Chapter 20
Ever
Fucking hell, is the AC broken?
Reluctantly, I open my eyes, not at all in the mood to deal with that headache on top of the one pounding in my skull.
But maintenance worries evaporate in an instant as my pillow mumbles something.
Heart hammering, I hesitantly lift my head off of Myles’s chest. He’s still wearing a shirt, which is a good sign, but as an arm wraps around my stomach and pulls me back into a very naked chest, my anxiety comes back in full force.
Careful not to wake anyone, I glance over my shoulder to find Arson passed out at my back, sandwiching me between him and his brother.
I've never gotten that drunk before; I know better. Too many terrible things can happen, and nobody would even notice I was gone.
But you felt comfortable enough around them to get shitfaced. Maybe that whole mate mark thing magically lowers your inhibitions around each other? Fools you into thinking they’re safe?
Dreading the answer, I run a hand down my body, mentally sighing in relief that I’m still in the same clothes as yesterday, and there’s no ache between my legs. And with the monster Myles is hiding, I'd definitely be feeling it the next morning if I slept with him.
They’re your mates. You’re allowed to sleep with them if you want. Hell, Arson practically encouraged taking them for a test ride.
I glance between them more critically this time, memories from last night coming back in pieces.
It was as easy as breathing to let my guard down around them.
But was that because of them, or whatever magic tied us together?
How do you even juggle a relationship with multiple people without someone feeling jealous or left out?
Arson doesn’t strike me as someone that holds back, consequences be damned. Yet he never acted jealous of his brother. If anything, he was pushing us closer at every turn.
A million things could go wrong if I go down this path, but what if for once I let myself consider… what if things went right?
Extracting myself from Arson’s grip takes ages, but I eventually make it out of bed without waking either of them, sneaking out of the room in search of a bathroom.
As I’m washing my hands, I catch sight of my reflection and grimace.
Gargling some mouthwash and borrowing the brush on the counter, I pull myself together as best as I can.
Drinking half my weight in water from the tap takes a bit of the edge off my throbbing headache, but as I creep downstairs, I still feel hungover as hell.
And embarrassed. Really fucking embarrassed.
Most of the night is a blur, but I can clearly remember Arson carrying Myles and me home when we couldn’t walk a straight line.
Practically dragging Myles onto the floor with me to snuggle and watch movies as an excuse to keep touching him.
Ledger tucking me into bed because I was such a mess.
God, I can only imagine what I might have said while that trashed.
It has to be magic making them interested in me. I sure haven’t made a good impression on any of these men.
“Sneaking out?” a familiar voice rumbles, and I close my eyes in defeat.
“I know I messed up last night, but please don’t fire me. I never get that drunk, this week has just been… too much. I swear it won’t happen again- ”
I cut off with a squeak as Ledger spins me around, heavy hands on my shoulders to hold me in place.
“Clearly, we need to set some things straight.” Without waiting to hear my protest, he picks me up and slings me over his shoulder, stomping down the hallway.
“What the hell!? Put me down, I can walk.”
He scoffs. “Yeah, and you were going to walk right out the front door.” We enter the kitchen, and he sets me down at a table loaded down with food, the blood rushing back to my head as he scoots my chair in.
“So you’re going to eat breakfast to soak up whatever alcohol is still churning in your gut, take something to help your headache, and we’re going to discuss our situation like adults instead of running away. ”
Embarrassment threatens to burn my face off, but my stomach chooses that moment to growl loudly.
And as much as I want to run home and bury my head under the blankets in denial or suffocate, whichever comes first, I know he’s right.
Running is my first instinct; the only way I’ve been able to protect myself over the years.
But I came here to build something better, and that means putting in the work and having the hard conversations.
It just sucks and I don’t wanna.
With a sigh, I grab the white pills set out next to a glass of water. “Fine, I’ll stay. But only because I’m a sucker for free food.”
