Page 88 of Bonded By Tea and Tarot

“I did not!” Jayce splutters. “It slipped! I didn’t throw it. I would never⁠—”

“Oh, it slipped?” Siobhan interrupts, still laughing. “It slipped all the way across the counter—” gasping laugh “and onto the floor—” another gasping laugh “right in front of me?”

Jayce rubs his chest and it’s only then I realize his face isn’t red from anger. I think he’s trying not to join in our laughter.

“Whatever,” he grumbles, turning his face down in an attempt to hide his smile.

Hayden drops a fresh tomato from the fridge onto Jayce’s cutting board, slaps my ass on their way by, then fists their hand in Siobhan’s hair and tilts her head back. Her laughter slows and her perfume floats into the air around us.

“I want more of that,” Hayden says. “More laughter, more teasing, more fun, more you.”

“Yes, alpha,” she breathes.

Hayden’s eyes flare with heat, but they loosen their hold, then smooth out her hair. “Dinner first. And in the meantime, we have a plan for Helen.”

“You… what?” Siobhan says, pausing her avocado mashing to stare between me and Hayden. How does she know that’s who they meant by ‘us’?

Jayce also glances up, brows pinched. “What’s the plan?”

“We’re going to come with you—” I start to say.

“Absolutely not!” Siobhan growls.

“—as your backup videographers and photographers,” I finish.

Siobhan freezes, fists halfway to her hips and eyes not-quite-spitting mad. “As my…?”

Hayden nods. “Aury can take video and Jayce or I will photograph. We figure you can frame it as getting candid shots and behind the scenes footage. If you don’t tell her ahead of time and we just show up and do it, she can hardly say no.”

She blinks once, twice.

“That way you have us there as backup, but not in a threatening way,” I say. “Just as like, this is an extra bonus and isn’t it so awesome we’re there to help with this, type of way.”

“Wait,” she murmurs. Her eyes unfocus as she thinks about it, and then a slow smile stretches across her face. All three of us lean away, because that is not a nice smile. That’s an evil witch smile if I’ve ever seen one, and I’ve never seen a look like that on Siobhan’s face. And I’ve been admiring her gorgeous face for years.

“Especially,” she purrs, focusing her slitted eyes on us, “if one of you goes live and streams it to my followers. We could give them a fun little behind the scenes peek at what it takes to be a witchy content creator. And if that accidentally exposes who Helen truly is to the world?” Siobhan raises her hands and gives an innocent looking shrug that sends a shiver down my spine. “Oops!” she says in a falsely innocent voice.

“I never want to get on your bad side,” I murmur.

Her grin turns less evil and more mischievous. “I’m sure you would never do anything to deserve that.” The hair on my arms stands on end and my smile drops. I take a half step behind Hayden, and Siobhan straight up cackles.

Jayce grunts, sets down his knife, and strides around the counter. Then he scoops her into his arms and fits his teeth around the curve of her neck. She falls limp instantly.

“Naughty omega,” he growls into her skin. “Don’t freak out our beta like that.”

I stare at them in shock, wondering why on earth my cock is hard right now. Hayden glances down at my crotch, then back up at my face to smirk at me. I swallow hard, so confused.

“Sorry,” Siobhan says, not sounding sorry at all.

Jayce grunts again. “I can tell you’re not sorry. I can also tell you have far too much fun torturing us, pretty omega.”

Torturing us? I have no idea what’s going on anymore.

“I like this plan,” Jayce continues. “You’ll allow me to come and take pictures of you, yes?”

Siobhan glares at him, but he simply holds her tight to his chest and waits patiently for her response. She finally gives in with a huff. “Fine, yes. It’s a good plan.”

The tension drops from the room and Jayce sets her back on her feet. “Perfect omega,” he murmurs, and we all pretend we don’t see how she preens at the praise.