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Wraith pulls back so he can look down at me, all talks of love seeming to have been forgotten. “Is that true?”

I shrug. “Can we go inside before we start this conversation, please?”

“Of course, trouble.” Wraith spins us around and leads us into the living room with Brenden trailing behind us. He lowers himself onto the couch before pulling me into his lap. “Talk to us.”

“Clearly, I followed Nex when he stormed out of here. I had questions I wanted to ask him.” I hesitate. “Plus, it felt like something was urging me to follow him. Rather than ignore it, I did. He transformed into his demon form and was about to fly off when I grabbed his arm. Not only was I hit by a shit ton of lust, but it felt like there was an electric bolt shooting from where we touched. Somehow, I just knew he was one of my mates, so I asked him about it.”

Wraith scoffs, pulling me to him until my head is lying on his shoulder. “Let me guess. He’s been staying away from you for your own good since he’s cursed. He doesn’t want you to get hurt, and that just pissed you off.”

I frown, not liking that he knows me so well after such a short time. It makes me a little uncomfortable that I’m so predictable.

“Is that what happened?” Brenden probes when I remain silent, and I nod. “I have another guess at what happened next. You argued, but both of you are so stubborn neither of you listened to the other.”

“Alright, fuck off. I don’t like this game.” I bury my head in Wraith’s neck, hiding from their gazes.

Donovan chuckles as he wraps his hand around my ankle, squeezing it. “You should be glad we know our mate so well.”

“You can all fuck right off. I’ve had enough shit today. I should’ve just gone to bed. I didn’t have to come talk to you all. I could’ve just buried it all and ignored it.”

Wraith kisses my forehead. “I’m glad you told us. I’m sorry we gave you a hard time, but this is something we needed to know.”

“The Fates said you’d either have three mates or five. I wonder if you’ll meet your fifth mate soon now that you know about Nex.” I turn my head so I can look at Donovan as he continues, “Obviously, Nex has a reason to fight against being your mate. It makes me wonder why your possible fifth mate might not be willing. Or if it’s something outside of their control.”

“I don’t even want to think about that right now,” I tell him. “I’m so angry with Nex for keeping this from me and for not listening to me. Although, Brenden is right. I wasn’t listening to him either. This is a fucking mess.”

Wraith hums, one of his hands running through my hair. “That’s okay, trouble. We knew what we were getting into with you. I’m not keen on messes, but hopefully, we can help you clean this one up.”

The four of us sit in silence for a moment before Brenden asks, “Now what?”

Wraith rumbles beneath me, drawing my attention back to him. “Are you still determined to go after Michael?”

“Yes.” I steel myself for his argument, but instead, he lets out a long-suffering sigh.

“Then we need to come up with a plan.”

“Really?” I ask, almost afraid to believe him. He was so against me seeking vengeance. Why the sudden change of heart?

He nods. “Yes, really. I don’t have to like it, but you’re going to do it whether I agree or not. I figure I better get on board to make sure none of you do anything stupid because we all know Donovan and Brenden aren’t going to temper your impulses.”

My smile grows as I reach up to cup his face, stroking my fingers through his beard. “But you will.”

“You’re damn right I will. Out of the four of us, I’m the only one who’s likely to stop and think about something instead of reacting rashly.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know how I ended up with two mates who are so impulsive.”

“Hey, don’t forget about me,” Brenden complains, to which Wraith scoffs.

“You’re not my mate—something I’m damn glad about.” Wraith offers Brenden a soft smile. “But you’re my mate’s mate, which means you’re mine to watch over as well. Now, Audrey, this isn’t something that’s going to happen overnight. It’s going to take time for us to make a plan that isn’t likely to fail—and that will hopefully keep us out of too much trouble with Lucifer.”

I nod, so glad that he’s agreed to help us. Honestly, I’m not sure we could’ve come up with a good plan without him. It’s not that my other mates aren’t smart, but Wraith is right—the three of us tend to act without thinking. “I understand. I hate the idea of him out in the world spreading his evil, but using caution isn’t a bad idea. Thank you.”

“Tonight, I think we need to get you into bed before you fall asleep on my lap,” Wraith says with a laugh. “We’ll come up with a plan soon, but what I need you to focus on is making sure your sister passes the academy. Yes, I’ll keep her from getting the boot, but she has to pass, and that’s not something I can make happen. I’ve given it a little more thought, and I’ll be giving Brenden his own class for now, but not you—at least not yet. You can help Brenden and Nex in their classes—“

Brenden lets out a howl of laughter. “Oh, Nex is going to love that. I guess it’s one way to get them to work out their shit, though.”

Wraith nods. “I was planning to do that before I knew he was one of her mates, but I think it’s especially important now. It’s not going to be easy for you to convince Nex to become one of your mates. He’s spent over two thousand years thinking he can’t have a mate—that he doesn’t deserve one.”

“Did Lucifer really curse him?” I can’t help asking.

“I don’t know. He told Nex he did, but I don’t know if he truly did. It wouldn’t be the first person he cursed, but Lucifer isn’t one to rail against the Fates.” Wraith considers me for a moment. “If he did curse Nex, I bet there’s a loophole when it comes to a fated mate. Of course, he wouldn’t tell Nex that. He won’t come to you. You’ll have to be the aggressor when it comes to him.”