In the kitchen, I start quickly to pull out the supplies for the coffee, half of my ear over at the cluster of boys who continue to argue, their tones not so hushed now as each of them start to lose their tempers. I’m completely distracted, though, when Lucy starts to spoon coffee directly into th
By the time that’s done, though, the rest of the coffee is ready. I start pouring three cups of black coffee and then hesitate with the fourth. “How does Tony take his?” I ask, looking up at her. Lucy just rolls her eyes. “How do you think he takes his?” I smirk, pouring a fourth cup of black. “
My eyes go wide and I stare at Tony, this young man who looks so much like Christian but who is clearly far, far more brazen. Christian, to his credit, simply leans back against the arm of the couch and stares his brother down. “What makes you think I’m going to do that, Tony?” Tony scoffs. “I’m
“I did it,” Lucy whispers, and Christian instantly falls silent. Every eye in the room moves to her. “I did it, okay?” she repeats, raising her own eyes to Christian and staring at him hard, honesty in every line of her face. “Lucy –“ Tony interrupts, a little desperate, but she holds up a han
I watch in complete awe as Lucy says the words – so similar to the ones that Nico said yesterday, her eyes locked on Christian’s. She promises him her fealty, her life in his service. Swears never to betray him, begs God to strike her down if she should. The room is completely silent and solemn as L
I frown a little, wondering…because, I mean, Christian’s not lying – I know the point that he’s talking about, and it really is going to be beautiful on a sunny morning like this. But why… “Really?” Tony asks, raising an eyebrow. “I swear fealty, and then first thing you do is send me out so you c
“It was a little bit chaotic,” Nico says, taking a sip of his coffee and giving a sharp nod. “But I think we got away with it.” He begins, then, to lay out the details. I hesitate, starting to get up so I can leave them alone, but Christian holds out a hand to me – stopping me in my tracks. Nico w
“NICO!” Christian lunges forward, smacking the coffee table with the flat of his hand, hitting it so hard the legs nearly collapse beneath it, the sound reverberating through the room and making me almost leap from the couch myself. Nico goes very still, his mouth hanging open, staring at Christia