My smile was diabolical as I caught Sloan’s gaze, sure he’d help me do it, no questions asked.
Phillip’s hand danced across my hip as he answered Cash’s question. “I discovered it through a very intense investigation. It was Lux’s. I suspect he was working with more than just the Royal Siren who’s killed off the rest of the Seven. He’s got other contacts here, I’m sure of it. They’re likely the reason the Organization was created in the first place.”
Guess that confirmed it. It wasn’t an elaborate ploy. Lyra had really killed them in an act of revenge. But now I wondered who these other Fae might be and how they bypassed Lyra’s travel lock. Who could be that powerful?
Then it clicked.
The Nether Royals. Aram.
“Lux is dead. One killed him,” I told him, turning just in time to see his shock over the statement
I spent a few minutes explaining everything that happened with Lyra, leaving out the Season when I talked about Cash rescuing me and Kate. I planned to tell him, but only when I talked about all the other bonds. I wanted to get the main details out of the way before imploding our relationship.
“So, this Royal Siren…Lyra, she wants the Organization wiped out, but first these so-called Nether Royals?” Sloan summarized,clearly working it all out in his head. “And she intends to use you for your time manipulation, but you’ve found another way to keep it from corrupting your magic?”
“Yes.” My eyes went to Jo and Cash.
Both of them had let me do all the talking, and I was grateful. The feeling I got from Cash was encouraging. He’d put aside all of his jealousy and focused on supporting me. I hoped the look I gave him expressed how much I appreciated it. It was hard enough to explain all that happened in two weeks and not feel like a selfish asshole.
My pulse was kicked into high gear as I thought through my next words. Both Phillip and Sloan noticed. They knew something was up. I couldn’t put it off any more than I already had.
Turning all the way around on his lap and straddling him, I centered my attention on Phillip, keeping a firm hold on his shoulders as if it’d ground us both. “I know there’s a lot we need to work out and we weren’t really talking when I disappeared, but I need you to listen to everything, please. You’re allowed to feel or not feel whatever, but just hear me out first.”
My asshole’s expression darkened slightly, but he nodded. “Whatever you’re about to say, lass, we’ll get through it together. I’ve been a right bastard, and you didn’t deserve any of it. You can’t imagine how much I hated myself for making you think any of what happened between us was your fault. I’ve got a lot of groveling to do, so don’t worry about me. You don’t have to tip-toe around my feelings. Give it to me straight, maus, whatever it is.”
Every word dripped with the same sincerity as the night he begged me to give him pieces.
He tucked my red hair behind my ear and glanced at Sloan sitting next to me. “How about I make you a promise this pretty asshole here will hold me to—no matter what you say or do, I’llnever stop loving you, V. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove it to you if you’ll still have me.”
Sloan cleared his throat, drawing my eyes over to him. He was absolutely going to destroy the asshole if he went back on his promise. It was all there in his sly grin. “I’ll hold this grumpy bloke to it, darling. You can count on me. You don’t need to be anxious anymore. One toe out of line, and this wanker will find himself injected with serum and beaten for all the offenses against you, yeah?”
“Don’t hold back on my account,” Phillip grumbled, hiding a smirk.
I laughed and blew out a shaky breath. “I love you too, you big asshole. I don’t need you, but I want you, and I hate it when we fight. But yeah, you owe me some groveling. Looking forward to that when things settle down.”
Everyone seemed to laugh after that. It was an odd feeling in my gut to hear them unite over something—every person I’d been wrapped up in, coming together in a moment like this.
I didn’t doubt for a second they’d still bicker and get on each other’s nerves, but maybe not with as much animosity as before. A girl could hope.
“Okay.”Rip the band-aid off.“So, there’s something called the Season here…”
Sloan and Phillip both reacted, suggesting they knew what it was. I went on in hopes of saying everything and not vomiting while I did.
“I’m affected by it, and I…” I pointed to the rune on my neck, then to Cash, where my rune was glowing red on him. “I bonded with Cash…and Aram, one of the Nether Royals. Oh, and Jo, but not the same way. It was so we could take on the Nether Royals without having to tap into my chaos magic. We’d planned to use it to strengthen my ability, kill off the Royal Douches, then Lyra, and go back home. But yeah, now that I have a bond with Aram,it’s sort of fucked that all up. Well, that, and he can enter frozen time.”
I steamrolled through everything, but by the way they both went deathly silent, they’d caught every word. My anxiety pounded like a vicious echo in my body, but I stayed firm. I plowed ahead without any idea where I’d land. “But good news! That bastard can’t hurt me, and it’s not likely he’ll let his two brothers hurt me either.”
The brother comment got a questioning look from Cash and Jo. I’d forgotten to tell them all about what happened with Aram. Guess now was as good a time as ever.
“The bond I have with him and Cash are…mate bonds. They can’t be broken, but it gives me access to their emotions. Sort of. It’s hard to explain. It’s different with Aram. I think I can read his intentions, too. Maybe even his thoughts? I’m not too sure, but I do know the bond is affecting him way more than it’s affecting me.”
Cash leaned in, cupping his chin in contemplation, and Jo crossed her arms in thought, while leaned against the wall.
Phillip closed his eyes and sighed. “Right.”
The word seized the air in my lungs. I waited, heart attempting to escape, scared of his reaction but determined to convince him if I had to. Nothing had changed. I still loved him.
After a breath, he grabbed my face and pressed our foreheads together. His voice came out soft and affectionate. “The bond with our enemy excluded, your other bonds don’t change anything between us unless you want it to. I won’t pretend that I like that bastard over there or think he deserves such a goddamn honor, or know enough about that terrifying woman to guess her aim in bonding, but I want you happy no matter what it takes. I nearly lost you for good this time. I don’t want to live without you, mein Schatz. So, if you still want me, then I don’t give a fuck who else you’re with as long as I’m one of them. I trust youto know who you want by your side. The rest we’ll figure out together.”
