Damien’s shadows struck, and Rowan slammed against the wall, but he didn’t fight them. Blood welled on his skin where the shadows held his wrists.
“Damien, don’t hurt him,” I rasped.
“He hurt you.”
“He was just telling me the truth.” I wiped my tears away and grabbed on to Damien’s arm to help me stand. My knees were wobbly, and I couldn’t believe I had let myself get so overwhelmed with emotion that two of my mates were fighting.
“Let him down, please.”
“Little bird,” Damien growled a warning.
“Damien,” I said in a stronger voice, and he called his shadows back to him before wrapping me up in his embrace. His peppermint scent was comforting. I loved that he would come to my aid no matter who it was against, but I didn’t love that my mates could fight against each other so easily.
“Wren, I’msosorry. I am so fucking sorry.” Rowan stayed on his knees where he had fallen when Damien’s shadows retreated.
“We cannot cage my little bird or she will become unhappy. I had to learn that yesterday. No matter our fears about what could happen, we have to trust her other mates to keep her safe. Just as they trust us to keep her safe.”
I tightened my hold around him. “Thank you.”
Damien seemed to understand where I was coming from now, but the sob from Rowan would haunt me for the rest of my days. I let go of Damien and rushed over to Rowan, dropping to my knees next to him.
I threw my arms around his neck. “Please,don’t. I know your intentions weren’t to hurt me, but you have to understand—”
“I know, fledgling. I know I shouldn’t have said that.”
“I think I needed to hear it. I know that you want to protect me. And Kalista knows I would never want them to get a hold of me, but I also have Thorn and Damien, who can come and get me on a moment’s notice. I can escape if I need to,” I assured him.
He took a minute before nodding. “I’m so sorry, Wren.” His voice broke, and I pulled back and cupped his face in my hands. His skin was hot to the touch. “I will always worry for you as your mate. Even if you were a basilisk, hell, even a drake yourself. I worry for your safety.”
“I accept your apology. We just need to work on your anger problem.” I laughed through my tears, but his stern expression didn’t falter. I could see the guilt eating at him. So, I put my lips on his. “I love you both so much.” I mumbled against his soft lips as a feeling of warmth stole over me.
“I love you,” he murmured.
“I love you most, little bird,” Damien sang, but Rowan grunted his protest.
“I need you,” I told them, my cheeks burning. “I’m going to miss you both so much.”
Damien chuckled. “That’s my little bird, becoming a creature of the flesh. I truly have corrupted you.”
Rowan snorted and pulled back from me before grabbing up my top and lifting it over my head. He licked his lips, and his gaze dropped to my chest. I hadn’t thought to wear a bra. “How do you know I’m not the one that corrupted her?Iwas her first.”
These men made me hunger more than I’d ever thought possible. What we shared was a love so strong, I couldn’t wait to experience it with all of my mates.
Blood throbbed in my veins with a scarlet web of desire as Damien came up behind me and had my clothes thrown off me with his powers.
“Much better.” Damien bit the nape of my neck, and pain rippled through it. “What do you say, little bird? Do you think you can handle us both?”
“At the same time?” I squeaked.
“Both at once.”
I shook my head. Rowan was way too big to try that hole, and the fear I felt pulsed down the bond.
They both chuckled.
“She’s scared of my cock,” Rowan told him, and Damien lost it with laughter.
He bent over and rested his head on my shoulder. “What? Are you serious?”
