Page 36 of Destined Dawn

“But they joined you in bed, right?”

“As far as I am aware,” I say, glugging down water, “no, I slept alone. That’s if you don’t count Pip.” I point to my pet who is now snuffling down the remains of spaghetti bolognese Azlan left out for him.

Winnie gapes at me like I lost my marbles. She rests her hand on my forehead. “Are you sick? Or simply mad?”

“Neither.”

“Five hot men – all clearly wanting to rip your clothes off. Why didn’t you take advantage of that?”

“I tried. I got nervous. And I drank too much.”

“Why?”

“Because five, Winnie, five!”

“I admit it is rather a lot.”

“Yeah, you don’t say.” Pip squeaks from the floor and I can’t help thinking he’s on my side on this one. “It’s intimidating. Hence the need for alcohol.”

“So you don’t want to be sleeping with all of them? I mean, it’s fine if you don’t, obviously. I’m just sort of surprised. I thought the fated mate bond made your mate kind of irresistible.”

“Well, yeah, it does. And I’m not saying I don’t, it’s just …”

“Complicated.”

“Yep.”

“One thing I’ve learned from hanging out with you, Rhi, is that nothing in your life is ever straightforward. But one thing I’ve also seen is that you always find a way through.”

“They say they’re not going to be jealous, Winnie,” I say lowering my voice as my eyes dart to the door, “they even say they’d like to share me.”

“Shit, Rhi, that is seriously hot.”

“But the practicalities, Winnie. You know those guys. I can’t see how they aren’t going to get jealous … and violent.”

“I think you’d be surprised. And in the fairytale of Queen Æðelflæd–”

“Woah, Winnie, that fairytale is for kids. There is nothing in there about their bedroom antics.”

“Exactly, in the children’s versions there aren’t, but in the adult version–”

“That’s a fairytale, Winnie. Probably written by some horny dude with too vivid an imagination. This is real life.”

Winnie lays her hand on my shoulder. “They are crazy about you, Rhi. You have no idea how crazy. They were sort of unhinged when you went missing. Hell, the man in black went charging straight into the Wolves of Night compound, all guns blazing, because he thought they were holding you captive. I think you’ll find a way to make this work. You’re destined to be together – literally destined.”

I nod, because I agree with her. More and more, as my story unfolds, I’m beginning to trust in fate, to let her take me where I need to go. And these men, as crazy as it may seem, are important to me and I can’t imagine letting any of them go. Which means I’m going to have to find a way to make it work between us all. Especially in the bedroom.

Pip bumps his snout against my ankle and licks the exposed skin.

There’s something else I’ve been wanting to ask my best friend.

“Winnie, what do you know about familiars?”

Winnie’s eyes narrow and then she peers down at Pip.

“Is this a general question or do you want to know for a specific reason?”

“General,” I squeak, sounding nowhere near convincing.