Page 61 of Drama Queen

“Three?” Zeph asks, and just like Pix, I can hear his excitement even if I can’t see him.

Carver leans forward from his spot on the couch, wide-eyed, as he takes in Zephyr’s features, while Aldric leans to look behind the mirror as if this might be some kind of trick. Silas remains where he is, but I swear I can hear his mind as he works to try to make sense of all of this.

“Yeah, hopefully,” I sigh because, as exciting as the number might sound, there’s no guarantee they will come back with me. They don’t owe me a thing, and I can’t even promise their safety.

It doesn’t sound like a great time if you ask me, and if I were them I’m not sure I would agree.

I’d hoped that being mated would help, but even that seems strangely broken. It’s not like it was with Zeph, and I’m not sure if it’s because we're in the mortal realm or something else, but it’s not helping the way I’d hoped.

Last resort it is.

Closing my eyes, I let my glamour melt away.

When I open my eyes again, I find Silas’ gaze first. His eyes widen as they dart between my now bright pink eyes and the points of my ears that poke out from my hair.

He hasn’t even seen my fangs yet, let alone my magic.

“No fucking way,” Aldric says, his eyes looking from Zephyr to me, no doubt seeing the similarities between us. It’s easy to brush off his existence as a trick when he’s not here, but me, well, I’m right here in front of them.

“I knew I wasn’t crazy!” Carver shouts, hopping to his feet and pointing a finger at my face. “Your eyes were pink after you touched me in the library.”

His words aren’t a question, but I answer him regardless.

“Yes, they were. Testing the bond requires skin-to-skin contact, which I can’t do with my glamour in place,” I explain, rolling my eyes, still annoyed with the whole stupid process.

“What does any of this have to do with us? Why show us? What bond?” Aldric asks.

“You, all three of you, are what we call fated. In my realm, we’re gifted our partners.” Carver pulls a face at my words, and I’m not sure if it’s at the thought of some unknown deciding his fate or that it would land him with me. Either way, I can’t help but laugh.

“I’m not so fond of the idea myself. But at Ironcrest, we train, learn to control our gifts, and live amongst our enemies. It’s all very beautiful on paper.”

“I’m assuming there's more to it than that, though?” Aldric asks, ignoring mine and Carver’s bickering, hearing what I’m not saying.

“A lot more, but you guys don’t really have time to go into all of that right now,” Zephyr says, pulling their attention back to him in the mirror. I see their hesitation about having a conversation with him like this.

It would be funny if our lives weren't on the line.

“We can give you the whole damn history of the realm later if you want it. All you need to know right now is, without you, Emory is as good as dead.”

“Zeph!” I shout, turning the mirror back to me so I can glare at him.

“You can be upset with me later. We're running out of time right now, and you know it. We need them. It’s that simple, and with every passing hour, we're more likely to be found out…” he trails off, his eyes darting around his room as if he’s looking for a threat that isn’t there. I see the worry in his eyes, but I know it’s not for himself. It never is. “I can’t stand the idea of her sinking her claws into you again, Emory.”

It’s not often he says my name. He prefers the stupid nicknames that drive me nuts or could get him killed, and even when he isn’t using those, he tends to just go with Em.

“Wait, what do you mean ‘running out of time’ and who is going to sink their claws into you?” Silas asks, sounding horrified.

I cringe at the idea of explaining my stepmother to them, at the very idea of talking about what life has been like growing up with her. Without thought, I reach up, rubbing my hand over the scar on my arm, a permanent reminder.

“Again, it’s a long story. You're either in or out, boys, and let me tell you, you definitely want to be in,” Zeph says, wiggling his brows suggestively, and I can feel the heat as it creeps up my face.

By the realm, he did not just say that!

“We’ll have to think about it. This isn’t something we can just decide,” Aldric says, clearing his throat, ever the diplomat.

I can’t bring myself to look at him after what Zeph said, and a quick glance at Silas has me looking to the floor when I find his cheeks red as well.

Awesome. I expect them to come with me and leave everything they know behind, yet I can’t even stand to look at them…I’m sure that’s reassuring.

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