“That… that’s not theonlyway a fairy shows she’s mated,” Ezra said, as if challenging the evidence inked into my skin.
With a smirk, I unfurled my wings. Color shimmered down my wings like living magic—undeniable proof. Gasps rang out, so I folded them back and turned around. Nova was the first to speak.
“Who?” she whispered. “Who’s your mate?”
I smiled. “Notwho.Who all. I have five.”
Calix groaned. “Oh, my god, Niya! Of course,youwould take after Mom!”
Before they could freak out any more, I spat out their names like I was rattling off a grocery list. “It’s Alic Gorgof, Van Tempest, Lucus Kingsley, Maso Morino, and Rasmus Nefter.”
Nova let out a bark of laughter. “You got your own damn security detail!”
Calix rubbed his face. “Rasmus?That tech freak?”
“Watch it,” I warned, a finger pointing in his direction like a gun.
He held up his hands. “Fine, fine. He’s brilliant, sure, but he gives me Lex vibes. Like, ‘hide your daughter from him’ energy.”
That made me laugh, a deep, belly-shaking one. Honestly? Ididsee the resemblance between Ras and our dad Lex. Maybe I had a type… or five—just like Mom.
Ezra murmured, “Maybe the spell couldn’t handle five mates…” Her voice was distant. Troubled.
I frowned. Why did she sound adamant about it?
A warm hand slipped into mine. Riot. “Congratulations, Niya. I’m happy for you.” I could feel her genuine joy for me, but her eyes held something heavy, something close to pain.
Before I could ask, Calix shot out of his seat and around the table, scooping me up into a bone-crushing hug. “Our baby sis is getting married!”
Then he paused, setting me down but keeping his hands on my shoulders. “Youaregetting married, right? Don’t tell me these are some progressive little shits that ‘don’t want to fully commit.’” That last part was in air quotes, which almost made me laugh.
I shrugged. “They want that, so maybe. But not until we’ve dealt with this threat. I’m not pulling resources away just for a wedding.”
All of my siblings looked at me in unison. Some had wide eyes, others raised brows, all of them surprised that I wouldn't take this moment to shine, but I was Syndicate through and through. Glitter, heels, and a wicked tongue, I was just as dangerous as the rest of my family. A family that I would give my everything for.
“Our family and the Syndicate take priority for me. That hasn’t changed, never will. My mates know that, too.” I wanted to assure them that I wasn't going to slack off now that I had mates. In fact, I could probably get more done now that we were communicating better and I had so many of them.
Nova was the first to stand and give me a big bear hug, patting me on the back as she laughed. “And now you can take all the heat off the rest of us on this baby business! We can just point to you and say that you're the one with the mates, so they should focus on you.”
That realization hit me like a freight train, and my stomach plummeted. Oh fuck. The parents and grandfathers were going to pester me non-stop. I was going to need to come up with some good excuses.Could being a dick-loving slut count as an excuse?
Then an idea struck. “Do you think they’d be mad if I told the grandfathers they were sterile?”
Calix's face screwed up, covering his dick like I was about to makehimsterile just by saying it out loud.Sooooo, I guess that’s a bad idea?
Nova folded over, laughing so hard she had to wipe the tears from her eyes. I, on the other hand, was now freaking out. I needed to talk to the guys, ask the think tank. Between the six of us, we should be able to come up with something, right?!
Ezra slowly got up, and Nova and Calix got out of her way as she grabbed my hands with her firm, warm ones. Looking up at me, she gave me a small, tight smile, her tone dead serious. “Are you happy, Niya?”
I squeezed her hands, trying not to smile too big. “Yes. It was messy at first, but it feels right.Ifeel right.”
She nodded slowly. “That’s all I need to hear.” She pulled me into her arms and hugged me, like a real one. I even felt her tremble just a little, not having a lot of practice in the hugging department.
“Well,” she said as she pulled back and patted my arm, a slice of a smile appearing on her lips as wicked sparkles danced in her eyes. “We’re already here. Might as well meet our new brothers-in-law.”
Oh, gods. That look wasnotcomforting.
“They’re in my office,” I said, voice tight, motioning to the door. “Waiting to formally meet you all.”
