Cohen stares. I can practically see him categorizing the little details of his brother’s appearance and coming to the same conclusion I am; Ezekiel is unraveling. He finally says, “You’re late.”

“I didn’t want to come.” Ezekiel wanders to the empty chair and drops into it. “Let’s wrap this up quickly.”

Cohen still hasn’t moved. He hasn’t seemed to breathe at all. The tension in the room spikes, and I want to be anywhere but here. I might not have personal experience with it, but even I know that siblings clash. I don’t think normal siblings clash like the Paines do when things get tense—especially when Abel isn’t around to knock some sense into them. Normally, Cohen doesn’t get involved in the squabbles, but if what happened earlier is any indication, he’s off his game right now.

Maddox leans forward. All his attention seems to be on Ezekiel, but he’s angled his body slightly toward Cohen. “We need to talk about Jasper.”

Ezekiel doesn’t blink. “There’s nothing to talk about. He’s been tied up in my bed for the last three weeks. The first time he’s talked with his family is today, and you can take that up with Broderick.”

Tied up in his bed…

For three weeks?

I haven’t seen Jasper since the first time the Brides gathered after Lammas, but surely Ezekiel doesn’t mean he’s literally had the man tied to his bed this entire time?

“And Beatrix?” Cohen’s voice is terrifyingly even.

“Tied to my bed, too.” Ezekiel snorts. “Did you think I’d let her run around freely?”

It’s Maddox who pushes slowly to his feet. “You have an Amazon and a Mystic tied up in your bed, and they’ve been there for three fucking weeks? Are you out of your fucking mind? That constitutes torture, and it will violate the handfasting your brothers worked so hard to put into place.”

I glance at the door, but moving right now means bringing attention to myself. Better to just sit still and wait this out. Selfishly, I’m glad that Ezekiel is getting their full attention—and taking it off me. There was a time in my life when I desperately wanted siblings, but conversations like this remind me that it’s not a bad thing to be an only child.

Not to mention, it meant I was the only one who suffered through my parents’ abuse.

“Don’t worry about it.” Ezekiel sounds completely unconcerned. “They’re fine.”