“What did Ijustsay?” I seethe, stomping back to the other side of the balcony. “I think I’ve more than proved I’m capable of protecting myself when needed. If in doubt, refer back to your once broken spine.”
Connor looks at me for a long moment, then at Donovan for explanation.
Relaxing slightly, Donovan crosses his arms over his chest and shifts his weight to one side.” We were sparring earlier, and she magic kicked me into a damn tree. Cracked the tree and snapped my spine. I was fucking paralyzed until she healed me. What do you have against trees, anyways?”
“I didn’tmeanto kick you that hard, and I don’t hate trees. It’s not my fault they’re everywhere!” I complain, making a sweeping gesture to the forest at large.
“Poor Angel. So many trees to destroy, so little time,” he teases, then glances at Connor, before looking back at me. He sighs and says, “If I’m honest, I’d rather fight his wolf over you. I have a chance of winning the fight with Connor. You can literally explode things with a thought.”
Connor nods and shrugs in a way that implies he is both not offended with Donovan’s statement and also agrees. Apparently he, too, would prefer a face off with Donovan instead of me. Not knowing exactly what to do with that information, I decide to move on.
In frustration, I drag my hands down my face while announcing, “Just so we’re clear, no murder. It’s going to be rule number one of… of whatever this is. I don’t need you two killing anyone to defend my honor or whatever.”
“No murder, got it,” Donovan retorts with a two finger salute. “Not that I’m the one you should be worried about. I already told you I was fine with sharing.”
“I thought you just meant with Nolan?” I question, fidgeting with my sleeves.
Connor tilts his head to the side, looking at Donovan. “She knows about you and Nolan?”
“Youknow about him and Nolan?” I blurt, then roll my eyes when Connor taps his nose. “Right. Super wolf smelling powers. Is there anything you don’t know?”
He shrugs with an expression of ‘how would I know what I don’t know?’
“You know you all drive me just a little crazy, right?” I ask, my tone heavily laced with sarcasm as I hold up a hand with my thumb and forefinger about an inch apart.
“Only a little?” Donovan taunts, smirking at me. “We’re losing our touch.”
“Keep that up, and it’ll be a long time before you get to touch anything fun,” I shoot back with a raised brow.
Donovan quickly looks over at Connor. When he sees that Connor is wearing a ‘I didn’t say it, so don’t lump me with him’ face instead of an ‘I’m going to kill you for thinking about touching my mate’ face, the understanding that Connor really won’t try to maim or murder him sinks in, and the last remaining tension visibly drains from his shoulders.
“Anyway,” I blurt, trying to get back to what I meant to tell them in the first place. “I didn’t just bring you guys out to confess about the, uh, kissing. The fact is, I have no idea what I’m doing, and my life is… a lot right now, so I can’t…” I huff, flapping my arms at my side. “I need things to be normal, okay? I need to be able to just be myself and you both to be yourselves. Until we save Felix, I don’t have room in my brain to worry about what this is or how I’m supposed to be around you.”
Connor internalizes my words, and I can sense him puzzling over them and trying to figure out what that means in regard to our bond.
“You’re making this more complicated than it needs to be,” Donovan chides, approaching me with a lot more swagger than he’d dare a moment ago. “Always be yourself and don’t worry about labels until you need them. Do what feels right. If that means making out all afternoon instead of doing homework, I’m okay with that.”
“I’m sure you are,” I retort with heavy sarcasm.
“Mi reina,” Connor murmurs, walking toward me with his hand held out. “Do you love me?”
“Yes. I told you I did,” I remind him, taking his hand, our fingers instinctually twining together.
“Do you love him?” he inquires plainly, with a subtle head gesture toward Donovan who’s standing at my other side.
“Yes,” I confess, feeling guilt writhe inside me because I don’t want to hurt him, but I can’t deny what I feel.
He nods, then after another controlled breath, he states, “And… we love you. That’s all that matters.”
“How about the idiots inside?” Donovan questions, braving another few steps closer to me,but still keeping his hands to himself.
“Yeah, them too,” I answer on a sigh, rubbing my face with my free hand and realizing my nose is cold. I hunch into the flannel and use the sleeve to warm my face.
“How long do you plan to leave them oblivious and twisting in the wind?” he challenges, moving close enough that I can feel the heat coming off of his body.
Sandwiched between these two giants, the night’s chill can’t reach me, and I relax, my arms swinging to my sides. “None of them have said they want to be more than friends.”
Both of them snort in a way that implies that the others’ interest is obvious.
