Page 215 of The Obedient Lie

He stood there scowling at a three-course spread, muttering that the eggs were“too dry to heal anyone’s nervous system,”then decided the only safe option was to cook for me himself.

Shirtless.

Focused.

Slicing bacon with the kind of precision that said he was just as comfortable cutting throats as he was chopping herbs.

Like a mafia prince moonlighting as a five-star chef.

Meanwhile, Lucayelled at room service—actual yelling—because the extra pillows he ordered weren’t, and I quote, “high-enough profile for her neck support.”

Then, as if that wasn’t enough, they both decided the thermostat couldn’t be trusted—in their own hotel.

Apparently, the heating system on the entire floor was “underperforming.”

According to them.

No one else had complained. There wasn’t a single draft. But the twins had randomly decided it wasn’t good enough.

So they called a guy.

A guy.

To check the heating.

In their freshly built, five-star hotel.

And when he arrived?

Theyactuallytold him the system needed to be “retuned to her comfort.”

Their words.Her comfort.Like I was some precious,temperature-sensitive orchid that might wilt if the airflow was one degree off.

I watched it all happen in quiet horror—from my throne of pillows, where I’d been forcefully tucked in like a recovering Victorian heiress.

That wasn’t even half the list of insane things they’d done this morning.

But it was enough to make me question their sanity.

Apparently, giving myself to them—reallygiving myself—was also code forlet’s see who can lose their mind faster in the name of devotion.

I tried to get out of bed once.

Just once.

The second my feet touched the floor, both twinssnappedto attention like I’d just set off a silent alarm.

Bastion was suddenly in front of me, jaw clenched, muttering something about how I should “rest for at least another twelve hours,” while Luca hovered behind me like my shadow didn’t have security clearance.

“You don’t have to act like I just came out of a coma,” I mumbled, wincing as I stretched.

“Yeah, well,” Bastion said, eyes dragging down my body, “you look like you just survived a fucking war.”

"That's lovely to hear." I stared at him.

Bastion’s expression dropped instantly—like he couldn’t believe he’d just said that out loud. The guilt hit him so fast, it was almost impressive.

"I'mjoking, Bastion." I shook my head, wincing again as I moved. "What is with you two this morning? You’re both acting like I might die if I so much as blink too hard."