Chapter 285: The Trio.

By the time they finally left the bedroom, Theo was convinced that nothing could possibly make her more embarrassed.

She was wrong.

The smell of food reached her first. There was warm bread, spiced stew, and something delicious simmering with herbs.

Her stomach gave an appreciative little growl, and Zeke immediately looked down at her. She instantly elbowed him before he would make a teasing remark and leave her with a red face.

Charlene was standing near the table, arranging the last few dishes. Sunlight spilled through the cottage windows, illuminating the little room and the familiar photographs on the walls.

The table was already set, and there was enough food for all four of them with a pot of steaming stew sitting in the centre.

Charlene turned at the sound of footsteps, and when she saw Theo, her eyes lit up again, "There you are! I was beginning to wonder how long you were going to stay in there."

Theo’s face caught fire, "I—"

Nothing came out.

Absolutely nothing.

She thought she could face Charlene now, but actually seeing her and knowing she had heard every sound, every moan from last month and every scream of pleasure?

Impossible. She was going to die here.

In this cottage.

At the hands of kindness!

Zeke, the absolute traitor, walked straight past her, "That smells amazing, Charlene."

"Thank you, sweetheart. Wash your hands before you sit down."

"Yes, ma’am." He said.

Sylas followed him, but Theo remained rooted to the floor.

"Darling?" Charlene called.

"Yes?"

"Come here."

Theo hesitated, and when she finally walked, she was moving as though she were approaching an executioner. From the side of her gaze, she could see Zeke’s shoulders moving suspiciously again.

Charlene opened her arms, and Theo surrendered into them. Charlene wrapped both arms around her, holding her with the same warmth she’d shown her from the very first day they’d met.

"Oh, sweetie," She murmured, gently stroking Theo’s hair. "It’s lovely to see you smiling again. You’ve had such a difficult time, and I’ve watched those boys worry themselves sick over you. Seeing you happy does my old heart good."

"Charlene..." Theo’s eyes filled again.

"Shh." The older woman brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek, "You don’t have to explain anything to me, and you certainly don’t have to be embarrassed around me, either."

Theo’s cheeks burned even hotter.

"You’re a young woman who loves the men she loves. There’s nothing wrong with that."

Theo wanted to disappear, but Charlene was so unbelievably kind that there was nowhere for Theo to hide her face.

"I... I’m sorry if we were loud," She blurted.

Silence held the room, and Zeke had to quickly slap his palm over his lips before he completely let it out, while Sylas slowly lowered the glass he had been holding.

Theo closed her eyes.

Why did I say that?

Why?

Why, of all the things she could have said, had she chosen those words? Now, she wanted to turn around and run directly into the stream.

Charlene, however, simply laughed softly and hugged her again, "Oh, darling. It’s fine, really."

"I am so sorry." Theo mewled.

"For what?"

Theo made a strangled noise, embarrassed again.

"Now, stop that," Charlene patted her back. "You’re making me feel as though I’ve done something wrong."

Theo pulled back immediately, and shook her head quickly, "No! You haven’t! You’re wonderful! I love you!"

"And I love you too." Charlene’s smile widened, then she kissed Theo’s forehead, "Now, go and sit down. You’ve slept through breakfast, and I won’t have you fainting at my table because you’ve forgotten to eat."

Theo wanted to tell her she could survive months without eating, but what the hell? This was so sweet.

"Zeke, sweetheart, stop stealing pieces of bread before lunch. Zevon, will you fetch the water? Theo, darling, would you like some more stew?"

Theo stood there for a moment, overwhelmed. Then she felt a hand settle at the small of her back.

It was Sylas.

He leaned down and murmured beside her ear, "Told you." Then, his mouth brushed her temple. "You’re adorable when you’re embarrassed."

She elbowed him too.

.

.

Lunch was a disaster.

A wonderful, delicious, thoroughly humiliating disaster.

Charlene insisted on serving Theo first, giving her a generous portion of stew and enough bread to feed a small army.

Meanwhile, Zeke stole a piece of meat from Sylas’s plate and Sylas threatened to freeze his fingers to the table. Zeke then informed him that he would simply melt the table.

Charlene has snapped at them and told both of them to behave, and both men immediately obeyed.

Theo watched the exchange with wide eyes.

It was still strange to see Sylas, who could terrify an entire academy with a single look, quietly accept a reprimand from Charlene. It was even stranger to see Zeke do the same without arguing.

And oh, how much she loved it.

She loved the warmth of the cottage, the smell of food, and the sound of their voices filling the room.

She loved that Charlene occasionally reached over to touch her shoulder or ask whether she wanted more water.

She loved that neither man treated her like something fragile, but both kept checking that she was comfortable.

Sylas moved the bread closer when he noticed she wanted another piece, and Zeke poured her water before she could ask.

When she shifted in her seat, uncomfortable after sitting for too long, Sylas quietly offered to help her settle somewhere more comfortable. She told him she was fine, and he simply kissed her temple and let her be.

They didn’t make a spectacle of taking care of her.

They just did it, and that was exactly what made her heart ache.

Halfway through lunch, Charlene reached for her glass and looked at Theo with a warm smile, "I’m glad you’re here, darling."

"Me too." Theo smiled back.

"I mean it. This cottage has been much too quiet without you."

"Charlene, she was only here for three days." Zeke snorted.

"And in those days, you boys managed to make enough noise for an entire village."

Sylas looked at his brother, "She’s referring to you."

"She’s referring to both of us." Zeke retorted.

"Mostly you."

Watching them all made Theo’s world feel so right again.

"Charlene?" She whispered.

"Yes, sweetheart?" The older woman turned to her.

"Thank you for letting us stay."

Charlene reached across the table and took her hand, "Come-on, You never have to thank me for that."

Theo blinked.

"This cottage is home to the people I love. And that includes you. All right?"

Theo nodded, and then because she couldn’t help herself, she stood up, walked around the table, and hugged Charlene again.

The older woman laughed softly and wrapped her arms around her, "Oh, darling. Come here."

Theo buried her face against her shoulder.

The embarrassment was gone.

She could feel Zeke’s gaze on her, and when she looked up, he winked at her and silently mouthed, ’Still embarrassed, Hellcat?’

She kicked him beneath the table hard, and he yelped.

"What was that?" Charlene looked up.

"Nothing!" Theo and Zeke answered simultaneously.

Sylas calmly took another sip of water, and said, "Zeke was being himself."

"Traitor!" Zeke hissed.

Charlene shook her head, smiling, "Honestly. The three of you."

Theo laughed.

And the sound filled the little cottage, spilling through the windows. She’d never felt so... fulfilled before.

The feeling was wonderful.

NB: Next Chapter is lengthier than previous ones.