#Chapter 136 – Making a New Home

“You invited my brother to stay with us? Here?” He hisses, his face suddenly red with exhaustion and anger.

“I had to!” I protest, keeping my voice low and glancing to the living room, where I know our two little spies are surely listening.

“Evelyn,” he says, exhasperated. “Rafe just betrayed me – betrayed us! Tried to take everything we have –“

“I know!” I say, spreading my hands in protest, “but what else could I do! We can’t leave her alone with him right now – don’t you see that he’ll take it out on her?!”

“Have you considered,” he growls, moving closer to me, “that perhaps he picked her precisely because she’s the kind of girl we won’t be able to help wanting to save? That she’s another pawn in his game?”

I bite my lip. Actually, I hadn’t thought of this. But it changes nothing. I raise my eyes to his. “Victor, it doesn’t matter. Even if she’s part of his plan, she’s still a person. She needs us.”

He rolls his eyes and heaves a deep sigh, looking up at the ceiling. “Evelyn…”

“Please,” I say, putting my hand on his. “Just…don’t kick them out, for a few days, at least. Until he’s at full strength.”

“I want him gone,” he growls, “as soon as he can stand. Otherwise, I might rip him apart myself.”

“Just two days,” I say, begging. “Please.”

He returns his gaze to mine, shaking his head. “Fine, Evelyn,” he says, giving in. “But if they burn this house to the ground while they’re here, it’s on your head.”

I purse my lips as I stand up straight, coming close to him and raising my chin for a kiss. “No, baby,” I murmur. “You have insurance for that.”

He growls again, in no mood for my jokes, but he gives me the requested kiss. A light one, but with promise.

“Mom?” Ian’s voice comes sleepily over the couch. “Can we go home now?”

“Food first!” I say, glad for the interruption. Then I head to the fridge, where the chef had left a casserole for us to heat up upon our return. “Then we can go down to the cottage.”

I take the casserole out and start to spoon big portions onto plates for my sons and I. Then I raise an eyebrow at Victor, silently inquiring if he wants some.

me. “Why don’t the boys just stay here tonight? If they’re tired, why make them hike down to the

in the microwave, stacking one slightly on top of the other so the boys can have their food at the same time. “They need more consistency in their life, Victor. If that’s where their tutor comes to teach them, then that’s where they should sleep.

nods, understanding, and then moves closer to me. “Well, why

“You

lessons, and all their meals. I want them to live

fear flare up at him and I turn fully to him, angry now. “Victor, you cannot

me then and takes my hands. I feel my anger instantly quailed, realizing that I’ve

he says, smiling. “I want you all to move her. Up to the house, with me. It’s…right, now. Don’t you

up at him, slowly putting the pieces together. “Did you…did you just ask me to

again, in a sweet way, and takes another step forward, wrapping a hand around my

blink up at him, honestly

he declared me officially his Luna this morning – in front of

But still –

anxiety. Victor’s face changes as he sees the new expression on my face as worry and unhappiness floods

of letting me go, though, Victor holds me closer. “What, Evie?” he asks, searching my face as if he

moment and then

course. Modern and sleek, full

piece of it, every choice in furniture and décor, in

has Amelia written

how to express this to him without hurting his feelings. Victor waits patiently. “Um,

drops his hands from me and leans against the counter, studying me. “Actually, to be frank, she designed it. I had this house

considering. I hadn’t really known

“the only thing on it was the cottage. But she wanted the space for

biting my lip and closing the distance between us. “Amelia is…everywhere in this house. And it’s so soon since you ended your relationship with her.

and he nods, agreeing. It feels

that she built for

detail. He nods, understanding. “I get it, Evelyn. I get it, and I understand. If things were flipped…I would feel the

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