Page 29 of Wicked Queen

Alexander

I caught myself smiling as I made my way to dinner that night. I wasn’t looking forward to hosting my sister and her guest. But Clara would be there, and I’d walk through hell to sit next to her for a moment. A few household staff gawked as I passed and then rushed away like they’d witnessed the calm before a storm. I couldn’t say they didn’t have their reasons.

My brother met me at the end of the hall. For a second, I envied his jeans and Oxford. He looked comfortable. I was always forced into these infernal suits. Then I remembered how long he’d hidden in his own skin. I grinned at him, realizing he was finally happy. What more could I want?

“You seem to be in a better mood.” Edward looked me over with suspicion.

“Would you rather I wasn’t?” I was in an excellent mood. I couldn’t keep a smug grin from my face as I considered how I’d spent my afternoon: buried deep within my wife.

“She just keeps forgiving you,” Edward said ruefully, guessing why I was in such a good mood.

“Would you rather she didn’t?” I felt like a broken record. Would I ever have a moment of happiness not chased away by my mistakes?

He thought for a moment before shaking his head. “No, but only because she’s a better sister than you are a brother.”

“Fair enough.” I took the corner, heading toward the dining room and he followed. “Why are you here? Not that I mind your company.”

“Some welcome.”

“The last time I checked you weren’t speaking to me.”

“Would you rather I wasn’t?” Now he sounded like me. I didn’t push it. If my brother was ready to call a truce, I would accept his terms. “Clara called me. She wanted back up.”

“Indeed.” I paused and considered what he must be thinking. “Look, I didn’t know Sarah was coming home.”

“Clara said that, too. You two seem…better.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” I wasn’t deluding myself that this afternoon meant we were past whatever problems we faced. The fact Edward was here was proof. I could only hope it was a start. If all I could give Clara was release—my body—I would, but I wanted to give her more. I wanted to give her all of me. I was finally ready.

“You might have invited me, though.”

Maybe Edward wasn’t taking this as well as I thought. “I was preoccupied,” I admitted. “Sarah told us she invited a friend to dinner.”

“A friend?” Edward chewed on his cheek thoughtfully, his mind somewhere else.

“I was trying not to think about it.” I’d put it out of my mind immediately. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know who my sister was cozying up to already, after a ten year absence. “Is that why…?”

“I didn’t bring David?” Edward nodded so vigorously I thought he might sprain a muscle. “Any friend of Sarah’s…”

“Is likely to be a snake,” I finished for him.

“I didn’t know she’d been in contact with anyone yet,” Edward said.

“Neither did I.” I would have to speak to Brex about keeping an eye on her friends. “I suppose it’s to be expected.”

We shared a look. None of us knew exactly what was to be expected, but we had a pretty good idea. We’d all run with the same crowd until Clara had saved us from them. Now, none of them had been around in a long time.

“I didn’t think I’d have to deal with the brat pack again,” Edward grumbled.

“Brat pack?” I raised an eyebrow. That was a brilliant term for them.

“Your beautiful wife coined that term back when you were dating.”

It was a nice way to put it. Clara’s and my relationship had started in a much more physical capacity. My first realization about what she truly meant to me occurred around the people my sister had called friends—not because I cared what they’d thought, but because I knew how cruel and manipulative and elitist they could be. I’d been glad to be rid of them.

“What did she think of her room?” Edward asked.

I shook my head. “I wouldn’t bring it up.”