Page 19 of Oathbreaker

There are voices down the hall that are getting louder and I’m just about to throw off the covers to go intervene when I remember I’m naked. I got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and couldn’t get my sweats back on, so I didn’t bother.

I glance at Frankie. “You have to turn around, kiddo.”

“How come?” She scrunches up her face and—she might look like me, but her expressions are one hundred percent Briar.

“I have to put some pants on.”

Seven

Briar

“What’s going on?” Royal asks as we move into the kitchen, Jade on our heels. “What’s wrong?”

“I—” I shake my head.

Because how the hell do I begin?

Oh, by the way, the friend you thought was dead and gone is actually alive?

He’s just bruised and battered and recovering right down the hall in my guest room.

I groan and scrub my fingers over my face.

“Thorny,” he murmurs, voice gentling. “Talk to me.”

“It’s complicated,” I say through my hands. Then exhale and drop them to my sides. “I’m not sure where to start.”

He studies me then slants a look at Jade. “How about at the beginning?” she says gently, setting a foil-covered casserole dish on the counter.

“Right,” I begin.

Then stop.

Because a foil-covered casserole dish.

Oh, my God.

It’s Sunday.

Sunday dinner.

And Colt is in the guest room, and I didn’t start anything for dinner—something that will immediately clue everyone in to the fact that something’s up and seriously off and?—

It’s Sunday.

Sunday dinner.

Royal and Jade are the first to arrive.

But, yes, everyone else is coming.

“Oh, no,” I whisper.

“Briar.” Royal drops his hand onto my shoulder. “Stop freaking out and start talking.”

“Before everyone gets here, I have to tell you something important. Something really important?—”

But that’s when I hear the front door open again.