Page 119 of Where Broken Wings Fly

“You know, I heard the most delicious noise a moment ago.” Zach lifts the tape measure up, acting coy. “Did you hear it too, Mi?”

Micah blushes beet red. “Well, maybe. Um, no. I don’t know.”

Laughing hard, Ryder doubles over. “Such a smooth talker.”

Zach is staring at his twin brother like he’s an alien stranded on earth. “You’re really starting to cramp my style, little brother.”

“I’m literally three minutes younger than you.”

“And don’t you forget it either.”

“You ain’t so smooth yourself, kid,” Killian chips in.

Looking horrified, Zach lays a hand over his heart. “I am far more charming than your uncivilised ass. You have about as much appeal as a grizzly bear.”

“Maybe I like grizzly bears,” I say with a wink.

Fist-pumping in a very non-Killian manner, he takes the tape measure from Zach’s hands and resumes measuring all the windows. They all start arguing about some structural changes I don’t understand.

Their voices fade out as I survey the cabin, feeling light for the first time in weeks. This is it—the fresh start we wanted. I’m not naïve, I know we have got a long way to go yet.

The guys still want answers about my past. I’ve begged them to be patient with me, and they’ve backed off while I took the time to rest and recuperate. But their patience is going to expire sooner rather than later. Lola’s too.

Regardless of the trouble ahead, this moment feels like a step in the right direction for the first time. Without planning it, I’ve ended up with three incredible people by my side.

I’ll get through the dark days to come.

I trust them to save me from myself.

CHAPTER 23

MICAH

WICKED - MIKI RATSULA

Dipping my paintbrush back in the splash of deep green oil paint on the palette, I swirl it around and wipe off the excess. Arianna’s blank bedroom wall faces me, ready to be filled with magic of my making.

I haven’t told either of them what I’ve planned for her mural. This is my contribution to the team effort we’ve undertaken to get the cabin habitable. I had to wait a few days for Ryder to return from town with the necessary supplies.

Keeping the image at the forefront of my mind, I study the outline I sketched and begin to work. The stroke of the paintbrush allows me to find my happy place with ease. I’ve been pouring my emotions into art for as long as I can remember.

I’m going to paint a magical forest, teaming with fairies, toadstools, stardust and pixies. In the bottom left corner, I’ve sketched a princess with blonde hair and blue eyes. The queen stands next to her, a raven-haired beauty.

“Mi? You back there?”

“In here,” I reply distractedly.

Zach pops his head in with a beer in hand. “Damn, this is gonna be so fucking epic. You’ll be Arianna’s new favourite person.”

“It’s about time Killian had his throne toppled.”

“Touché, bro. Dinner in half an hour, alright?”

“Are you cooking? Because if so, I’ll pass. I’d rather not die today.”

He clicks his tongue with annoyance. “For your information, Willow is cooking, but my sausage surprise remains the universe’s best dish.”

“You’re seriously delusional, brother.”

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