It was a few moments later when Sakura opened her eyes. She stirred, and her gaze focused on Sebastian once again. He gave out a little chuckle. “Is that how you greet us, Sakura?”
Sakura blinked, very aware that Sebastian was so close to her and he was stroking her forehead and the tendrils of her hair. She tried to move but realized someone was holding her hand, tight. She turned her gaze and saw Darcy.
“Rest, Sakura. You’re unwell,” he said softly.
A lump formed in her throat and tears welled in her eyes. Darcy. My dear Darcy. The words echoed within her head. She closed her eyes and the salty drops rolled down her cheeks.
Tristan said, “Happy tears.” In which case, Logan gave him a good jab in the stomach with his elbow.
Toby chose that moment to bark out at his master. Conrad put him down on the floor, and the dog eagerly went to Sakura. Sebastian grabbed the dog and rested the pup on his lap so Sakura could stroke him.
“You’re safe,” she said softly. “I was so worried.”
“I think he was looking for us,” Conrad said. “I swear I heard him barking for the past two weeks.”
“Sorry, Conrad, for not believing you,” Tristan said.
Sakura blinked and, once again, tried to sit up. Sebastian wouldn’t let her, however. She obeyed him, since she felt dizzy the moment she lifted her head.
“You brothers live here in this building?” she asked curiously.
“Yep,” Hayden answered. “The penthouse.”
The news didn’t sit well with Sakura. So the dragon and his brothers Akira usually referred to were Nicolas and his brothers, the Princetons, her adoptive siblings. No wonder Toby kept wanting to go up there.
“Anybody want some tea?” Akira asked the brothers. “Sakura-chan, I’ll tell the housekeeper to make you some chicken soup. I think it’s a good idea you go and see a doctor. I mean, you’ve got the photo shoot this coming week and we don’t want you to tire yourself out.”
“Thanks, Akira” Sakura said. “I’ll make an appointment tomorrow.”
The brothers agreed it was a good idea, and Sebastian promised to take her for the appointment himself. With that settled, Akira went off into the kitchen to help the housekeeper prepare the tea. Oddly enough, Nicolas volunteered to help her, which annoyed Akira.
Ten minutes later, the brothers sat around the low table, enjoying their tea and cake. Sakura was there as well, sipping her chicken soup. Sebastian was beside her and Darcy was on her other side, Toby on his lap, quiet and content.
“So, Sakura darling,” Tristan began. “What have you been doing for the past year?”
Sakura swallowed the soup in her mouth and said, “Running my small business.”
“Tanaka Gallery?” Hayden queried.
“Why did you change your last name?” Conrad asked, more than a little upset over the idea.
With the color coming back to her face, Sakura managed to blush, which of course pleased the brothers. They knew she was feeling better.
“I didn’t want you guys to find me,” she stated obviously. “And my biological mother’s name is Tanaka.”
Conrad nodded, deciding to accept her explanation—for now. She was still too sick, after all. He and his brothers would make sure she changed her last name back to Princeton once everything was settled, of course.
“Even so,” Logan said, “you need to change it back to Princeton. That’s your name. It just suits you better.”
Nicolas stared at his brother. “That’s up to Sakura, Logan. Just be glad we’ve found her.” He turned his attention to their sister then. “Sakura, Mom and Dad miss you. They want to see you.”
Sakura nodded. She had no choice now. It was too late to run. Too late to escape. Fate wanted her to meet the brothers once again, and she couldn’t fight it anymore.
“Sakura-chan,” Akira said from the other side of the table. “I’ve called Oba-chan and told her you’re unwell. She will inform Tachibana-sensei. Of course, you’ll have to go and do more fittings before we leave for Hawaii.”
Tristan thought it was a perfect opportunity to intervene. “Ah, Hawaii and the photo shoot.” He turned to Akira and said, “You’re one of the models, so I’ve heard.”
Akira nodded, blinking. “Yes.” Then she took a sip of her hot tea.
“We’ll be there as well,” Logan said from the other side. “We’ve signed a contract to be Mr. Tachibana’s male models for the summer collection.”
At this news, Sakura tightened her hands on the warm bowl and glanced at Darcy. She noted he was looking at her. He gave her a handsome grin and nodded.
Akira, on the other hand, nearly choked on her tea and had to swallow hard. “You guys are Tachibana-sensei’s male models?” She eyed Nicolas, and the image of him naked rushed to her mind. She blushed and her heart began to race just a little.
“We’ll be horrible at it,” Nicolas said, nudging the glasses up the bridge of his nose, just like Sosuke liked to do. “But yes, we’ve already signed the contract.” He turned to smile at Sakura.
Sakura had a feeling this was all premeditated by the brothers themselves, to be close to her, of course. But she didn’t bother to dwell on that too much because she suddenly felt like she wanted to shut her eyes and sleep forever.
Sebastian noted the tired expression on her face. He knew he was partially to blame. He’d kept her up until three in the morning most nights, chatting with her online for the past week. She’d told him she had work to do today, which he now found out was the fitting for the photo shoot.
He decided a proper family reunion would have to wait until later and stood, drawing everyone’s attention. “I think Sakura needs to sleep. She looks ready to drop any minute now,” he said to his brothers.
Nicolas agreed with a nod of his head.
Darcy said, “Mom and Dad are coming this evening to see you. We’ll have a family dinner up at our apartment.”
Sakura smiled and nodded. “I’ve missed them.”
“That’s enough talking,” Sebastian said, bending to gather her up in his arms.
Darcy frowned because he was going to do that.
Akira just stared at the three people in shocked surprise. She couldn’t help herself. It was obviously a love triangle. And then she thought, rather sadly, that her brother, Sosuke, wouldn’t have any chance now. Akira wouldn’t have minded having Sakura as her sister-in-law though.
Sakura blushed and took a peek at Sebastian. He didn’t have to carry her, for God’s sake. She was a fully grown woman.
Sebastian grinned at her, noting the pretty red spreading across her cheeks. He carried her out the door, with Darcy and Conrad close behind. Conrad signaled he wanted Toby in his arms. Darcy obliged and handed the pup over.
Sakura wasn’t pleased that these brothers were in her room, not for the first time, of course. Sebastian laid her on her bed, and she murmured to him, “Thanks.”
“I like your old bedroom better, Sakura,” Conrad said, sitting on her bed by her feet, Toby on his lap as he stroked the dog. “You can come live with us, you know. We have a spare room. It’s beside mine.” He smiled at her cheekily.
“Do you?” she asked, moving herself to get underneath the duvet. Darcy helped her and then tugged the thing over her so she was comfortable.
She smiled at him, which pleased Darcy.
“Come on. Let Sakura sleep,” Sebastian said, moving to the door.
The brothers nodded and walked out of the room.
“Have a nice dream,” Conrad said. “Oh, and I’m taking Toby up to the apartment, just so you know.”
Sakura nodded and then turned on her side, closing her eyes as Conrad shut the door with a click.
Alone, Sakura felt tears in her eyes as her heart raced. Please, calm down, Sakura, the voice in her head urged. When it did, she smiled. She’d been waiting for this all along, hadn’t she? In her gut, she’d known she wanted to accept them back into her life. She’d just been lying to herself, of course, that she didn’t want them. But deep down, she knew she did. It was just easier to lie to herself, to prolong the inevitable, the decision as to which brother she would choose, between the two men she loved dearly—Sebastian and Darcy.
Finally, she took a deep breath and shut her mind completely, letting the darkness take her, at least for a couple hours.