Page 18 of Chasing the Night

“Stop that. Immediately. For fuck sake. Do you know how many hours of negotiations I have wasted on your sorry—” Atticus spewed.

“Tears of joy, father,” Messiah spoke up. “She’s a beautiful bride, is she not?”

“A fucking vision,” Ender iced on.

“She’s something,” Aella scoffed from the doorway. She rolled her eyes so hard I was certain at least one would get stuck. Not that she would see much in that head of hers. Was anything in there but scorn?

“Indeed,” Atticus finally relented, clapping Reverie on the back as if she were his pride and joy. “Indeed. You see, Aella, if you could mind your tongue and place like Verie here… well. A man wouldn’t know what to do with himself.”

“Fuck you. And your men,” Aella spat lowly.

My whole spine went rigid. I half expected him to fly off the handle, but instead, he merely laughed and tossed her a wink. While I was dumbfounded, Ender slid behind me and wrapped a ribbon about my hair as well.

“Lovely,” he commented once he had walked around me again. “May I?” His arm crooked out in offering, but I didn’t take it right away. It wasn’t until Atticus stepped toward me that I stuck claim to Enders elbow.

There wasn’t a chance in this world or the next that I would be riding on Atticus’ arm anywhere. Ever.