I looked towards Asher, when his hand found my hair and ruffled them.

"Josiah and Jayden made today's dinner."

I scowled in suspicion.

"What if Jayden messed with it?" I asked.

He chuckled, while Jayden huffed from my other side.

"It's not my fault Asher was busy holding a baby when she was asleep," he retorted, making me snap my head to my other side.

"Did you just call me a baby?" I gritted, about to strangle this sorry excuse of a human to death.

"Yes. What're you gonna do about it?" He mocked, in a baby voice.

"Stop that," I muttered, narrowing my eyes.

"Aww," je said, pouting and tilting his head to the side.

"Don't annoy her." My head snapped towards Rose when she said that.

"Aww Boo. You scared me," Jayden said, pouting, with fake scared expressions.

Rose pouted too and looked at Damien with the same expressions, when he stifled a laugh.

"Sorry," he said, ruffling her hair. She blinked when he did that, but thankfully didn't flinch.

Damien retreated his tattooed hand and smiled.

"You're mean," Rose mumbled, glancing at Jayden then back down.

Jayden just stuck his tongue out. Asher stood up, probably to set up the table. I stood up too and followed him. He glanced back at me over his shoulder and smiled.

"Here." He handed me two plates. I put them before Lucian and Damien.

"Thanks Bunny," Lucian said, surprisingly gentle. He ruffled my hair. I set my hair and was about to turn when another hand ruffled my hair.

"Thanks, Bunny," Damien said, hiding his smirk and intentionally ruffling too hard, so my hair were a mess.

I narrowed my eyes and slapped his hand away, to which he laughed.

Asher put the plates before Rose and Josiah and moved back to the counter. As he piled the mac and cheese onto two more plates, I watched him.

"Go take a seat." He smiled, leaning down to kiss my forehead.

I nodded picking up the two plates. Putting mine on the table, I put the other one before Jayden.

He gasped as he looked at the plate, then looked back at me with amazed expressions. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at him weirdly.

He waved his hand, asking me to take another step forward, so he could whisper in my ear. I did.

As soon as I was within reach, his arm wrapped around my neck, pulling me into a headlock, before he started ruining my hair.

"Thanks Bunny," He mocked, placing a loud kiss on my head, then proceeding to ruin my hair again.

I clawed at his bicep and tried to push myself away.

A smack was heard and his grip loosened on me. I stood up straight and huffed, my hair were sticking in every direction. And half of it was flipped forward, so it hid my face.

"Ow." Jayden said, when Asher smacked his head again. Asher just glared at him, then looked at me.

His expressions did a flip and changed into a sweet smile with an amused look in his eyes.

He ran his fingers through my hair gently, stopping when there was a tangle. I pouted, just because my face was hidden behind the curtain.

And the curtain was suddenly lifted as Asher parted my hair and flipped them back. He smoothened them out, then tucked them behind my ears.

I peeked from beside him, to glare at Jayden who was now eating. Maybe he felt the glare, because he turned his head and his eyes widened.

I slid my thumb along my neck and smirked.

I'll get back at him.

Asher chuckled.

"Okay, Honey. Eat first, then we can kill him," He said, kissing my forehead. "That was an adorable pout, by the way."

My face flamed red again, as I stumbled to take a seat. He just chuckled again and sat down.

"You wait till tonight. I'll kill you in your sleep," I said, pointing a fork at Jayden's throat.

Jayden turned to narrow his eyes at me.

"I'll snitch to Lucian."

"I'm not scared." I rolled my eyes, making him smirk.

"Lucian, look at how Bunny is-" I cut him off by stabbing the fork in his arm under the table. "Ow."

"Jayden. Keep quiet and eat," Asher scolded, causing me to smirk victoriously at Jayden, who was scowling at me.

"It's good," Rose said, after the first bite. Jayden lifted his head to smile at her.

"I'm sure Josiah made this," I said, watching the smile on Jayden's face turn into a scowl. He rolled his eyes.

"Don't start now," Lucian warned, before we started another series of fights.

Immediately lowering my gaze, I focused back on my food and returned to eating.

"Rose ordered the school stuff for both of you," Lucian said. When I made eye contact with him, he continued, "while you were sleeping."

I shrugged. That's good.

"Shall I remind you of the rules again?" Lucian asked, almost making me roll my eyes again. But I didn't.

"No Lucian," Jayden and Josiah sang together, in perfect chorus.

"Very well," Lucian said, a hint of a smirk on his face. "Bedtime is at ten."

Jayden groaned.

"I'm eighteen," he deadpanned. Lucian stopped everything and gave him his full attention but with a raised eyebrow.

I tried to lean back in my chair and blend into it, while Jayden took his time changing his attitude.

"Bedtime is at ten," Jayden said, nodding his head wisely. Damien stifled a laugh and almost spat the water out.

But I turned my head and smirked at Jayden, since I was hidden from Lucian. Asher was hiding me perfectly.

