Page 26 of A Raven Revived

The butler opened it looking slightly affronted that someone had bothered him. Perfectly starched and not a hair out of place, he raised a haughty brow.

“Can I help you, sir?”

“I’m here to see Daisy.”

The man narrowed his eyes slightly before speaking again. It was such a small thing, but it was enough. She was here.

“I’m not sure to whom you are referring, sir.”

“I just need to speak with her.”

The butler didn’t budge, and Fitz wasn’t going to force his way inside. He took a few steps back from the door and shouted up at the house, praying she might hear him.

“Daisy! I’m not leaving! I’ll wait out here as long as it takes!”

A man came striding out the door. For a brief second, Fitz thought it was Ash, but it wasn’t. Just his doppelganger.

“Excuse me, sir. What do you think you’re doing here?”

He looked the man over briefly. “I didn’t know Ash had a brother.”

The man glared at him. “He doesn’t.”

Fitz chuckled cynically. “He quite clearly does. Should I call you Mr. Black?”

The man barked a laugh and shrugged. “I suppose you could, Mr. Fitzwilliam, but that isn’t my name.”

“Ah, so she is here. I thought as much, but thank you for confirming, Mr... not black.”

Fitz jogged across the front of the house and shouted up to the windows again.

“Daisy! I love you!”

She marched out the front door, but her steps faltered at his declaration, one hand whipping up to her mouth and the other on her stomach. His heart stuttered. Lord but she was beautiful. He moved toward her, but the mystery man stepped between them, placed a firm hand on Fitz’s chest, and shook his head. Definitely Ash’s brother.

Fitz shifted so he could see Daisy around the man, but didn’t push past. “Daisy,” he said simply, looking directly into her eyes and placing a hand over his heart.

She fidgeted nervously, her fingers curling around one another. “Fitz.” He barely heard the word, but he knew what she’d said. He closed his eyes and allowed it to warm his heart.

“I’m never leaving you again, Daisy, unless you tell me that’s what you truly want.”

She approached slowly and placed a hand on the other man’s shoulder.

“It’s alright, Trent.”

“Are you sure? I can have him removed if you don’t want him here.”

“Good luck. He can be as bullheaded as your brother.”

“Ha! I knew you were his brother!”

She laughed, and the sound filled him with warmth.

The man shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Half-brother, but every bit as protective.”

Fitz didn’t doubt it, but the man was much younger, and not nearly as lethal as his older brother. Not yet, at least.

Fitz gave him a respectful nod. “I’m not here to cause problems.”

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