So this was what it ant to be intimate with your mate. I opened my eyes slowly, languidly, as though my body had forgotten urgency.
Pleasure still humd beneath my skin, a low, satisfied thrum that made even breathing feel indulgent. My limbs were heavy, loose, pleasantly sore, as if every muscle had been stretched and claid and then carefully set back into place.
I turned my head slightly, the sheets whispering against my skin, and a soft sound escaped before I could stop it—half sigh, half mory.
Heat curled low in my belly again, uninvited but welco.
The intimacy replayed itself without rcy. Adam’s strength. His relentless focus. The way his restraint had finally shattered, the way he had said my na like it was both a prayer and a curse. It hadn’t dulled with ti.
If anything, it had sharpened. Being lifemates had made it worse—better—more consuming than it had ever been when I had been Maya.
My breath hitched as the mory crested, and I pressed my lips together, forcing myself back into the present.
I had felt him then, truly felt him, in a way that had nothing to do with bodies.
The bond had wrapped around us, tight and possessive, vibrating with certainty. And I had known—known with chilling clarity—that the mont he had spilled himself into , calling my na like it anchored him to existence, I had him exactly where I wanted him.
El’s voice slipped into my mind, amused. You have him, yes, but you have also bound yourself. Whatever you do now will hurt you both.
I scoffed inwardly.
I hadn’t trained for half a decade under Freda’s brutal tutelage—hadn’t burned softness out of myself piece by piece—just to unravel now at the ntion of love or fate or bonds.
Those things were luxuries. Weaknesses. Tools to be used, not surrendered to.
I inhaled deeply, grounding myself, and rolled onto my side.
Adam was asleep beside .
For a mont, the sight of him stole sothing from my chest. His breathing was slow and even, his face unguarded in a way it rarely was when he was awake. The sharp edges softened by rest. He looked younger like this. Peaceful.
Dangerous.
I glanced at the clock on the wall. Just past four in the afternoon.
It was ti.
I moved carefully, slipping from the bed inch by inch, aware of every shift of air, every rustle of fabric. When my feet touched the floor, I cast a light spell with barely a thought, weaving it gently into Adam’s aura.
Sleep deepened around him, anchoring him there for a while longer. I couldn’t afford interruptions.
As I dressed, El pressed again, her presence heavier now. Don’t do this. Let it go. Stay. The answers will co.
I shut her out. Literally.
The block slid into place with practiced ease, sealing her off no matter how hard she pushed. Her last impression was disappointnt tinged with worry, but I refused to linger on it.
They hadn’t given answers when I had asked. They had lied. Evaded. Hidden behind loyalty and silence. What, exactly, had they expected from in return?
Stay with Adam, El had said. As if that were a gift.
The thought alone felt like punishnt, even if part of —traitorous, aching—wanted nothing more than to crawl back into his arms, bury my face in his neck, and breathe him in until the world disappeared.
I straightened my spine and stepped out of the room.
The common area of the house was alive with voices.
Isla stood near the center, arms crossed, speaking animatedly with Noah and Daniel. Whatever she was saying died instantly the mont they saw .
Both n snapped their heads in my direction, identical frowns carving their faces as if I had committed so unspeakable cri simply by existing.
I raised a brow, unimpressed.
Before anyone could speak, the front door burst open.
Claire stord in like a force of nature, Naomi and Rachel flanking her, fury radiating off them in waves. Claire’s nostrils flared as her gaze locked onto .
I didn’t flinch. "Why are you invading our house?" I asked coolly. "You should all leave."
Daniel stepped forward, tension sharp in his posture. "Where’s our brother?"
I smiled then. "He’s asleep," I said calmly. "In my room."
The effect was instantaneous.
Claire scread. She charged with a snarl, curses spilling from her mouth, her hand already giving away to claws, as she called every na she could think of.
I lifted my hand. Power flared precisely.
Claire slamd into an invisible cage mid-stride, the magic locking around her like iron bars. She shrieked, the sound high and unhinged, clawing uselessly at the air.
Naomi and Rachel rushed next.
I didn’t even turn fully toward them.
Two more cages snapped into place, trapping them where they stood. They scread too, threats and promises of ruin tearing from their throats.
I glanced over my shoulder at Noah and Daniel, who had not moved at all. They stared at , stunned, sothing dark and hungry flickering in their eyes.
I smiled wider. Look at them. re puppies... hungry puppies.
"What?" I asked lightly. "Do you want the sa thing your brother has?"
Neither of them answered.
They didn’t need to.
Their silence spoke volus, and the way their gazes tracked was anything but innocent. Their brides continued to scream, but the sound barely registered.
"You shouldn’t be screaming at ," I said lazily to the won, eyes never leaving the males though. "If you’re angry, direct it properly. At your faithless fiancés."
Sothing shifted then.
The foolish males stepped closer, disregarding the chaos, disregarding the won bound and shrieking behind them, hungry eyes trained on .
For a fleeting mont, sothing in my chest tightened—but I examined it quickly, clinically. It wasn’t desire. Not as I felt for Adam. Just Brotherhood. Nothing more.
Relief slid through , cool and unexpected. They weren’t my mates.
But I didn’t pull away when they reached for .
Instead, I winked at Claire and her companions, enjoying the fresh wave of outrage that earned , and turned my attention fully to Noah and Daniel.
In a voice ant to entice, to command, I said, "Take out of the pack. I need to cast the do now."
Their eyes darkened...
"And when I’m done," I added softly, "you can have your fun."
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