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Diana flushes, filling us in on how things have been going, and I push away all my shit. For just a few hours, I don’t want to have to worry about my relationships.

It’ll all be waiting for me when I go home, so for now, I’ll let the girls distract me and enjoy our time together.

Chapter Twenty-five

Audrey

Acoupleofweekslater,I find myself lying with my mates on the living room floor while we watch a movie.

The tension is thick, and I’m having issues ignoring it.

Cassian and Wraith had a spat while we were getting settled. They both said they were fine and not to worry about it—even though they’re clearly not fine.

I’m using Brenden’s chest as a pillow as I sit between his legs. Cassian is beside us with Wraith on the outside and Donovan snuggled between the two of them. I’m glad he’s getting time with both of them, but he also doesn’t seem to notice how tense they both are as he watches the movie.

It feels like they’re practically vibrating, neither of them watching the movie but each other. Brenden seems as oblivious as Donovan, but I can’t relax. I can feel the tension headache seeping in as I watch them. Every muscle in my neck and back feels locked up.

I hate watching my mates fight—especially the two of them since I know it’s not something they can really control.

I wiggle in Brenden’s hold, feeling him growing hard against my back.

“Oh, is it going to be that kind of movie?” he asks suggestively, and when I glance up at him, he’s waggling his eyebrows at me.

I dig my elbow into his stomach, smiling as he lets out an “oof” before focusing back on the movie. “No. We’re watching the whole damn movie this time.”

We don’t have the best track record when it comes to watching movies together as a group. In fact, I don’t think we’ve made it through an entire movie in the last two months.

What can I say? My mates are hot, and I have a hard time keeping my hands to myself.

But right now? I’m in no mood for sex, too stressed out about what’s about to happen. It’s entirely possible that nothing will happen, but with each argument they have, they just get worse and worse.

“I’m down for some distraction,” Donovan says as he leans up on his elbows, leering at me. I flip him off without responding.

Wraith and Cassian remain suspiciously silent as I stare at the TV blankly. I don’t even know what movie we’re watching, let alone what’s been happening.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I sigh.

Even if nothing happens between the two of them tonight, it will eventually. It’s just a waiting game right now, and I’m not sure how much longer I can wait.

I shouldn’t wish for the two of them to fight because it upsets me, too. I think waiting for the other shoe to drop is harder.

There are less than three weeks until Wren’s final, and I’ll finally be able to end him. The world will be better without his evil in it.

And yet, I’m not even excited because all I can focus on is what’s happening among my mates.

“What’s wrong, firecracker?” Brenden murmurs in my ear. I have no doubt the others heard him with their preternatural hearing.

I shake my head, pushing to my feet and heading to the front porch as tears fill my eyes.

How am I supposed to explain to them I’m just waiting for my relationships to implode? How do I tell the men I love I don’t think we can continue as we are? How do I admit I don’t think we can best the Fates? How do I admit I’m just waiting for the moment when I have to give up Cassian?

I curl up on the porch swing, pulling my knees to my chest as I fight my tears.

When I hear the door open, I keep my eyes locked on the forest. I’d come out here to get away from them so they wouldn’t have to see me like this. I should’ve known they’d follow me.

I just wish they hadn’t.

No one speaks as they shuffle across the porch, and even without looking, I know all four of them have joined me. They stop just a few feet away from me, but I don’t acknowledge their presence as the first tear falls.