Chapter 107 Fire Queen

Chapter 107 Fire Queen
Jacob
Dinner with Aiden and Dante had become one of those quiet routines that crept up on you without permission. Dante has become a major part of our lives filling the void since things around the house fell apart.

We sat around the long dining table, eating silently. Aiden was scrolling through his phone and occasionally typing into it. A habit he has during dining that not even our parents were able to stop him from.

I miss what this family used to be. It was full of love and laughter, or so I thought. We went from children who had both our parents and all the luxury growing up to having an empty house.

I noticed Dante’s shoulders were slightly hunched, pushing food around his plate more than actually eating. He was taller than he had been a year ago, longer limbs, broader shoulders, but there was still something unmistakably boyish in the way his brows pulled together when he was thinking too hard.

“You guys ever fail a class?” he asked suddenly, not looking up.

Aiden glanced at me before answering. “Fail? No. Almost fail? Plenty of times.”

That got Dante’s attention. He looked up quickly. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Aiden said, leaning back in his chair. “Your dad was a menace in high school. Basketball, girls, skipping classes. Teachers hated him.”

I scoffed. “Don’t let him lie to you. Caleb was good at pretending he didn’t care. That was his whole thing.”

Dante picked at his food again. “My grades are slipping,” he admitted quietly. “Coach said if I don’t pull them up, I might not make varsity next term.”

“That’s what you’re worried about?” I asked.

He nodded. “Dad hasn’t said anything yet, but I know he notices. I don’t want him thinking I’m… wasting what he worked for.”

Aiden leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Listen to me. Grades drop sometimes. It doesn’t mean you’re failing at life. It means you’re human.”

“And your father doesn’t expect perfection,” I added. “He expects effort. Big difference.”

Dante let out a breath, shoulders loosening slightly. “You really think so?”

“I know so,” I said. “You’re doing fine. Basketball isn’t just about talent, it’s discipline. The same thing applies here.”

He nodded slowly, absorbing it, and for a moment the house felt almost normal.

Then the butler rolled in a set of luggage.

The sound of the wheels against the marble floor cut through the room, sharp and out of place. Two large suitcases, sleek and expensive, followed by a garment bag.

Aiden frowned. “Who’s that for?”

The butler stopped and inclined his head. “Madame MedLyn, sir. Your mother called earlier. She asked that her room be prepared.”

Aiden and I exchanged a look.

Madame MedLyn.

So it was true. She was staying.

The butler resumed moving the luggage toward the stairs, and just as he did, the front doors opened and she walked in.

Elsie. MedLyn. Whatever name she was wearing now, she looked nothing like the girl who used to keep her eyes lowered and her voice soft. She wore confidence the way other women wore perfume. Calm, measured, impossible to ignore.

“Well,” I said, standing slowly. “Good to have you back.”

She met my gaze without flinching. “I didn’t think I’d need permission.”

“I didn’t think you’d want to stay here,” I added honestly.

“Why wouldn’t I?” she asked. “It’s my house too now.”

Dante stared at her openly. “So you’re… Elsie? I’ve heard so much about you.”

She looked at him then, surprise flickering briefly across her face. “And who are you?”

Aiden cleared his throat. “That’s Dante. Caleb’s son.”

Something shifted in her expression. Not shock exactly, but something close to it. She nodded once. “Nice to meet you,” she said.

The butler gestured toward the stairs. “If you’ll follow me, Madame.”

She nodded and followed him, heels clicking softly against the floor.

I waited a beat, then excused myself.

By the time I reached the corridor outside her room, the butler was already leaving.

“If you need anything, Madame, I’ll be a call away,” he said politely.

“Thank you,” she replied.

The door shut.

Then I opened it again and stepped in. I didn’t know Aiden was right behind me because he came in almost immediately.

She turned sharply. “You’re invading my privacy.”

Aiden shrugged. “This is my house.”

“And it’s mine too,” she said coolly.

I stepped forward, “No. You’re a guest. This whole idea of you being my sister doesn’t sit right with me. I don’t care what game you think you’re playing,” I said, moving closer. “Just know it won’t work.”

She took a step back, “Both of you should leave.”

“Or what?” I challenged, taking a step closer.

Her back hit the wall before she realized how close I was. My breath brushed her cheek. I could feel the way her body reacted, the way she tried to hide it.

“You’re shaking,” I murmured. “Why is that?”

“Get away from me.”

“Have you missed this?” I asked softly. “Me being this close?”

I lifted my hand, slow enough for her to stop me if she wanted to, but she didn’t.

My finger traced the edge of her lower lip, not pressing, just enough to feel her breath hitch.

“You missed this,” I said. “You don’t react like this to a brother.”

Her eyes burned into mine. “You don’t know a damn thing about me anymore.”

“Then stop pretending,” I said. “Stop pretending this doesn’t affect you.”

She pushed against my chest hard, breaking the space between us.

“Get out,” she said. “Both of you. Now.”

I watched her for a moment longer, then stepped back.

“This isn’t over,” I said quietly.

“I know,” she replied. “Except next time you come on to me like this, I’ll forget my fist on my jaw.”

Aiden laughs, “You really haven’t changed. The fire is still thesame and it’s one of the things about you that I find really hot.”

"And it turns me on so fucking hard." I added, my cock jerked violently and she noticed.