Page 35 of Glass Hearts

After a long day of work, I am so thankful to be back in my old room now, enjoying time spent with new and old friends. Pillows and blankets litter the floor. Perhaps it’s a bit overboard, but Lo insisted.

“I have a confession, ladies. I have no clue what happens at a sleepover,” Bri says in her cute pink pyjamas with fuzzy slippers.

Sylas, the considerate sweetheart, had bought us all matching pyjamas and slippers so that we could all feel special.

Plus, I think he found out about Gray cutting away the only sleepwear I had ever owned.

My body still tingles as I look at the brownies, remembering that stolen moment in the kitchen.

Who knew I would have erotic feelings at the sight of brownies now?

“You have never been to a sleepover?! How?!” Lo exaggeratedly gasps as she trips into the pillows, falling over right beside me. Like a champ, she held her wine glass high, ensuring it didn’t spill over. A talent only Lo could possess.

“I was raised in the castle. The only peers I had were the princes. And the council didn’t like how much they hung out with me.”

“Were you ever romantic with any of them?” Winona asks.

She is in a red pyjama set, her short, black hair held back with a matching red headband.

At first, I thought she would not show up.

I was even more surprised when she gratefully accepted the matching set to ours.

Shame fills me for judging her to be uptight and shallow.

Just because people I have known in high society are not the nicest, doesn’t mean they all are.

“Oh my gosh, never. Ew!” Bri chokes on her wine.

“They are like brothers to me. That would be so wrong on many levels. Though I won’t deny that before I became close with them, I did have a tiny childhood crush.

” Bri flusters as she decides to chase that confession down with another sip of wine, emptying the glass.

Winona laughs while she uncorks the half-empty wine bottle and fills both her and Bri’s empty glasses.

“What were they like as young boys?” I can’t help but ask about the men I am falling for.

“Surprisingly, a lot like they are now. Though they have always had this aura of sadness to them. I suppose I also would, if someone ripped me away from all I knew. I always thought the council put too much pressure on them.”

“I am really glad they had you,” I say as I clink her glass.

“Ella, do you think you are falling for your hunky princes?”

Lo asks, even though I am sure she has already figured out that I have. When I filled her in on all that had transpired since the ball, she said that it was like I had hearts in my eyes.

“Honestly, very much. It scares me. It’s one thing getting heartbroken by one man, let alone three!”

“Four,” Bri amends. I decide not to correct her, the thought of Archer’s drawing coming to mind as I push down the hope that he could fall for me.

“Sheesh, the way you are always blushing when it comes to them. You will save so much money on blush!”

“You know I don’t wear makeup, Lo,” I deadpan.

She waves me off, setting down her glass of wine. “Nonetheless. Why don’t you just MARRY the princes?! We can then avoid the aloof mage, get you wed, and then, BAM! Curse broken.” She claps her hands together as if it is such an easy solution.

Winona leans up from her chair, lightly grabbing my arm. “You are cursed, Ella!?”

“Yup. I know, it’s not as common. But I pretty much need to get married, or else I will be tied to my evil stepfamily. Well, that’s if she doesn’t marry me off first. I doubt she would pick a suitable match.” I shiver at the thought of what kind of man Bernice would marry me off to.

“Your stepfamily is awful. I feel bad that your kind heart is subjected to them. Curses, in my opinion, happen more often than the council admits. I-I am also cursed.”

A collective gasp ensues as we direct our attention to Winona. A small tear runs down her porcelain-white cheeks.

“I don’t want to bring down the mood, ladies,” Winona says. “Can we talk about anything else? Even if it is about how to season a cast iron pan?”

I take her hand in mine, and Lo joins. Bri, who is across from her, caresses her ankle.

“We are here for you if you ever want to chat,” I say.

“And I would offer my magical services. But I have already almost blown up Ella a couple of times trying to remove her curse… so perhaps maybe not your first option,” Lo jokes.

We all burst into a peal of teary-eyed laughter. We almost don’t even hear the knock and opening of the door until Jett bursts in, aiming for the pillows in the middle of us.

“Oh my goodness, so fluffy. So many pretty smells. A new friend? I will love you too! Oh no, new friend- why are you crying?! Did you also only get two scoops for dinner? Or did you also lose a toy?” Jett loves up on Winona.

We all burst out laughing when we see the princes, with bowties on and butler hats a top of their heads. They look so ridiculous that I almost miss the baskets of items they hold.

“Sunshine! We aren’t trying to crash your girls’ night. But we thought you all could use a few more supplies.”

Lo squeals and gets up to check out the baskets.

The butterflies in my stomach wreak havoc, seeing my sweet princes trying to make my night special.

I go up to each with an enormous hug and kiss.

When I reach Archer, I chance a hug. Shocked when he returned it, his whole body curled into me.

He hugs me as if I were lost and he had just found me.

I kiss his cheek as we break the embrace.

“Alright, come on, Jett, let’s leave the ladies alone.” Sylas pats his thigh.

“Nah. I am good right here, pops.” He doesn’t move between Bri and Winona.

“I think he is good where he is. Would it be alright to return him later this evening?” I giggle.

“Traitor,” Koi jokingly admonishes the dog.

“Sure thing, Vixen.” Sylas leans down for another kiss that lingers, until Grayer punches him, breaking our kiss.

“Jeeze, Sy, stop hogging our girl.”

Instead of kissing me again, Sylas grabs the back of Grayer’s neck and directs him out along with the other princes. I turn around to my girls, giggling in pure delight.

“Did… did that just happen?” I laugh.

“Yup, that solidifies it; they are obsessed with you,” Bri adds.

“Ella, they, like, actually care about you.” It surprises me when I heard the sincere, serious tone in Lo’s voice.

