“I was worried about what you all wanted to talk to me about. You looked preoccupied and stern at breakfast, even Zane, and I thought… I thought maybe… ” The words stuck in my throat.
“You thought what, sweet girl?” Koa prompted.
“That maybe you were going to tell me something really bad.”
They looked at each other, another silent conversation passing between them. This time, though, I realized what they were deciding whether to tell me now or wait until I was strong again. I squared my shoulders, trying to summon every scrap of courage I possessed.
“Please justtell mewhat’s wrong. I’d rather know than keep imagining the worst.”
And that was all it took for Zane to blurt, “That hawk yesterday wasn’t actually a hawk. It was a magical construct sent by your stepsisters with a curse meant for you.”
Casimir’s hand connected with the back of Zane’s head with a smack.
“Ow!What?” Zane protested, rubbing the spot. “She said she wanted to know!”
“You’re frightening her!”
“No, I’m fine.” Instead of fear, I felt a flutter of curiosity. “A construct? Like a golem?”
“Something like that,” Koa said, watching me for signs of another panic attack. “But it was designed to look and move like a real hawk, but with malicious intent.”
“Oh! Was it supposed to claw me like it did Simmy?” I glanced at his arm, remembering how the hawk had slashed him.
“The hawk was carrying a curse called The Withering Veil.” Koa searched my face as he asked, “Do you know what that is?”
I shook my head with a little shrug.
“You seem remarkably calm about all this.”
“Should I not be?”
I was confused. The curse hadn’t hitme; it had hitCasimir. And my husbands were clearly capable of handling such things. They said they needed to do something in the security room, and I was smart enough to know they were investigating it already.
“You’re taking this news very well.” Zane’s mouth quirked up at one corner. “Most people would be freaking out about magical assassination attempts.”
“I told you she was stronger than you thought.” Casimir’s voice was steady and held a hint of pride I wasn’t sure I deserved. His green eyes softened as they met mine, and I ducked my head, feeling my cheeks warm at the unexpected compliment.
“It’s not that I’m strong. It’s just—” I tried to find the right words. “I thought that you were tired of me. Of my baggage. Of all the trouble I bring you. That you were regretting me. I’m more afraid of that than I ever was of Amabel and Eluned.”
“That will never happen, Serafina,” Casimir rumbled. “Never.”
“Beloved.” Koa took my hand, and his thumb traced gentle circles on my skin. “We’re not going anywhere, and neither are you.”
“Yeah, you’re stuck with us now.” Zane grinned. “We’re like… What’re those things called? Barnacles? Super clingy sea creatures?”
“Barnacles are parasites, Zoodle.” A small laugh escaped me.
“Perfect comparison, then,” Koa muttered, making Zane stick his tongue out at him.
“The point is,” Casimir continued, “the beloved bond combined with the mate bond won’t permit us to separate even if we wanted to.”
His words were practical and his face blank as ever, but I saw the vulnerability in his eyes and nodded. I was coming to understandthat’s just how he was. Being straight-forward and speaking in a detached way didn’t mean he was uncaring; it was simply his way of expressing himself.
“What my tactless brother means is that, while the bonds on either side may amplify our feelings, they don’t force them,” Koa said quickly. “We chooseyou, Seri. Every day. Bond or no bond.”
“What he said.” Zane flopped down next to me, dropping his head on my shoulder. “We love you, sweetheart. Now and forever.”
I blushed, but the tightness in my chest finally began to unravel.
