Page 86 of The Fates We Tame

Theo snaps off the medical gloves he’s wearing. “Of a fashion.”

Saint chuckles. “Didn’t seem to need it though. Training just kicked in.” He stands and slaps Theo on the shoulder. “Thanks, brother.”

The door clicks shut, and Theo tugs me into his arms, kissing me deeply. It’s the first normal thing to happen in a while, and I allow myself to sink into it.

A child’s sobs filter through the open window. “Look what they did to our bike, Uncle Colton.”

Theo pouts his bottom lip as we continue to listen.

“It’s okay, Ave. We’ll get another.”

“But I like that one.”

“Then we’ll ask all your uncles to help us fix that one. Will just mean we can’t ride it for a while.”

“I can pay for it with my panda-bag money.”

There’s a soft chuckle. “Don’t worry, Ave. I’ll make them pay.”

You’d have to be an adult to understand the nuance in his last statement.

Their voices fade away, and doors slam.

“Her panda-bag money?”

Theo shakes his head. “No idea. Pretty fucking cute she offered to help fix a bike that likely costs a small fortune. How are you, Sparrow?”

“Surprisingly okay.”

He kisses me again. “Almost had a heart attack when that explosion went off, worrying that they’d get to you. Vex has the video. Your dad ordered one of his more junior men to launch a grenade or some shit. Alessio was furious once the shooting started. Ordered everyone back into their cars and got the fuck out of there.”

“I wish I knew what the truth is.”

“So, we’ll make our own truth.” He tucks my hair back behind my ear. “You’re not wearing your eye patch.”

“At some point tonight, it no longer felt important. It’s just a prosthetic eye.”

“Close your eyes.”

I do as he says, and he presses a gentle kiss to my injured lid. The gesture makes me feel squishy inside.

“We’re staying together,” I say, my eyes still closed. “King has asked if Clutch, Spark, Saint, King, and their families can stay at your house because you have more bedrooms.”

He tucks a curl of hair behind my ear and kisses my other eyelid. “I have no idea if that’s true.”

Finally, I open them again. “Rae said it was because you wanted a place where your whole family was able to come stay, but…if it’s too much…you know, going home tonight, we can say no.”

Theo shakes his head. “I’d hate to make wounded people sleep on the floor if I have the space to help them all out. It was a pretty big house.”

“Then we’ll do what we have to do to make everyone comfortable.”

“We will, will we?”

I wrap my arms around his waist. “I guess this is our first hosting event as a couple.”

Theo chuckles. “Hosting event? I’m not even sure there’s food in the house.”

“Well, I saved a whole bunch of the food prepped for the party. We’ll just split it with the other house.”