"I agree to this as well," I say, looking at the others sorrowfully. "I do not envy your unknowns."
"Don't pity me," Ian warns, his gaze dropping to my neck before he looks at Zak. "At least I know I'm a legacy with a chance. Who knows if a half-demon metal elemental would even be considered for gods-given matches?"
Zak's jaw is clenched, his anger evident as he stares down Asher. "What if, when the time comes, our girl's matched with a quintet that treats her like shit? We still supposed to just walk away? Fuck that."
The blessed one appears angry at that thought, as am I.
Still, Asher is resolute. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there. Until then, these are the ground rules. Take them or get the hell out."
The infernal one huffs. "Yeah, fine. Agreed."
Asher rubs a part of his head as though it bothers him. "Then good luck to you fuckers with convincing Heidi to accept you as boyfriends. She's used to the way humans do shit and thinks group relationships are like cheating."
"She'll change her mind if we show her how much we all want this. It's better thannotgetting chosen by her in the end," Zak adds with a grimace.
Ian looks equally disturbed by the thought of her rejection, but I see that his gaze has wandered to the infernal one's wrist. His expression morphs into something tortured before he stands, his breathing labored.
"I'm going hunting," he announces, his voice a rasp like wind upon dry leaves.
Hunting?one of my beasts perks up, eager.
"I will join you," I offer, eager to once again enjoy my new freedom in the wild world, no longer imprisoned within the confines of my own mind. I have not shifted into each of my forms yet, and they are restless within my skin, excited by the promise of fresh air and rain and crisp springtime chill.
Ian glances at me. "Again, how the fuck is this guy speaking English now?"
I tap the strange device on my ear. "The blessed one bestowed this magic translator upon me."
"What, he couldn't bestow some clothes upon you, too? I get that you're a shifter, but I'm getting tired of seeing your dick."
I glance down, realizing they are all clothed while I still only wear the shirt of the infernal one, which is tight on me. The shifter clans rarely donned trivial apparel, but I learned in my time at the fae laboratory that nakedness discomforts non-shifters.
"Covering up may serve you well in this new world," Athanis advises, still unseen by these others as he has observed the conversation.
Since these other suitors share in my protective adoration of my mate, and since my inner beasts are strangely fond of their presence, I do not wish to bring them discomfort.
"I will seek out clothing while I join you in the hunt," I decide.
Ian shakes his head. "Not unless you're volunteering to be my dinner, Kaen. I'm…fuck, I'm struggling."
"How often must a monster-descended vampire of your kind feed?" I ask, curious.
"He's a thrall," Asher tells me.
He must realize I do not know this word, because he explains that Ian was killed and brought back far stronger, but a mindlesspuppet to a vampyr. Now that vampyr is dead and Ian can think for himself again, but he's "fucked up."
"From what I've seen of other thralls, he'll be overfeeding and losing control for days, maybe weeks," Asher adds, staring down the thrall. "He's a danger to Heidi."
"I'mnota danger to her," Ian snaps immediately, dragging his hands over his face. "I'm not. I could never."
"Uh-huh. Sure. Go feed," Asher repeats once more, stalking into the food preparation area for water.
The tortured siphon vanishes, the front door of my mate's abode clicking shut in his wake as the storm rages on outside. I decide I will shift and let my animals bask in their new freedom later, once the vampire—thrall—has returned.
Until then, I have much to learn about this new world, so I turn to the infernal one on the cushioned bench beside me.
"What will my mate seek in aboih-frend?I desire to please her."
He grins, slapping my shoulder amiably. "If it's pleasing Candy you want, you've come to the right mutt. I'll tell you everything I've learned about this weird-ass world and everything I learned our girl likes once you get your mouth on her."
