Chapter Thirty-One
GIDEON
Penelope followsSilas down the hall like she’s walking on a live wire, her blonde hair brushing her shoulders, brown eyes blown wide with adrenaline and want. Definitely want. She’s vibrating with it.
Talon lingers behind me, half-frozen, half-aroused, and absolutely overwhelmed.
Good.
He needs to be overwhelmed.
He needs to learn what it means to want her inthisdynamic—ours—without trying to control her or punish her or run from her. He needs to understand sharing in a way that’s not theoretical or jealous or panicked.
He needs to see how we take care of her. He needs to see how she responds. He needs to understand what he’s stepping into. And she wants him here. That matters more than anything.
I step into the bedroom. Silas is already at the foot of the bed, sleeves pushed up, jaw tight with the kind of calm that would terrify any sane person. Penelope stands between us, chest rising and falling too fast, fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.
I look over my shoulder.
“Talon.”
He startles. “Y-yeah?”
“Inside,” I say. “The door stays open. Chair in the corner.”
He swallows hard but obeys, stepping inside like the room has gravity he can’t fight. He takes the chair in the corner, sits, knees bouncing once before he forces them still. His hands knot together in his lap.
Good. He’s doing exactly what I need him to do.
Penelope’s gaze skips between us, pupils blown wide, a flush crawling up her throat.
“This isn’t punishment,” I say softly, stepping closer to her. “Not really. This is grounding. You walked into danger alone. You ignored your phone. You came home shaken.”
Her throat moves. “I’m okay.”
“You’re not,” I say. “But you will be.”
I tilt her chin up with two fingers. “Look at me.”
She does.
“You trust us.”
“Yes,” she whispers.
“You want us.”
A breath. “Yes.”
“And you want him here too.”
Her gaze slides to Talon—who looks like he’s seconds from combusting—then back to me.
“Yes.”
Silas steps behind her, hands settling on her hips, firm and unyielding. “Then we start.”
I see the exact moment her knees go soft.
