“Stop,” I told them.
They were too lost in their furious energies to hear me, their duel intensifying with every passing second.
I went to my knees, calling on that power once more and allowing it to consume me entirely, needing it to protect meandmy mates.
It culminated, curled, and grew inside me.
Zeph cursed as Zakkai struck him with something harmful. It only seemed to enrage both men more, heightening their need to declare victory over the other.
“Enough!” I shouted, releasing my energy into both of them and knocking them to the ground.
They weren’t prepared for my reaction, too focused on each other to notice me. I used the final vestiges of my strength to stand, my hands on my hips as I glowered at them both.
“No more,” I stated, power flickering around me in warning as I replenished my depleted reserves directly from the dark source. It was foreign and cold, but necessary because my earth magic couldn’t refuel the blackened part of me.
Zakkai’s lips curled faintly, his white hair a tangled mess around his shoulders. “Well done, Aflora.”
“That was a fucking test?” Zeph sounded pissed.
Zakkai merely lifted a shoulder. “Does it matter? It worked.”
“I’m going to kill you,” Zeph threatened.
Zakkai pushed up to his feet and shook his head. “You’ll try,” he taunted, moving to stand behind me. “You’ll fail.” He kissed my neck, his lips going to my ear. “You’re burning so bright right now, Flora. Just like a star.”
I shivered beneath his praise, but a bolt of irritation still lingered in my veins. “You pushed me too far today.”
“I pushed you just far enough,” he countered against my ear, his tongue licking the shell before pressing another kiss to my thundering pulse. “And you were magnificent.”
Zeph left the floor and positioned himself across from us, his fury a palpable spike against my senses. “You need to learn to fucking communicate.”
“I’ve been communicating. You’ve not been listening,” Zakkai murmured, his mouth drawing a path to my shoulder. “You taste like darkness, sweet star.”
His touch sent a shiver down my spine, his hard body cradling my back as he more firmly pressed against me. He was shirtless—something all my mates seemed to do daily now fortraining—which allowed me to feel his heat directly against my skin.
“So decadent,” he hummed, licking back up my neck to my ear. “You feel it, right? The power? The intensity?”
“Yes.” I swallowed, my gaze on Zeph. “But I’m not sure I forgive you for provoking it.”
He chuckled against my neck. “I know. However, you will.” He slid his arms around my abdomen, holding me to him. “Would you like me to worship you with my tongue, my queen?”
“I…”
He nibbled my pulse. “We can make the Guardian watch,” he suggested.
Zeph narrowed his gaze and took a step forward, his hand finding my hip. “Or maybe I’ll makeyouwatch.”
My heart skipped a beat at the intensity pouring off of them.
Zakkai might have provoked that duel to test my resolve and power, but Zeph had eagerly engaged back with the intent to kill.
A dangerous game.
A lethal provocation.
They were too strong, too dominant, to share. Yet I couldn’t pick between them. They were my mates. My future. They owned equal parts of my heart, and I needed them to accept that, to accept each other.
I went to my toes to kiss Zeph before he could speak again, my teeth dragging along his lower lip and demanding he reciprocate. He didn’t right away, his grip tightening against me in warning. Then my tongue slipped into his mouth, and some of his tension left his jaw.
