“She didn’t seem to think I was when she was riding my face that night,” he brags and I cringe, hearing the blow instead of seeing the fist that lands on his cheek for the taunt.
I open my eyes to see Rheyas gripping the front of Ian’s coat, lifting him off of his feet. “If you aren’t sure you’re going to take her as your mate, keep your hands to yourself. Don’t toy with her like that; she deserves better.” He drops him in the snow and turns his back on him.
A shockwave blasts out of Ian that shakes the snow from the trees as he sends Rheyas sprawling, catching himself before he smacks his face. “Saving yourself for marriage is an archaic ideal. It puts value on the wrong things.”
Rheyas doesn’t retaliate, though he does snap his teeth at him like he’s a split second away from shifting. “I don’t care who she sleeps with so long as they respect her. I meant you specifically, when things are already complicated enough, shouldn’t. You don’t get to have sex with her and then just leave because you’re scared of commitment. It would wreck her.”
“Look who’s talking!” he shouts, hurling a ball of energy right at the man who takes the blow like it’s his due.
“Of course I want her!” he barks, anger mounting to alarming levels. “She’s supposed to be mine!” his words become a gravelly snarl, echoing around the otherwise silent forest.
I hope Ian can climb a tree quickly at the rate this is going.
Color me impressed, Rheyas takes a few deep breaths, trying to pull himself back. “But I’m not enough for her, and I never will be. Just being in this town constantly has me on edge, too many scents and sounds. It’s maddening, and I don’t know how you all can stand it. How can I live like this for the rest of my life without tearing someone apart?”
Ian drops his defensive stance with a sigh. “We can pick you up some ear plugs, or something. But from what I’ve heard, after actually cementing the bond, those instincts settle down a bit. You’re on edge and keyed up, like you’re full of adrenaline; fight or flight. But according to Ares and them, once you’re mated, Rel will start to feel like home. So it won’t feel like you’re in the wrong place or the odd man out anymore, if I had to hazard a guess. You’ll feel like you’re exactly where you’re meant to be; beside your mate.”
As if it pains him to be that nice, he tosses in a jab for good measure. “Consider her your security blanket, you damn toddler. Just drag her around and snuggle with her, and you’ll be less pissy.”
So my great destiny is to be some alpha’s pacifier; awesome. Real world changing stuff, Fates, good call. Though to be fair, there are worse fates than a hot guy putting his mouth on me to calm down. A truly noble sacrifice on my part, really. I shall save the city from being destroyed by an angry beast, simply by offering up my tits as a distraction.
My parents would be so proud.
A small flash draws my eye, only to find Hawk situated in a tree a good distance away. When he sees he’s caught my attention, he taps his wrist as if wearing a watch and adamant about needing to leave. Glancing at the time on my phone, I carefully tuck it back in my pocket before taking a deep breath and bracing myself. He grins and blows me a kiss, so I’m fairly certain that I figured out his convoluted plan.
Gripping the branch above me, I pull myself to a stand. My foot slips on the frozen branch and sends a shower of snow to the ground as the limb shakes, drawing the attention of both men on the ground a little distance away. Though it kills me to appear so inept and helpless when I’ve likely had to climb more trees than every man here combined, the guys really need a win right about now.
Hawk orchestrated the whole thing so seamlessly, the least I can do is put in a little effort too. If that means sacrificing a little bit of my pride for the sake of bringing everyone together, it’s worth it.
“Shit!”
Letting myself swing out a bit as my other foot slides off, I give Ian and Rheyas a chance to get closer, but I can only time it so well and not have my fall look staged. Releasing the branch, I yip, shutting my eyes on instinct and bracing for impact as I plummet to the ground.
My skin crackles with little sparks as whatever I land on gives way beneath my back, like falling onto a rubber ball. I bounce up a second later, slamming into Rheyas’ chest.
“Motherfucker,” I hiss, grabbing my nose. “Do you even have an ounce of fat on your body? Not fair.”
Impressed I didn’t bust my nose on Rhey’s chest, I wince, but he doesn’t let me do more than turn my head so my cheek is pressed against him. I’m just barely able to witness the small shield that Ian managed to cast to break my fall burst like a bubble before he bends over, hands on his knees as he releases a heavy sigh of relief.
“What the hell were you doing up there?” he asks, his worry giving him a stern tone.
“Eavesdropping.” No point lying, after all. Not when it’s fun to watch the way they squirm.
“How much did you hear?” Rheyas demands nervously, though he still hasn’t released the iron bands he calls arms.
“Just the tail end of your conversation. You know, where you admitted you’re madly in love with me.”
He grunts in annoyance, but…doesn’t deny it. My stomach somersaults, yet I keep my teasing light, trying to downplay it.
“And that Ian is obsessed with trying to get in my pants or something? I don’t know, it was windy and hard to hear.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “There hasn’t been any wind for like, an hour.”
“Huh, weird. Anybody see Hawk?”
“He ran off with you and just ditched you in the woods to be murdered?” Ian shakes his head with annoyance. “I thought he was joking about using you as bait. What the fuck? Could have at least given us a heads up.”
Deflecting, I give him an appreciative smile. “But then you never would have been able to show off your lightning-fast reflexes. That cushion was pretty damn impressive, and it’s a relief to know that we aren’t immune to each other’s magic after my initial burst at the bakery.”
