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We exchange a glance, and I can almost see the gears turning in his head. He’s starting to understand my meaning, and I’m not sure if I’m thrilled or downright terrified that he’s considering it.

Why the fuck did I say that? It’s insane.

The door slams open, and we both shimmer to the deepest shadow as Nell barrels out of Three’s room like the hounds of Cimmeria are after her.

Three looks shell-shocked, his white tunic hanging open and his pants undone, his unsatisfied cock visible through his boxers.

Two winces and motions to his crotch. “That’s got to hurt, man.”

We roll our eyes in sync.

“Did you feel the merge?” I ask.

He waves us inside and slumps down on the green couch at the center of the room, his head tilted back on a gruff sigh. Yes.

“What happened?” I ask.

A wry grin touches his lips. I seduced her.

Two flashes his teeth. “Not thoroughly.”

Three makes a swift back and forth motion with his hand like he’s erasing a blackboard and weaves the rest of the story. First, with his gesture for Nell, he points two fingers at his eyes, and then motions to himself and to me, and finally to his heart. But then, she looked at me, and I felt different. I felt like…

He tilts his hand from side to side in hesitation and holds up one finger for us to wait. Then, he crouches to the ground and makes a series of sweeping gestures like he’s gathering dirt scattered across the floor with his hands. He cups his other palm over the metaphorical debris like he’s holding a treasure and brings the sum to his heart, eyes cast down.

My fingertips go numb. I know exactly what he means.

A sad smile glazes my lips as I draw in a shaky breath. “I felt it too. Exactly like that.”

Two presses his lips together. “You felt whole again? How can that be?”

Three moves his clasped hands in a blooming motion. And she sprouted right then.

The sliver of hope in my chest burns big and bright as I breathe, “Nell sprouted? Without a formal trial?”

Three confirms it with a grave nod and touches his breastbone, curling his fingers to mime a digging motion over his chest. She coaxed the magic right out of me. He shakes the emotions off his face and winces at his still stiff erection. It was hot as hell.

Behind him, a fantasy version of Nell steps out of the mirror, and Two licks his lips. “Now, it’s a party.”

My mouth dries up. “Could you not do this now, I mean?—”

Three throws me a nasty look and relaxes in his seat, the woman already bending over him.

Two and I both watch the fantasy suck his cock, green with envy. If only we could have a full life without each other, but alas…he’s the only one who can have sex. Even though Three can’t speak, can’t taste food, and is basically forced to fuck an endless string of fantasies to sustain himself, I still feel like I got the raw end of the deal.

“Imagine Nell’s pink tongue running over the tip of your cock, arousal dripping between her legs,” Two teases cruelly.

“Stop!”

“Like I said: magical vagina. We should see it through.”

I flip him off, my face hidden in my palms. “The other day, you wanted me to cut ties with her, and now you want me to seduce or marry her?”

“I want us to seduce her. We need magic, and we needed it yesterday. If a white dress is what you need to convince yourself to take her magic, it’s not the worst idea.”

I brought it up, but now I'm freaked out beyond belief. “We can’t—I was rambling. We vowed to never get married?—”

“You missed the Foghar ritual because of her, did you not? And invited her to dance in front of the whole court. You clearly have feelings for her.”