Page 141 of Wicked Heirs

“He mind-linked us,” Talon told me.

I frowned. “Why not me?”

“He was probably worried about you seeing it as a violation. After the dream thing? Also, because we’ve been doing it for years, but the first time doing it with you, he needs to give you a warning and test it in your presence,” Xavier said. “It’s propermind-linking etiquette, but it can also hurt and cause some damage if it’s not done carefully the first time.”

Talon smiled. “Not long ago, he wouldn’t have given a shit about any of that. See how much you being in our lives has shifted things, firecracker?”

My cheeks heated. “I don’t know about that.”

“Nah, I do. You’ve softened him, brought out things in him. The same for me and X. In the best ways, Alena.”

“Well, it works both ways.”

“Is that so?” Xavier asked in his flirty tone.

“I’m dying to hear this,” Talon said, bringing out his playfulness that I loved just as much as Xavier’s flirting.

I took Talon’s hand, then Xavier’s, my gaze burning into theirs.

And then the words spilled from me freely, like they desperately wanted to be heard, “You make me feel alive and free, yet safe and adored at the same time. I finally belong somewhere because of the three of you and it means everything to me.”

They stared at me awestruck for several moments.

“Damn,” Talon then managed to utter.

“We’re right there with you, beautiful.”

“Right fucking there,” Talon added earnestly.

They wrapped their arms around me tightly, nuzzling against me, and showing me just how much that rang true.

I breathed them in and held them to me.

When we finally pulled away, I asked, “Did Orpheus tell you why we needed to meet out here in the middle of the night? It’s not a date or anObsidianevent, so it’s a little odd, isn’t it?”

“Odd? Definitely,” Talon agreed.

“Yeah,” Xavier said. “It’s never a good thing when Orpheus is being cryptic.”

“Things can’t have gone well with his father then,” I determined.

“That doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

We spun at the sound of Orpheus’ voice.

The grave look on his face sent a shudder through me.

His next words really didn’t help matters either.

“We have a serious problem.”

“He wanted you to dowhat?”Xavier basically yelled, the fierceness in his voice echoing viciously through the still night.

“Fuck me, your old man is like a cautionary tale for what you could have become if you hadn’t gotten your act together because of Alena coming into our lives,” Talon said.

“I know,” Orpheus responded heavily. “That became apparent when we were discussing this.” He looked out at me. “And you, little angel.”

“Me? In more than thedelve-into-her-mind-against-her-willthing?”

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