I cock my head at Roark.Tell her you won’t fire anyone.
Why would I do that? Growing our hoard doesn’t happen through charity.
She’s clearly upset at the thought of someone losing their job... Evander takes a bite of food. Even with being able to communicate while he has food in his mouth, he always slows down.Look at her, Roark.
Roark glances from the building to Raine.
What I want you to do is not upset her and make the ceremony not work,I say.
The ceremony will work.Roark turns to Raine. “I’ll instruct my team not to let anyone go, if it can be helped.”
“Thank you.” Raine gives a nod with a smile.
55
RAINE
I’m nervous. Which I suppose is natural. I don’t have to go through with it. They’ve all told me that several times. The lightning could happen even if we didn’t do the ceremony. Most dragon mates’ lightning happens without a ceremony. Would it happen to me? Do I want it to happen? Do I want to be linked, mated to the guys for the rest of my life, no matter what happens? Because it’s not something you can easily get out of. It’s not like a human marriage where you can get a divorce. Shifters are in it forever. At least, that’s what the magazine said.
Leo left a simple light blue shift dress and a dark blue velvet robe with a large emerald clasp hanging in my room. The fabric is so soft I want to curl up in it.
I want to talk to Wren about this, but I can’t. Sure, after her visit, she knows more than I thought she would. Probably more than I was supposed to tell her. But not everything.
The silky dress hugs my curves. I slide the robe on and cover my head. I’m shaking. Is this what I want? Is it?
My feet leave the floor at the knock on the door.
“Raine? Are you ready?” Evander asks.
“Almost?”
“Can I come in?”
“Yeah, it’s unlocked. Come in.” My voice wobbles like a prepubescent boy’s.
“Hey,” Evander says, coming straight to me. He’s wearing a robe like mine but in a dark green, with a pair of pants that look like pajama bottoms. His six-pack of firm abs are on full display. “Hey. You’re okay.”
“But what if I have the lightning? Then I’m sealed into this... marriage... mating with all of you.”
“Right. You know, we’ve done things so out of order this time that we’ve missed some steps. No, you’re not. If you have the lightning, you have it. You don’t have to be part of our thunder. I’ve heard of a few cases where someone in the thunder hated another thunder mate so much they didn’t actually make it a true mating. They were Nordlyx clan and Rivulet—they just couldn’t make it work. They went their own ways.”
I’m biting my lip.
“Raine?” Evander drags out my name. “Is there something else?”
“Yes. What if I’m not your thunder mate? What if this connection is just... heartburn?”
“Heartburn?”
“Like too much spicy chocolate?” I shake my head. This is crazy. “I shouldn’t be worrying over something I have no control over. But I’m really darn good at it.”
Evander laughs and sinks onto the bed. He pulls me onto his lap and plays with a lock of my hair. “You havenothing to worry about. I’ve never felt this way about someone before. Roark and Kieren feel the same way too.”
I make a face at Kieren’s name but try to still my face as quickly as I made it. Roark, I know he cares for me. The way he touches me with such caring? But Kieren?
“Yes, Raine. Kieren too.”
“Maybe?”
