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The clearing dissolved around me in an eruption of fractured light.

One minute, I sat on the altar that would be my deathbed, staring at Lymsrana in confusion as the guys each placed a hand on me. The next, my stomach lurched and the world tilted, wrenching me through a sea of shattered stars and cosmic debris rivaling the beauty of the Aurora Borealis until everything went white.

I staggered onto familiar hardwood as my living room came into focus.

Everything looked as if time on Earth had paused until our return. The laundry basket with dirty clothes sat untouched on the kitchen counter. An open bag of chips lay abandoned on the sofa. The scent of a neighbor’s grill drifted through the cracked front window.

I took a step forward—aiming to do what, I didn’t know—when my legs gave out.

Ash caught me around the waist. “Easy,” he whispered, and Ezra grasped my forearm as I found my footing.

I looked up at Ezra in question.

Something flickered in his arctic-blue eyes that I couldn’t read. I knew he wouldn’t explain, and I was too afraid to ask.

He broke eye contact and released my arm once Ash steadied me.

Zeke spun and pulled me into a tight embrace, startling me.

“Easy,” Ash said, chuckling. “She may still be hurt.”

Zeke thrust his arms out, holding me at arm’s length, examining me from head to toe. “Did I hurt you? Are you okay?”

Relief washed through me. He hadn’t changed despite all we’d been through.

I laughed, my shoulders relaxing. “I’m okay for now.”

He pulled me into his arms again and squeezed me tight, burying his face in my neck. “I’m so glad you’re not dead. I knew you were special, Rae. I knew it.”

Cyn sucked his teeth, flexing his fingers at his side. The crack of his knuckles set my teeth on edge.

I didn’t know whether he wanted to fight me or rip Zeke away from me.

“Maybe you should…” I wriggled and he released me. “Cyn,” I whispered.

He angled his head, lines forming between his brows.

I couldn’t say more. Like Ash said, they needed to figure it out themselves.

“Cyn’s fine,” Zeke said, turning toward him. “Aren’t you?”

Cyn slid his tongue piercing over his lip, biting on the bar, his posture tighter than a bowstring.

Ash huffed. “This is going to be about as fun as listening to Rhistel kissing Cornaith’s ass.”

I looked at him. “What?”

He flicked his chin at Cyn.

“You can’t deny Quinfina’s words,” Ezra said, leaning against the wall, hands tucked in his pockets. His next words were so soft I almost didn’t hear them. “None of us can ignore the truth now.”

“Whatever. She’s our Nyrith. I get it, okay? But I don’t have to accept it.” He stalked toward me, and Zeke stepped back. He leaned in until our noses almost touched. “I don’t have to accept you.”

“Cyn,” Ash warned.

“No. No one has to accept the bond.” He looked me up and down, lip curling in disgust. “Even if you’re my mate and not human, something isn’t right about you. I won’t be manipulated.”

I swallowed the hard lump in my throat as he turned, crossed the kitchen, and walked out the back door.