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I winced at the imagery, but waited.

“Mates are a fairytale sold to give us all hope, but it’s more than a bit ludicrous for us. It’s fine for humans; their lives aremere blips on the radar. It’s an easy sell. It is more...attainable to find another to share your pathetic existence with when your life is over as fast as I snap my fingers.

His thumb and middle finger clicked in front of my face for emphasis.

“But us?” He leaned toward me, eyes shifting into a heavier crimson the closer he got. “We are eternal. Well, our sin is. Whether or not we are, depends on a few .. . environmental factors. If nothing fucks with us, we’ll stick around. Gods can end us. Bad physical wounds.” He waved his hands in the air. “I’m getting off-topic. What is the likelihood there is one individual out there perfect for each one of us? Eternity is a curse and a burden. Why would we chain ourselves to anyone in such a way?”

G collapsed back against the cushions.

“It’s fine for humans. Eternity means nothing for them. It’s an abstract concept that isn’t real. But for us? We are different people from century to century. We must change and adapt, or we’d grow mad. To expect one to shackle themselves for all eternity...” He sighed. “We need options.”

I waited for the rest, but he fell silent.

“I...will take what you say into consideration,” I offered, thinking my tone quite diplomatic and measured, despite the pounding of my heart, and the traitorous resentment already building in my chest.

He doesn’t know. He doesn’t understand.

G snorted and snatched a decanter of brandy off the side table. He downed it one go, slamming the glass back onto the scratched wood.

“I am a glutton, but not for punishment,” he mumbled.

I stood, recognizing a clear dismissal when I heard it.

His hand shot out faster than I could see, gripping my wrist. “I know Envy is skulking around. That means we’ll be having family dinner on Sunday.”

A clear directive.

“Understood,” I confirmed.

He huffed, but I’d agreed, so he had nothing to complain about.

I took off down the hallway, frustrated but unable to do anything about it. G was the mother hen of our family: the sage, wizened veteran of life who had made a point to be available to any of us should we have any problems.

But this...this was a nerve that was clearly raw and bleeding. And I wasn’t sure what to do with it.

Out of respect for G, I could keep it to myself.

If the others knew, they’d be like a dog with a bone dangled in front of their faces—especially Envy. It was rare that any of us got anything up on G. It could be an opportunity that never presented itself again.

And yet...the vulnerability and pain was something he also never showed. Dare I throw it in his face and disrespect our bond by betraying it to the others? I desperately needed to confide in someone, but didn’t trust my other brothers. Not because I didn't have faith in them. I simply knew they were ruled by their sins, just as I was.

Our sins were our greatest joys and our greatest sorrows.

“See you Sunday,” I whispered to the geometric pattern on the wallpaper, straight out ofThe Great Gatsby.

Chapter

Nine

JUNIPER

The ancient radiator in the corner hissed like an irritated cat as I spread the men's files across my desk. The sheer volume was overwhelming—towering stacks of potential matches that Lust unceremoniously dumped here as soon as I walked in, each one containing what I'm starting to suspect are supernatural men seeking their perfect someone.

My five female clients' folders sat neatly arranged on the corner of my desk, like a tiny island of order in this sea of chaos. I traced my finger over the silver-haired Fae woman's photo, mesmerized by how the edges seemed to shimmer when I look at them too long. Either the coffee hadn't kicked in yet, or my eyes were playing tricks on me.

A soft knock drew my attention.

"More coffee?" Thea stood in my doorway, looking marvelous as always.