Page 61 of Siren’s Secret

“Promise me, mate.”

“I—” He still wanted to be her mate? The bond being in place wasn’t an accident or result of him lacking the power to sever it all the way through?

Irishen surged forward, his lips crushed to hers, and his hand wrapped around her hair. Wave found herself pushed against Jarred when Irishen took over. This time, his kiss, or his hold on her, wasn’t soft. It was rough, full of biting ice and demand.

Wherever his power stroked over Wave, it felt possessive, a demand that she had to give in, give him access. Irishen kept pushing at their bond until Wave let him in. His feelings rushed through and blindsided her.

Worry. Need. Wonder. Adoration. Fear. Lust. Possession. So many emotions, too fast, too strongly for Wave to keep track of. Not one of them was regret over their bond. Where she had torn them apart, he was clinging on.

His ice coursed over her skin, under her skin, along with the bond. All Wave could do was soak it in. It felt like a balm over a burn. It was a way of communication that she couldn’t deny or misunderstand. His magic didn’t lie. It wanted her, and the male wielding it was willing to fight anyone, even herself, to keep the mate bond.

“Always, mate.” Irishen’s tone brooked no argument. He wasn’t letting go or backing down or running away from her or her mess of a life. He tried to make that clear in every possible way. Fix the mistake his unguarded reaction had caused.

For just a second, memories of iron closing around her throat resurfaced and then the ice soothed those feelings away too. Never again, it seemed to whisper to her.

Wave wasn’t sure for how long she was lost in that feeling, but eventually, Irishen pulled back, breathing heavily.

“I’m not letting you go, mate. I will cling to this bond with everything I have.”

“But—”

“I claimed you, love,” Jarred added softly. “You carry my bite and I can assure you that the marks on my neck won’t fade. Ever.”

Her bond with Jarred thrummed and she couldn’t argue those words or the conviction behind them. Neither could she deny the spark of hope and happiness that spread through her. Irishen chose that moment to pour more power into their bond, making it glow in her mind.

“I’ll do anything to mend it, mate.”

“You don’t think this—that I’m a mistake?” Her voice broke at the end and both males vibrated with fury as they erupted.

“No!”

“Never!”

She wanted to—no, she didn’t want to argue. She desperately wanted to believe them. Both of them. And the bonds inside of her were telling her the truth. It was impossible to lie and deceive in the bond. They wanted her. The bonds. Everything.

The sob that broke free hurt her throat, but there were two shoulders to lean on. Arms around her, supporting, sheltering her. Two voices murmuring soft reassurances and encouragement to her.

So, Wave gave up. She let go of the doubt and guilt. She pushed aside the voices and memories and focused on the males pouring everything they had into the bonds. Her mate. Her claimed.

“Okay,” she said, sniffling. “Okay.”

Jarred wiped her tears away and Irishen magically had a handkerchief so she could blow her nose. Slowly, she calmed down and with that, a new need rose inside of her. She wanted—no, needed—to solidify those bonds. She needed them to make her body and mind believe that everything really was all right.

Her lips sought theirs and she clawed at the clothes separating them.

“I will not fuck my mate for the first time when she’s emotionally in shreds.” Irishen sighed after he pulled away from yet another breathtaking kiss. She felt the urge to protest, but then his lips were over hers again, teasing. “But if you’d like to fuck your Claimed, I’d be happy to watch.”

“Way to put me on the spot,” Jarred grumbled. Then he moved Wave’s hair out of the way and kissed her neck. “Would you like me to fill that needy pussy, love?”

She couldn’t think. The bond with Risha kept thrumming. The bond with Jarred pulsed. She wanted Risha to make her stop thinking. She needed Jarred to be her rock. A safe haven.

“I think my little mate needs a bit of help,” Risha said, a smile tugging at his lips. He gave Wave one more kiss and then jerked away and all the way up from the couch. Had they held her there the whole night?

A pitiful whine broke free from Wave at the loss of their physical contact.

“Shh, mate. I’m just going to get you naked so that Jarred can ease that need.” He kneeled on the floor and tugged her loaned shorts down easily. Then, without a fuss, he slapped Jarred’s thigh. “Up!”

Jarred’s hips rose, dislodging Wave, and Irishen pulled Jarred’s pants and boxers down too, like it was the most natural thing in the world. They both still had their shirts on, but Jarred took care of Wave’s in a second.