Page 153 of Infernal Bonds

“Do you think Rae’ll want something to eat when she gets home?”

I turned to Zeke, who stood in the doorway, polishing off the last bites of a cupcake.

He’d dived right into them when he’d come home, praising Rae for getting them the way he liked them.

Of course, she hadn’t taken the credit. She’d told him I helped her, omitting the minor detail that I fucked her senseless right next to the cupcakes.

Just thinking about it made my cock stir.

“I’ll cook something once I calm down.”

He wiped his mouth with his hand and came into the room. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sick of this shit, Zeke.” I leaned against the dresser. “I honestly wish Quinfina wanted to overthrow the council. At least then I wouldn’t have to deal with that arrogant fuck every day.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Why not?”

He tossed the cupcake wrapper into the trash next to my bed, brushing his damp hair back from his forehead. He’d showered as soon as we got in. “Because it’d mean we couldn’t trust Quinfina and that Rae isn’t who we think.”

I dropped my head back, staring at the ceiling. “Yeah, about that…” Swallowing hard, I lifted my head and met his curious stare. “I want her.”

“What?”

“Raelynn. I want to bond with her.”

His expressive blue eyes lit up, and the wide smile that spread across his face made my heart race. “Really? Since when?”

“I’m not sure. All I know is that I want her.”

I wasn’t sure when the shift happened.

It was a slow thing that at first felt like poison infecting my mind, but when I let go of my reservations and saw she wasn’t the manipulative bitch Cornaith believed, that poison turned into a balm.

“So you believe it? That she’s our Nyrith?”

“Yeah. Nyrith or not, she’s mine.” I pushed my hair back from my face and glanced at him. “Just like you are.”

His breath hitched, and he glanced around the room as if he couldn’t meet my eyes.

I tilted my head, watching a pink flush crawl up the sides of his neck and spread over his cheeks. “That’s what you want, right? Am I mistaken?”

I knew the answer, but I wanted his words.

Needed them like I needed my next breath.

He scratched at his palm. “What?”

I pushed off the dresser and crossed the room to him.

His eyes dropped to my bare chest, then moved back to mine.

I took his hand, stopping his restless movements. I’d normally let him do whatever he needed to regulate himself, but I wanted his focus. I laced my fingers with his, and his breath shuddered as I brought both our hands to my chest.

“Cyn,” he whispered.

“Do you want to be mine?”