"What're you smirking at, you little rat?" He spat, leaning closer to me and whispering that, so Lucian didn't hear.

"Your existence. It's funny," I said, my smirk going wider when he narrowed his eyes.

"Shut it," he grumbled before sitting straight again. I mimicked him and rolled my eyes.

The food was delicious, I'll give them that.

Dinner was mostly silent, except for the quiet murmurs from the three oldest men.

When we were done, Lucian started instructing. He looked at me first.

"Dex will explain the rules tomorrow. He's dropping you and Rose, since it's your first day. Then you can start going with Jayden and Josiah," he said, looking at all of us one by one. When no arguments could be heard, he nodded and took his leave.

I stood up and waited for Rose to be done clearing the table. She helped Josiah with everything while I stood there, looking at them.

Feeling someone come up beside me, I turned my head.

A smile appeared on my face when I saw it was Asher.

"Excited for school, sweetheart?" He asked, putting his elbow on the counter before us and leaning against it, so he was on my level.

"Who's excited for that hellhole?" I scoffed, shaking my head.

He chuckled.

"Now that's Jayden effect, I see," he said, laughing when I scowled.

"Ew." I faked a gag.

A second later, I found his hand resting on my head. He ruffled my hair lightly as he said.

"If there is any problem, no matter how small it is, you call any of us. Okay?"

I nodded and smiled.

"Want me to tuck you in?" He cooed, stroking my hair. I shook my head quickly, my face turning red due to embarrassment. He should stop embarrassing me like that.

"Do you really not want me to or are you just embarrassed?" He asked, raising an eyebrow, a hint of amusement on his face.

I thought for a moment and he took my hesitation for an answer.

"Knew it," he said, chuckling a bit. I shook my head again, to which he just moved forward and bent down to place a kiss on my nose.

"Now you're being adorable," he said.

'You have been accused of being too cute. So cute that King Elijah Verlice can't be mad at you.'

I smiled, despite trying to hide it. Warmth settled in my stomach, slowly spreading through my body.

Maybe I have my Dad back.

"Adorable smile on my adorable sister's adorable face," Asher said, bending down to my level and booping my nose. "That's what I want to see all the time."

I felt a different kind of happiness. A different kind of love yet so similar to Dad's.

"Okay. We're done. Thank you, Rose." I turned my head, just in time to see Josiah kissing her forehead. She smiled and bounced on her feet, happy with herself.

Dinner was a little late today and bedtime was already close.

I turned towards her completely, as she hugged Josiah goodnight and started walking towards me.

I held my hand out for her to hold and returned her smile.

"Okay, Babies. I'll tuck you in," Asher said, before he started walking.

We walked behind him, silently. So much has changed so quickly. Just some days and we're completely settled in, despite living with Father for twenty four hours and all the shit that happened.

Asher opened the door for us and bowed his head when we entered.

I went straight to the closet to change while Rose sat on the desk chair, removing the clips from her hair.

Changing quickly, I walked out only to see Asher standing behind Rose, running his fingers through her now untied hair. Her curls fell behind her shoulders and beside her face. Asher had some clips in his hands that he most likely removed from her hair.

"Alright. I think it's done," he said, smoothening it out. "Do you want me to brush it before you go to bed?"

"Can I change first?" Rose said, turning her head to look back at him with a smile. I smiled too, seeing the interaction.

"Sure," Asher said, before he lifted his gaze and it fell on me. "Do you want me to get the other room renovated so it has two different closets?"

"No. It's fine," We said at the same time.

"But you sure do need two desks," He concluded. Rose stood up and Asher waved his hand for me to sit in her place.

I did and felt his fingers in my hair, running through them gently. His fingers were soon replaced by the hairbrush as he started brushing out the tangles, Jayden the Bitch gave me.

I leaned back in the chair, as he brushed my hair. He was being more gentle than I have ever been on my hair.

"Will you be okay, Bunny?" He asked, softly.

"What do you mean?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Like if you're scared or have nightmares or even visions, you know my room, alright? I'll be there," he said, trying to hide the worry and focusing on consoling me instead. But I could still sense his worry.

"Okay. Rose is here," I assured, smiling up at him. He smiled back.

"I know she is. But still I want you to tell me, okay?" He said. "Is Rose okay?"

He was referring to what had happened that night.

Rose was okay. She had nightmares just two nights after and she was jumpy and flinched at every touch, but that is cured now.

She didn't remember much either. Just the fact that she confronted him, then he forced a drug down her throat, then she ran away and he chased her. By the time I got to know what was happening downstairs, both of them were down the street.

He had tried touching her before they ran out of the house, but she didn't seem to have any kind of aftereffects from that, surprisingly.

She would've told me, if there was. She's not one to keep it inside.

"Yes she is," I said. "But I think you should ask her for confirmation. If she needs therapy, Nico can help."

"Josiah asked her. She saidnshe's perfectly okay. That's why I asked you for confirmation because you know her better," Asher answered. I shrugged.

