Rook wasn’t put out in the least. “I can see why you’re angry, but have the shifters not taught you that a calm mind is better in a fight?”
“Myel, stop this,” I tried to intervene.
“Me? He’s the one holding me.”
“Because you attacked him.”
“He was all over you!”
“So?” I challenged my bonded. “You saw my room, and I’m sure you felt as furious and shocked as I was when you did. Rook is a friend. He was helping me forget about thingsfor a while.” He had also offered his room for me to stay in, but I didn’t think Myel was ready to hear that yet.
Rook released Myel who sighed in relief, rolling away, then coming to his feet easily.
I saw the pain on his face, felt his betrayal through our bond.
He didn’t say it, but I knew the words he wished to utter:but you’re mine!
And I was, but only through a trick of fate and we both knew it. It had only been an hour or two ago that he’d told me I could choose who I wished to be with.
I truly empathized with Myel’s shock and anger, but the truth was, Rook had made me feel wonderful and all I wanted was more of that.
“I know you’re in pain Myel, but I’m not going to say I’m sorry for any of this. That pain is of your making, when you could instead choose to be happy that I have friends — with benefits — who wish to help me in times of need. I don’t feel bad, and I don’t want you to feel bad either. I want you to join us.” I glanced at Rook to confirm he’d be okay with this. He smiled and nodded.
Myel’s face contorted in agony, but only for a moment before he sighed and the fight went out of him.
I held my hand out once again.
He hesitated.
He’d said he didn’t want to be with me and others at the same time, that he needed a while to figure it out. And I’d hoped to give him that time. I would have never guessed it would happen so soon, but here we were, and I so desperately wanted him to join us.
And he felt it.
“Izzy,” he pleaded.
“I want you, Myel,” I breathed, stretching my arm. “Idon’t want to pressure you. I know this isn’t what you wanted…”
“But it’s whatyouwant?” he whispered.
I nodded.
Silence hung in the room, as thick as the tension strung between the three of us, and the almost palpable fog of lust.
Myel wanted me.
I wanted him.
Rook wanted me.
I wanted him.
“It’s what I want too, if anyone cares,” Rook said.
I had to chuckle as the tension broke. Even Myel smiled, if only for an instant. Then it was gone, and his eyes bored into me as he made his choice. His emotions shifted through the bond, his hesitancy becoming curiosity.
“I could just watch, if you two wanted to…” Rook suggested.
I glared at him, in a friendly way. “Stop trying to help.” Then I gazed at Myel. “This is his choice to make.”
