Page 70 of Ashes

“Nah. I can handle it.” Kole thumps me on the shoulder.

“Did you tell Nova?”

“Yes.”

“Did she mind?”

Kole shakes his head. “No, she didn’t mind. She was surprised, but she didn’t mind.”

“Did you tell her that I…”

“I said it was aheatof the moment thing.” Kole’s trying to lighten the mood, but I can’t muster a smile. After a pause, he says, “Listen, Luther…”

I reach for the whiskey bottle on the coffee table and top up my glass.

“If you have feelings for Nova, true feelings, don’t fight it.” He smooths his hand over his beard. “You don’t have to be alone, you know.”

“I’m not alone. I have my brothers,” I tell him.

Kole breathes in heavily, then sighs. “If it was just sex, what we did out there would have helped.” He tilts his head. “But what you’re feeling? It’s not just lust, is it? It’s different.” He fixes his eyes on mine. “When I’m not with her, it’s like my whole body is on the verge of imploding. Every minute I’m apart from her is a minute too long. She fills my thoughts, my veins, my dreams. She’s—”

“You love her,” I say bluntly. “That’s what love is like, or so I’m told.”

Kole hesitates. “It’s more than that. Bigger than that.”

“The prophecy,” I say, taking another drink of whiskey. “You’re destined to be with her. Whatever’s coming, you’re wrapped up in it. You’ve known that since this all started, way before you even met her. You’re bonded to her, the three of you.” Looking at Sam, sitting cross-legged outside, staring up at the stars, thinking of the way he and Nova look at each other—far from the way siblings should look at one another—I add, “Maybe the four of you.”

“Fated tofive.” Kole picks up the whiskey bottle and takes a long swig. He looks at me sideways. “Like you said. The prophecy saysfive, Luther. What makes you think you’re not part of that?”

I close my eyes and take another sip of whiskey. When I open them, Sam is back inside, crossing the room.“Nova upstairs?” he asks.

Kole nods.

“Shall we tell him to stay here?” I ask quietly, flicking my eyes toward the stairs as Sam trots up them.

Kole smirks a little. “No,” he says, sitting back. “Let him go to her.”

37

TANNER

“I’m sorry. I’ll go.” Sam lingers in the doorway. I turn around and instantly notice the arousal pushing against his pants. Nova closes her thighs, still leaning on Mack’s chest.

“Wait.” I hop down from the bed and cross the room. “You should stay.”

Sam braces a hand on the doorframe. “She’s…” He shakes his head. “She’s my sister.”

“Does she feel like your sister?” I ask, meeting his eyes. “Or does the connection you have with her feel like something else? You two have something—I won’t deny that—but you were only in the same house for twelve months as her foster brother. So, maybe it’s something else…”

He swallows hard. Lust drips from his body. It swirls around him, vibrating so hard it’s overwhelming. He loves Nova, but not like a sister. She’s his, like she is ours. It’s the same way Kole feels, the way Mack feels, the way I feel. He needs her.

I look over my shoulder. Nova is watching us. She needs him, too. It’s been obvious since the moment they walked into the cabin together.

“You’re an empath?” Sam says, studying my face.

I nod.

His lips twitch with embarrassment. “So, you know…”