Strands of dark brown hair escape his hair tie to frame his face as Ledger shakes his head with a chuckle and grabs an empty plate. “Whatever you have to tell yourself to sleep at night. Anything in particular sound good?”
I reach to take it from him. “You’re already feeding me, you don’t have to serve my plate too.”
He holds it out of my reach and lifts an eyebrow. “First lesson on shifters; taking care of people is in my blood. But my mate? No way in hell you’re serving yourself when I’m around. If I had my way, you’d be sitting on my lap while I fed you.”
The heat in my face travels lower with every growly word out of his mouth. Guess we’re diving right in on that conversation.
When I don’t tell him what I want, he loads up a plate with a bit of everything and leaves long enough to pour me a cup of coffee. Using it as an excuse to put off that talk a little longer, by the time I’ve finished off my coffee, the meds have kicked in and I’m feeling more like myself.
I take a bite of bacon and decide to just go for it.
What’s the worst that can happen? I get information, and if he starts spouting off that I belong to him now, I can still skip town.
Nothing has to change unless I want it to.
And maybe… maybe I’m interested in testing the waters a bit.
Relationships are hard. Fate cutting through all the bullshit to deliver me a few guys that wouldn’t dream of cheating on me, that think having a mate is a gift they should fight to protect and take care of, is a universal cheat code I can get behind.
“Okay, so let me get this straight. The multiple mates thing is legit then, Arson wasn't screwing with me? How does that even work? Don’t you get jealous? I know I’d be pissed if I found you snuggled up with some other woman in my bed.”
He positively beams, flashing that panty-melting dimple.
“Possessive is a fantastic look on you, my sweet mate.” Ignoring my glare, he loads up two more plates, wrapping them in plastic wrap and setting them aside before grabbing one for himself and taking a seat across from me.
“You really think I’d be upset that my mate spent the night in my bed, where I knew you were safe?
” At my tentative nod, he snorts. “Fuck no, that’s everything I’ve always dreamed of.
Am I jealous that you were sandwiched between Myles and Arson?
Only that I need to get a bigger bed so we don’t have to trade off nights with you in the future.
But having you in my space, my scent mixed with theirs on you, soothed any real jealousy.
I don’t need to be your one and only, Ever. I just want to be yours, too.”
Leaving me to mull over his declaration, he takes a few bites before continuing.
“As for Arson, I’m not sure what he said; Fates only know what logic is going on in that demon’s head some days.
But yes, it’s the norm for supernaturals to form bond groups.
Women are far too coveted in our society, and not every place is as safe as Mercy Ridge. ”
Pausing, Ledger gives me a pointed look until I take another bite before speaking.
“There isn’t a government specifically for our kind.
We’re held to the same laws as humans, with an unspoken rule of not revealing ourselves to humans unless you’re taking one as your mate and bringing them into the fold.
Outside of sanctuary cities, that means the strongest supe in the area influences the territory. ”
I frown. “Like warlords?”
He wavers a hand in front of him. “In a manner of speaking, I suppose. Think of it this way. If women are going missing in a city, the police will treat it like a human trafficking case or gang activity, that sort of thing. They might catch the criminals and arrest them. Most mysts will recognize the signs and many will move away from the area to protect their mates, daughters, and sisters. But if there’s a dragon shifter in the city, he could step in and eliminate the threat, which would make people feel safe and more women flock to the area.
Most criminals would avoid the area because they’re scared of pissing off a dragon and decide it isn’t worth the risk. ”
I nod slowly, catching on. “But if the dragon is a shitty person, he has a whole playground to terrorize, and nobody is able to do anything about it until someone stronger comes along and knocks him down a peg. So unless the police have enough to track them down and do something about it, there could be an entire gang of powerful assholes abducting supernatural women and assaulting them, or selling them off to the highest bidder. And it’s harder for a good guy to wipe them out and take over their territory, because all that murder will draw human attention, let alone using abilities in public.
No support for doing the right thing, and it’s not even a job they get paid for. ”