I have no idea.
Odd didn’t do it justice. I’d only had that kind of initial rapport with the three guys who were destined to be my fated mates. And I’d sucked his energy without even touching him. Yet—this couldn’t be a mate thing. Nikolai was already mated to Lucas and Aria.
Aria looked from one to the other of us, and her eyes flashed as she mindspoke with Nikolai. Whatever it was that had just happened, I was no longer afraid of Nikolai or his energy. Wary, maybe. But afraid, no.
Instead, I wanted more.
Cara’s bright eyes regarded us. “I have a little test for you two.”
Nikolai regarded her warily. “What are you up to, Cara?”
“You guys just shared a weird moment—do you deny it?”
“Nooo.” Nikolai drawled the word and shifted from one foot to the other.
Matt’s eyes gleamed emerald as he sized up Nikolai.
He’s mated, Matt. No reason to be jealous.
So I just imagined that you two mindswapped a frenchie?
It sure as hell wasn’t a frenchie.Okay, perhaps I was a little too indignant.
He arched a brow at me.
Cara pushed at Nikolai. “I need to know something, and it will just take a moment. Hold up your hands.”
Nikolai rolled his eyes but did so. She turned to me. “Press your palms against his.”
Matt growled.
Cut it out, Toothless. This isn’t about mates.
He subsided, but I sensed his reluctance. Nikolai’s hands were huge, easily three times larger than my own. I spread my fingers to touch his.
The instant we made contact, our energy bridged. It was the strangest sensation. I wasn’t merely feeding off his energy, he was also taking from me. As though we were mated. Only we weren’t.
“It’s like we know each other,” Nikolai whispered.
Matt growled again, and I pulled my hands away, backing into him and shooting Cara a look. “Did that tell you what you needed to know?”
Cara’s lips pulled into a grim line. “Yes, it did.”
Matt wrapped his arms around me as I stared at her. “Please explain,” I pressed.
She met my eyes and dropped a bombshell. “It tells me that Galeran isn’t only Nikolai’s father. He’s yours, as well. Nikolai is your halfbrother.”
* * *
The signs had all been there. But a fundamental part of me had denied it. And now, the world around me spun to a halt.
“Galeran is myfather?”
Nikolai had stiffened, which only made him seem taller. “Who was her mother?”
Cara looked around us. Students were pushing past, heading through the building to gather for their run out front. She directed us away from the door to a quiet corner. “I will fill Nikolai in on our visit to Melody. But you and Matt should go for your run.”
“You just told me my father is Galeran, and now you want me to go for a run?”
