Where Broken Wings Fly (Briar Valley, #1)

by J. Rose

“Thanks for building the table,” she murmurs. Zach cuts me off. “Um, hello. Me and Ryder worked tirelessly to build this bad boy too. I even got a splinter. Look!” He sticks out his spotless index finger with an exaggerated sigh. Willow shakes her head at his antics, stabbing a tamale and dipping it in salsa. “You’re such a jackass, Zach. Eat your food.” He shoves a huge forkful into his mouth. “I’ll make you pay for that later. I’m a very sensitive creature, you know. You’ll need to soothe my bruised ego.” Ryder lets out a long-suffering sigh as he sits down. “Can we please save the sexy talk for when I’m not eating? It’s making me feel a bit ill.” “What’s sexy talk?” Arianna blurts. Choking on a mouthful, Willow has to hammer Micah on the back before he chokes. Zach is grinning at Arianna, while Ryder points his fork at the idiot threateningly. “You’re corrupting the child, Zachariah.” Zach raises his hands. “Hey, I’m a good influence.” Ryder tucks a loose strand of hair behind Arianna’s ear. “Don’t worry, squirt. Uncle Ryder will look after you. Ignore these mannerless twats.” “What’s a twat?” she asks instead. Willow’s head thumps against the table.