Anchor of Secrets by Tessa Hale

32

My lungs burnedas I waited for Declan to answer. He stared up at Ronan, a glint of silver in his gaze. Then he jerked his chin in a nod and stood.

Air whooshed out of my lungs on one giant exhale. I didn’t take my eyes off them as they walked across the lawn.

They didn’t speak at first, but then I saw Ronan’s lips begin to move. A little more of the pressure in my chest released.

An arm slid around my shoulders, pulling me against a muscled chest. Dash’s lips pressed to my temple.

“Never thought I’d see the day,” Colt muttered as he joined us.

“Me neither,” Trace echoed.

Dash glanced down at me. “It’s Leighton. She’s a miracle worker.”

I shook my head. “They just needed to get it all out in the open. The truth is what will set them free.”

Dash shook his head. “But you’re the one who got the truth out of them both.”

Colt’s jaw hardened. “Should’ve known Patrick O’Connor was behind this.”

“Fucker,” Trace muttered.

There was an extra bite to Trace’s words, and as I glanced over at him, I didn’t miss the anger and almost frenetic energy that pulsed through him.

Concern washed through me as I took in the dark circles under his eyes.

“He’s a piece of work,” Dash muttered.

“Understatement,” Colt agreed.

Declan and Ronan’s father didn’t even deserve to be called that. “I wouldn’t mind junk-punching him,” I mumbled.

Colt’s brow arched. “Getting vicious on us now?”

Dash chuckled. “I think that already began. She is the one who tackled Chloe in the hallway today.”

Had that been today? It felt like a million lifetimes ago.

I glanced at Colt. “Their dad. What’s his deal?”

Any amusement fled his face. “Power hungry. Control freak. And he’s incredibly secretive on top of it. He participates in the treaty and The Assembly but doesn’t actually offer a hand to help. I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.”

“And Declan is set to take over when he dies?”

Colt nodded. “He said that Ronan defected, so he’s ineligible.”

“Prick,” I mumbled.

I watched as Ronan and Declan turned to face each other. Their heads dipped in such a similar fashion as they talked. A war of emotions played out across both their faces. Grief, anger, hope.

“Can’t something be done to hold him accountable for what he did to Ronan?” I asked.

Colt shook his head. “There’s no proof. Only Ronan’s word.”

“Don’t need proof to end someone,” Trace snarled.

Dash’s eyes flared. “Dude, reel it in. You know if we took action against the king of the dragons, it would be an all-out war.”

“We could take them,” Trace gritted out.

Worry flitted across Colt’s expression. “That is the last thing we need. Are you okay, man?”

“Fine,” Trace snapped.

But he wasn’t. I knew that down to my bones. I just didn’t know what to do about it.

Movement caught my attention.

Ronan and Declan walked back toward us. I scanned their faces, trying to read them, but there were so many emotions living just beneath the surface, I couldn’t grab hold.

“Well, neither of them is bleeding. That has to be a good sign, right?” Dash asked.

“Hell of a lot better than it’s ever been before,” Colt agreed.

The twins came to a stop in front of us.

“Well?” Dash pushed. “No one’s dead…”

“Their dad could be,” Trace grumbled.

Ronan glanced at Declan. “We’re starting fresh. As much as we can, anyway.”

Tears filled my eyes.

“Oh, crap,” Dash muttered. “You made her cry.”

Declan’s expression softened. “Come here.”

I went immediately into his hold, reaching out and grabbing Ronan’s shirt as I did so. Ronan moved in behind me, and I was encircled by both of them.

Declan pressed his lips to the top of my head. “Thank you. You just keep giving me more.”

Ronan’s hand ghosted along my hip. “Don’t cry, Firecracker.”

“They’re happy tears,” I sniffed.

“How about no tears?” Dash suggested.

I wiped under my eyes. “Fine. No tears.”

Colt surveyed us all. “Well, she ended an almost decade-long feud. I feel like anything else we could do tonight would pale in comparison.”

Declan chuckled. “I wouldn’t mind eating. Feud-ending works up an appetite.”

I lifted my head. “I think we should make dinner together.”

Declan grinned. “I like to cook.”

The rest of the guys looked extremely wary.

“What?” I asked.

Colt’s face heated. “We haven’t exactly spent a lot of time in the kitchen.”

I rolled my eyes. “So spoiled. Come on, I’ll teach you.”

* * *

“Shit!”Trace cursed, dropping his knife.

“Did you cut yourself?” I asked, hurrying over to him.

“No. I just—how the hell do you chop it so tiny?”

I tried to hold in my laughter, but it was no use. Other than Declan, the guys were completely helpless in the kitchen. I’d thought a chicken stir-fry would be easy enough to conquer together, but I’d been wrong.

Trace glowered at me. “Stop laughing.”

I pressed my lips together, but it didn’t work. “I’m sorry. It’s just…I had no idea stir-fry could make you crankier than battle.”

“It shouldn’t be this hard,” he grumbled.

“It just takes practice. Like anything else.” I started to pat Trace on the back, but he darted away from my touch.

Hurt flared, but I swallowed it down. Trace had made it clear he needed distance from me right now, and as much as that killed, I had to give it to him.

Dash frowned down at a marinade he was mixing. “This doesn’t taste right.”

Declan moved to his side and dipped a finger into the concoction. He tasted it and immediately started coughing and spluttering. “What the hell did you put in there?”

Dash’s face heated. “I followed the directions. I just added some salt and pepper on top of it.”

I grinned at Dash. “How much salt?”

“I dunno, a tablespoon? Salt is supposed to intensify flavors. I read it in a science book.”

Ronan handed Declan a glass of water, thumping him on the back.

I grinned at my sexy science nerd. “That might be true, but one of the ingredients in the marinade is soy sauce, and that’s already incredibly salty.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that,” Dash mumbled.

Colt slapped him on the shoulder. “Not even you can know everything.”

“I think we need to start from scratch there,” Declan wheezed.

Dash winced. “I’ll follow the directions exactly this time.”

“Want me to get you your beakers and test tubes?” Ronan asked with a chuckle.

“Shut up,” Dash shot back.

Declan grinned. “Hey, they’re all measuring tools. Whatever works.”

A beep sounded, and Declan pulled his phone out of his pocket. As he stared down at the screen, his eyes hardened.

My stomach dropped. “What’s wrong?”

He shook his head, shoving his phone back into his pants. “Just my dad.”

The room went silent as Declan focused back on the cutting board where he was slicing bell peppers.

“Dec…”

He swallowed hard but didn’t look up. “I don’t think I can go back there. Not knowing what he did.”

I moved in close to Declan. “You don’t have to.”

Colt cleared his throat. “Leighton’s right, you can stay here.”

Declan’s head snapped up. “Seriously?”

Colt nodded, and Declan scanned the room before his gaze stopped on his brother.

Ronan met his stare and didn’t look away. “It was where you were always meant to be.”