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I dropped my hand and sat up straight, looking at her. “Hypothetically speaking, if we were to tether our bonds, I’m not opposed to what you’re implying if that’s what makes them happy.”

I wasn’t about to get into my upbringing.

My aunt would have a conniption fit if she discovered me living with four men, then spontaneously combust if she learned I was romantically involved with all of them. And if she heard that two of my boyfriends were also boyfriends? She’d probably have an aneurysm.

Mom would question it, but I’d like to think my parents would be open to accepting whatever made me happy.

“Then I can’t ask for more.”

Before I could say anything, loud laughter drew our attention.

A woman with a copper ponytail and black strands framing her face stood glaring at a smiling man with shoulder-length brown curls. Beside him stood a shorter-haired man, scowling at her.

“Don’t defend him,” the woman snapped, pointing her finger in the curly-haired man’s face. “He knew what he was doing.”

“I’m going home,” a third man I hadn’t noticed lingering behind them said, exasperated. He turned away from the group and headed down the hall.

The woman watched him leave. “See what you did? One of you owes me a bag of linblits.”

The long-haired guy blinked. “How do you figure?”

“Van was going to buy me some after we leave.” She stalked in our direction, pausing when she noticed us. “Well, shit. Is that…” She looked from me to Lymsrana, then dipped her head. “Afternoon, Your Grace.”

“Drop the formalities, Kavina,” Lymsrana said with a smile. “I want you to meet my son’s Nyrith.”

“I thought she was Ash’s. Huh. Cyn too?”

I shrugged when Lymsrana looked at me. I knew what she wanted to ask. Eventually, everyone would know who I was. There was no hiding my identity given my connection to four princes.

“Yes—as well as Zeke and Ezra.”

“Four?” The longer-haired man came up beside Kavina and stared at me as if I were an anomaly. “How’s that work?”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” I said with a scoffing laugh. “It’s all new to me.”

Kavina frowned. “I can’t believe someone kidnapped you and you had to grow up on Earth.”

I looked down at my hands.

“We’re glad to have her here now,” Lymsrana said, neither confirming nor denying the kidnapping accusation.

Ash had told me the council had already spun what happened in Cholian into a story that made them look like rescuers instead of executioners. They blamed illusion magic wielded by some mysterious player for making them believe I posed a threat to Elyrdin and for hiding me on Earth to prevent our bonding.

At least now the people of Elyrdin wouldn’t see me as a pariah to be feared.

“But for now, Raelynn needs to get home,” she said, putting an end to the discussion before it could go further. “I hope that you’ll treat her well when you see her around the palace and make sure she doesn’t experience any hardship.”

“Of course, Your Grace. She’s got nothing to worry about.” The long-haired man smiled at me. “My name’s Jax.” He thumbed toward the quieter one beside him. “And that’s my brother, Xael. If you got any problems and see us, just yell.”

Kavina smiled at me. “We train with the princes a lot, so I’m sure we’ll see each other around.”

Xael nodded. “We need to get going, though, before we get roped into patrolling the wall.”

Lymsrana chuckled.

Kavina cut her eyes at him. “You can patrol the walls. I’m going home to grill a big fat niphi strip and drown myself in mashed potatoes.”

“Oh man, that sounds good,” Jax said, turning on the sweetest puppy eyes. “Make me one?”