“I…” Fuck, I’m in such deep shit. “I…sorry…I should have—” Words topple out of me, but none make any sense. My body springs into action, finally uprooting me from the very spot I’ve been glued to for the past five minutes.
I don’t think. I just turn and run.
“Evangeline!”
Zephyr—no, maybe Niko—calls after me, but I don’t stop. I can’t. Humiliation burns beneath my skin, tangled with something far more dangerous. Desire. Desire and shame because what I did was wrong. I know that, and yet I couldn’t pull myself away. I should have tried harder.
I don’t dare face them. I don’t want them to see what’s written all over me. So I run.
Back to my room.
Back to the safety of silence and shadows.
And I don’t look back. Not at them, not at what I saw, not at how much I liked it.
Chapter 20
Niko
“How long was she there?” I scramble to my feet with all the poise of a baby fawn. Evidence of Zephyr’s orgasm still coats my lips and chin, so I grab my discarded shirt to wipe it off, not missing the scowl on Zephyr’s face.
“I was a bit too preoccupied to notice,” he says, deadpan. Despite his rough exterior, he’s never been able to hide his true emotions from me. Even before the bond. There’s anger that we got interrupted, but something else. Something that feels a lot like intrigue.
Did he like being watched?
“We need to speak with her.” I grab my pants, still crumpled by the edge of the bed, and pull them on. Deciding against my now-stained shirt, I head to the connecting door to rush after Evangeline when a hand on my wrist stops me.
“Is it wise to speak with her so soon?” Zephyr lets my wrist drop back to my side once he has my attention. I angle my head to see him better. He’s still naked, and it’sfucking distracting. Abs cut from stone, powerful thighs that make my breath hitch. And a heavy cock that bobs between his legs, still half hard, despite what just transpired between us. His dick is shiny with my saliva, where, mere seconds ago, he was fucking my mouth with abandon.
So fucking distracting.
“I’m not going to let Evangeline think we’re upset with her,” I snarl, voice low and firm. In truth, a sharp satisfaction hums in my chest knowing she saw us together—me and Zephyr, tangled in intimacy. My betrothed, witnessing that bond with her own eyes. It’s not meant to hurt her but to open her eyes. I don’t want jealousy festering between us; I want understanding, maybe even curiosity.
My hope is that it leads to more.
Zephyr claims he has no desire to pursue her, but I still hold on to the hope he’ll change his mind. I want Evangeline not just for myself, but for us—forhim. She could be good for Zephyr in ways he doesn’t yet see. In ways not even I can be. And if she sees us together, sees our connection, maybe it will spark something—bridge the distance between them. The more time we all spend together, the more likely they’ll fall for each other. That’s what I want. That’s the endgame.
It always has been.
Zephyr gives a curt nod, allowing me to go without further argument. As I head toward the connecting door, he pulls on pants, and soft footfalls follow behind me, mimicking my own. I half expect to find resistance when I turn the knob, but the door swings wide open,meaning Evangeline didn’t—or didn't know she could—lock it.
“Evangeline?” My voice breaks through the quiet. A soft rustling from the opposite side of the room catches my attention. I zero in on the bed, seeing a moving lump in the middle.
Without waiting for an invitation, I walk in. “Evangeline,” I say again, making my way toward the bed. The lump in the center moves to the side, and I perch at the end of the mattress, feeling Zephyr’s warm body move behind me. “Can we speak, sweet Chef?”
The lump doesn’t move at first, but I’m nothing if not a patient man. I waited for Zephyr to realize we were mates for far longer than I wish to admit, but it paid off in the end. Evangeline needs to know I’m not letting this go. I will wait this out for as long as I need to.
Just as I expected, after a few moments and the growing realization I’m not leaving, Evangeline slowly peeks out from beneath the covers. Her wide eyes land on Zephyr and me, still standing close, both of us half dressed. Her cheeks flush a deep crimson, but it isn’t just embarrassment that flickers in her gaze. There’s curiosity there. Heat. Despite the shyness in her expression, her eyes linger, trailing over us with a quiet intensity that makes the air feel heavier. Tighter.
“We should talk.”
“I’m sorry.”
We speak at the same time, cutting through some of the thick tension. A ghost of a smile flashes across her face before her gaze promptly drops to her hands in her lap. “Letme go first.”
I nod, giving her the freedom to speak her mind.
Evangeline takes in a deep breath, like she’s preparing herself for battle. Next to me, Zephyr crosses his arms, leaning against the bedpost. Though he appears unfazed, I sense his displeasure—not with my betrothed, but the unease growing between the three of us. It’s not like he’s helping the situation by being stone-cold.
