Page 7

Audrey

W raith reaches out to take my free hand, pulling me away from Brenden and into his arms. “I love you. You know that, right?”

Holy shit.

Did Wraith just tell me he loved me for the first time?

“Uhhhh….” I bury my head in his chest, refusing to look up at him. It seems like a weird time for him to just announce that. “I…ummm…”

“Nex is one of her mates,” Donovan announces, brushing past us into the house.

Well, I guess that’s one way to change the subject. I’m not sure if I should kiss Donovan or hit him.

Yes, I was definitely floundering after Wraith told me he loved me—even Donovan hasn’t said those words to me yet—but did he really have to throw me under the bus about Nex?

I was planning to tell them what happened, but he could’ve at least given me a minute.

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.”

I shrug. That doesn’t matter to me, but I’ll have to figure out how to go about it. Clearly, yelling at him wasn’t the right choice.

“That’s fine, but I might need some help on how to approach him without pissing him off more.” I make a face, hating that I have to admit that I don’t know how to handle my mate. “It’s not going to do us any good if we just keep arguing—and not listening, like Brenden pointed out.”

Donovan grins. “How does it feel to have to fight for a mate after the three of us just fell into your lap?”

“I would’ve fought for the three of you if I had to.” I wrinkle my nose at Donovan’s disbelieving look. “Eventually, I would’ve fought for you. Once I stopped freaking out.”

Brenden tips my head back so he can kiss me. “I never would’ve left you alone, firecracker.”

Wraith chuckles. “That’s because you’re a fucking stalker. Most women would find that creepy—not endearing.”

“So what does that say about me, then?” I ask. “Since I find it endearing?”

“That you’re just as crazy as we are.” Donovan stands up so he can kiss me before stepping back. “Now, I believe Wraith mentioned something about bed?”

I stretch my arms out before clambering to my feet. I bite my lip as I glance around at the three of them, my mind going back to Wraith’s words from earlier. “You told me you loved me.”

“I did, and you freaked out.” Wraith smirks, spreading his legs as he stares up at me.

Turning my attention to Donovan and then to Brenden, I feel like my heart is going to jump out of my chest.

“I love you—all three of you,” I admit quietly. “I’ve only ever said those words to my sister, my mom, and Brenden before now. I don’t know when I fell in love with either of you, Wraith and Donovan, but I did, and I’m so damn happy about it. We completed our bonds when I barely knew you. It felt right at the time, but it’s finally time to admit that I love you all.”

I suck in a deep breath. “I love you, Wraith. I love how you worry about all of us—how you take care of us. I love that you’re supporting me even when you don’t agree with the path I’ve chosen. That means a lot more to me than you can ever know. I love you more than I ever thought I could love another person—besides my other mates, of course. I never expected to have one mate, let alone three—or maybe five—but I’m so glad that you’re one of them. I’m tired of holding back from you.”

Wraith’s smirk falls as he tilts his head. “I’m sorry. Can you repeat that?”

Bastard.

“I love you, Wraith,” I repeat, grinning at him. My heart is full of love for him—for them.

“I thought that’s what you said.” When he stands up, he towers over me, but I just tilt my head back. I love that my mates are so much bigger than I am. He brushes his lips over mine. “I love you, too, Audrey. It’s not something I thought I’d find again. Donovan’s always been enough for me, but I’m so glad you fell into our lives. We would’ve been happy, just the two of us, but we never would’ve been complete without you.”

I stretch up on my tiptoes and he leans down to meet me halfway so we can share a kiss—this one with a lot more heat and tongue.

I’m panting when we break apart, but I force myself to step away from Wraith so I can turn to face my hellhound mate. “I love you, Donovan. How could I not? You’ve brought me so much happiness, but it’s so much more than that. When I didn’t want to accept that you were my mate, you helped me cast a spell so I could confirm it. The Fates spoke to us, saying I had a bigger destiny. I might not know what that destiny is yet, but I know I want you to be beside me when I find out. I don’t want to exist in a world where you’re not mine.”

“Fuck, pretty girl. I love you, too.” Then he’s kissing the hell out of me, turning me on even more than Wraith’s kiss had.

Only, I can’t let them distract me too much. I’ve already told Brenden I love him, but he deserves to have his moment, just like Donovan and Wraith did.

It takes more than a little effort to break the kiss with Donovan as he chases my lips. I shake my head, pushing against his chest. “Patience, my mate.”

“Brenden,” I practically sigh as I turn to my last mate—currently, at least. “I’ve told you I’ve loved you before, but I want to make it clear that just because I love Donovan and Wraith, it doesn’t mean I love you any less. You’re not exactly someone I would’ve sought out when I was alive, but who knows? Maybe if we’d met when we were both alive, I wouldn’t have been able to fight the pull to you. I might have run from you at first, but that pull has always been there. You—and your sociopathic tendencies—were meant for me. I love you, Brenden.”

“I love you so fucking much, firecracker,” he declares as he pulls me into his arms and kisses me, leaning me back into a dip. Yes, like in the old movies.

Never expected that to happen.

For once, he doesn’t try to devour me, standing us back up and releasing me.

“I want the three of you to take me to bed,” I declare.

“Are you sure?” Wraith asks cautiously. “You’ve been through a lot tonight. You were falling asleep in my lap earlier.”

A smile breaks out on my face. My hands are still shaking as I nod, but that’s okay. “I’ve never been sure of anything in my life. I’m definitely not tired anymore. I need your hands on me—need you to show me how much you love me.”

Donovan cheers. “Hell yes! To the bedroom!”

I laugh as he scoops me into his arms and rushes up the stairs.