“Why were you in her room?” I snapped.
“Calm down. I haven’t fucked her.” He raised the glass to take a drink and paused. “Yet.”
“Not helping, asshole,” Cade commented mildly when I renewed my struggle to get free. “I was just about to explain the bet to Ryker.”
“Bet?” I went still. “What bet?”
Bastian flipped over two more glasses with his free hand and poured amber liquor into each of them. “Have a drink with me and I’ll tell you. You can try to punch me afterwards, but don’t spill the alcohol. This is premium shit Kieran got for me.”
“I really don’t know what you see in that Moroi,” Cade huffed. “He’s exhausting.”
“First, Kieran understands the burden of perfection.” Bastian smiled. “And second, he’s a fount of information, thanks to his having friends in all the right places.”
“You mean he had fuck buddies like you all over the Moroi realm.” Cade slightly loosened his hold on me, and when I didn’t do anything, he let go entirely and walked over to Bastian, who held a glass out for him.
“Indeed. Kier and I used to have all sorts of fun sharing various beauties between us.” Bastian’s expression turned mournful. “But then he had to go and get himself mated, so he’s less fun now.”
“Pretty sure he’s having all the fun with Samara these days.” Cade smirked. “She’s prettier than you.”
“And less annoying.” I joined them near the bar, accepting my glass from Bastian, who had gone back to smirking.
“Rynn might be pissy at the moment, but it’s for the best that we all understand where things stand.” Bastian downed the rest of his drink. “Nothing has really changed. She’ll never really be a member of our pack, but she’s still stuck with us. Just as we are with her. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make the best out of this situation.”
“Bastian thinks he can get Rynn to sleep with him. Like actually sleep in his bed of her own free will,” Cade clarified. “I think she’s going to cut his dick off.” He shrugged. “But in either case, it’ll probably make Rynn happy, and despite my not trusting her, I don’t actually wish her any harm and I’m hoping she can find a way to be content here.”
“And, what?” My grip tightened around the glass. “Bastian’s dick is going to make her happy?”
“I mean . . .” Bastian tilted his head back and forth.
“It’s not the worst thing if Rynn develops a relationship with one”—Cade glanced at me—“or two of us. Obviously, it’s not going to be Warrick, and I . . .” He trailed off before shaking his head. “There is nothing I can offer Rynn, nor am I willing to chance repeating the past while our realm is on the brink of falling apart.”
Cade had been in exactly two serious relationships that I was aware of, and both had resulted in him almost being assassinated at the hand of his lover. Rynn calling him closed off earlier had been an understatement. Unlike Bastian, Cade didn’t do casual flings, so he’d just sworn off relationships altogether.
Given that he still had scars from the last one, I couldn’t really blame him.
“Which leaves you and me.” Bastian grinned before topping off my drink. “And you know I love you, pup, but you have zero chance with Rynn. I mean, she tries to claw your face off if the two of you are in the room together for more than a minute.”
I almost told him that I had gotten there first, but I immediately squashed it. After all my threats to Rynn about telling the others about us, I found I didn’t want them to know. Bastian was bored and loved a challenge, that’s all this bet was to him. I believed Cade did want Rynn to be happy here, but Bastian didn’t care. If I told him about Rynn, he’d just make a joke of it. Plus there was how Rynn and I had left things . . .
“I will never choose you.”
My jaw clenched at the memory of the words she’d thrown at me. What if she chose Bastian . . . and only Bastian? Which meant he’d break her heart, and then what? What if Rynn found a way to leave us once and for all?
“Don’t be upset, little wolf.” Bastian reached out and nudged my shoulder. “You know I don’t mind sharing. Plus I’m excited that someone has finally caught your eye.” His eyes lit up. “Maybe your first time can be a hate fuck.”
“Fuck off, Bas.” I downed my glass in one gulp and then snatched the bottle off the counter before stalking back over to the chairs, his laughter chasing me.
“I’m only teasing.” Bastian hopped off the counter and claimed the seat next to me while Cade settled in the chair across from us.
“Don’t tell her,” I said tightly, my gaze locked on the bottle. “Don’t tell Rynn I’ve never been with anyone.”
Rynn had assumed I slept around, and I hadn’t corrected her. The first time we’d slept together had happened so fast, and then she’d immediately shoved me into the water. She’d taken off and refused to speak to me for almost a week. By then, it’d just felt awkward to bring it up.
In the back of my mind, I also worried Rynn would want someone more experienced, but based on the way she screamed my name, I was confident I was doing things right, even if I didn’t have anything to compare it to.
“I won’t,” Bastian said quietly. I looked up to find him staring at me. For once, there was not a trace of arrogance or mischief on his face. “I’m an asshole, but I’d never do that to you.”
I jerked my head in a thankful nod, and we broke our stare-off. Like all teenage Velesians, I’d gone through a phase where I’d wanted to fuck anything that moved. Unlike other Velesians though, I’d been battling for control over my instincts that had perceived almost everyone as a threat. The possibility of losing my temper over minor transgressions had been too great, so I’d stayed in the stronghold for years, only leaving to go on periodical hunting expeditions with Warrick because he was entertained when I snapped and tried to kill him.
