Page 110 of Seeking Shadows

I blink. I’m not sure what surprises me more—the fact that he mentioned Audrey or the way his voicesoftenswhen he says her name.

I smile, vaguely remembering Audrey bringing that up before.

“She doesn’t know I’m your sister, does she?”

Seth shakes his head. “I asked them not to tell her. Not that they knoweverythingsince you kept the fact that you’re Laura’s sister a secret too.” His tone is matter-of-fact, cold, but something lingers beneath it. “I don’t want her involved in this. She’s been through enough. She needs to stay out of it.”

Figaro licks his paw, then reaches out lazily, tapping my hand.

My smile grows.

“I like who you are when it comes to her,” I say, looking at Seth. “You seem almost… human.”

“It’s weird for me too.” He shrugs.

"But you know she's gonna scrape your face off the pavement when she finds out the truth."

And then Seth smiles—like he’sbeenexpecting it. Likethat’sthe fun part for him.

Weird.

“I know.”

Figaro, apparently satisfied with my presence, finally jumps into my lap. My heart warms as he curls up, his tail wrapping around my leg.

I start petting him non-stop.

“Thank you,” I blurt out before I can stop myself.

Seth frowns. “For what?”

“For showing me this side of you.”

A silence falls between us.

“Promise me you’ll keep Audrey out of this.”

For the first time, I see something in my brother he probably never meant to show.

Fear.

He’safraidof losing her.

And my heart aches because I don’t deserve his trust.

“I promise, of course.” I smirk. “I’ll leave you to deal with the beating she’ll probably give you when she finds out the truth.”

I would never hurt Audrey. But Seth and I are on opposite sides.

He’s free.

I’m just another one of Nico’s puppets.

Seth must notice something in my expression because he pokes my forehead. “Stop being so sentimental. This is weird.”

“Stop being soweird. Be more sentimental.” I grin, grabbing Figaro and burying my face in his fur.

He grumbles, but his purring gives him away.

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