Page 114 of Midnight Wedding

She sits down heavily on a stool and leans back against the island. “We could flood this place out, you know. Get the whole Brotherhood involved.”

“No.” I give her a stern look. “Please, give him time.”

“He’s been gone for two days.”

“Let him process.”

She sighs wearily and gets back to her feet. “You’re right,” she murmurs. “But if you change your mind, I know of a really good gas recipe that’ll knock out every living thing in a square mile.”

“I’m pretty sure that’d be bad for the baby, right?”

“Darling, we’d give you a mask.”

That night,before I climb under the covers, there’s a piece of paper left on my pillow.I can’t stop thinking about you.I press it against my cheek and pretend it’s his hand touching me in the night.

“Come out when you’re ready,” I tell the empty room.

And I swear the house responds. A creak in the floor, a snap in the roof. A groan and a crack. The history of this place answering back.

“But please, make it soon.”

“I don’t knowhow long we can play this fucking game.” Tigran paces back and forth across the patio. It’s a beautiful day. I have a new bracelet around one wrist—a gift I found waiting for me in the bathroom this morning.

I have no clue where it came from. I’m guessing it’s very old, from somewhere in the house. I like the way the diamonds glitter.

“Give him another couple of days.”

“My brother’s not a fucking coward.” Tigran slams his fist against the wall, glaring back at the house. “You hear me, Arsen? You can’t just hide from your responsibilities!”

“He’s not hiding. Trust me, this is a big deal to him.”

“What did that bitch Sona tell him, anyway?” He sinks down into a chair across from me. That angry outburst looks like it drained most of his rage away.

“It’s not my place to say.”

“Great. Wonderful. Arsen’s hiding away in his house like a recluse and I’m supposed to just… hold it all together?”

“Basically, yeah.”

“Fine.” He leans forward with a groan and rubs his face. I know Tigran doesn’t like me, but I think he’s a good person. At least, he’s extremely loyal to Arsen and I can tell this whole thing is bothering him.

Tigran wants to stomp through the house and drag Arsen out. But that won’t help anything.

“He’ll tell you when he’s ready. I promise, you’ll understand.”

“When’s that going to be? Tonight? Tomorrow? Two months?”

I hold up my hands and wish I could give him an exact timeline. “He’s processing.”

“You’re covering for him.”

“I mean, yeah, obviously.”

“Is he dying? Is he sick? Just fucking tell me the truth.”

“He’s not sick and he’s not dying. Just trust me, okay?”

Tigran’s lips press together as he studies me. I look back at him and hope he understands how sincere I’m being. He sighs as he leans back in his chair and tilts his face up toward the sun.

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