“Yes. Although if she had seen the horse first, I’m sure she would have propositioned him, too.”
“Oh, fuck you, Zadyn!” I hiss. “I told you I knew what I was doing—that I was in control. I wish you’d stop treating me likea fucking baby. A baby that can’t do anything in this world—that can’t even do magic, or walk, or breathe, or want to have sex! I can do whatever I want, despite what you think I should or shouldn’t do, all because you’re sworn to me with some stupid possessive bond. You think you have the right, but you don’t!” I shout. “You don’t.”
A long, tense silence ensues as Zadyn and I glare at each other, and Jace watches me carefully.
“Come on,” Jace says after a few moments. “We should head back. You’re going to crash soon.”
“I feel fine. I want to stay,” I bite.
“Then find your own way back.”
He turns to mount his horse without another word and slowly gallops off. I catch a flicker of hurt on his face before he is swallowed up by the dark woods.
Is he upset with me?
“You can hate me all you want,” Zadyn starts, his voice hard. “But I’m not going back without you.”
We stare at each other confrontationally for a long moment.
Then I shake my head and stalk off in the direction Jace rode a moment ago. We make it back to the clearing, where Zadyn silently lifts me onto a horse and then settles in behind me. I hear soft moans coming from inside the cave.
Sounds like they’re having a good time. Good for them.
It’s tense and uncomfortable the whole ride back, neither of us breathing a word. As we approach our rooms, I see Jace standing outside my door—his posture upright, his icy mask of indifference resurrected. He doesn’t bother to look at me.
I pause when I hear Zadyn warn him in a hushed voice, “She might try and get out in the middle of the night.”
“So take care of her like she wanted, and she won’t. Better her familiar than a stranger.”
Zadyn scoffs. “Like you were about to if I hadn’t interrupted?”
“You shouldn’t insinuate such things,” Jace chides lightly.
“Hey,” I snap at them. “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here. If I want to go out in the middle of the night, I will. If I want to fuck someone in this hallway, I will.” They both eye me silently. “Don’t worry, I’ll let you watch.”
“Go to bed,” Jace says, his voice sounding somewhat tired.
“We’ll talk about this in the morning,” Zadyn says firmly. “All of us.” He eyes Jace, who doesn’t return his look. Zadyn and I slip into our rooms without another word.
I’m still riding high on the tea, but the initial buzz I had when I came out of that cave is quickly fading. I flop onto my bed, sad and horny.
I dream about Zadyn.
Of his scent—a cool mixture of black tea, cedar, and bergamot. I dream about his hands, his arms, and his restraint hanging by a thread. I dream about my body pressed against his and how it feels when I drive my hips into his.
My eyes flash open, and I sit up with a loud gasp.
Oh my god. That wasn’t a dream. That actually happened.
I tried to fuck Zadyn last night.
Oh my god, Jace, too. I tried to fuck both of them within a span of five minutes. Andbothhad rejected me.
What was I thinking? What came over me?
My door flies open, and Jace storms in.
“Are you alright? I heard you gasping,” he asks, his voice strained. I nod through the pounding headache and force a dry swallow before a wave of nausea works its way up my stomach.I launch myself out of bed and sprint toward the bathroom, shoving Jace out of the way in the process.
