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He wouldn’t know if there could be something between them until he said the words. It was scary, but at the same time, he would regret it if he never gave them a chance. He wasn’t sure that Thorne and Matthias felt the same way, but he was willing to take that risk because one of them needed to.

Apparently, that would be him.

They hadn’t talked about it, but the three of them moved toward Matthias’s room. That would be their first stop, then Samuel and Thorne would probably separate and go to their own rooms.

That didn’t have to be what happened, though. Maybe, if he was right, there could be more. Maybe something would happen between them tonight, or maybe they would only talk. Maybe they would both run away screaming from Samuel for even suggesting something like this.

Samuel didn’t think the last option would win, but he was scared. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t do it, though. He would rather be scared than regret not doing something.

They stopped moving once they reached Matthias’s door. Matthias turned, probably to say good night, and Samuel knew he was running out of time. He opened his mouth, but not to say good night. No, what came out was, “Is it just me, or is something happening here?”

For a second, Matthias and Thorne just stared at him. Maybe they didn’t understand what he meant. He hadn’t worded it the best way, after all. He probably needed to be more specific.

“I mean, between us?” he added. “Something’s happening between the three of us, right? Or at least, something’s happening for me. I don’t know about you two, but I thought I’d ask.”

Matthias was staring at Samuel with his mouth open, while Thorne was as stoic as ever. Samuel wanted to scream. Could neither of them tell him what was on their mind?

“Because I want something to be happening,” he added, figuring that he might as well be clear. That way, it would be out there, and Matthias and Thorne could decide what they wanted. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be to reject Samuel. Samuel wasn’t sure he’d survive it.

Of course he would survive it. He just didn’t know what state his heart would be in, or how uncomfortable living at the castle would be if that was what happened. He didn’t want to find out.

He hoped he wouldn’t have to.

Chapter Nine

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THIS WASN’T A CONVERSATION they should be having in the middle of the hallway, especially with Samuel’s family hanging around the castle. Matthias wasn’t sure he was ready for this, but he didn’t see any alternative. He opened his bedroom door, gestured at Thorne to get in, then grabbed Samuel’s wrist and pulled him along as he did the same. He quickly closed the door before anyone could notice anything and leaned against it, almost as if he was making sure Thorne and Samuel couldn’t leave.

He didn’t want them to leave, but they weren’t prisoners, or at least, they wouldn’t be until they explained what the fuck was going on. Matthias didn’t want to allow himself to hope until he was sure of it.

“So I was right,” Samuel said, looking smug. “You do want both of us.”

Matthias realized that Samuel was talking to him and glared at him. “I just got you in here to talk. That’s all.”

Samuel pouted. “To talk? I’m sure we can come up with something nicer to do.”

“Not until we talk,” Thorne interjected, his voice firm. “I don’t want any confusion of any kind. We all need to explain what we want from this and what we are ready for. A relationship is complicated even when it involves two people. It’s not going to get any easier when it involves three.”

Samuel’s smile grew. “So you want a relationship with both of us?”

Matthias was glad that Thorne didn’t seem to have a problem answering the question because his brain was still trying to make sense of all those words. He knew what they meant, obviously, but it was hard for him to relate them to the situation.

Was Thorne really saying there could be something between the three of them? That they could be a throuple, or whatever people called these relationships?

Was that even what they would have? A relationship? It was what Thorne had said, but it felt so—big. Matthias wasn’t someone who’d had many relationships to begin with. He was having a hard time believing that he’d landed not one gorgeous man but two.

Samuel crossed his arms over his chest. “Fine, let’s be boring and talk.” He looked at Thorne and Matthias in turn. “Yes, I want a relationship with both of you. I realize that you’re human, but for people in my clan, it’s quite normal.”

“How?” Matthias asked. “I thought that most dragons had a mage.”

“A lot of them do. Not all of them, though, and some dragons or mages were already in relationships before they decided to bond. Usually, that relationship was between two mages or two dragons, and the third just gets pulled into the new bond. It’s not quite the same as the bond between a mage and their shield, but they make it work. There are also some dragons and mages who don’t want that kind of bond.”

“Like you?” Matthias asked. “Don’t you want that kind of bond? Because you won’t get it from us.”

“I’m well aware. I wouldn’t be doing this if either of you wanted that kind of bond with me.”

“That’s a moot point,” Thorne said. “Neither of us can have that with you.”