Page 78 of Bloom in Darkness

Relief hits hard enough that I start laughing before I can stop myself.

"What about the Bloom?"

Caelan’s hand firms at my waist. “The Forge is not squeaky clean, sweetheart. You know that. But Sabine doesn't have anything that's about to put Bryn in handcuffs or shut us down tomorrow. Forrest has people handling what she sent over. I'm not telling you your debt is fake or that the Forge is magically untouchable. I'm telling you she can't use us to make this choice for you."

Caelan looks at the roses in my hand. "Did Silas or Rourke use the same threat?"

"Both. Rourke said the Forge would be under investigation if I didn't choose one of them."

“Then they’re using the same bluff. Forrest already knows what was sent, and Mercer knows why it was sent."

I finally take a full breath. “You’re not paying it.”

Caelan shakes his head. “I know.”

I look at him for a long second, waiting for the loophole. “You really mean that.”

"I listened yesterday. It was painful and unnatural, but I managed."

I snort, and Caelan leans closer. “Can I kiss you?”

"Yes."

He kisses me in the middle of the dance floor. Caelan barely has his mouth on mine before my underwear gets wetter. I make an annoyed sound against his lips because apparently my body has decided subtlety is over. My scent sweetens sharply, and Caelan inhales against my mouth before pulling back barely an inch.

“Sweetheart.”

“What?”

“You smell fucking delicious.”

I close my eyes. “I told you I’m hot. I’m also starting to think my body is trying to ruin this tux.”

His attention drops to my mouth again. “That’s not the tux I’m worried about.”

When the song ends, Bryn is waiting at the edge of the floor with a rose.

I look at the rose and then at Bryn. “You’re seriously giving me your rose, big guy? I slept in your bed last night. You fucked me in it.”

His ears go faintly red, but he keeps the flower held out between us. “Still giving you the rose.”

I take it and kiss his cheek. Caelan offers his a few minutes later with a ridiculous little bow that makes me laugh.

By the time the formal return begins, I'm holding six roses, with Bryn's and Caelan's stems tucked together in my right hand.

The music drops and everybody starts paying attention even though half the room pretends they aren't. Omegas start moving toward the people they've chosen. Some return one rose. A man near the far wall returns two to a pair who both start crying before he reaches them.

I look at Bryn and Caelan. "Let's go home," I say.

Bryn doesn't move toward me. Neither does Caelan. They wait while I walk to Bryn first and hold out his rose.

His fingers close around the stem and then mine, pulling me close enough for a soft kiss before he lets me turn toward Caelan.

I turn to Caelan and return his rose too. He takes it with a smile and catches my free hand.

Behind me, Sabine says my name, and I start to turn.

Caelan closes his hand tighter around mine. “No need. We’ll figure that shit out, sweetheart. I promise.”