“Yes,”Severinsaid again, softer this time.
Ravik swallowed hard.
“Good.”
That one word seemed to echo through the suite.
Cassie looked at him, hardly daring to breathe.
“Good?”she repeated.“Really?”
The bigBeastKindredturned to face her.Hisgolden eyes were still shadowed, but there was no denial in them now—no running, no door slammed shut between him and the truth.
“Yes,” he said.“Good.IfI’mgoing to do this,I’mgoing to look at both of you while it happens.”
Severin made a low sound andCassiefelt tears sting her eyes again, because apparently she was just going to keep crying for the rest of her life.Shetried to blink them back, but one escaped anyway.Raviksaw it at once and crossed the room to kneel beside the bed.
“Don’t cry, baby,” he rumbled.
“I’m not crying becauseI’msad,” she whispered.“I’mactuallyhappy.”
His expression softened.
“Good.BecauseI’mnot going anywhere.We’regoing to be together—all three of us.Ipromise.”
Severin came back to the bed too, sitting on her other side.Fora moment, none of them said anything.Theysimply sat together, knowing what came next and letting the weight of it settle over them.
This wasn’t like the bunker,Cassiethought.Therewas no longer any serious infection—no desperation for the future.Thiswas still for the vaccine, yes.Cassieknew that—they all did.Butit was more than that now.
This was choice—a choice for the three of them to be together forever.
Cassie looked fromRaviktoSeverinand swallowed hard.
“I want this,” she said, before either of them could ask.“Iwant both of you.Iwant theBondif it happens.Idon’t want to pretend this is only about the vaccine, because it isn’t.Notfor me.”
Severin’s pale blue eyes softened.
“Not for me either,” he said.
Ravik drew in a rough breath.
“I’m still afraid,” he admitted.
Cassie reached for his hand.
“I know.”
“I don’t know how to be this male yet.”Hisfingers closed around hers, big and warm and trembling slightly.“Theone who can take both of you and not care what anyone thinks.”
“Then don’t be him perfectly,” she whispered.“Justbe himhonestly.”
A sound that was almost a laugh broke out of him.
“Gods, you make it sound so fucking simple.”
“It’s not simple.”Cassielooked from him toSeverin.“Butit doesn’t have to be impossible—as long as we stick together.”
Severin reached across her and laid his hand overRavik’s.Fora second, theBeastKindredwent still.Thenhe turned his hand and grippedSeverin’stoo.
