Page 44 of Chains of Love

She turns to me, cheeks flushed with happiness, but there's something else in her eyes now. Fear? Guilt?

"Darak, I'd like you to meet my family."

"Your... family," I repeat, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. The bond vibrates with a sickening rhythm as I watch the beast-man's claws trail possessively over Lirien's hip.

"Oh, darling, did you bring home one even slower than that ugly beast?" The naga's forked tongue flicks out as he laughs, his emerald scales catching the light. "How disappointing."

The beast-man rumbles with laughter, his massive hands still wandering over Lirien's curves like he owns her. My grip tightens on my sword.

"This is Sethrys," Lirien says, gesturing to the naga. Her voice trembles slightly. "And Kaelor. They're my–"

Before she can finish, Sethrys glides forward with predatory grace. His tail coils around her waist as he captures her mouth in a deep kiss, his tongue – his fucking tongue – sliding between her lips. My stomach churns at the sight, rage building in my chest like molten steel.

Lirien breaks away with a gasp, her cheeks flushed. She glances at me, guilt written across her features.

"I couldn't wait any longer, pet," Sethrys purrs, his golden eyes fixed on me as he speaks. "It's been so long since I've tasted you."

The bond screams with discord, and I taste blood in my mouth from biting my tongue. Everything – every touch, every kiss, every night we shared – it was all a lie.

"No," Lirien steps forward, her hand reaching for me. I jerk away from her touch. "It wasn't a lie. Everything that happened... it's true. For me, it's as real as anything else."

The bond reflects her sincerity, but I can't trust it anymore. Not when I'm watching the beast-man's claws possessively trail along her hip.

"Then who the fuck are they?" I spit out, my knuckles white around my sword hilt. "Because family doesn't stick their tongues down each other's throat."

Lirien shoots Sethrys a withering look. "Someone still hasn't figured out the art of patience or subtlety." She sighs, running a hand through her silver hair. "I apologize for his behavior, he's always been?—"

"Not sorry in the least," Sethrys interrupts, his forked tongue flicking out as he smirks. "You've had your fun with our little pet. Did you really think you were special?"

"Sethrys," Lirien warns, but her voice trembles. She takes a deep breath, meeting my eyes. "Darak, I'm bonded to both of them. The same way I'm bonded to you."

The strange rhythm in our bond suddenly makes horrible sense – it wasn't discord, it was harmony. Three separate pulses trying to sync with my own.

What the fuck?

22

LIRIEN

My heart races as I stand between my two bound companions, their familiar energies wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. The cold stone walls of the shrine press in, making the space feel smaller than it is.

I've missed them so much. The journey has never been easy, but Darak was far more difficult than either of them. This love and affection pouring through me comes directly from them, strengthening me.

Seth's scales shimmer in the dim light as he reaches out, his touch gentle as he tucks my windswept hair behind my ear.

"Don't touch her," Darak snarls, his hand gripping his sword hilt.

Seth's attention snaps to him. "She was mine first, elf."

I smack him with the back of my hand. "Sethrys, that's enough."

He meets my gaze, holding it before bowing his head slightly in submission.

"Someone better tell me what the fuck is going on."

The words tear through me. I can feel his confusion, his anger, his betrayal through our bond. It mingles with Sethrys'scalculating affection and Kaelor's wild devotion, creating a storm of emotions inside my chest that threatens to overwhelm me.

I lift my chin, drawing strength from the familiar energies surrounding me. "Yes, I chose you specifically, Darak. I watched you for weeks before the summoning."

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