saw the drawing you made of her by her nightstand. If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t have kept it,” Koi says.

I smile tightly, trying not to get too hopeful.

“Very well. Then I suppose we should get on with the surprise.”

“Oh, and another thing. You are going to have to wear this. And maybe smile more.”

He hands me the most insane outfit, and for the first time in a long time, I laugh out loud.