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Both Cyn and I stared at Ash with open mouths.

Ash put his fork down and sat forward, speaking in a calm, measured tone. “I asked if you’re jealous.”

“Why would I be jealous? I’ve already fucked her.”

“Dammit, Cyn.” Zeke jumped up and took his empty plate to the trash. “Why are you acting like this?”

Cyn expelled a harsh breath. “I don’t know why you’re mad at me. I’m not talking any differently than I did before we met her.”

“Yeah, but she’s our Nyrith.” Zeke sat down again and picked up his bottle of water.

“So I’m supposed to change who I am because we now have her around?”

Ezra folded his napkin over his plate. “No.” He looked at all of us. “Fate brings mates together who complement one another. Despite your volatile nature, you’re a good man, and Raelynn will benefit from it.”

Cyn stared at Ezra as if he’d grown a second head.

I remained stuck on the fact that he’d used my name. I could count on one hand how many times I’d heard him refer to me as anything more than “human.”

As much as Cyn frustrated me, Ezra spoke the truth. I figured that’s why I hadn’t completely written Cyn off.

“So, back on topic,” I said, trying to bring down the tension. “Y’all heard us. And?”

“I didn’t,” Ezra said, eyes demanding my attention again with only a look. “I woke when I felt your connection snap into place. When you sealed your bond, it strengthened your mental connection with everyone in the group.”

“But what does that do?”

Zeke held my hand on the table. “It makes it easier for us to read your emotions, and we also begin to sense each other. It’s like the Phalinos Pact.”

At my confused expression, Ash added, “It’s a soul tether between close friends, or compatible Shyrlivi who aren’t Nyriths. It allows them to experience weaker versions of a mate bond.”

“So, say I bonded with each of you, you’d all have a weaker mate connection?”

Ezra nodded. “We already formed a weaker version of the Phalinos Pact as teenagers. It made it easier in combat. But this would be different. We’d sense each other the way we perceive you emotionally, but on a subdued level.”

I glanced at Zeke and Cyn.

If I bonded with them both, they would feel each other’s strong emotions.

My phone pinged, and I looked at the screen, relieved to let the heavy talk rest for now. “We need to get this cleaned up. The church’s movers are gonna be here in about thirty minutes.”

The guys started taking dishes to the kitchen while I gathered the empty soda cans and water bottles to toss.

“Rae, wait…” Zeke grabbed my arm as I turned from the garbage bag by the back door. “Your mark changed.”

“What?” I twisted to look down at my thigh, but I couldn’t see it.

Cyn’s brows furrowed. “What the hell?”

“Pull your shirt up,” Ezra said, approaching Ash.

Ash pulled his T-shirt up to expose the mark on his ribs. I didn’t see anything different.

Zeke rushed to unbuckle his belt and tug his jeans and underwear down on one side, exposing his mark. “It’s the same for me too. Cyn, check.”

“For fuck’s sake.” Cyn knelt, unzipped his tall combat boot, and pulled it off. He tugged his sock down to expose the mark on his ankle. I’d never seen it before.

I looked at Ezra.