Page 98 of Burdened Bonds

My cheeks heat. “As much as the next person.”

“And long showers.” He glares at me and my cheeks set ablaze. “Very long showers.”

“I don’t think she was showering in that bathroom,” Winnie says, taking a slice of the toast and grinning over the top of it at me.

I throw her a look I hope she can decipher means ‘please be quiet Winnie’, and she blows me a kiss and bites into her breakfast.

Deciding I can’t handle Winnie’s teasing and Renzo’s dirty looks right now, I spin in my seat and peer over at my other two mates.

“And what are you two doing?”

“Deciding where we ought to travel to next,” Azlan says.

“We’ve decided we’re going to be safer if we keep on the move.”

“That’s what I said,” Renzo calls over.

Azlan mutters something to Stone who chuckles and I recall my conversation with Winnie last night and decide I need to front this head on. The sooner we all know where we stand, the better.

“Can I talk to the two of you?” I ask.

“Go ahead,” Stone says, “we’re listening.”

“In private.” They both look up from their map and over at me. I stand up from the table and walk out of the room, the two of them following me. I find an empty room off the hallway, one whose furniture has been covered in dust sheets, yellowed by the years.

I wait for them to enter, Stone closing the door behind them.

“What is it?” Azlan says anxiously.

“We need to talk about Renzo.”

Azlan and Stone both glance at each other, Azlan crossing his arms over his chest.

“I know you’re feeling indebted to him or thankful or something because he saved you from Lowsky, but that’s no reason to keep the dude around,” Stone says. “He can’t be trusted. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if his plan is to take his opportunity when he can, hand you in and reap the reward.”

“If that was his plan, he could have done it days ago when he knocked me out.”

“This is my point,” Azlan growls. “He knocked you out, Rhi. That’s hardly sane behavior.”

“And you sealed the bond without my permission,” I say, addressing Azlan. “And you,” I swing my gaze to Stone, “infiltrated my mind.”

“What the fuck?” Azlan says as Stone’s gaze falls to the floor. “You did what?”

“It doesn’t matter,” I say, concerned that my wonderful conversational skills have resulted in a further rift between our group. “It’s in the past. My point is …” What the hell is my point? I don’t even know. I fling my head back, gazing at the ceiling and taking a deep inhale. I don’t think I can look either of them in the eye when I deliver this news. “The point is you need to be nicer to Renzo.”

“Nicer,” Stone hisses. “Trust me, sweetheart, we’re being as nice as it’s possible to be.”

“Then you need to try harder, because … because … we’re all going to have to get along.”

“I’ll tolerate his presence if you deem it absolutely necessary. But I’m not going to benice,” Azlan hisses, “and we will neverget along.”

“Then we’re all totally and completely fucked, screwed, doomed, because you’re my fated mate,” I point at Azlan, “and you’re my fated mate,” I point at Stone and he nods.

“And Tristan Kennedy and Spencer Moreau are too,” Azlan says.

I swallow. Oh shit. I can’t put this off any longer. I’m going to have to spit out the truth.

“AndRenzoBaronetoo,” I mumble so quickly, I’m not entirely sure they compute what I’m saying. It certainly takes them one long minute to respond. During which time I want the ground to open and swallow me up or maybe a dragon to swoop down and carry me away.