Page 17

“I’m not sure about this.” I bite my lip nervously. No, not nervous. Terrified. “It’ll hurt.”

“Only for a minute,” Axel replies dismissively.

We’re in the woods behind his house and have come to ‘our’ place. A small clearing where the boys and I built a den and campfire many years ago. We don’t use this space so much anymore, though I think the boys sometimes sneak out to come here at night. They seem to be doing more and more without me lately.

The campfire is raging now, spitting and crackling and hissing like an angry monster demanding to be fed.

Axel sits too close to the flames, turning the poker he holds this way and that, making sure it’s heated evenly all over.

I tremble in Kaiden’s embrace.

“I don’t know either, dude. She’s really scared.”

“Oh don’t be babies. We’re all going to do it,” Axel snaps.

“Why don’t you go first then?” Kaiden snaps back. His eyes flash in challenge and I cringe. I hate it when the boys fight.

“Because I need to be able to do the three of yours! I’ll go last.”

“This is stupid!”

“Please—” I beg them to stop.

“Look, Peony. This will bind us all together, right?” Axel leaves the poker in the fire and comes over to crouch before me. His voice is calm and reasonable when he speaks. “You’re one of us, you have been since day one, so why not make it official?”

“I’m scared.”

“I know. But I want to make you mine. Ours. We’re going up to the big school next week and you’ll be stuck behind without us. This will make sure we don’t forget you.”

My stomach twists at his words. I don’t want to be left behind. I certainly don’t want to be forgotten.

“Call it a birthday present.”

I pull a face at that. It’s not a present I want. Though the idea of the four of us being bound in secret does appeal.

“I could stay back,” Zie offers again. We’ve talked about this all summer.

“No,” Axel growls at him. “You belong by our side.”

“So does Peony.”

“Yes, but she’s younger than us.”

“She’s only a few months younger than me.”

“But you’re in our year.”

“Only because your dad got me moved up.”

“Exactly.”

“So move me back down.”

“It doesn’t work that way.”

“Then move Peony up.”

“I’ve tried.”

“You have?” I stare in shock at this new news as warmth blooms across my chest and my cheeks tingle.

“Of course I have, Peony. You belong with us. The four of us are bonded. That’s why this is so important.” He nods to the poker that’s heating on the makeshift campfire he’s created.

“Okay,” I say, taking a deep breath.

“Okay?”

“Do it. But you all have to do it after me, okay?”

“Promise. Now, take off your shorts and lie down. The boys will hold you still.”