AllFreeNovel
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“So you believe the prophecy?” I ask him, really needing to know the answer. Because hearing that I could save the world seems more than a little unbelievable to me.
He shrugs. “I don’t know. Buttheybelieve it, and sometimes beliefis more important than reality. Men and women can do incredible things when their faith in an ideal is strong enough.”
So, he’s like me. He doesn’t know if it’s true, but he knows it’s important. Which is a vast improvement to when he first came here in Adrik’s body.
He gives me another small smile. “So, I guess I’ll be sharing you with those three assholes. But they better treat you well, or they’re going to have me to deal with.”
I tangle my finger into his hair and force him to look at me. “Rayne.” I don’t have more to say. Only that.
His eyes, his, not Adrik’s, are kind, loving.
He smiles. "You know all I've ever wanted is to make you happy."
"Well, having all of you working together and not competing with each other is definitely the right step if you want me to be happy."
He kisses me lightly. "Better tell them before I have anaccidentand end up at the bottom of a cliff."
Laughing, I shove him a little. "They're not going to murder you."
"You sure?" He flashes me that familiar grin of his.
I want to throw myself against him, thank him because a weight has lifted off me. Because I’ve realized that this is what I needed. I needed the mate from my past to say it's okay to love my shadow beasts and that by doing so I'm not betraying him. Even though I didn’t realize it until now.
Every uncertainty within me falls away. I care for my shadow beasts. I know this fight is important and that I’m not walking away from it. As long as Rayne is on board, as long as he can accept this, I can finally take the three big men as my mates.
Four mates.It’s a lot. But it’s better than one mate and four broken hearts. Mine included.
And like my mind has summoned them, or my heart, or even the unknown force in my body that connects me to them, Onyx and Phantom walk in with Dusk trailing a few feet behind. They all look exhausted, their shoulders slumped, and their faces pale. But maybe some good news will be the thing to cheer them up, if only a little.
I squeeze Rayne’s hand and smile, then mouth, “Thank you.”
But when I look up, nothing is the way I expect. The second their gazes fall on me and Rayne together, they only seem more tired, more angry. And it hits me! They don’t know about the fabulous revelation that’s just happened.
I look up at Onyx and smile. He turns his head as if looking at me isn’t the way he wants to start this day, which hurts more than I can say. But I won't be discouraged. I untangle myself from Rayne and sit up.
"You guys get any rest? Did you stop at the main cave?"
Onyx and Dusk avoid my gaze, going to the shelves where they keep their supplies.
I glance at Phantom, who stands by the entrance to the cave, arms crossed over his chest. For a long minute he seems to be trying to avoid my gaze too, but then he shoots me a scowl. “We’re only here to get stuff to patrol tonight.”
He’s angry. They all are. I get it, but I hope my revelation will ease some of that.
“I’m staying here tonight.” My words come out firm and proud.That's right, guys, I'm not leaving. I don't have to be torn between Rayne and them. We can all stay at this cave, together.
He nods. And I realize my words came out all wrong. I meant that I wantthemto stay with me. That we can be here together, share this space. Shareme. But instead, maybe they think I just meant Rayne and I would be taking over their cave for the night.
No, no, that's not it. I'm not saying anything right."I'm not going back to the academy."
But they don’t speak to me. They just... leave.
“Hey!” I call after them. I have to say something. I have to explain the amazing thing that just happened.
But a group glare points at me from outside the cave, and the other things I wanted to say die on my lips. By the time I have a plan of what to say and how to say it, they're long gone. I sigh, scolding myself. Yes, I've always been a bit awkward and not at all good with challenging situations, but I thought my time with the shadow beasts had changed me, at least a little.
Apparently, not so much.
It’s going to be another long night.
