Chapter 0272


    “You,” June says, narrowing her eyes and pulling one arm free to point at Luca, “you just made an


    enemy, sir. Where’s the other one? Maybe I’ll like him better.”


    Iugh at my little sister and loosen my arms a bit, a little tickled that she already knows about my


    mate situation so I don’t have to awkwardly exin why I brought two boyfriends home. Mom must


    have told her, and whoever else she thought needed to know, to avoid some weird scene.


    I step back a little from my sister, still holding her so she doesn’t run away, and beam as I look her


    over. “I like your new hair!” I say, meaning it and nodding eagerly as I take in the hair that she’s


    dyed pitch ck, covering up the rose-gold that matches mine and our mom’s. “You look so cool.


    You’re all spooky now.”


    “I’m not spooky,” she protests, scowling and raising an anxious hand to her head.


    “You look like Rafe,” I say, grinning, meaning it. Juniper – lucky girl – got our dad’s beautiful green


    eyes, and with her hair all dark now? Her familial connection to Rafe, dad, and Mark is more


    prominent now than it’s ever been.


    “Ariel,” Juniper says, appalled, her mouth dropping open. “That’s the cruelest thing you’ve ever said


    to me –“


    “No one is paying attention to meeee,” Mark moans, dropping his head back on his neck


    dramatically and making meugh. I immediately drop June and move to his side, wrapping my


    arms around his waist.


    “You are neen, Mark,” Grandpa Henry says on a sigh. “You cannot whine like a pup anymore.”


    “No, he’s not,” I murmur, “he’s just a little baby, he can cry all he wants.”


    “Don’t encourage him, Ariel,” grandpa sighs, shaking his head at both of us, even if he can’t help


    smiling. “Or he’ll never grow up.”


    I hug my brother close as Juniper and Luca step near, making a little family circle even as the rest


    of the people in the room – family and close family friends, dozens of them, honestly – surge


    forward and greet Rafe, and Jesse, and all of our guests. I steal a little nce to the side and am


    relieved to see that mom still has Jackson pinned to her hip as she beams at Ben, getting to know


    him. Jackson stands stoically next to her, in good hands.


    Then, I remember my manners.


    “Everyone,” I say, straightening a little and smiling around at my family. “This is Luca Grant,” I say,


    gesturing towards my mate with a warm smile. “Luca, this is my sister Juniper, my brother Mark,


    and my grandpa, Henry Sinir.”


    “His reputation precedes him,” my grandfather says, holding out a hand, which Luca shakes


    eagerly, murmuring his hello’s and letting his dimples shine. “Wee to the family, son. I’m eager


    to see you box in two days’ time. I hope you show the Atxian champion what Moon Valley is


    made of.”


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    “I fully intend to, sir,” Luca says, perfectly earnest.


    “I’m excited too,” Mark says, beaming at Luca, and as Luca stands straight and turns towards Mark


    I see that my little brother’s eyes are already filled with hero worship. “Dad finally talked mom into


    letting me go to the fight. I can’t wait.”


    “You’ll have toe sit ringside,” Luca says, grinning at Mark and shaking his hand too. “Get the


    really good view, see all the blood –“


    “This is somehow both gross and boring,” Juniper sighs, stepping closer to me as grandpa wheels


    his chair away, probably off to greet his eldest grandsons. “I don’t know how you managed that, but


    you did.” She crosses her arms, ring between Luca, Mark, and me like we’ve done her a true


    disservice.


    “I missed you, June Bug,” I sigh, slipping my arm around her shoulders and tugging her close.


    Juniper and I – we have a weird rtionship, and we’re certainly not besties, but she does crack me


    up with her constant bad mood. And now that I have her back in person, I realize that I did miss her,


    in my own way.


    “I guess I missed you too,” she says on a sigh as Luca and Mark continue talking about boxing,


    Luca exining his strategy for the next two days of training before the fight. “Why did you go and


    get all badass and cool the moment you left?”


    I scoff at my little sister and her words, which are – in ssic Juniper style – as much insult as they


    arepliment.