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“Well, I’ve seen it, Lumi. And they’re not. I won’t meddle, but they are your fated mates and you’re going to have to accept it sooner or later.”
“Wow. Way to hit me with the tough love, Jas.”
“You have to accept this, babe.”
“I can’t,” I whisper as unexpected tears fill my eyes. I never cry. Fuck.
“Hey, what’s wrong? This is a good thing. You’ve found love, and you know because of the bond that it’s real and will last forever.”
“I can’t fall in love. I shouldn’t even still be in Silver Springs. I’ve already stayed too long. Maybe it’s time to move on again.”
“Lumi, you have to stop running.”
“I can’t. You don’t understand.”
Jas sighs. “Lumi, I know that you’ve been on the run from Ade’s father since the moment you found out you were pregnant. I know that he was an abusive, nasty piece of shit and that you think he won’t stop hunting for you both until he finds you. And I know that you’re right…”
“See—”
“But, I also know that you love Silver Springs, you’re tired of running and you want to put down roots as much for Ade’s sake as your own. I know you’re safe and happy here and that you don’t want to leave. And I’ve seen that this is where you’re meant to be. That you and Ade will know more love than you’ve ever imagined, and that your three mates will protect you and Ade with everything they have and more. You just have to embrace it.”
I sit and contemplate her words, grateful as the tears recede without falling. There’s something reassuring and comforting about Jas’ no-nonsense approach to my past and my future that calms me. She’s bound to be right, she’s never wrong about these things. But can I overcome years of fear to trust in a vision that I might just get a fairytale happily ever after?
She talks of love but all I feel towards these men is lust and attraction. And there’s damn well three of them! Where would I even start with that?
“I wish I could see what you see,” I sigh. “It must have been so much easier for you being able to see your guys coming.”
She laughs. “Oh hun, I didn’t see them at all. I kept getting these random visions of trees and I was so clueless until a friend pointed out that my guys are all named after trees. I felt so stupid when I found out.”
“Was it easy?”
“Yes and no. I’ve always been independent and a bit of a loner, so it was pretty tough to suddenly have four guys tripping over themselves to do stuff for me that I was perfectly capable of doing myself.” She shakes her head in amusement. “I won’t lie, the sex was—and still is—off the charts, but living together, dealing with my psycho ex stalker and just getting to know four brand new personalities was difficult.”
“And you had Jasper and Lucifer to worry about.”
“Don’t remind me. So it’s not all been plain sailing, I don’t think any relationship is, but I’m so glad I accepted the bond and let them in. I wouldn’t change anything for the world.”
“Even your date with the devil?”
“Even that,” she says emphatically.
“Do you know what would happen if someone rejected the bond?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know of anyone that ever has. It’s pretty powerful magic so you’d have to be insanely strong to deny it. But I don’t see that in your future, so you need to embrace it. Give them a chance. There’s no denying that you liked all three of them before they freaked you out with talk of mates.”
“Yeah, but surely that’s just the bond doing its thing?”
“No. It doesn’t work that way. The attraction has to be mutual for the magic to work.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, so really, you can blame magic all you like, but really you’re just as big a hussy as me,” she teases, bumping my shoulder playfully. I laugh, and the back door opens.
“Are you ladies ready? Dinner is served,” one of the twins pokes his head out of the door and calls to us.
“Which one is he again?” I ask, frowning. I cannot tell them apart for love nor money.
“Watch.” Jasmine winks at me, gets to her feet and saunters over to her man. Wrapping an arm around his neck, she goes onto tiptoes and kisses him passionately. Inky blue wings erupt from his back in an instant. Jas pulls away and winks at me again.
“This is Rowan,” she says before stepping into the house.
“You could have just asked,” Rowan grumbles, rearranging himself in his jeans as I laugh.
I join them, determined to push all thoughts of fated mates and bonds and magic from my mind. It’s Ade’s birthday, and I’m determined to show her a good time.
