71. Sina
I sat on my new porch swing, letting the slow rocking ease the edge of my anxiety. Elias had installed it yesterday, and he’d been adorably excited when he showed it to me. I hadn’t wanted it to affect me, but my heart had soared without my consent.
I loved it so much.
Especially because he’d done it for me. It was exactly how I’d described it to Harlow and Kiron the night before when we’d been curled up on the front steps.
A wide cherry-oak bench, bolted straight into the overhang, big enough for two or for me to tuck myself into when I needed space.
It fit the porch like it had always belonged there.
It was perfect.
I wasn’t sure how Elias knew. Maybe he overheard us talking. Maybe my meddling mate nudged him in the right direction. Either way, the gesture was sweet.
But it didn’t fix what sat unsaid between us.
We still needed to talk. Elias couldn’t keep dodging me forever. If he wanted us to have a real chance, he was going to have to explain himself. And if I was being honest, I couldn’t move past what happened until he did.
I sighed, frustration settling heavy in my chest as I rocked and watched the sun dip behind the treeline.
From inside the house came the soft clatter of dishes.
Nik was cooking again. He had every night this week.
It had quietly become a hive routine—domestic in a way that still caught me off guard.
We ate together. Talked. Laughed. It felt normal.
Like the family I’d always dreamed of but never thought I’d get to have.
I rocked myself softly with a content smile on my lips.
Everyone would be back soon .
Harlow and Kiron were out on a run somewhere on the island.
Rafe and Elias were in Ash Harbor, chasing down a lead on Keith’s whereabouts.
And before dinner, I was going to confront Elias.
I couldn’t sit through another meal pretending he didn’t affect me, even if everyone else had already forgiven him.
I hadn’t.
All I could think about was the year I’d lost. A year I could have been happy. Elias had known the moment we met, and he’d let me suffer anyway. Alone . The reminder burned the back of my throat, and I shoved the emotion down as I tucked my feet beneath me.
I wondered if Eli and Rafe had found anything yet.
My teeth worried at my nail as I thought about how they could get hurt because of me.
When I’d voiced that fear last night, Nik had told me it was a necessary risk.
Said they needed to know where Keith was hiding so they could end it for good.
I told myself that was true. That this was the fastest way to finally be free.
It didn’t stop the anxiety from tightening every time I thought about them out there, risking themselves because of me.
It was the whole reason I’d come out here in the first place.
If Keith was really gone—if he could truly be ended—maybe this would finally stop following me. The nightmares. The constant readiness to bolt. Maybe I could exist without bracing for impact.
Maybe I could finally be happy.
My fingers slid over the bite marks along my shoulders and collarbone, and heat flared sharp and immediate, even through my clothes.
I sucked in a breath and dropped my hands into my lap before they could wander.
It didn’t help. The ache stayed, hot and insistent, like my body refused to forget what had claimed it.
Fuck .
Low said it wouldn’t always be this intense. Once the bond was complete, with Nik and Elias, the edges would dull. I rocked the swing harder, forcing my focus outward instead of on the low burn of lust curling through me.
The forest loomed dark beyond the railings. Once, that kind of darkness would have made my pulse spike. Anything could hide out there. Anything could be waiting.
Tonight, it didn’t scare me.
Three of my mates were on the island. Nothing crossed this place without being noticed by them. Because of that, the trees didn’t feel threatening anymore.
Harlow’s bite flared on my left shoulder, sudden and sharp enough to steal my breath.
He was close by.
I scanned the darkness, expecting to see a streak of white, and pressed my palm to the wood beside me as I exhaled slowly.
I didn’t think I’d ever get used to how sensitive the marks were.
I knew which bite belonged to who. My body recognized them by something deeper than memory.
Invisible threads tied beneath each one, tugging softly whenever one of my monsters was near.
I could feel their heightened emotions. I’d probably feel their pain too.
Kiron had told me he felt mine every time I looked at Elias.
I hoped I never felt theirs.
I rubbed Rafael’s bite, and his tether hummed bright and steady even at a distance. With his empathic abilities it was like I had a direct line to him whenever I wanted. The warmth was grounding. He’d be home soon. He wouldn’t miss family dinner.
