Page 34 of Destined Dawn

“I haven’t. He asked me a question and I answered. I’m not ashamed of what we did. I’m not ashamed of liking it. I’m not ashamed of wanting more.” Barone slides her another shot, winking at Azlan as he does, but Rhi leaves it untouched. “Let’s be real here. I have five fated mates – all of you. You know how strong the attraction is, how forcefully I’m pulled towards you, how forcefully, you’re pulled towards me. You must know it’s the same with the others. And if you have a problem with that, Azlan, then maybe it’s better we discuss it now.”

“I don’t have a problem with it.”

“No jealousy?” she says.

He crosses his arms again. “No!” he says defiantly, then caves under her scrutinizing glare. “A little.”

“The jealousy is a downside to this … situation,” his cousin says, “but it’s balanced by a hell of a lot of upsides.”

“Such as?” Rhi asks.

“Being with you,” he says, “sharing you with your other mates.”

“Watching you get fucked,” Barone adds.

“Yeah,” Tristan says, the room as quiet as a priest’s cupboard, the confessions coming thick and fast now. “I’d find that hot. I’ve never had a threesome with another dude before but I like the idea.”

“Azlan?” Rhi asks.

“I don’t like the idea of you sleeping with him,” he says, jerking his chin towards the assassin.

“Too late!” the assassin says, sitting back in his chair and folding his arms over his chest.

The rest of us all spin our gazes in Rhi’s direction.

“Seriously?” I say. Then I frown. “Did he force you, sweetheart?”

“No!” she cries, swaying slightly in her seat.

“I don’t know how you can trust him,” Azlan mutters.

“I’m not going to hurt her,” the assassin says.

“I’m sorry if I don’t take your word for that.”

“He’s not, Azlan,” Rhi says. “I trust him on this. You need to trust him too.”

“He just told us he flayed someone alive.”

“I like making her happy,” Barone says with such simplicity I can’t help believing him. “And I made her really, really happy.”

“Well,” I say, letting out a puff of air, “I’m glad we cleared that up.”

Rhi giggles, the laughter coming thicker and faster when she takes in Azlan’s grumpy stance. The girl has definitely had too much to drink.

“Isn’t it a good thing that I’m okay with this?” she asks him. She stands up from her seat, stumbling a little before she regains her balance. Then she tiptoes over to him,wrapping her arms around him. “Especially as it seems we’re going to be stuck together for the foreseeable future.”

I rub at my beard. She’s not wrong. Being together – all of us – even these other men, even Barone, has a contentment humming in my bond like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I’m in no doubt that together is how we are meant to be and if I’m struggling to keep my hands off Rhi, the others must be too. Better that we navigate our way around this strange set up, than fight it. Better we find a way that leaves us all happy – especially Rhi.

“I just want you to be happy,” Azlan says, as if reading my thoughts, “happy and safe.”

“I am happy,” she says, smiling at him, “happier than I’ve ever been – safer than I’ve ever felt – which is pretty surreal considering the leader of this country wants me dead.”

“I won’t let that happen,” he says.

“Wewon’t let that happen,” Tristan adds.

Rhi balances up on her tiptoes and kisses my friend. A gentle kiss that expresses her gratitude but deepens as the minutes pass. I watch them together, concluding that Barone and Tristan are both right, watching her with one of her mates is hot. Surprisingly so.