“I reminded her that who she is now matters more,” he replies slowly. “I’m hopeful it helped.”
I nod, the tension in my shoulders loosening, but not entirely.
Julien watches me, calm with no judgement. I breathe out, realising just how short I’ve been with him, the one person I should be thanking. If anyone could talk Jasmine down from an existential ledge, it’s Julien. A man who’s lived through plenty.
“Thanks, man. If anyone could help her, it’s you.”
A small smile graces his face. “I promised her we’d find answers.”
“We will,”Kane snaps sharply, resolute. Pure conviction.
“Maybe those fuckers from the club know more?” Sai offers, finishing his snack with one hard gulp. “We could snatch them up when they cross the barrier, let me drag them to the Pit...”
“I already proposed something similar,” Kane says.
I blink, turning to him. “When the fuck did that happen?”
“She declined.”
I stare at my brother, murmuring in a dry tone, “I wonder why.”
Kane’s glare sharpens, I meet it with my own, and Sai’s markings flare, that feral gleam back in his eyes at the prospect of another round.
But then—Goddesses—I feel her again. The bond humming under my skin like fire and light. I close my eyes, letting it roll through me.
“She feels… so much stronger,” I breathe, indulging in the sensation.
“So we’re thinking every time we… y’know…” I glare at Sai as he makes an unhelpful gesture. “Engage, more of the rune breaks?”
Kane nods.
“She wants it gone.” All eyes snap to Julien just as he shares the memory of her saying those exact words.
We all fall silent, thinking the same thing—that her making that choice is both exhilarating… and fucking terrifying. Because it means she wants this. Us. To strip the rune away, to feel the bond in full. And if it makes her immortal, then it means always.
“I guess we really need to talk about Kane’s new thing then?” Sai grins. “Daddy Feels-A-Lot. Mr. Mine. Possessive Papi.”
Despite Sai being the one speaking, Kane stares straight at me, as though it’s my responsibility to shut him up.
“Brother, we do need to speak about it,” I say, his stare only hardens. “She wants the rune gone, and now you can feel all our emotions more intently, what ifthathappens again? Especially when we—when all of us—get closer.”
He says nothing, but that just isn’t good enough.
I step closer to him. “When Jasmine wants us, all of us, you can’t—”
“I won’t.” His voice is almost a growl.
I grit my jaw, and he scowls back, just as resolute.
My fist clenches, stubborn bastard—
“My friends,” Julien smoothly cuts in, “shall we pause the conversation here, and reconvene this evening?” Henods encouragingly, waiting until my fingers unclench before speaking again. “Sai and I will continue with the house until then.”
“Damn it, Jules,” Sai mutters with a smirk.“They were just about to go for round ten.”
Julien chuckles with the shake of his head, then grabs Sai by the back of his shirt, flitting them both from the room.
The bond quietens, and I turn to my brother, not quite finished. “Buthowdo you know?”
