Page 66 of Binding His Fated Mates

Lacey gave me a you asked for it sort of look. “You’re too identical. You literally finish each other’s sentences. And I’m pretty sure if you didn’t try to stop yourselves, you’d do it way more often. You seem to somehow always know what Hunter is thinking and vice versa. Like you two share a brain.” Her expression darkened and she added, “And you’ve both hated Daniel since the moment you first got here, but he’s kind of hard to hate, so it had to be something big, right? Especially since it’s pretty obvious you guys share a history.”

When I just stared at her blankly, she threw up her hands in exasperation, shaking her head.

“Daniel came here out of the blue, to a werewolf pack he didn’t know, and begged Jeremy to turn you both. And then Jeremy actually did it. He only would’ve done that if he had no other choice. Plus, Daniel is a powerful warlock, which means it isn’t so far-fetched. The pieces all add up.” She paused, eyeing me. “I’m blonde, not stupid.”

I continued staring, completely at a loss for words. The best I could manage was, “Oh. Who have you told?”

Lacey rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to tell anyone your business, Lee. I’m not an asshole. Even if you and Hunter totally have it coming. And for the record, it is weird. But if this is what Daniel wants—and he’s been mooning over both of you for two full years, so it’s safe to say he does—then I’m on board. But only because I love him. I won’t hesitate to rip either of you to shreds if you hurt him.”

“Thanks.” I paused, then amended that to, “And for taking care of him. When we couldn’t.”

“When you chose not to,” she corrected. “Here’s how it’s going to be. I will tolerate your presence—both of you. But if you and Hunter break Daniel’s heart, if you freeze him out again, if you do anything to make him feel like he’s not enough… I will make your lives a living hell. And that’s not a threat, Lee. It’s a promise.”

I met her gaze evenly. “You’re right. We treated him badly. And if we hurt him again, I want you to kick our collective asses.”

Lacey’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“We’re not going to hurt him,” I continued. “Not again. He’s—” I paused, choosing my words carefully. “He’s everything to us, Lacey. And I know that doesn’t erase two years of us acting the way we have. But it’s still the truth.”

She studied me for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then something in it softened, just fractionally.

“I’ll be watching,” she said.

“Good.”

She held my gaze for another beat. Then she nodded once and turned to go.

* * *

I found Hunter and Daniel in the cabin. I’d half-expected them to be arguing, but instead, they were both on the couch watching a movie—judging by the amount of gunfire coming through the speakers when I walked in, it was one Hunter had picked. Or, rather, Daniel was watching the movie while my twin dozed with his head on the warlock’s shoulder. Daniel’s free hand was in Hunter’s hair, absently threading through it, and the look on his face was one of quiet, unguarded contentment.

He looked up when I came in. “How’s Lacey? I saw her lying in wait.”

“Protective,” I said. I considered adding the bombshell that she’d figured out that Hunter and I weren’t actually twins, but we could discuss that later, once I’d had time to process it. Besides, I didn’t want to disrupt the contentment I saw in my mate’s eyes.

Daniel winced. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. She’s right to look out for you.” I settled down beside Daniel on the couch, moving gently so I wouldn’t disrupt Hunter. “And she’s probably filled with rage at both Hunter and me, so I’m sure she’ll be extra lethal tonight. There’s that.”

“I guess that’s a good thing,” Daniel said doubtfully. His fingers continued their slow path through Hunter’s hair. “We’ll need to be ready.”

I hesitated. I wanted to bring up the way Daniel had offered himself up as bait, but I thought better of it. After all, it would take time for Hunter and me to show him—through our actions—that he was worth everything to us. That he was probably the most worthy member of the whole damn pack and that he deserved every bit of love we could give him. Words wouldn’t cut it. Actions were what was needed.

Was I doing it again? Deliberating, when I ought to have been acting? Hunter might’ve said something. I wasn’t sure I knew anymore.

Either way, I let the conversation die and spent my time looking at the television screen without really watching the movie—with Hunter sleeping against Daniel, the softness of the moment with the early afternoon light warm on the cabin walls—and I took stock.

The magical surges were settling. The Mara had another weakness, and the pack had the weapons to exploit it. Tamrand had given us exactly what we needed. Harris was no doubt already working with Reed to build a tactical plan for tonight.

And Daniel was here with us, alive and whole. And healing.

And Hunter—my brother, my other half, the person I’d watched burn with anger for two years—was asleep on Daniel’s shoulder with an expression of total peace. His shields were fully down.

And I—

Yeah, I was happy.

Not the “happy enough” or “happy, all things considered” that I’d always settled for since becoming Lee. This was actual, unqualified, reckless happiness. Embodied happiness.