Page 123 of Veiled

Tyr lets out a low sound, vibration rattling my ribs—a purr, if a creature like him even can purr.

“You are mine, Little Faren.” he says it into my mind, the feeling both alien and like it’s always belonged.

“Faren? My name is Annalise.”

“I do not care what they call you. You are my Faren.”

“Wait, holy shit, did you hear me? I don’t think I said that out loud.” I don’t know how I started talking to him in my mind, but I am.

He snorts another blast of heat in my face, but it's not a threat like the one before. He’s laughing at me.

“Yes, I hear you. In the beginning, it’ll be easier when we are close together, but soon we’ll be able to talk from anywhere.”

Hades roars again, and I can feel Tyr roll his eyes in my mind.

“Your husband and his bonded are threatening to kill me if I don’t free you.”

It’s only then that I realize no one could see what has just happened.

“Maybe we should reassure them that I haven’t been chewed up? I’d prefer no one dies on my account today.”

“Fine. Then maybe Vivint will shut up, too,” he agrees. And while I don’t know who Vivint is, it seems like something that can wait for another time.

“Can we talk more about what this all means?”

“Yes. We will meet when we don’t have to listen to their temper tantrums,” he says, his wings pulling back and the sun suddenly blinding me.

“Ana, Honey, you’re ok,” Aiden says as he and Matt rush toward me.

“Tell me you aren’t married to both of them,” Tyr sighs as if they have already exhausted him.

As I laugh back to him, it escapes my lips too. This internal conversation thing is going to take some time to adjust to.

“No, I’m not married to either of them.”

Tyr’s head hovers just inches above my shoulder. Protective. Possessive.

“Aiden, on the right, is my boyfriend, and Matt, on the left, is my best friend,” I clarify. “They’re safe.”

Tyr lifts his head slightly, a hesitant acceptance of the men pulling me into their arms.

Matt doesn’t waste a second, “I swear to the gods, Lee, if you ever pull something like that again—”

A low growl comes from over my shoulder in warning, but Matt just smiles and winks up at Tyr, “You’ll understand what I’m saying soon enough. Her self-preservation skills leave a lot to be desired when you’re hell-bent on keeping her alive.”

“Are you sure he’s not your husband, too?”

“Yup! Positive—and he’s not exactly wrong,” I admit.

Lorenson amplifies her voice, reminding us all we’re still in class and we need to start mounting before we all get marked down.

Aiden gives me a long, slow kiss. His fear still palpable against my lips.

A throat clears beside us, “Since it seems you two are already well acquainted, Recruit Wells, why don’t you instruct Recruit Corvin on how to mount?” She asks, and then adds with a teasing lilt, “The dragon.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Aiden’s tone is playful, nothing like I’d expect from him when talking with an instructor.

Lorenson shakes her head before continuing, “Recruit Corvin, congratulations on being the earliest bonded of your class.”