Page 5

He glanced at the door, then at the bed.

“Zeke, you’ve climbed into my bed dozens of times already.”

“Yeah, but…”

“But what? Is it because we’re mates?” I couldn’t hide the hurt in my voice when I said, “You don’t have to do anything you don’t wanna do. I’m not gonna make you do anything.”

“What? No.” He crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed at my side. “Rae, no. I know you’d never make me do anything I didn’t want to. I know you wouldn’t—”

“Zeke.” I grabbed his hands. “I’m only saying that if you’re not ready to commit to a mate, then I’m not pushing you to do it. We haven’t even talked about it much. You never have to commit to having me as a mate, and I don’t either. Ash said there’s a way to break the connection.”

His eyes widened. “No!”

I recoiled.

“No,” he repeated more softly, though I could still hear the panic in his voice. “I want you. I want so much. I just don’t know what to—” His brow crumpled and his jaw clenched.

“Hey, come here.” I patted the space beside me. When he joined me, I took his hand again and laced our fingers. “I’m still learning about this whole Nyrith thing. It’s not what’s important. I felt guilty for a while when I realized I felt something for both you and Ash.”

“You like me?”

I laughed and then covered my mouth. “Yeah, Zeke. I like you.”

Though like was an understatement.

He sounded so young, but he was only two years younger than me—a grown man.

A sound at the door made us look up. Cyn stood in the doorway, staring at us.

His room was at the opposite end of the balcony. The only reason for him to be on this end of the landing was to see Ezra—who wasn’t here—or look for Zeke.

Zeke let go of my hand and sat up. “Is Ezra back?”

“Not yet, but the guards brought her things inside.” Cyn’s gaze dropped to my shirt, and his brows pulled together. “I guess you have something to sleep in, though.”

“Yeah.” I toyed with the edge of the sheets. “Zeke lent me a shirt.”

Cyn’s gaze moved from me to Zeke. “You coming to bed?”

I thought they only slept together at my house because there weren’t enough beds.

Zeke shook his head. “I don’t want to leave her alone on her first night here.”

“I’ll be fine. Ash is—”

“Whatever.” Cyn shrugged as if he didn’t care, though I knew he did. He turned and disappeared from sight.

I sighed. “You don’t have to stay.”

“I want to. Trying to get rid of me already?” He smiled at me, but his attention shifted to the door.

The longing on his face as he stared at the empty doorway cut into me.

I knew I shouldn’t interfere, but if guilt made Zeke question his place as my mate, I needed to say something—even if I couldn’t share Cyn’s truth.

Just because Cyn hurt me didn’t mean I would hurt him.

I drew a breath and took the first step, hoping I wouldn’t ruin our friendship by confronting Zeke. “I know about you and Cyn.”