Page 172 of Infernal Secrets

“I guess… I just can’t imagine having two husbands. That’s not even legal here.” She gave a short laugh. “I guess if you grow up around magic and mates, it’d feel different.”

It settled me to hear a little humor in her voice. I didn’t know what I expected, but having a normal conversation about a concept foreign to her wasn’t it.

She put her hands on her hips and blew out a breath, looking at the floor. “I didn’t even want a relationship with one person, much less four.” She looked up with wide eyes. “I’m not saying I’m agreeing to anything. I don’t even know what the hell is going on. And…” Her gaze slid to Cyn, then settled on Ezra, before she sighed and looked down at her feet again.

I knew she wanted me and Zeke, and I believed Zeke knew it too, but Ezra and Cyn were an obstacle I didn’t know how to overcome. Still, a part of me filled with joy at knowing I shared something so precious with my brothers and not a random stranger.

Cyn stopped, narrowed eyes locked on Rae. “It’s not true, so get the idea of having a ‘relationship’ with any of us out of your pretty little head. You’re a human. We’re heirs in a world you will never see. At least, not as a living being.”

My protective instincts flared when he bared his teeth in an almost feral grin.

“Cyn, please,” Zeke said, reaching for his arm. “What if it’s true?”

Cyn spun on him. “Do you want it to be true?” He stepped between Zeke’s knees, putting them almost nose-to-nose. His voice dropped to a dark whisper. “Do you want her?”

Zeke’s tone sounded soft, but I heard his whispered words. “What if I do? Is that so wrong?”

Cyn’s entire body snapped taut before he whirled and stalked across the room to Rae.

Zeke jumped off the stool. “Cyn, no!”

Ezra and I both stood, but Ezra put his hand on my chest. “He won’t kill her.”

I didn’t know if I believed him this time.

“This isn’t happening,” Cyn said, stepping in front of her. “We’re going home. There’s one thing we haven’t tried to get there, and I’m sick of avoiding it.” His lip curled. “I wanted to do it the first night I met you, but Ezra wouldn’t let me. Said you were more important alive than dead. He knew I wouldn’t stop with just a few drops.”

Rae stepped away from him. “What are you talking about?”

When Zeke approached, Cyn turned and pointed at him. “Sit the fuck down.”

“Don’t hurt her,” Zeke pleaded, but it only riled Cyn.

If Zeke grasped the depth of Cyn’s love for him, he wouldn’t say anything that hinted at his desire or affection for Rae. It only fed Cyn’s jealousy, and I feared if he shifted, he wouldn’t be able to control himself.

He gritted his teeth, facing Rae. “You’re a curse,” he spat. “We’re not your mate, and you’re not ours. You can’t have a mate.” He stepped toward her.

She took another step back, her scent souring as she recognized his behavior wasn’t like their usual hot-and-cold sparring.

Before she could retreat further, he surged forward, wrapping his hand around her throat, pinning her to the wall. Her eyes rounded, the sour scent of her fear choking me.

“Cyn, that’s enough!” I pushed against Ezra’s hand and growled when I realized he held me in place with his power. My feet felt glued to the floor. “We have to stop him.”

“If we stop him now, he will kill her later.”

“What?” Zeke asked, his face pinched in concern as he came over to us. “Why do you say that? We need to help her.”

“This has been building in him. You know it, Ash.” His steady gaze met mine. “He’s fighting two battles right now within himself.”

Zeke’s fearful gaze moved from us to where Cyn pinned Rae against the wall. “Is someone going to tell me what’s going on?”

“If he snaps later when we aren’t there, he will kill her, and we won’t be able to stop him. We’ll intervene if he goes too far, but he needs this before he breaks and risks all of us.”

I understood his reasoning for not restraining Cyn the way he restrained me now, but I didn’t have to like it.

Cyn leaned in, whispering something to Rae, then licked her neck.

“You’re crazy,” she said, struggling in his grip. “I never said I wanted to be anything to you. I want you to leave.”