Last Female Sypher and Her Brother's Friends novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Aria

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The walk to Barric’s cabin is quieter than I expect.

Gravel crunches beneath my boots as we move through the dark, the cold night air brushing my cheeks. The

compound is mostly in shadow at this hour. Only a few dim lights glow in distant windows, scattered across

the land like small watchful eyes.

When Barric said cabins, I imagined something cramped and temporary–like the bunkhouses Liam and I

used to see near construction sites when we were kids.

But this?

These aren’t thrown–together shelters. Each house sits on its own patch of land, separated by wide stretches

of darkness. Even in the limited light, I can tell the property spreads far. Pine trees line the edges of the

clearing, tall and unmoving, their silhouettes cutting into the night sky.

Coming up to Barric’s place, I can just make out other homes farther off in the distance. A handful of them,

maybe more. Hard to tell in the dark.

I have no idea how many people live here.

But there’s space. Lots of it.

Too much, almost.

Part of me wonders what Liam’s place looks like. My brother has always been particular about where he

lives–orderly, controlled, carefully curated like everything else in his life.

For half my life, I imagined what his world looked like after he left.

This compound.

His people.

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Chapter 10

His rules.

But the curiosity dies the second it forms.

Because the truth is simple.

Liam doesn’t want me here.

:.

The thought of stepping into his home–of standing in his space as some kind of tolerated obligation-

makes my stomach twist.

Pity hospitality.

No thanks.

Barric opens his door and steps aside.

“After you.”

I hesitate for half a second before stepping inside.

And immediately stop.

Because whatever I expected…

It wasn’t this.

The cabin is warm, the air smelling faintly of wood smoke and something earthy–pine maybe. Soft

lamplight fills the space, casting golden shadows across dark wooden furniture.

It’s… beautiful.

Not fancy. Not polished.

But intentional.

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The couch is deep brown leather, worn but well cared for. Natural woven rugs stretch across the floor, their

thick fibers soft beneath my boots. A large stone fireplace dominates one wall, though tonight only a faint

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Chapter 10

glow of embers remains.

Everything looks sturdy. Solid.

Built to last.

And everything is neat.

Not sterile–there’s personality here–but there’s almost no clutter. Just a few carefully chosen pieces: a

carved wooden bowl on a side table, a thick blanket folded over the couch, and on the main table….

Several small pieces of wood.

Carved.

I take a few slow steps inside, turning in a circle as I absorb it all.

“Wow.”

Barric shuts the door behind us.

The quiet click makes me realize something.

He’s watching me.

I look up–and there he is.

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Standing a few feet away, arms crossed loosely over his chest, studying me with an unreadable expression.

Up close, his presence hits harder.

His bronze skin glows in the lamplight, and his sea green eyes are striking against the short buzz cut

framing his face. Heavy eyebrows, strong angular jaw. His neck is thick with muscle, and at the base of it, I

catch the edge of a tattoo disappearing beneath the collar of his shirt.

Something about him feels… grounded.

Solid.

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Chapter 10

Dangerous in a quiet way.

A sudden hum of attraction zips through my body so fast it almost startles me.

Great.

Perfect timing, Aria.

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