Page 3 of Destined Dawn

“I’m not obnoxious enough to pretend I do understand these things, Miss Blackwaters.”

“Bullshit,” Tristan says, “Rhi is right. Fate rarely binds people together and when it does, it has a purpose.”

Stone turns his steely gaze on him next. “And what do you think that purpose is, Kennedy?”

Tristan pauses for a moment, then says with conviction: “To remove my father from power and restore democracy to the republic.” Renzo cackles. “What?” Tristan challenges. He’s not used to being laughed at.

“Restore democracy?” Renzo sneers. “What fucking democracy?”

What follows is a load of bickering and I lie back againstthe cushion and watch all the mayhem unfold, escalating in Azlan having to grab Tristan by the back of his shirt to stop him swinging for Renzo.

Yeah, maybe it was chaos and chance that brought us together, because it’s been precisely ten minutes in the same room together before one mate has threatened to kill another.

I scramble off the bed, hooking Pip under my arm as I do, and head towards the door.

“Where are you going?” Azlan calls after me.

“To get some breakfast,” I tell him, slamming the door behind me.

The air in the hallway is cool. I hug Pip closer to my body, despite his attempt to wriggle free, and descend the staircase, entering the empty kitchen a minute later. I’m assuming Winnie and Trent are still in bed and an unusual feeling of jealousy spirals through my stomach. That’s where I’d like to be – with any one of my mates – and yet that feels impossible. Six of us? How on earth is that going to work? I almost feel envious of Winnie and her one boyfriend. I’m not sure I’m cut out for five.

Placing Pip on the floor, I step towards the window, wrapping my arms around myself and watching the winter sun play across the prairie and the spindly grass sway in the wind. I’m so lost in my thoughts, I don’t hear Stone enter until he’s standing right beside me at the window.

“I’ll do it,” he says. “I don’t like it, but, fuck it, I seem incapable of refusing you anything, Rhianna Blackwaters, so if it’s what you really want, I will help you.”

I turn from the window and look up into his unusually serious face. I smile at him, resting my hand against his chest.

“Do you ever wish it was just the two of us?” I ask him quietly.

“Do I ever wish I had you all to myself and didn’t have to share you with four other … fairly average-looking men?”

I hit him on the arm. “Yes.”

“Nah,” he says.

“Oh,” I say, a little disappointed by his answer.

He grins at me. “Miss Blackwaters, you are smarter than that. Of course, I wish I had you all to myself. As well as wishing all your clothes would miraculously disappear and that we got locked in our bedroom for eternity with no escape and an endless supply of fine dining and good wine. Unfortunately, what we wish for isn’t always possible and I’m more than content with what I have. Azlan is my best friend and I’m happy to share you with him, and as for the others …”

“As for the others …?”

“We’ll work it out.” He examines my face. “Why? Do you wish it was just us two? I’m flattered you’d pick me as your favorite.”

“I don’t have a favorite,” I say sternly. I don’t want to give my mates any more reasons to fight. Also, it’s the truth. When I stand back and consider it, I really don’t have a favorite. Each of my fated mates is different and unique in their own way, and I like each one of them for that reason. Even Renzo. Even Spencer.

“Sure, you don’t,” Stone says with a wink.

“I don’t.”

“Hmmm,” he pulls me towards him, “I bet I could think of some ways to ensure I am top of your list.”

“I can think of one,” I say, crawling my fingers up his chest.

“Really?” His eyes darken.

“Yes,” I say, reaching up onto my tiptoes so I can whisper into his ear. “Help me search those memories.”

He laughs, his chest rumbling beneath my palms.