Page 85 of He Who Sleeps

Emerson nodded. “There’s a lot of information here, I mean my dad’s journals only have so much but these books... And we need to talk to Petra, ask about the orphanage, what she knows about it. Dad’s journal names where our mothers came from, maybe we start looking that up. It’s clear they aren’t even a thought to the current regime, unless they took them out?”

"Those are questions for a later date," Finn said firmly. "Right now, we need to focus on securing our position and keeping Petra safe. We can worry about the women when the Elders have been removed."

"Killed," Easton said flatly. "Not removed. Killed. I want them skinned alive the same way they did your fathers. Stephan included."

“Amen there, brother,” Emerson said on a sigh. “No survivors.”

Jack, Petra and Leo took that moment to walk in, Petra looking entirely fuck rumpled. “Theres the birthday boy,” she said and smiled at him, then looked around. “What’s going on?”

"Emerson here has been dishing out the revelations left, right and center," Finn told her with a rueful grin. "But there's no point in him repeating everything all over again without everyone here. I've asked him to make a summary while we go and get brunch and then we'll have a group meeting."

"A war council," Easton said somberly.

"War? Sounds like fun." Leo flashed a grin, ever the cocky bastard. "Come on then. To the kitchen! I'm in charge of waffles."

Chapter 30

It was getting reallycold outside, but that didn't stop Brutus from bounding joyfully across the lawn after the balls Carter was launching from some contraption he'd brought with him, and Easton had followed them outside, the fresh air bringing him some clarity.

It was too crowded inside, too busy with all his brothers and his thoughts at once. Carter felt quiet and safe.

"How are you holding up?" Carter asked him quietly and Easton sighed. He was still a mix of boiling rage and sadness that he didn't know how to put into words.

"It's going to take some time to process it," he said honestly. "Finding out about my family after all this time... It's a lot. And I guess I hadn't realized how much I still felt like an outsider. Realizing that Iamone of you...that I was born one of you...my whole world view and sense of self is fucked."

"I get it." He didn't. Not really. But Easton would never say that. He just appreciated the support. Behind them, he heard the door open and turned to see Petra stepping out to join them wrapped up in a thick coat and an enormous scarf.

Her smile hit them both, sweet and nonjudgmental. At brunch they had talked, bringing everyone up to speed, well the more abridged version. She had listened, and shed tears but had remained silent through it, as if she knew there wasn’t much she could say. And since she had been there, a comfort to all of them, if silent.

“Either of you want coffee or cocoa or something?” she asked. “Leo is in the kitchen making some and I figured I would see.”

Cocoa sounded wonderful. Leo hadn't made it for him in years. "I'll take a cocoa," he said, "but I'll drink it out here. I needed some peace and quiet."

"I'm good, thanks." Carter shook his head. "Brutus is going to be chasing balls for another half hour or so until he tires out."

She nodded. “I figured. Back in a flash...” She walked back inside, coming back out a few minutes later with a tray of cocoas and a blanket over her arm. “Here, Easton,” she said as she set the tray down on the small table and handed him the cocoa. “I hope you don’t mind, but...can I play, too?” she asked Carter with a smile. “Or if Easton wants to snuggle on the couch here, I did bring a blanket.”