Page 82 of Tethered Fates

“I’m definitely not,” I say, feeling lighter than before. “I fuck a lot.”

“I hate this conversation,” Kai grumbles behind us.

Sen squeezes my hand. “But from now on, that body is just for me.”

A bubble of mischievous excitement rises in my chest. “Just you?”

Sen’s smirk turns dirty, his eyes hooded. “I’m not opposed to allowing others—”

“VIDAR! Sen and Teagan are here,” Kai shouts. Then, quieter, says, “And I wish they’d shut the fuck up.”

“You’re such a prude, big bro.”

Sen’s eyes glint as he lifts my hand to kiss the inside of my wrist.

Kai pushes ahead, hands shoved into his leather jacket painted with purple symbols, to lead us to the packed kitchen.

“Hey, dude!” Golden waves as we enter, holding knitting needles tangled with yarn, and nearly slices Ramy’s face, who casually moves out of the way as if he’s done this many times already. “You don’t happen to know how to knit…?”

I nod.

Golden goes to say more, but Ramy gently collects Golden’s waving hands.

“We haven’t been properly introduced.” Ramy’s voice is a soft breeze as he guides Golden’s hands down into Golden’s lap. “I’m Ramy.”

“Welcome to this shit show, lad!” Apollo says, perched next to Golden, cheeks full of the apple he’s munching on and dressed in his normal punk T-shirt. Forget-me-not tattoos scattered from his neck all the way down to the backs of his hands, silver earrings gleaming from his ears.

“I was surprised when Kai told me you’re a vampire,” I tell Apollo.

“Same.” Apollo tosses his head back and cackles.

I don’t understand what he means, but having a conversation with Apollo means leaving confused.

Sen wraps his arms around my shoulders, which is when I see Vidar move forward.

“Lucero told us what Emma said and what my wayward offspring plans.” Vidar nods in Sen’s direction.

I glare. “He isn’t doing it.”

“Of course not.” The dark-haired man I saw Sen fighting with when he first brought me to the mansion says. He leans against a wall next to Golden.

“I’ve already been set right, Lucero,” Sen sighs.

“We know other mages.” Vidar folds his bulging, tattooed arms. “We will find a way out of this.”

“That’s what I told him!” I say, elbowing Sen’s stomach.

“Yes, yes,” Sen says into my hair. “I apparently become fatalistic in proximity to my soulmate.”

“So you’re admitting you’re an idiot?” Lucero remarks, more focused on twirling one of Golden’s curls around his finger than on what’s being said.

“In this very rare case, yes. Look at me, catching up to you.”

Lucero flicks an amused look at Sen before returning his full attention to Golden, as Golden tries to wrap the colourful yarn back into a bundle.

“Now that the matter’s settled, time to figure a way out of this.” Vidar claps me on the shoulder. I wish I still hated the giant vampire, but when I glance at Kai to see his green eyes melting, I know I never really stood a chance.

“This whole display is disgusting.”