Elias usually arrived first. He flew in as his raven. Rafe followed later in his car. The thought of Elias landing tonight tightened my spine instead of easing it .
Because this time, I wasn’t letting things slide.
A scrape of claws on wood snapped my attention sharp.
I twisted toward the porch steps just as a small white blur barreled up the boards, all fluff and teeth and chaotic energy. Ghost launched himself straight into my lap. I immediately sank my fingers into his soft fur.
“Where’s Kiron?”
Ghost’s ears twitched as he glanced toward the trees, head tilting like he was listening for him. I followed his gaze, frowning at the treeline, half-expecting to see a very naked Ki coming up the drive.
But he didn’t.
For some reason, my dragon mate didn’t want me to see his beast. I wasn’t exactly sure why.
Maybe he was afraid I’d reject him. The thought sat wrong in my chest, sharp and uncomfortable.
The one time I’d asked, the tension and anxiety that slammed through our bond had been instant and overwhelming.
So I’d let it go. For now, he could keep his secret.
He would show me eventually. I had another mate I needed to worry about first anyway.
“I know you told Eli about the swing, Harlow,” I said, scratching behind his ear.
His blue eyes lifted to mine, and even in fox form I could tell he wasn’t apologetic in the slightest. I sighed and leaned my head back against the swing chain, letting it creak softly beneath us.
“Don’t get me wrong. I appreciated your meddling when it came to Nikolai. But with Elias… it’s different. ”
My fingers sank deeper into his fur, the repetitive motion grounding me. “I need to do this one myself. He’s got some explaining to do if I’m going to move past what happened between us.” My throat tightened. “He let me be alone for a year, Low. We can’t just pretend that didn’t happen. ”
Ghost huffed softly, tail flicking once against my leg.
The bond shivered between us, tension humming low and sharp.
One second Ghost was sprawled across my lap, and the next there was the harsh sound of shifting—fur giving way to skin—and Harlow crouched before me.
Moonlight caught on his pale body, making the ink of his tattoos look darker, sharper. I didn’t even pretend not to look.
My mate was sexy as hell.
He caught me staring and winked, a soft chuckle leaving him as my stomach flipped. He grabbed a pair of pants from the bin on the porch and pulled them on, and I pouted when my favorite view disappeared.
“Hey,” he teased, flashing that wicked smile I loved so much. “You’re the one who sounded like this needed to be serious.” Then his expression shifted. “And if I’m being real? I am so done being the voice of reason.” His lips curved. “I’d much rather be the one making my mate have orgasms.”
I snorted. “You’re impossible.”
“You love it, little vixen. Our bond tells on you.” He stepped closer, crowding my space until my pulse jumped. His fingers brushed over the spot beneath my sweatshirt where his mark burned warm and bright. I moaned at the simple touch.
His teasing softened. He reached up, tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, and kissed me—slow and devastatingly familiar.
“Fine,” he murmured against my lips. “I’ll be a good boy and let you make up with the raven on your own terms.” A smile tugged at his mouth. “But I expect to be rewarded later.”
I laughed softly and smacked his shoulder playfully. “Thanks for understanding.”
His face went serious then, the teasing grin gone. “You know I’d do anything you asked of me, right, little vixen? ”
I nodded, my heart thumping with love and affection as the tether between us hummed in agreement.
Then the air shifted. A shadow passed over the porch as wings beat overhead. My spine went tight, nerves sparking sharply. A raven settled on the railing beside us, black feathers gleaming under the porch light, head cocking as it looked down at me.
My breath caught. This was it. This was the moment I was finally going to know why Elias did what he did.
Harlow followed my gaze. “And that’s my cue,” he said lightly. He leaned in, stealing one last peck from my lips. Then he turned toward the raven and gave a two-fingered salute.
“May the odds be ever in your favor.” As he stepped toward the door, his voice dropped, just for me. “I’ll give you space. Come find me inside if you need backup.”
I nodded, grateful, unable to tear my eyes away from the bird.
Harlow slipped into the house, leaving me alone with the creak of the swing, the sound of my own breathing, and the soft rustle of feathers above.
I stood slowly and tipped my head back, meeting the raven’s dark, knowing eyes.
I exhaled, steadying myself. “Elias. If you could shift please. I think it’s time we talked.”