Page 62 of Burned

Lucian’s grip tightens around my shoulders.

“Yeah,” Cass says. “And I’m doing a tap dance right now.”

That almost gets a laugh out of me.

“Where is she?” Cass asks, both of us knowing full well she’s hoping to catch a glimpse of Isobel now that Mack’s let her out of the room. “Isobel.”

“She’s in the library,” I say, “Who’s Isobel?” Ryan asks. “Is she a bad guy?”

“Yes, very bad,” Cass says while I say, “She’s a visitor,” and Lucian says, “Don’t worry about it, little man.”

Ryan says, “I’m hungry.”

Kids don’t worry long. We laugh. I look at Lucian. “What time is it, anyway?”

“Dinner o’clock,” Ryan answers.

Cass looks from me to Lucian. She sees the color drained from my face and the stony silence in Lucian’s. “You know, I think Ryan is right. You all look like you could use a break. And a meal.” She snickers to herself. “And knowing you two bunnies, dinner will follow with,” she holds up air quotes, “Dessert.”

“Shut up, Cass,” I say, then correct myself before Ryan can, “I mean, please stop talking. For a long time.”

“Bunnies,” Ryan says. “What bunnies?”

Lucian says, “Let’s eat.”

“We have to feed her, too,” I say.

“Yeah.” Cass rolls her eyes at me. “I’ll see if we have something expired.”

Blaze and Cass feel the same about Isobel’s arrival and they aren’t quiet about it. I like that. I’ll take any form of loyalty right now, even petty comments.

“I’ll send her food.” I’m not going to starve the waif. “But she eats in the library.”

I don’t think I can stand to watch the perfectly elegant way she eats. Watching me the entire time with those gray-green eyes.

And I know I won’t survive her sitting at the table with our patchwork family.

My empathy has boundaries.

The store has been packed up. The dining room transformed from a meeting room to our gathering space. Our staff had everything on standby, and soon we’re all in our usual seats, the ones we all claimed our first day here at Red Shutters. Our inner circle. The meal smells delicious and homey. No one talks for aminute as we tuck into the good food. Slowly, the regular chat and joking kick up.

For a bit, it feels like everything is how it should be. Then I remember Ice Barbie haunting our library. I ask someone to send her a plate and a hot tea. And plenty of ice water.

Dinner ends too quickly. Cass and Ryan are escorted to the back bedroom. The others go back to their posts or on to the library.

It’s just Lucian and me. I hold my breath, waiting to see if we’re going to fight.

This time he doesn’t try to lock me in the tower.

Lucian holds my hand like a shield, leading me down the hall to the library. We’re both quiet. He hesitates before the heavy wooden door.

He turns me to face him. His big hands press into my shoulders. “You okay?”

“Yes.” I look away. “I’m fine.”

He cups my chin. I look back up at him.

“The truth,” he says.