I braced myself for whatever was about to come out of her mouth.
“Xan tethered me when he healed me. I am tethered to the Architect.”
I grunted as if she’d punched me.
She put a finger over my lips. “Xan wanted me to get to know him before telling me. That’s why he didn’t want you to say anything. I’ve only found out recently, and what he taught me about tethers is how I pieced together yours.” She let out an annoyed breath. “What’s done is done. Don’t turn this into a thing.”
It already was a thing.
I growled. “He knows how unsatisfied he leaves you?”
Quinn blushed. “He’s not—”
I reached down and captured her lips to cut off her excuses. Heat smoldered between us. It didn’t matter who I was because she wanted me. Her emotions sang under my attention. She had to understand the Architect wasn’t her only option. My girl had the world at her fingertips, and I would do everything in my power to give it to her.
The door to the bathroom opened, and Cayden cursed. A moment later, the blankets around us shredded, and Cayden’s fist slammed into my face. Thankfully, he’d used his Majekah to shred the blankets, not strengthen his punch. He cursed and shook his hand like it hurt him more than me.
I smirked. He glowered as if I were the one out of line.
I wasn’t. My world had been upside down for weeks, but not anymore.
Quinn had accepted my tether. We were moving forward, together. Fuck anyone else.
“Cayden—” Quinn started, but I put a finger over her lips.
Slowly, without breaking eye contact with the enraged Lawson, I slid off Quinn and sat beside her. With a bit of elemental help, Quinn tumbled into my lap, her apex pressing my thigh, just like the first time we met.
Back in the library, Cayden hadn’t looked away when I pleasured Quinn, just stood there, frozen, watching.
I brushed her hair aside and licked her neck, kissing the trail of moisture I left behind, then blew on it to cool her skin. Quinn’s entire body rippled with pleasure, and Cayden’s gaze heated.
Once again, he remained still.
“The Architect tethered Quinn when she first got here to save her life,” I said evenly.
The blood drained out of Cayden’s face.
“He and Ezra pleasure her,” I continued. “And I know, because I tethered her too. I’ve felt it. All of it.”
Quinn stiffened.
Cayden clenched his fists. “Why are you telling me this?” His gaze pulled from mine to shoot a betrayed look at Quinn.
“Don’t look at her like that.” I pulled my girl into my body. “She didn’t have a choice in either tether, and you’ve been acting like you own her more than any tether could.”
Cayden took even breaths, and his body slumped. Quinn started to speak again, but I put a finger over her perfect lips.
“Don’t apologize,” I said, quietly but loud enough for Cayden to hear. “I know the two of you are a unit. Cayden deserves to understand what’s going on.” I lowered my voice to a husky growl. “And that I, alone, won’t be enough to balance the Architect and my commander.”
Hope and heat coiled through our bond. We’d have our time together, just the two of us, but for now, Cayden and I had to show herwe could share. We could do everything to her that Xan and Ezra did, but more and better.
Cayden finally took his eyes off me and kneeled before Quinn. “Is this what you want?”
Quinn wiggled on my thigh, and my erection turned into a steel rod.
“Only if you want it too.” Quinn brushed a lock of forest-green hair behind his ears. “I know you said—”
Before she could finish, Cayden rushed forward and pressed his lips to her, pushing both their weight against my chest. I caught myself with my hands and became their foundation. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel seeing another man kiss Quinn, especially this close, but being the strength behind their passion made me feel powerful in a way I couldn’t explain.
