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But for Ash and Zeke, I could see myself trying.

My phone buzzed, and I picked it up.

Ash:

Dinner’s ready.

Zeke:

I wanted to come get u, but Ash said u might want to be alone.

Rae:

I’ll be down in a minute.

Cyn:

hurry up or it’ll get cold

I rolled my eyes and dropped my phone to my side.

Another hurdle I needed to face was Cyn and Ezra. Attraction or not, I couldn’t consider anything more with either of them—not right now.

I didn’t know Ezra. If he actually wanted to pursue this mate thing with me—which I doubted—we needed more than magic. I needed a real bond to be with someone. What sort of life would it be without one?

Then there was Cyn… I couldn’t even begin to unpack the messy feelings he stirred in me. He’d hurt me more than claws ever could.

When my phone buzzed again, I knew I couldn’t dwell on it any longer.

Future Rae could tackle those unpleasant feelings.

Present Rae wanted carbs.

60

CONNECTION

ASH

This week tested my patience.

I tried not to crowd Rae, giving her space to sort through her belongings and process Quinfina’s words and Cornaith’s orders.

Every time I checked in, all I wanted was to pull her into my arms, tell her how much I loved her without the threat of death hanging over us, and beg her to be mine.

I wiped a hand over my mouth to hide the shit-eating grin the thought triggered as I sat on the couch with everyone.

Rae finished packing yesterday, and since then, she’d stayed in her room.

Zeke convinced her to stay downstairs after dinner to watch a movie, but I knew he worried too.

She’d gotten comfortable, resting her head on Zeke’s lap while he played with her hair, her bare feet resting in my lap.

Ezra sat on the chaise, watching the movie—though his gaze kept wandering back to her.

Quinfina’s confirmation had shifted something in him, but I didn’t know how ready Rae was to accept him as her mate after he’d kept his distance. They needed to get to know each other. I hoped being back home, on safer ground, helped her see past the icy exterior he wore for the world.

Rae shifted and moaned when my thumb pressed into the arch of her foot, working a tight knot.