Page 63 of Soulless Deeds

“Fucking spit it out, Aster!” I yelled. “Before they fucking destroy us all.” Her eyes seemed to take in the room, her persona faltering under the duress of all four Kings directing all their anger, all their grief, all their fucking heartbreak on her.

She finally succumbed to the demand. “Yes. There was a meeting between the Treasury and the Sovereign. I don’t know what about, but I knew it was important as each central member was expected to attend… Or so my informant told me. The Treasury didn’t betray you. They were victims of the same assault.” Aster's eyes dipped. “They also lost many, including their matriarch, the Pawn Broker’s wife… After that, he went into hiding and never came out. They were renowned for their secrecy, but this was on a whole other level. If you want answers, they are the ones you should seek. They have the same investment in finding out who did this as you.”

XXV

Spencer

It was early hours in the morning, and we had settled into a sense of normalcy—which was a fallacy—grasping onto something tangible so we didn’t get lost in our overwhelming grief like we had so many times before. The new information was enlightening, accompanied with a small spark of optimism that had our motivation spiked to new extremes. We were one step closer.

Aster, on the other hand… I was still conflicted. I didn’t really give a fuck about our genetic relation. I had enough family and love in my life as is.

It was the secrets. So many secrets she’d chosen to keep from us. Our trust was fickle from the beginning, but it was fucking non-existent now. I would have to think hard about how beneficial it would be to let her live through it.

As my eyes lagged from exhaustion, Echo continued to stroke my thigh in rhythmic circles, both soothing and entirely confusing.

My mind and emotions were in disarray. I’d originally sought out to destroy him, infiltrating his life so thoroughly, he was mindfucked to the point of no return. But something changedalong the way. Instead, he became a source of comfort in my everyday living—a source I was now unable to go without.

Echo had remained attentive throughout the whole shitshow of family drama. A quiet strength beside me, lending whatever he could spare, anchoring me to the present.

His subtle gestures and silent support caused a heaviness to settle in my chest. Whenever I looked at him, was near him, that ever-present ache just wouldn’t relent.

Is this what others call love?

I knew what love was—the emotion abundant and endless for what I felt for my family. Further cemented through our sister, Chase, and how torn and destroyed we were from her loss. Four years later, we still hadn’t recovered, and probably never would. What was that called, if not love?

Then why did what I feel for Echo seem…different?More, somehow.

I should have held reservations, should have questioned the shoddy attempt at reasonsing, but I was emotionally wrung out.

I just didn’t have the willpower to fight against him anymore. I didn’t want to.

Micah rubbed her eyes across from me. “Let’s call it a night. Aster, we will be in touch.” Her tone was undeniably foreboding.

Aster’s spine snapped straight as if ready to jump over the table and attack Micah, but before she could even twitch, Psycho bared his teeth. “Nope. Fix your face, cause I don’t like the way you’re looking at my girl here.”

Aster’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Or what?”

“Or I’ll scalp that shiny bald head right off your fucking skull?—"

“Watch your fucking mouth,” Echo said, piping up beside me. “Or I’ll melt your brains until they’re leaking out your ears, you ill-mannered, brutish fucking beast.”

Psycho preened, snapping his jaw at Echo. Then, Micah laid a hand on his forearm, putting an end to the posturing, and turned to me.

“Are you coming home with us?” Micah asked, ignoring everyone else.

Echo’s fingers stalled. “No. She’s staying here, with me.” The declaration made me giddy, but I wasn’t about to show it. Neither did my siblings, as everyone decided to ignore his demand as if he never spoke at all. I had to bite my tongue from smirking at his rising frustration.

He wasn’t used to being denied. Well, neither was I.

“To that decrepit temple? Hell fucking no,” I said. “I’m living the life of luxury, and I’m not going to give that up for rats, bones and cold showers.”

There was no way I was going to admit the real reason I chose to stay.

ECHO

Spencer was dead weight as I carried her into my apartment. A long night with a multitude of revelations caused exhaustion to finally take hold.

I wasn’t far behind, the last week pulling at my weary senses, begging for rest.

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