I don't see any signs but I'll ask her to be certain.

"Alright, it's done. Do you want me to braid them or you just want them like this?" He asked.

"You know how to braid them?" I asked, looking back at him in surprise.

"Yes," He smiled, pinching my cheek. "So?"

"Two braids?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.

He smiled and stood up straight. I turned my head again. Rose walked out of the closet and sat down on the bed, watching us.

"How's the school?" She asked, looking at Asher curiously.

"It's good. I mean, you won't have any problem there. But no rule breaking. That won't be tolerated obviously," he said, his tone going a little stern as he repeated Lucian's expectation.

"So you recieved a detention?" Lucas chuckled, evilly, while looking at the slip he had to sign.

I clenched my fists bunching the hem of my shirt in them tightly.

"And I thought I could have a go at Aurora today." He smirked, running his hand over my hair, before bunching them in his hand.

Rose had, for the first time, recieved an F in an assignment she couldn't complete because she was ill for the past few days. The teacher had it for me and gave her an F. So I got angry and intentionally overreacted and got a detention.

"Don't even think about her." I muttered, staring him in the eyes and spitting the words out.

The psychotic smirk on his face widened.

"Why? I'm her brother, Amira," He said, faking sadness.

"You're nothing to us," I spat. He pushed me back, so I fell onto the floor, supported by my elbows.

"We have one hour before your stupid twin is home, right?" A sick smirk showed itself on his face as he unbuckled his belt.

A snap made me lose focus and the room started to fade. Another one and I was back in my new room.

"Can you understand what I'm saying, Bunny?" Asher's soothing voice entered my ears, sending immediate relief to my panicked self.

'Lucian will react the same towards you. Rose is the sweet kid. You're the trouble.'

I shook my head, clenching my eyes shut to get rid of that voice.

I flinched when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I flinched again when someone entered my vision range. Asher picked me up from under my armpits, making my panic grow as I started struggling and flailing around.

"No No," I choked out between my gasping breaths.

"Shh. It's okay. I'm here. You're safe. Relax, Bunny," he said, soothingly. A hand on the side of my head pushed it onto his chest while the other arm wrapped around me, keeping me close. The sound of his heartbeat echoed in my head, relaxing me.

Warmth spread through my body at the reassurance his cologne provided me with.

My hand lifted on its own to rest beside my head on the chest, feeling the heart thumping inside.

Asher kept his breathing even. So I tried to match his, inhale when he did and exhale when he did. He noticed what I was doing and started taking deep breaths, which I followed too and that provided the leftover relief.

"That's right. You're doing good. I'm so proud of you, Bunny," he said, in a low murmur.

I closed my eyes and rested back against his chest with a sigh.

"Why didn't you start talking about it?" He asked, almost sounding disappointed but mostly pleading.

I shook my head.

"It wasn't a happy one."

"You will see that monster die before your own eyes," he said, kissing my head and tightening his hold.

His arm had entrapped me and the other hand was running through my hair.

"You need to take your medicines," he said, quietly before I could doze off.

I nodded slowly. Hesitantly lifting my head and hand from his chest, I swung my feet down and stood up.

Asher turned me to him again. We were almost at the same level, with him sitting and me standing. He put his hands on the sides of my face and pulled me gently to lean down a bit.

As soon as I did, he proceeded with showering kisses all over my face.

"Just so you know that you're loved and we're here to look after you." He smiled, after placing the last kiss on my forehead.

I think I recognise the warm feeling in me. It's pure love that I failed to see, somehow.

I smiled and stepped back, so he could stand up.

As soon as I turned around I saw Rose standing near us, smiling at me sadly.

Asher moved towards the nightstand, ruffling her hair on the way. I stepped forward and engulfed her in a hug.

Our arms wrapped around each other tightly as she snuggled closer and buried her head in my neck.

"You will be okay," she said, softly, making me nod.

"Alright. Get in bed, babies," Asher announced after he was done pouring water in a glass and getting the required pills out.

We pulled away and climbed in. Asher waited until we were sitting on our sides of the bed, before he handed me the glass and a pill.

I gulped down the four pills and handed him the glass. He ran his hand over my head, cautious of the braids at the sides, so he doesn't cause the hair to stick out in every direction.

I laid down as he flipped the lights off and turned the lamp on, so the room was filled with a warm golden light and his skin shone in the light.

He pulled the blanket over us properly and tucked me in first. Placing a kiss on my forehead, he smiled, brighter than the lights being reflected in his eyes.

"Goodnight, Bunny."

"Goodnight, Asher." I smiled. He stood up straight and moved to Rose's side. Tucking her in properly, he bent down to place several kisses on her face and tickling her a little. She giggled and kissed his cheek in return.

"Goodnight, Asher," she said, softly. He smiled wide and stood back up.

The sounds of his heavy footsteps reduced in volume as he walked out, shutting the door with a soft thud.

Leaving a confused storm in my head.