“Stay with me, like this, forever,” she whispered, half awake.
“I will,” I said. Cursing myself for it.
This was the problem. When I was close to her, I’d do anything for her.
Fuck me… I was so damned screwed… and not in a good way.
MYELAS
That night,I slept better than I ever had. I would have never guessed that sharing my bonded with another man would have given me such peace. Yet, it did. Seeing the heights to which Rook and I could take Izzy, when working together — feeling her transcendent bliss shivering through our connection, her complete and utter release and relief and joy — had confirmed one ultimate fact for me: all I cared about was Izzy’s happiness.
When she was happy, so was I. When she was at peace… so was I.
It made sense, given how deep our connection had become, but still, I hadn’t fully understood it until last night.
And it emphasized even more how insignificant I was.
I may need Izzy, but she didn’t need me. As an incubus, Rook alone could probably take her most of the way to the rapture she’d felt last night. And if he did, I wouldn’t care, because I’d feel it too. Yes, our bond would demand Izzy and I be together, but that would be the one and only thing she would need from me.
Izzy was a princess. She didn’t know it yet, but I did. Shewas royal, and once that came out and we’d dealt with Saldrea and her mother — not like that would be an easy fight — Izzy would be a queen. She’d rule these lands, and a little shifter like me would mean less than nothing to her.
She’d also have come into her powers by then, and if Safir was right, she might be able to break this bond between us. If she chose to, I wouldn’t complain. I’d miss her like I’d miss my own heart, but I was so far beneath her, so unworthy of someone like her that it only made sense she’d abandon me eventually.
And that night… I came to a sort of peace with that fact.
I’d stay by Izzy, protect her, help her, give her everything I was, for as long as I could, but if she chose to break our bond, I could never be upset with her.
I didn’t want it to happen, and I’d treasure every day I had with her for as long as we were bound together, but once she was queen, I’d go my own way, happy in the knowledge that — in some small way — I’d helped this amazing woman come to power.
That was my position.
That was my place.
I was nothing, yet for a short period I’d be elevated because of my proximity to Izzy. That would have to be enough for me.
Because as long as Izzy was happy… I was happy.
And I’d never love another woman again.
IZZY
Even with thedoubts I’d had falling asleep last night, waking between these two men, and remembering what we’d shared, put an instant smile on my face. I practically glowed, humming happily as I went about my morning. Except, I shouldn’t have been happy, given what had happened to my room.
Saldrea took one look at me inMagic 101and knew something was up.
“Why are you so damned happy?” she demanded.
“Why shouldn’t I be?” I shouldn’t have goaded her, but I couldn’t help it, the look of confused anger on her face was priceless.
“Your room!” she blurted.
“So, you’re admitting you destroyed my room, destroyed school property?” I caught her in my trap.
“N-n-no,” she stammered. “Of course I didn’t!”
No, you had your pet dragon do it.A dragon who was absent today. That seemed odd. Vyns was the only one guarding Saldrea. He hadn’t broken it off with her yet.
Despite that, I smiled wider, which infuriated her even more. It was a bad idea, but I couldn’t help myself.