“At first, I thought I would need to be here to rescue you. Then I thought you would need me so I could help pick up the pieces of your broken heart. But the way they look at you, how they treat you… Honestly, they could break your curse.”

“They have mentioned before that they never wanted a wife; it was just the council pushing. So I don’t think that has changed, Lo.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure; I have seen those boys with a A LOT of women.” I quirk a jealous eyebrow at Bri.

She laughs. “Sorry, they were man whores, girly, no avoiding that. But I am very heavy on the WERE. I have never seen them pursue someone like they have you.”

It all feels so serious, and I start to feel a little uncomfortable. I swallow hard; the truth lingers in my mind even though I am not ready to accept it.

I am falling in love with them, even Archer. And that is terrifying.

* * *

My girls are passed out after talking, snacking and drinking all evening. Mind restless, I can’t seem to fall asleep.

I pad down the hallway to Sylas’ room with Jett in tow.

Before I can finish my last knock, Sylas has already opened the door.

He’s only wearing his underwear. Sylas is stunning.

He is broader than the other princes, though the closer I look, I see light scars on his chest. When I patched him up a while ago, I mustn’t have noticed them.

Losing my mind, I reach out to touch them.

He grabs my hand, stopping my exploration.

“What are you doing here, Arabella?” he says sleepily.

“Shit, I am sorry I must have woken you up. I wasn’t sure what time it was. I was just returning Jett. I will let you get back to sleep.” He doesn’t drop my hand as I try to turn and leave in embarrassment.

“Ella, stay.” He pulls me into him and lifts me as I straddle his torso, his strong arms carrying me from under my thighs. I spot the other princes on the couch, all asleep. He brings me to his bed and gently sets me down. Tucking me into the covers and getting in on the other side.

“Why are all the others here and not in their beds?” I whisper. He reaches for me and scoops me into his chest, cuddling me. Our noses are inches apart as I look into those moss green eyes. I have never felt safer.

“We had been up all night, too, though trying to come up with a plan of how we can make you ours while also reminding the council of their place. We have a feeling there will be a lot of push backs and fights.”

“Sylas.” I caress his cheek, the beard he has been growing since we met slightly prickling my hand.

“I am not worth all that trouble. Especially if you think it will lead to negative push back for you all. I-I don’t want to be a burden in your life.

It really would have been so much easier to have gone for a court lady.

” My stomach sours at the thought even as I say it.

“Arabella, stop that. You are worth it. We want you. Where is that confident Vixen that I met at the ball?”

“The Shadow is who I wish I could be. When I am her, it’s easy to be confident. Worthy.” A confession I never thought I would say out loud.

“Darling, you are the shadow. The shadow is my vixen. They are two of the same to me. I wish you could see what we see, what your friends see. You have been talked down to your whole life. Trust me when I say that every negative thing they spewed at you is so very wrong. I love you, Arabella. All of you.”

I kiss my Terra prince; he somehow always grounds me when I start to overthink. He deepens the kiss as I move my hands along the lightly sprinkled hair on his chest. He groans as he deepens the kiss. I can feel his hardness pressing into me. Woefully, he stops the kiss and pulls away.

“Arabella.”

I don’t want to talk anymore. Instead, I reach down to feel his thick length. Before I can register what is happening, he is flipping me onto my back, hanging over me with hunger in his eyes.

“My brothers are over there, Vixen. If you don’t want an audience, I am going to need you to stay quiet.” He starts to slowly undress me by unbuttoning my silk top, then languidly rolling down my pants. I am completely exposed.

“Fuck, Vixen. You are an absolute dream.” He crashes down onto my lips for a passionate kiss, then slowly makes his way down to my breasts.

I think he is going to stop there until he starts to trail down to the apex of my thighs.

He kisses around my sensitive areas. I grab onto his long brown hair, already mussed from sleep, as I try to direct him where I want him.

“Patience, Vixen. I want to take my time with you.” He continues his torturous exploration until he finally puts me out of my misery as he latches onto my throbbing bud.

His movements aren’t rushed, painfully so, it sets me on edge as he sucks and nips.

Taking his time until he adds two of his thick fingers into my already wet pussy.

His moss green eyes, full of desire, find mine.

It sends me over the edge as my orgasm ripples through my body.

My thighs squeeze his head as he laps every ounce of pleasure out of me.

I try my best to restrain my voice from betraying me.

I am still panting as he sprinkles sweet kisses along my body as he comes back up to my face. At some point, he had taken off his underwear, and I can feel him inching at my entrance.

He kisses me so tenderly, conveying all the love he has wordlessly.

“Are you sure about this, Vixen?”

“Very. I need you, Sylas.”

He pushes his cock slowly into me.

I try to remain silent, but a moan sneaks out as I adjust to his size.

He is thicker than Grayer and Koi, but fits just as perfectly.

He takes his hand in mine and pins it over my head as he thrusts harder into me.

The brutality of his thrusts not matching the sinfully sweet kiss and looks we share.

I close my eyes, lost in the feeling of my prince.

I feel the bed dipping on both sides before I open my eyes. Sylas is still looking at me as Grayer and Koi join us.

“Mmm, what a gorgeous sight to be woken up for, Duchess,” Grayer coos into my ear. As I look over him, I see Archer sitting upright in his chair, watching. He looks upon us hungrily, as if it is taking everything in his restraint not to join us.

“He has been a bad boy lately, he will just have to watch as we make you orgasm all over our cocks,” Koi says as he grabs one of my breasts. I moan at the idea of being watched.

“Mmm, looks like she likes the audience,” Grayer adds.

Sylas continues his slow thrusts as if the other princes aren’t here, still looking just at me. Like I am the only thing that matters.