Authors: Anya Bast

Jaded (37 page)

BOOK: Jaded

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“Yes, my love, because of you.” Byron held out his hand to her.

“Let’s not talk of Ivan anymore.” Alek stepped toward her, took her hand, and led her back into the library. “We have something we want to talk to you about.”

She took a seat on the couch and frowned at the serious note in his voice. “What is it?”

Byron grunted. “It’s too early, Alek. I thought we agreed.”

“It’s just a discussion, Byron. Nothing more.”

She looked between the two of them. “All right, you two, tell me what’s going on.”

Alek sank down next to her. “We were thinking that one day, not tomorrow or even next month, but one day . . . we should consider adopting a child, or maybe even
children
, from Angel House.”

She went very still for a moment, then exhaled slowly, closing her eyes. “Lilya?” Alek touched her arm. “Are you all right?”

Opening her eyes, she launched herself at him, kissing him soundly. “Yes, I’m fine.” She embraced Byron, then sat back and wiped her eyes. “I’m just perfect, actually.”

Byron pulled her against him and kissed the top of her head. “We’ll talk it about more after the wedding.”

“Yes, let’s do that.” Her voice held a quaver and her throat still felt choked with tears of happiness and optimism.

Expectations, Lilya.

Yes, she could keep them
high
.

Alek cleared his throat. “I know you’ve been working on something upstairs, Lilya. I saw the covered canvas. Can we see it yet?”

She smiled and took his hand. “Yes, it’s almost ready.”

Together, the three of them mounted the stairs and entered her painting room. Walking over to the easel, she pulled the drape off to reveal the canvas. She’d been planning to wait until their wedding day to give them this, but now seemed an even better time. Stepping aside, she held her breath, waiting for their responses.

The men stood motionless, taking in the picture she’d painted. Seconds ticked off and she grew more and more nervous. She hoped they liked it.

Alek was the first to speak. “But we didn’t even sit for this.” His voice held a mystified quality.

“I thought you said you couldn’t do portraits.” Byron’s gaze met hers.

She shrugged. “Apparently after those rings were placed on my fingers, the ability came to me. I just closed my eyes, pictured the three of us, and . . .” Her breathing hitched. “Do you like it?”

“We don’t just like it, Lilya,” answered Alek.

“We adore it. Just like we adore you.” Byron held out his hand to her and she went to stand by his side.

It was a portrait of the three of them. She sat in a chair, dressed in one of the gowns Byron had bought for her and wearing a comb that Alek had given her. Her hands were folded in her lap and both rings were visible. Alek and Byron stood side by side behind her chair.

The painting had come very easily to her. It was the by far the easiest one she’d ever done. She didn’t think there was any coincidence in that.

Alek stepped forward and carefully took it from the easel. “Let’s put it up downstairs.”

“Good idea.”

The three of them went back downstairs and the men hung it up above the mantel in the library. She hadn’t been thinking about matching the colors in the painting to the room, yet everything complemented.

The three of them stood back to admire it. “It looks wonderful,” she murmured with one arm around Byron’s waist and her head on Alek’s shoulder. “It looks like it was made to hang there.”

“Of course it does,” answered Byron. “Because we were meant to be together.”

Titles by Anya Bast

THE CHOSEN SIN
JEWELED
JADED

WITCH FIRE
WITCH BLOOD
WITCH HEART
WITCH FURY
WICKED ENCHANTMENT
CRUEL ENCHANTMENT
RAVEN’S QUEST

BOOK: Jaded

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