Silk Skin and Smoke (Age Gap)

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Tilly's POV

"You seem down little Halfling." Emil strode over the grass, taking a seat next to me by the pond. I was surprised he was so willing to sit in the grass with those nice pants on. I turned and saw the side of his face free of his tattoo, he looked more gentle from this angle.

"Not down. Just a little confused." I admitted, throwing the small pebble I had been rolling around in my fingers.

"Can I ask why?" I felt his stare, just as intense as his brothers. Vercelis men seemed to have a way of shrinking people with their gaze. I was lying to him, lying to myself. I was down, and I hated admitting that to myself. I've hated a lot of my recent thoughts.

Since the night I had opened up for Augustus he had shut me out completely. Busying himself with work, not even looking me in the eye when he returned home. I had been lying on my side of the bed, awaiting his cold hands to pull me in, but he never did. It was as if I was invisible to him. I should have been more worried about the lack of intel I've gotten from him, but my body seemed to be more distressed about the lack of affection. I never thought there'd be a day I was upset because he didn't claim his kiss.

"I think I upset your King." I breathed a sigh. That confession intrigued Emil. Probably because I've been actively trying to upset Augustus since the day I got here.

"How so?" He asked softly. Emil seemed sweet, when he wanted to be. He's shown me many of his sides, especially when he was with Jax and Penelope.

"I'm not sure." I didn't want to spill to Emil how I told his brother he was warm and kind, and that I wished him well. The memory made me ill, because I was opening up for a grave attempt at his life. Yet I meant every word.

"Can I tell you a story?" He changed the subject. I crossed my legs and picked at the grass before nodding. He did the same, getting comfortable.

"Five years ago on Augostino's birthday, Flora wrote him a lovely letter. Handmade paper with lace trim, it was beautiful. She poured her heart into the letter. She told him all the lovely things she saw in him, and how proud she was to call him her big brother." He recalled the memory with a smile.

"All I got was a pocket square for my birthday, but that's beside the point." He chuckled. I smiled at his bitterness.

"Flora made the mistake of actually giving it to him..." he leaned forward catching my gaze.

"He avoided her for the following month. He even had moments of rage. He killed our gardener for snipping the peonies, he was only filling the vases inside, but it angered Augustus enough to have his blood spilt in the foyer." Emil sighed. My gaze briefly widened.

"We mourned him and appropriately compensated his family." He reassured as if that was more than enough to make up for murder. This family had fucked morals.

"I later found out that Flora had grown those peonies all by herself, without the help of magic. And she was heart broken to see them snipped so easily. Only Augutus knew this." He placed his hand on mine. Gently squeezing me with his cold palm.

"Augustus is afraid to see himself in flattering light. It scares him to feel anything but lust rage and pleasure. He loved that letter, it warmed his cold heart. And it scared the hell out of him. He never meant to hurt Flora, or even that gardener. His avoidance was due to loving his sister, and the killing, well I'm assuming his heart broke to see her so sad." He smiled softly. I turned my hand and held his back. Emil was very aware of the disorder in his home.

"I imagine you make him feel all of it." He whispered, standing up and pulling me with him. I stumbled a bit at his strength and brushed the grass from my skirt.