𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐊

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄

𝐈 𝐓𝐎𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃-𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐑 banister with the tip of my Doc Martens and rest my chin on my forearms. I silently watch from above, from the large, open doors of Beau's Estate, as his family packs into four, black Maybachs and begins their departure.

Beau stands in the threshold, one hand in his pocket, the other in the air, waving. His family had made the acquaintance of the Estate for a week, invading the halls with children and laughter that I had never experienced while living with my father in my Russian tower.

I feel a ping of sadness as the last one shuts the door to the car. Whether it's due to the fact that Beau's family has made me feel like I belong to a real family, or if it's because, once they leave, life will return to its regularly scheduled program, I'm unsure. I know that the feelings rooted deep in my chest are those of mourning—I know that I'll miss what I've recently gained.

And the thought of these makes me focus on the man sheathed by the sunlight—make me focus on the idea of spending more time with him—in his arms, or in the same oxygen.

My face slowly begins to fall as a few footsteps to my left ring in my ear. I don't glance over to see who has decided to meet my side because I already know who it is. Citrus fills my nose as Aeris palms the top of the handrail and silently joins me as the cars pull away.

"You ready for this place to be eerily quiet again?" he probes.

"Yup," I quip.

"Will you miss them?"

My eyebrows dip as his question wraps around me.

Ever since I caught him with his pants at his ankles, engaging in sex with Beau's young nephew, I haven't been able to stomach him. When I think about Aeris's lies about his sexuality, and the truth of our bloodline, I want to punch him in the face.

His faux try at relating to me just pisses me off.

"You know what I don't miss?" I ask sarcastically, facing him, "You."

Aeris's face crumbles, "Please—"

"Save it," I put a hand up, and push off the banister, making my way to the stairs, "Beau telling you to leave Milo alone was the best thing that could have happened because it meant I didn't have to see you for a week. No excuses. No petty exchanges. Don't think that just because they left, that anything has changed, because it hasn't. You're not my brother, and you don't owe me your explanations, just as I don't owe you any of my time."

The sole of my boot hits the top step as Aeris grabs my elbow.

I whip around and grunt, attempting to pry away from him without sending myself flying down the stairs, but Aeris's hold on me is firm. I glare at him as he sympathetically stares down at me—as he uses the strength he never showcases to keep me in his sights.