Page 105 of The Midnight Order
I swallow. “I suppose so.”
Chapter 27
Jasper
Silver clingsto my arm as we both hover near the end of Lowell’s bed. That he’s covered in a sheen of sweat has me worried, especially when he’s the one in charge of this shit show we call a life.
Silver’s shaking, but less now that Lowell has risen.
“How long have I been asleep?” Lowell brushes his hand through his hair before working sleep out of his eyes.
“It’s nearly dinner time,” I answer.
“Fuck. I haven’t slept in so fucking long. I didn’t mean to fall asleep in the first place,” he grumbles, tossing the covers back and getting off the bed.
“That’s my fault,” Silver admits softly. “I had him tell me a story after we got back from my place, and then we just fell asleep.”
I’m looking between the two of them, wondering if this is going to be more of an issue than I thought it was going to be as I catch Lowell’s eyes.
“It’s not your fault that I’m broken, little lamb.” Lowell tosses on a shirt, making his way toward the door.
He’ll disappear into the gym for hours now, like he always does after the nightmares find him.
“I haven’t heard you say her name for a very long time. Are you alright?” I ask him as he passes, grabbing his upper arm to halt him.
He shrugs out of my hold. “I’m fine.”
He’s out the door and down the hall before Silver can even blink, and I’m sighing heavily.
Tugging my hand through my dirty blond hair, I let my mind run in laps as I prepare for what might come: years of unhinged Lowell, while we try to rein him in.
“Who’s Ossana?” Silver asks.
I open my mouth to tell her it’s not my story to tell, and as if she knows it’s coming, she rolls her eyes. “Got it. I have to ask Lowell.”
I nod. “Things with him are… complicated.”
“That’s putting it lightly.”
“Last night… he was kind? He didn’t hurt you? I heard about the incident in Corvin and Asher’s room.” I ask her.
Boy, had I heard about it. The two had spared no detail when they told me what happened, too.
Silver’s cheeks heat, and she wrings her hands. “He was kind. He told me about himself, which I thought he never would. He also told me he’s the leader of your coven. You led me to believe?—”
I hold my hand up to halt her next words. “I didn’t lead you to believe a thing. It’s easy to think that I’m the coven leader, solely because of how I behave, but make no mistake, it’s only because Lowell allows it. I take point on a lot of things, but only because he doesn’t have the capacity for the small shit.”
She nods, still wringing her hands. “Last night, I—” She shifts on her feet, and her pretty cheeks turn pink. “I don’t know how to say this, but I want it relayed to everyone in the coven.”
I try to ignore how well she’s coming around to the fact that we’re vampires and she’s living in a coven because it makes me feel like this might work, and she might never leave.
“Go on. Just speak plainly. I’ve had centuries to hone my communication skills; I won’t crucify you for speaking out of turn.”
“Alright.” She takes a deep breath. “Lowell has clarified that he wants to be the first one I… sleep with, and I agree with his request, so…” she trails off, her cheeks now an off shade of purple.
I step closer, tipping her chin up to look down into her sinful blue eyes. “Nothing about that should make you feel ashamed. Sex in this house isn’t stigmatized, nor will you be judged or looked down upon for any decisions you make about your body.”
Her pupils dilate the slightest bit as my words settle. “You’ll tell the others?”
