Page 157 of Top Shelf

“They’re my choice too.”

Glancing back at my parents, I take great pride in blowing up the last of their world by adding, “For the record, I’m notdating Lucian.” Relief flashes across my mother’s eyes before I destroy it. “I’m dating all three of them, and I intend to keep dating them whether or not I come to work for the Serpents.”

My mother gasps, clutching at her chest like she’s about to keel over from shock.

My father looks like someone has physically removed the ground beneath his feet. For the first time, there is true anger in his voice. “Gwendolyn?—”

“No,” I cut across him. “It’s my turn to talk. I’m done being interrupted. Done being an afterthought. Done being given zero consideration.I’mmaking the decisions now, and this conversation is over.”

The silence that follows feels endless.

“This has been much more entertaining than I thought it would be,” Lucian interjects when it’s clear neither of them is going to be able to string a sentence together any time soon. “But I think it’s about time we took off.” He gestures toward the door, and I couldn’t agree with him more.

“Enjoy the rest of your night,” I tell my parents before sliding one hand into Silas’s, the other into Lucian’s, and with Ronan protectively at my back, we walk away.

As I slide into the limo, Silas tucks a piece of paper into my hand. Safely ensconced in the back seat, I unfold it.

Four words stare back at me.

Finally showed your fangs.

My eyes sting. I can practically hear the pride behind his words as I give him a watery smile.

Sitting here between the three men I chose?—

The three men who chose me?—

I realize something.

I’m not becoming the woman my parents wanted.

I’m becoming the womanI want to be.

And for the first time in my life, that choice belongs to me.

36

WREN

I wait as longas it takes for the limo to pull away from the curb, then I pounce. Adrenaline courses through me as I launch myself at Silas, sitting opposite me in the limousine. I’m riding a high from finally standing up to my parents. From finally accepting that I truly am no longer alone.

Ronan stood up to his mother, and all three of them had my back when it came to my parents. They defended me without stealing my power, and it only makes me fall that little bit further in love with each of them. And seeing the pride on their faces…reading Silas’s note.

I can’t hold myself back.

Thank God for Silas’s fast reflexes because he catches me, his hands sliding to my hips as I straddle his waist. The second he touches me, something inside me loosens. All night, I’ve been holding myself together. Holding my ground. Holding my breath.

Now, I don’t have to.

My lips collide with his in a clashing of teeth and pent-up emotion that has no other outlet. He must feel it too, because hekisses me back just as hungrily, the two of us tumbling headfirst into this inescapable desperation.

“Goddamn,” someone growls behind me. “Hot as sin.”

Heat ratchets up in the limo in time to my building need. I feel half wild as I attack Silas’s suit. I don’t have the patience to deal with his buttons as I claw at his shirt before giving up and moving to his pants.

“Need you,” I pant between kisses, ensuring I peel my eyes open so he can see that I mean it.

He’s already watching me, pupils blown and cheeks flushed.