Total pages in book: 194
Estimated words: 187754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 939(@200wpm)___ 751(@250wpm)___ 626(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 187754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 939(@200wpm)___ 751(@250wpm)___ 626(@300wpm)
He jerks awake and stretches like a jungle cat before yawning and speaking in a groggy voice, “Yeah?”
“I think it’s time for a haircut. You’ve gone from dashing debonair to surfer duuuude.”
I’m smiling at my own joke until Seth stiffens, and my smile falls. I swear I see Khalil and Thorin still as well. Seth sits up, and there’s no mistaking the panicked look in his eyes.
“Uhh…” I look to Khalil and Thorin for help, but Khalil is making the sign of the cross, and Thorin looks ready to toss himself over the railing. “Did I say something wrong?”
“Seth doesn’t like haircuts,” Khalil tells me.
“We only cut it when Zeke is awake,” Thorin adds.
“Oh.” Closing the book and swinging my legs over the side of the lounger, I stand and shrug. “Well, in that case, never mind. I’m sure I’ll learn to love this look too.”
And let’s be honest. My panties are dropping for Seth either way.
I thrust my fingers into his hair one last time, letting the long, silky strands slip through my fingers, and then I leave them on the deck to go back inside the house, sliding the glass door closed behind me.
It’s laundry day, so I go from room to room, collecting the dirty clothes and towels strung all over the place since—let’s face it—I’m a terrible maid. I then carry it all downstairs to the basement to get started.
I’m halfway through the first load while singing the final chorus from my favorite track on my first album when I hear shouting and something crashing. Dropping Seth’s wet shirt back inside the sink, I rush upstairs and find myself in the middle of absolute pandemonium.
The kitchen table has been shoved into the side door.
One of the chairs is overturned.
There’s a dent in one of the few walls that have drywall.
The antler chandelier above the kitchen table is rocking back and forth.
And there is blood…everywhere.
Khalil is slumped on the floor and leaning against the wall with a dent in it. Thorin is bent over and panting hard with one hand resting on the back of the couch and the other holding his bleeding side. I follow his murderous glare to Seth, who is sitting on the floor by the table with his forearms resting on his knees and small scissors dripping blood clutched in his hand.
“What the hell happened in here?” I scream.
Thorin’s gaze flicks to me and then back to Seth. “He cut me.”
“Okay. Why?”
“Because I tried to cut his hair for him.”
“Why would you do that? I thought you said Seth hated haircuts,” I immediately scold.
This time Thorin aims that daggerish glare at me. “If you want to blame someone, blame yourself. He wanted to please you and wouldn’t shut up about it until one of us agreed to cut his hair, and I got stabbed for it.”
“I thought you said he cut you.”
Thorin closes his eyes. “Aurelia, I swear to God.”
My gaze moves to Khalil, and I lift a brow. “And you?”
Khalil tosses an indignant hand toward Seth. “He fucking flipped out when I tried to stop him from killing Thor.”
Finally, I allow my gaze to return to Seth. His blank gaze is fixed on the floor, and I’m not even sure he knows I’m here.
I take one step toward him when Khalil finally gets off his ass faster than any human should be able to move. “Don’t even think about it,” he warns, coming to stand between Seth and me. “Not when he’s like this.”
“Seth won’t hurt me.”
“I’m not taking that chance.”
“It’s not your decision.” It’s a testament to how bad Khalil’s hurting that I’m able to duck around him and kneel in front of Seth. “Hey…” I lay my hand on his arm when he doesn’t react. “Seth, can you hear me?” He peeks up at me and then looks away like he’s ashamed before nodding. “What happened? Why did you attack Khalil and Thorin?”
“I didn’t mean to.”
My heart cracks in two. “I know you didn’t. Thorin and Khalil know it too.”
Behind me, Thorin snorts. I glare at him over my shoulder in time to see him rolling his eyes. Or maybe he’s about to pass out.
Jesus, how much blood did he lose? It’s everywhere.
I turn my focus back to Seth. Thorin may be injured, but Seth’s the one who needs me most—needs us most—and I know Thorin and Khalil agree because they don’t complain or leave to take care of their wounds. Thorin will risk bleeding out, and Khalil, who’s clutching his head, will risk a concussion to make sure Seth is okay.
I haven’t told them this and maybe never will, but their determination to care for each other—no matter the cost to themselves—is one of the things I love about them most. It’s one of the reasons I agreed to stay.