Page 32

Nex hasn’t moved in yet, and I can already feel the distance weighing on our bond. But if I was able to put up with Cassian not being close for months, I can deal with Nex not being here for a few days.

Last night, I informed Wraith he was in charge of getting Nex moved in. He agreed but didn’t seem to be in a hurry to make it happen.

My mates are just as pissed off at him as I am.

We bonded last night, but it’s almost like the bond knows something is wrong. A pang of pain rushes through my chest, reminding me of the remnants of sorrow that still remain. Rejected mate syndrome is a thing of the past, but as I guessed, going forward isn’t going to be as easy as bonding with Nex.

It’s nothing compared to the blanket of suffering I carried around for days on end. This I can deal with, and I’ll have to because I’m not ready to forgive him.

I’m not even ready toconsiderforgiving him.

Deciding I need to be surrounded by my mates today, I grab one of Brenden’s T-shirts and a pair of Cassian’s sweatpants that I can tie tight enough to mostly stay up. They’re baggy as hell, and I’m sure I look like a child playing dress up, but it settles me to wear their things.

I pad down the stairs, finding my mom and sister sitting in the living room and talking with my mates.

As soon as Brenden’s eyes find me, he’s up and out of his seat. He used his vamp speed to make it to me in a second, dipping me down and kissing the hell out of me. I’m grinningwhen he sets me upright once more, finding my mates and family grinning at us.

It’s not just me who’s happy to see us doing better.

Each of my mates comes over to kiss me before Wraith leads me to the couch.

“Brenden and Donovan are coming with me to meet with Lucifer. I’m sure he’ll stop by to check on you again at some point, but hopefully, it’s after he helps get the new dorm building put up. But if you need us, all you have to do is text us, and we can be here in a second.”

I pat his hand. “I’m okay, Wraith. You don’t have to worry about me anymore.”

“I’m always going to worry about you, trouble. Enjoy your time with your mom and sister.” He kisses my forehead before joining Donovan and Brenden. They step into the shadows, here one moment, then gone the next.

“And I have souls to judge.” Cassian shoots me a wink. “I’ll be harder to reach, but I’ll get any texts as soon as we’re out of session. Behave.”

With one last kiss, he heads for the door, leaving me alone with my sister and mom.

“It’s so good to see you smile, Audrey.” Mom’s eyes fill with tears as she tugs me to her for a hug. “I was soworried.”

Wren snorts. “You were worried? You weren’t here when it happened.”

“I really am doing better. Lucifer was right. Completing the bond made the rejected mate syndrome disappear like it had never been there.” I shrug as if it’s no big deal, but I can tell neither of them is buying what I’m selling.

“I’m a little surprised you forgave him so easily,” Wren admits, and I wince.

Here we go. I prepare myself for the judgment I know is coming.

I clear my throat before moving to sit on the coffee table across from them so I can see both of them at once. “I didn’t forgive him, Wren. I made the decision to bond with him independent of forgiving him. I may never be able to. I just don’t know yet.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not sure I’m following.” Mom tilts her head to the side as she considers me. “Wren filled me in on some things, but maybe it’ll make more sense if you start from the beginning.”

So I do. I start way back at the beginning when Nex was nothing but hot Professor Novak, explaining the push and pull between us and Brenden before ending with the day wewoke up alone in bed with nothing but a note from him.

Mom shakes her head. “I can understand why you haven’t forgiven him and why you might not be able to. But if that was the case, then why bond with him?”

“Why?” I snort. “Because I was lost in an abyss of misery because my mind and body thought he rejected us. We’re planning a war, and I felt nothing beyond sorrow for more than two seconds at a time. Because Brenden was catatonic and not eating. He could’ve died.”

Wren hums, her face carefully blank. “That was something I was curious about as well. Brenden wasn’t there. How did he mate with Nex?”

“I’m not sure that what happened with Brenden is any of your business, Wren, but he initiated a bond with Nex that night the three of us were together. If Brenden wants you to know any of the other details, that’s up to him to decide.”

Wren looks affronted. “Since when do you keep things from me, Audrey?”

My brows shoot up. “Is that a game you really want to start, Wren? I wasn’t the one who started keeping things from my twin, was I? And as faras Brenden is concerned, that isn’t your business. That’s Brenden’s business, and I’m not just going to tell you everything about my mates because you’re my twin.”