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“No, I want you to understand me when I offer him this. Everyone deserves to feel that level of affection one time in their life, even if they know what comes after. At least with this, I’m not hiding the dagger I will use on you, nor will it be in your back, but in your heart.” She looks at Bram. “I will gladly take your first kiss if you want it.”

I want to reject her because it is cruel to offer him what he will never have. Without her, none of us have options. We will not mate again, nor do we wish to. The only way to have a person would be to share, and none of us want that, even with her. He’s right, she’s his only option, and I won’t steal that from him. She might hate him, and she will definitely still kill him, but she’s offering him this kindness at least.

“You would?” He leans forward, craning to be close to her, and she kneels between our seats, reaching for him. He flinches at first, so she softens her approach. Her hand slows as it presses to his cheek.

Soft, she feels soft.

“I’m sorry you have to,” he whispers, and it tugs at my heart, only making me more furious at her.

“It is not a chore to kiss you, Bram,” she murmurs, cupping his cheek, and the level of comfort there sets my teeth on edge. I feel like I shouldn’t be looking, but I won’t let her hurt him in any way. “You are beautiful. Any person would want you.”

“I have scars,” he murmurs, his eyes downcast.

“Don’t we all, handsome? Do you want me to kiss you?” she asks softly, stroking his face.

He searches her eyes, confused and ashamed, but when he speaks, I already know what he will say. “Please, little beastie.”

Smiling at him, she leans in slowly, tilting his head how she wants it, then she delicately presses her lips to his. She kisses him softly a few times before running her tongue along the seam of his lips until they part.

We experience it all—his need, the softness of her lips, her warmth, and her taste—and it’s like we are kissing her too.

Humming in approval at his compliance, she kisses him again, sucking on his plump lower lip before letting go, and he presses closer, his desire evident.

Her teeth dig into his bottom lip, and that pain makes me hiss as my hips rise in desire. Her eyes open and turn to me, tracking that movement before a cruel gleam is revealed. Focusing on Bram, she licks and sucks his lips, sweeping her tongue over the bite mark. She takes her time with his first kiss before digging her teeth in again. This time, the van swerves, and Raiden struggles as he feels it as well, so he pulls over, the engine running as she tortures us with one fucking kiss.

It’s at that moment I know she will be our downfall.

When she slides her tongue into his mouth, we are done for. She kisses him like she wants to crawl inside him, and each time, I feel it in my own mouth. Her softness presses against me until all I feel is desire burning me alive where there was once only ice.

My hands rip up the seat to stop myself from reaching for her. Emrys slips from the vehicle, slamming the door in his haste. Torrin is strapped into his seat, his eyes wild as I turn mine to him before looking at Raiden. Electric sparks fly around the enclosed space before he, too, slips into the night air, stumbling away from the desire she is forcing through us.

I won’t leave Bram alone with her, not when he’s vulnerable, but it’s torture. My desire matches his, but it isn’t me she is kissing, and for the first time ever, I am consumed by envy for him.

She slides her tongue along his, teaching him how to use it. He quickly figures it out and kisses her back, the softness disappearing into a rough, demanding kiss as they chase each other. The sounds of their heavy breathing only amp up my desire as he reaches for her, pulling her closer so they are locked together.

It’s too much, and it overwhelms our bond until it’s all we feel.

“Enough,” Torrin says. It’s not an order, but a plea. His voice is choked with need. “Please.”

Pulling back from Bram, Ferol looks at us with swollen lips and her eyes widen. I expect her to make the most of it and tease or hurt us, but she simply nods. Kissing Bram once more, she releases his face and exits the car, leaving us to deal with the aftermath.

“We need to break the bond,” Torrin snarls raggedly. “If one kiss can do that, then imagine how easily she could destroy us.”

I couldn’t agree more.

CHAPTER

TWELVE

Ididn’t expect it to affect them like that. I pass Raiden, who has changed into his fox again and is unleashing blue sparks across the road. Emrys fades into the trees opposite, and I cross the road and slip into the forest myself to escape what I just did.

I didn’t expect it to affect me like this either. Pressing my back to a tree, I cover my racing heart. Fire runs down my spine and across my skin, and desire demands to be fed. My feet turn of their own accord, trying to drag me back to them and finish what we started, but it would be cruel to all of us. We can never seal this mate bond, but it’s clear this need must be alleviated. If I go back like this, we will explode. I don’t want a mate, never mind multiple, and they don’t either. I’d rather kill them, and they feel the same way. It just so happens this pesky mate bond has other ideas.

A kiss has never affected me like that. The whole earth moved under my feet, and every inch of me turned into fire, alive and demanding attention. Each stroke of his innocent, fumbling tongue left me wet and wanting.

Fuck. I slam my head back into the tree, trying to shake some sense into myself. I should have known better than to play with fate.

If I go back there like this, I’ll end up fucking them despite the consequences. Phoenixes burn hot, which means they crave the brightest feelings—anger, love, and lust. We feed on them. I will not give into my baser impulses and ruin my chance at revenge. It’s all I thought about in Gehenna, and now I have a chance. I won’t waste it, no matter how good the momentary pleasure might feel.