Page 57 of Little Wing (Shades of Fairhaven #1)

T he phantom feeling of Lotus’s lips on my neck remained as I rubbed the fresh scar.

I could still remember the taste of her blood on my tongue; it was delectable.

As much as I wanted to live in the memory of what I could only describe as pure ecstasy, the news that came just a few days later brought us back to reality very quickly.

I recalled the moment we got the call from the detective to let us know that the sentencing was scheduled.

Lotus was standing at the door leading outside to the balcony, wearing nothing more than my work shirt.

I usually loved the sight of her wearing my clothes, but that day she looked so small and frightened.

The loose clothing swallowed her small frame.

Her tether to me wasn’t required to know that while she presented a calm front, she was breaking inside. Only when she slept did she lower her defenses. My only hope was that her nightmares didn’t torment her.

Since the sentencing was just days away, Mateo and I agreed that it would be best for me to be with her.

Although I wanted to keep her all to myself, I gladly welcomed Kait and Reina’s assistance in keeping Lotus distracted.

Whether it was at the park, waiting for the cherry blossoms to flower, or hanging out at The Royal Nomad, we kept Lotus company.

Keeping Lotus occupied had always been the goal, but I admit that I felt I benefited more from these outings. I was riddled with worry, but I kept telling myself that there would be a future after this. Lotus and I had an eternity to look forward to, and I would accept nothing less.

“So, I’m thinking that we should have some cute bookish goodies at the front? Like, bookmarks, stickers, and annotation tabs?” Reina said, listing off a few more items as she sipped her colorful drink. “What do you think, Lo?”

“Hmm?” Lotus looked up from her untouched glass of crimson and smiled softly.

“Bookmarks would be nice at the front of the store. Maybe it’s better there than near the café, don’t you think? Less potential for people running into them when picking up drinks?” Kait chimed in, leaning forward to wipe down the bar top.

Reina snorted. “Do you think people will bulldoze through a bookmark display to pick up a drink?”

I watched from the hall beside the bathroom as the two women went back and forth about their future venture—the bookstore and café that they dreamed of opening.

With everything that happened between them, they were pushing harder to make their dream a reality.

And in doing so, they had plenty to discuss, even if only to pull Lotus out of her meddling thoughts.

I wanted nothing more than to walk over and wrap my arms around her, but I knew she needed her space too.

At least until I watched Kait tuck her rag into her back pocket.

The human woman’s heart was racing as she leaned forward once again, only this time to place her hand over Lotus’s.

“Tomorrow is a big day,” I heard Kait say.

That forced all my attention to the interactions taking place at the bar.

Lotus looked up from her drink and bobbed her head slowly. She spun her glass in place and returned her gaze to the drink she hadn’t touched.

Lotus didn’t say anything else.

Kait’s pleading eyes met mine, searching for anything else she could say to her. When nothing else came up, Reina wasted no time in bringing her bright energy into the conversation.

“What time are we showing up?” Reina asked, now sucking noisily on her nearly finished drink.

“What?” Lotus suddenly looked up and her posture stiffened. “You don’t have to come.”

“Excuse me?” Reina’s eyes bulged as she raised her ass off the seat.

Being on the shorter side, it did look rather comical from where I stood, but that woman had energy fit for someone twice her size.

“You are our fucking sister! We will be there no ifs, ands, or buts! Got it? No way in hell would we ever let you do this alone.”

As Lotus sat with parted lips, I finally pushed myself off the wall and walked back over to the trio.

With a gentle press of my lips against Lotus’s head, I traced my fingers along her neck, settling on the identical scar she received from me.

She leaned into the touch even as she continued to let her friends know that they weren’t required to attend the sentencing.

“Silas,” Reina whined. “We’re all going, right? We’d never let Lotus go through this alone. ”

She leaned her head back then and pouted. “But what if—”

“We’ll all be there, love,” I assured her, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Reina’s right. You don’t have to carry this on your shoulders anymore, Lo. Not alone and never again.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, reaching to finally bring her glass to her lips.

As she drank, I watched her shoulders relax, and I admit it brought me peace knowing that she found some comfort in that. I knew that the anxiety looking to devour her had only retreated momentarily, but I’d take whatever win I could. Lotus needed some peace before tomorrow.

When Lotus sipped the last of her drink, she reached up to wipe the corner of her mouth.

“I really am thankful that you all want to come with me," she began, looking at her friends, then reaching back to squeeze my hand. “I haven’t seen Luca since the night at the apartment. I know it’ll be hard. And in case something goes sideways—”

“Everything will be okay,” Kait declared, her voice stern and determined.

“Yeah,” Reina uttered, gently setting her hand on Lotus’s knee.

Though she was often the one bursting with energy, Reina’s gentleness was never in question.

“You don’t have to do any of this alone ever again, Lo.

Tomorrow will come, and we’ll be right beside you.

And if that detective even looks at you funny, I swear I’ll kick his ass. ”

That got Lotus to genuinely giggle.

“Morello has been very helpful. I don’t get why you have such anger toward him,” Lotus said as she wiped the corner of her eye, grinning at her friends.

Reina rolled her eyes and swiftly grabbed her phone from the counter, beginning to scroll without a thought.

“I’m still salty about the way he just came in the store and took you away.

Rubbed me the wrong way. Plus, what the fuck is up with his face?

” she groaned. Her annoyance only made Lotus laugh harder.

“Perhaps he thinks you’re cute!” Lotus gasped, gripping my arm for balance.

As the two bickered back and forth about the tatted detective, I stepped back and observed, grabbing my own drink that Kait kindly replenished before sitting down beside my partner.

Sometimes it was nice just to watch her interact, even if she looked like many of the people who came to Little Wing for help.

She tried to hide her unease while her mind worked to calculate her next move.

“You know,” Lotus finally said, sliding her glass closer to her.

“Even after everything Luca has done to me, to those women, to anyone else I haven’t even uncovered…

” She sighed and rubbed the inside of her wrist. “I still hold on to the memories of him that remind me that it wasn’t always like this. ”

I tensed beside her but allowed my hand to settle on her knee without much pressure.

“He used to protect me, and he truly was so kind. But when he was turned and I made the fatal error of approaching him.” She paused and brought her hand up to her neck.

“Something inside my brother broke, something I don’t think can ever be fixed.

My brother, the one who loved and protected me—he died that night.

All I see in him now is a shell of pain; pain that I don’t want to be tied to anymore. ”

Kait refreshed everyone’s drinks before walking out from behind the bar, holding her own glass out in front of her.

She glanced between us and raised it higher, urging Lotus to do the same.

I watched Lotus’s lips curve. Her friends would likely never understand the conflict that brewed inside her, but they never pretended that they did.

All that mattered was that when Lotus needed them, they showed up for her.

This was her family .

“Tomorrow is the end of a long chapter in your life, Lotus,” Kait announced, her voice cautiously hopeful. “Here is to the start of something new and beautiful. Here’s to your freedom.”

Before Lotus’s tears could spill, I leaned over to press my lips to her cheek.

“Cheers to the best outcome; cheers to your future, my love,” I added.

These promises were spoken into existence, and I would be damned if they didn’t manifest into reality. If things went sideways, I’d be ready to fight for her. I’d do it all for her.