He cocks a brow as he continues to lead us in dance. “You don’t seriously believe that?”
“No, but it is what we are taught.”
He huffs a laugh. “Somehow, I can’t imagine you paying much attention to the teachings of Far, Far Away.”
“That’s what I have Gwyneth for and why she cannot fall foul of the cruel desires of Charming.”
He glances over my shoulder toward his brothers. “I understand your need to protect your sibling.”
There’s the little crack in his armor. I feel smug for one whole tempo until his eyes flick to mine and harden. “Which is why I will do all I can to keep mine safe from you.”
“I am no threat to you or your brothers.”
“Theo and Malachi have shared before, on occasion, but lovers don’t last more than a sundown of frenzied passion for any of us. Which is why you worming your way into our group and seducing all of us is a concern. You are a threat, Daphne, to our dynamic, to our plans for the future.”
I open my mouth to disagree. Hart leans down and his lips ghost over mine, making my breath stutter in my chest. “I know you don’t intend to do us harm, but can’t you see how being the object of desire of four men will eventually break us apart?”
His lips land on mine in a soft kiss, and his hand tangles in my hair as we stall our dancing and I sink into the stunning sensation. Who’d have thought Hart had gentleness in him? He handles me like I’m something precious and it’s addictive. I’m breathless when he pulls away. His green eyes shine with something dark and possessive. “And that is why you are dangerous.” He releases me, spins on his heel, and strides from the circle. His retreating back brings a wash of cold over my body. I feel like I’m losing something precious, something that was never mine—but having a taste, just a small one, has ruined me.
Malachi appears before me, and he cradles my face between his large hands. “Are you okay? What did he say?”
“That I will ruin you all if I stay,” I whisper. I want to stuff the words that slipped out back inside my body. So far down they take root in my toes.
Malachi sighs and shakes his head. “Don’t let him get inside your mind, Daphne. He will come around.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. What if they are better off without me? I am a calamity of epic proportions who needs far too much intervention to stay upright every diurnal. Nobody should be burdened with that.
I nibble on my bottom lip as Hart disappears inside of a dwelling. Penny rises and stalks after him, making my heart sink. I’m sure she’s a nice damsel, one who hasn’t begun to fall for not one, but all four of the Stirlings. Why should they have to share? I’m not being fair.
“Stop thinking so loud,” Malachi grumbles as he tugs me back toward the cushions and drags me down between him and Nash. “Hart has placed seeds of doubt in her mind regarding our group.”
Nash runs a hand down his face. “I’ll speak to Hart. You convince her she’s where she should be, before she runs off and causes a war.”
“I resent that. I’ve never started a war.”
Theo shuffles toward me as Nash stalks off after Hart and Penny. Perhaps they share?Ugh, Daphne, stop it.Theo’s arm brushes against mine. “What did Hart say?”
I glance between Theo and Malachi, pulling my knees to my chest before wrapping my arms around them. “That you guys have shared women before.”
“Idols be damned. I will kill him, brother or not,” Malachi grinds out.
“It’s not a surprise,” I mutter. “You seem in tune with each other. But I don’t want to hear about it either. Like you don’t want to hear how Hansel took me behind the gingerbread house–”
Theo’s hand slams across my mouth. “You’re right, we don’t want to hear it. Unless you want me to dragon out and flame the asshole who couldn’t be assed to make sure you got off first.”
“As for the doubt swimming around inside your head,” Malachi says. “We have never kept a female around for more than a sundown. We don’t induct them inside our group, share meals with them, or learn about their past and what makes them sad or happy.”
“Like the fact you love your sister so much, it breaks your heart knowing she is holding her life back so she can protect you,” Theo adds.
I frown. Are my thoughts that easy to read? Or perhaps they were paying extra attention. “Which means you need knights to help protect you so she can live freely and fully,” Malachi says.
“You savor each moment of your life because you don’t expect to be around the next diurnal,” Theo picks up the little speech they were trying to convince me with. “You see the good in everyone you meet, finding the positives and making them shine. But you’re neglecting the major point here.”
“Which is?” I mumble behind his hand. He drops it and smiles at me.
“That you are a refreshing light in a world swimming with darkness and deception.”
“In a heartless, selfish realm,” Malachi says, gripping my chin and turning it toward him. “You enchant us with the glow of your compassion. Don’t ever lose your light, Daphne, not for a knight who is denying his feelings toward you because you terrify him.”
