Page 81 of Silent Ties

“Russet.”

“Don’t,” she complains, rolling back to face me. She tucks herself closer, lying on my torso while she continues to text. Most of the time she’s like a sloth, sleepily cuddling close anytime we’re in bed and not up to other activities.

Her need for touch sparks something inside me. It’s thrilling, knowing she wants to be near me. Because the more and more I get to know Russet, the more and more I want her soul imprinted on me.

“Don’t call me that,” she says, frowning.

“Russet?”

She smushes her face into my chest, frowning. “Don’t.”

I take the cell phone from her. “Don’t text my brothers.”

Russet: DO NOT TEXT MY WIFE.

Elijah: We’ve been infiltrated!

Roma: *Surprised cat meme*

Russet takes the phone back, liking Roma’s message.

“Russet.”

Her small hand pushes into my side. “I’m your sweetheart.”

Satisfaction curls inside my chest. But appearances must be kept. “Not when you’re being a brat.”

Her face flushes before she tries to hide it against my chest. The phone buzzes and I take it out of her hand again.

“Are you worried about Roma?” she asks quietly.

My fingers glide through her brunette locks. “Why do you ask that?”

“Elijah was always quiet, but I could tell. And Yelena was funny about him too.”

“Don’t speak either of those names in my presence.”

She rolls her eyes, shifting her body so one leg lies on top of mine. “And your twin brother? Can I mention his name?”

“Preferably not.”

She strokes my cheek. “Is he okay?”

Believe it or not, Russet’s the only person to voice the question we’ve all asked ourselves the past three years.

“I don’t really know.” My fingers continue to mess with her hair. “He doesn’t talk about it.”

“Is there something we can do to help?”

I shift so I’m able to see her clear hazel eyes. Her seriousness pulls at my heartstrings but, “I’m not sure it’s our battle.”

She considers this, taking on Roma’s sadness as her own. While I love her empathy, she’s not going to be weighed down by my twin’s bullshit.

So I flip her onto her back.

CHAPTER 21

Russet