Sins of Mine - Mary E. Twomey Page 0,3

a bit. I’m sure I’ll catch her tonight.”

I hate that I have to reach for the bait, but I’m not above subtle bribery at this point. “Arly hasn’t eaten breakfast yet. Maybe you should go fix her a plate. Sometimes she gets so wrapped up in the property that she forgets to eat.”

That does it, though I wish Gray cared about his own well-being, rather than only coming to life for someone else’s benefit. Still, I’ll take what I can get, at this point. I can’t handle another day of him moping before he disappears on us all over again. “I can fix her a plate.”

“That’s the spirit.” I chuck his shoulder and trot to the front door, sliding on my shoes. “Why don’t you take a shower? I’ll wait for you.”

He shakes his head. “Why bother? I’m clean enough.”

That certainly is one man’s opinion. His shoulder-length dark hair is greasy now, and looks like even the rubber band that’s holding it back from his face wants to desert him for a good scrubbing.

He’s wearing the same black gym shorts and heather t-shirt he was handed when we first arrived on the property. Everyone took two changes of clothes, but I’ve only seen him in the one.

He hasn’t let Rafe out since we escaped, and I know that’s part of his restlessness. Even when he visits the pack to try and petition his way back in, he won’t let his own kind see the monster his wolf has become.

Gray is not ready to admit he’s part of our community. He’s been resisting any fae habits as much as possible, which has driven an invisible wedge between him and Arlanna.

Every time Gray makes it clear he doesn’t belong here, Arlanna doubles down on her workload, saying nothing because she doesn’t want to force him to be with her.

Or with us.

I don’t know what I would do without my brother. He slumps into bed with Arlanna and me some time in the middle of the night, and sleeps though the morning most days. Then he waits until we’re out of the house before he runs off to track down any pack that might have him.

We walk together to the white tent, which is larger than our house, and twice as tall. The place is buzzing with activity. The line to the food has died down, but the breakfast crew is still grinning like they’ve won the lottery. In a way, we all have. We were condemned as prisoners and then suddenly freed.

Gray sticks next to me in the chow line, but he doesn’t grab a plate. I fix him one, since he’s not firing on all cylinders. I scoop anything he looks at twice atop his plate.

“Thank you, everyone. This looks incredible.” And it truly does. Quiche squares, sausage, hash browns, fruit salad, and even a stack of crepes with a blintz filling, and a blueberry compote beside it. “Who made the crepes?”

A woman grins at me, her white teeth nearly glowing against the umber of her skin. “I did. I was a chef before Prigham’s. Deepa, Your Majesty.” She introduces herself, sticking her hand out. But then she realizes I can’t take it, because I’m shuffling two plates, so she gives me a meek curtsey.

“You’re spoiling us, Miss Deepa. I’m glad you filled out the survey and tapped into your strengths.”

“Happy to help!” she chimes, ladling a neat line of the compote across my crepe, and then fixing Gray’s next.

Her smile dims as she takes him in, but she doesn’t back away, as people normally did while we were on the inside. Ever since he helped us all escape by turning into his wolf monster, the whole of the commune touts a new level of somber respect for him and his animal. A shifter took on a battalion of guards so the fae prisoners could escape.

I wish Gray could see their distance for the reverence it is, and not the fear he assumes it will always be.

I can see the honor Deepa has for him now as she folds his crepe with expert fingers. Now mine looks stupid and sloppy by comparison.

“Mr. Knight,” she begins, her voice tentative. “I’ve been hoping we’d see you. I wanted to say thank you for helping us escape.”

Gray barely registers her words, blinking as if she’s spoken in another language.

He used to be “that shifter” but now he’s “Mr. Knight.” I like the respect that finds him, even if he’s too distracted and forlorn to