Page 85 of Buckle Up, Buttercup

Jack grabs Jasper’s forearm and tugs, but Jasper’s mouth drops open. “Or what, asshole?”

“Stop acting like a petulant child,” I hiss. “You’re a grown-ass man, and you need to start acting like it. I don’t care how big of a day tomorrow is for you, you’re being a godsdamned jackass.”

The bond coils tight in my chest, apprehension taking over both our irritation.

His eyes spring wide, mouth dropping open. Just as quickly, fury overtakes his features, and he cocks back, ready to hit me.

I duck him easily, but his momentum carries him forward, and he crashes against me, then falls to my left. He swung too hard, and the force takes him all the way toward Bluebell. I grab and hang on to his shirt, but he lands on her right arm, knocking the mead all over her neck and chest.

Roaring, I yank him up off the ground and thrust my face into his. “Calm down,” I snap, even though we’re drawing a crowd. I’m barely maintaining control of what’s now rage at how he’s treating my mate.

“Put him down, Alk!” Bluebell shouts, but I’m too fucking hyped.

“She promised to help!” Jasper struggles, clawing against my hands and forearms.

“It’s not gonna be right now though, so are you gonna walk away?” I snap as I set him down.

He glares at me but turns. At the last second, I realize he’s not fucking done, not by a long shot. Flaring my wings wide, I lift my hands and stop him as he swings a second time.

“Leave her alone!” I roar, lifting my daggerlike wingtips up and above us in an attack position.

Bluebell gasps, and Jasper’s eyes go wide. I drop my wings carefully at my back as he looks at me in shock.

“Dude, fuck…I…why do you even care? This is between her and me.”

Swinging my left wing around her, I pull her to my side and tuck her against me as red overtakes my vision. Not only is he being a general asshole, but he’s expecting too much, causing a scene and hurting her feelings. He’s taking advantage, and I’m here to make sure no one takes advantage of her ever again.

The mating bite throbs so hard, I’m about to drop to both knees.

“Leave my godsdamned mate alone,” I snarl. “Or you and I will have problems despite our friendship.”

Bluebell swivels her gaze up to mine, and Jasper and Jack look at each other, then back at me. All three look shocked. Surprise tears along our bond.

“Your what?” Jasper gasps. “You’re fucking kidding me right now. She can’t be your mate. She's my sister. She’s practically your sister. We grew up together, Hadrian. What the fuck are you talking about?!”

He’s shouting now, and any moment, Bryony or Merit or both are liable to start snapping photographs of this altercation.

Bluebell scratches at her mating bite. Jasper’s eyes drop to her hand. Then his eyes spring wide. He grabs her hand and yanks it away from her neck.

“Just focus on tomorrow, Jasper,” Bluebell says cautiously, even as he scans the obvious indentations. “We don’t have to talk about this now.”

“Come on, Jazzy.” Jack pulls Jasper away from us. His eyes are as wide as Jasper’s as he stares at the swollen spot where I claimed her.

“Are you fucking kidding me, dude?” Jasper shouts. “You’re my best friend! How could you?!”

“Because we want to,” I say simply. “Because we’re fated, Jasper, and nobody, not even you, can come between that kind of connection. We’d have told you sooner if we weren’t worried about you being a complete fucking asshole like you’re being right now!”

Bluebell gasps again and takes a step away from me. “Hadrian, stop, please.”

This is getting so, so, so out of hand. I turn to Bluebell with an imploring look. “We were trying to give him space, baby, but⁠—”

“No,” Jasper barks. “Absolutely not. Dude, this can’t be. You fucking bit my sister?”

Bluebell reaches for him, but the moment she rests her hands on his shoulders, he yanks out of her grip, glaring at her.

“We were gonna tell you after your test,” she says softly. “This doesn’t change anything, Jazzy. I’m still your sister, and he’s still⁠—”

“I don’t want to hear this.” Jasper turns and pushes through the crowd.