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"D on't they have accommodation at the university?" Nolan sounded annoyed. His brother had walked in while we were in the middle of dinner, suitcases in hand, or should I say, in the doorman's hands. Levi, as Nolan called him, only hada Ruitertassen Professorsatchel slung across his cardigan clad shoulders. With black horn-rimmed glasses and the khaki pants to complete the look, Levi was like a younger nerdier version of Nolan.

"There's been a mixup, plus I would rather die than stay in those ghastly rooms. And besides," he said as he gave the doorman a tip before closing the door, "I wanted to see my new sister-in-law!" He raised his head to flash a smile at me. I was standing a few feet behind Nolan in the foyer while Nolan stood between Levi and I.

"And they didn't have room at the Carlyle?"

Levi casually shrugged. "I hate hotel food." He took off his satchel, threw it next to his other luggage and marched past Nolan, coming to me. "You look better in person than you do in pictures. And that is a compliment." He took my hand and kissed it. My cheeks flushed like I was a debutante at a ball.

"The least you could have done is call." Nolan's gaze honed in on where Levi's and my hand touched. I snatched it back, believing I had done something wrong.

"I did. I even left messages."

Nolan took out his phone out of his pocket and cursed as he went through it. "I was in a meeting when you called."

With his gaze still on me, Levi said, "Why is he so uptight? Did I intrude on a lovers' interlude?"

I shook my head. The notion itself was quite ridiculous. "We were having dinner."

"Ah. Magnus's food. Now that's better than the shit they serve at hotels."

If Magnus worked at a restaurant, he would probably earn a Michelin star, but his food could not differ significantly from what people like Levi, who frequented five-star hotels, were served. Levi marched into the dining room, followed by Nolan.

"What brings you here?" Nolan asked.

Levi scanned his gaze around the table, grabbed a pair of tongs, and pinched a potato from the potato bowl. He broke the potato apart and ate one half. "I wrote a book," he muttered through a full mouth.

"When?" The news surprised Nolan, but the delight in his voice was unmistakable.

Levi swallowed the rest of the potato and licked his fingers. "I've been tinkering with it on and off for at least six years now. Anyway, I was thinking that since I will be at Yale for a talk, I might as well be in the city whilst my book is on submission. Talk to a few editors and hear what they think, that sort of thing."

Nolan folded his arms. "You already got an agent?"

Levi nodded.

"Wow. What's the book about?"

He waved his hand in dismissal. "A historical fictional account of the War of the Roses. You wouldn't like it."

Nolan beamed. "Not when my brother writes it." He lightly tapped Levi's shoulder. "Congratulations!"

"I did in six years what Stephen King does every year. Hardly an achievement."

"They say the first one's the hardest," I said .

Levi nodded. "That's true, in a sense. There were days when I felt like giving up on the whole thing." He frowned, his gaze scanning the surroundings. "Was this room always like this?"

Nolan rolled his eyes. "Aelin redecorated. You rarely visit. I am surprised you noticed."

His eyes brightened as though he were looking at me in a new light. "Nice. I like it. I was busy with my PHD and book. But now that's done, you'll be seeing more of me."

"That's what you said before you fucked off to London. I get Raine not being in the country, but we have universities here."

"Aww," Levi said and placed his hand on his heart. "Touching," he said mockingly. "I know you miss me, brother, but like I said, I'm coming back for good. Eventually, that is. I'm hoping to get a professorship at Yale."

Nolan's eyes brightened. "Do you need an endowment? I could—"

"No. no. no. I'm going to do this on my own without the Hawthorne fund behind me."

"I'm an alumnus, I know the—"

Levi put his hand on Nolan's shoulder. "Let me do this on my own. I want to be hired on my own merits. Not because my brother funded the department."

"If that's what you want." Nolan sounded as though the words were being pulled from his mouth.

Levi smiled looking at me. "Is he as controlling towards you as he is with me?"

"He tries not to, but he can't help himself," I said without looking at Nolan.

"Are you hungry?" Nolan's inarticulate way of changing the topic got a raised eyebrow from Levi. Levi shook his head. Having finished eating, I cleared the dishes, leaving the two brothers to catch up in the living room. When I rejoined them, Nolan was still nursing his wine and Levi was drinking a cognac. Both men look startled by my presence and stopped talking.

"Don't mind me," I said. "Just wanted to say I am tired and going to bed."

"Can you wait for one moment?" Nolan said, getting up. He chugged the rest of his drink and strolled to where I was standing. Then he leaned in andwhispered something in my ear that shook me.