147

147
Rowen's POV

Maeve stood just inside the threshold, fingers white around the edge of the door like it was the only solid thing left. Her hair was pulled up too tight and a few strands had fallen in front of her ear, and I wanted to put them back and I didn’t move. Her eyes hit Kieran first, then Brin, then me. She swallowed. Every muscle in her throat fluttered like a moth.

“Guys—”

Maeve stood in the doorway, the room light behind her throwing silver along the edges of her hair. “Stay?” she asked in a small voice, One that was too soft to be hers. But the new her. Her mouth trembled as she looked between all of us.

Kieran slid down the opposite wall until he hit the tile floor, Brinley folded beside him gently and tucked her shoulder under his. I stood for as long as it took and then I slid down too, because I was exhausted.

Confusion was flooding the bond, hurt, grief.. So many emotions were clouding my thoughts and sences.. And none of them were Maeves.

We sat like that until the thundering noises in our chests eased up. Maeve still hadnt said anything as she stood there blankly.. "Can I tell you all tommorow... I need to uhh.. Process some things.." She asked meekly looking at us through her hooded eyes. She looked beat, and not in a way casued by her mother.. But emotinally. I could tell just by her look alone what the dr had said to her.

Kieran whispered not even acknowleding Maeve's question which itself bugged me even more.

“Do you think this was Selene’s way of payback? For bringing her back to life?”

“Or taking one more extra thing,” Brin asked in such a low soft tone I had only heard her use with Maeve a handful amount of times.

“I don’t care what she meant,” I said finally. “Whatever this is, it’s ours now.”

They were all quiet for a while. I looked at Maeve and motioned for her to follow me. I heard the others get up behind us. As we walked into my dorm room,

Guys, I mind linked Brinley and Kieran as we walked in silence. There has to be a reason shes not telling us right now right? If she wasnt pregnant shed tell us.. She wouldnt draw this out something isnt right about this situation.

I dont know Roe.. Brinley started I turned to look at her and saw her mouth 'turn around so she doesnt know were mindlinking without her' I quickly snapped my eyes back on Maeve and than her small frail hand that was like a childs hand inside my own.

Kieran, can you see if she can tell you? I understand she needs to process this but so do we... If she is pregant than what the fuck are we supposed to do? Were not even 18 yet... she isnt 17 for another few months....

No one bothered to answer my steam roll of questions. As we got into my room we all collapsed on my california king bed. Maeve laid in the middle of Kieran and I, Brinley on my left. and we all just layed there.

I let my head find my pillow and felt myself grab Brinleys hand with a light squeeze and I finally let my eyes close and let the night take me into yet another fitful sleep.

And when the sun slowly came up I felt Maeve’s hand find mine in the dark, and I carefully curled my fingers around hers and held on tight.

Becasue no matter what she tells us tommorow she is ours. Mark or not she is mine, she is Kierans and she is Brinleys. And nothing will change that. Not today not tommorow never.

Because I’m a storm with legs, sure. But I’ve learned what storms can do besides destroy.

They can clear the air.

They can make room.

They can point the way a new thing grows.

Tomorrow there will be whispers and plans and a hundred ways to break or be broken. T
Today I hold her hand through everything and count breaths and pretend the world as we know it isnt ending.