“They’re heated by natural hot springs,” he murmurs, brushing his fingers over her knee.
“No magic?”
He softly shakes his head.
Her eyes widen, then she breathes out, “Wow.”
“We’re going to an onsen the second that barrier’s down.”
“Agreed,”all three confirm with me—completely in sync.
Zeek finally steps in, moving to stand beside his brother.
Julien keeps talking, describing a specific onsen with monkeys, and Red’s eyes keep getting wider with every detail.
I glance at the brothers now standing on the other side of the bath, arms crossed, eyes on her, their whole Alpha energy on full display.
“Testing, testing—are you listening, Red?”
Noreaction. She’s too caught up in Julien’s nature talk.
Bingo.
I face them, grinning while they glare.“Not that I’m not absolutely loving bath time, but how did this happen?”
“Jasmine.” Ezekial steps forwards, crouching opposite me on the other side of the bath, voice all soft and diplomatic. “You should know, Sai is trying to have a private conversation with us.”
“You fucking snitch.”The glare I shoot that fucking Lord with his smug little smirk could split stone.
Red tilts her head to me, all mock-accusatory and cute as hell, but her lips curl into a smile that tells me I’m not in that much trouble.
“Baby, I was just trying to be a gentleman,” I say, maybe even flutter my lashes a little. “Just checking why you’re in the bath. I wasn’t sure if it’s something you’d want to share with the group…”
I shoot a death glare at Zeek. “In case it was embarrassing, you fucking pompous twat—”
“Ezekial kidnapped me,”Red says casually, in our minds, with a soft little laugh that slices straight through my insult. Through my entire brain.“And then… things happened.”
“Things?” I repeat aloud.
But she doesn’t need to answer, Zeek’s shit-eating grin does it for her. Then he mouths the wordtwice.
“Rookie numbers,” I murmur, smirking at Julien who smiles with agreement.
When I look back at Zeek, we’re both smiling—really smiling, and his eyes have this dangerous spicy glint that says so much.
I’ve only ever shared someone with Julien, but if Zeek and I could share as passionately as we fought…
Shit. I’m getting ahead of myself, but from the look in his eyes that’s only brightened,for once, we seem to be on the same page.
“And how’re you feeling, baby?” I smirk, focusing back on her.
Those pretty red eyes search my face as her warm fingers reach my cheek. I lean into her palm, curling my hand around hers.
“Good,” she says softly, with a sweet little smile just for me. “Just a bit tired.”
“And the rune?” Julien’s gaze flits between the brothers.
“Altered,” Kane replies, stepping a little closer.
