Inheritance Redefined

Chapter Twenty

The morning sun peeked past the heavy curtains, casting slivers of gold across the plush carpet of Elara’s bedroom. Wrapped in her warm blankets, she was at peace – floating somewhere between dreams and the soft hum of real life.

Until.

Knock knock knock.
Pause.
Knock knock knock knock knock.

"Elaraaaa," Elias's voice rang out like a warning bell. "Wake up! The day is dying!"

Elara didn't move. Not even a twitch.

"It's Saturday," she croaked from under her pillow. "One of the only days I'm allowed to sleep in without someone trying to recruit me into a military unit."

Elias ignored her. "But if I can't sleep, you can't sleep. That's the rule."

"No one agreed to that rule," she grumbled.

He opened the door dramatically. "Too bad. The council has spoken."

"Eliaaaas–"

"I'm bored."

"You were bored before you knocked. You were born bored."

"Correct. And now I'm suffering. Misery loves company."

Elara dragged the blanket tighter around herself. "Misery's about to meet my pillow."

Elias pounced on the edge of her bed. "Elaraaaaaaa–"

"Stop saying my name like that!" she hissed.

He leaned closer. "Elara."

Elara threw a pillow straight into his face, groaning, "Go eat a chair."

Elias fell off the bed with a dramatic thud right as another voice called from the hallway.

"Is she up yet?" Nico. No doubt holding a protein shake and wearing chaos like cologne.

"Nope," Elias called, still on the floor. "But she threw a pillow at me. She’s halfway there."

Elara could hear more footsteps coming into her room. "If she's up, I want pancakes," said Matteo lazily. "And none of that healthy oat stuff. Real ones. With syrup. Chocolate. Bananas. Pure joy."

"Why would I make you pancakes?" Elara snapped, still hidden under covers.

"Oh good, she's alive," said Dante, appearing in the doorway like a mafia fashion ad. "Also, I agree with Matt. Pancakes, please."

"What is happening?" Elara muttered into her pillow.

"We're bonding," Elias said helpfully, popping back up beside her. "This is quality family time."

"I am asleep. That disqualifies me from participation."

"Technically you’re talking," said Raffaele, stepping in and tossing an orange from hand to hand like it's a baseball. "That's 3% awake. Might as well commit."

Elara peeked out from her covers, glaring. "Where's Luca? Is he gonna join this circus too?"

As if summoned by magic or sheer villainy, Luca leaned in from the hallway. "Morning, principessa. I brought coffee."

"Oh," Elara said. "I forgive you. Even though I don't drink coffee. It's the thought that counts."

"See?" Elias grinned. "Bribery works."

Behind Luca came Salvatore – the final boss of the Calviero brother invasion. He didn't even knock. He just strode in like he owned the sun.

"Since everyone's here," he announced, "I've booked the skating rink for just us today."