Page 9 of House of Demons and Bones

Killian’s gaze stayed locked on Barbie, hunger and need searing his eyes, and energy flowed between them. He caught her sugar-dusted fingers between his palms, and she tried to pull away half-heartedly. That was Barbie—always pretentious and immature while I was the opposite. Then she went still in his embrace, her heart thundering too hard for me to feel my own pulse.

Her body burned hot for him, but it wasn’t the mating heat. Truth blazed through her mind, fierce enough to sting.

I’m his mate,she repeated.I’m really his true mate.

Of course, dummy,I said.

Barbie needed the hard truth to slap her right in her stubborn chubby face before she’d see it.

We’d found our fated mates. Even though I didn’t get my moment with mine, I wouldn’t ruin Barbie’s. My heart had enough space for her happiness. Besides, once we got out of here, the rest of the night belonged to Rowan and me.

“Haven’t you felt it, little scorpion?” Killian’s voice dropped lower as he stroked her cheek. Electric tingles raced across her flesh, raising goosebumps on mine. His touch always affected her this way.

“This thing between us?” she asked, lifting her chin while curling her toes, fighting back a moan of pleasure. “It’s just lust.”

“Is it?” he purred, a dark, amused smile ghosting his lips.

“It’ll pass,” she said, but I knew better.

Her body was always attuned to his—the way true mates were. When he revealed their connection, the amber light in her mind had blazed to life. Everything had clicked into place since then. The chaos prince’s dragon would never have triggered the mating heat unless she was meant to be theirs.

My idiot soul-sister was flame to his frost, and he was ice to her dark fire. Once she accepted what she had with Killian, their true mating bond would shatter the demon queen’s false bond with the chaos heir. Her heart had figured it out, yet her mind stumbled along behind.

“Will it?” Killian asked, his voice rich with knowing.

Rowan watched them. He hated these games, saw them as a waste of time, and waited impatiently for me to return to him.

“Aren’t you still engaged?” Barbie challenged, her eyes sharpening like a lioness sighting her prey. “Getting married right after graduation?”

Her cutting words slammed the gritty facts back in our faces. The chaos prince had known Barbie was his true mate, yet he’d chosen his betrothed anyway, even tried to make the other woman happy. I pulled my lips back and growled threateningly.

He screwed up, all right?I offered, dipping into my well of wisdom. Playing life coach to Barbie made me feel better about myself.He’s young and stupid. We’re young too. But if you shut yourself off from this opportunity, you’ll end up growing old alone.

Her childhood in our father’s clutches had scarred her deeply. She buried those years of terror and refused to look back, but nightmares clawed their way up every night.

I don’t want you to grow old alone,I added.

Killian’s blue eyes darkened at the mention of his betrothed. At his hesitation, Barbie yanked her hand from his grasp, though her body protested the loss of contact, and I wasn’t happy about it either. She let ice fill her mismatched eyes, forcing me to wipe away the frost to look out.

“You’ll learn my truth, little scorpion, before you sting me again,” Killian said.

Rowan laid his elbows on the table and interlaced his fingers, now that the tension from his duel with the chaos prince had melted away.

“We fought over our true mates who happen to share one body,” he said. “I can forgive you for trying to kill me, as I tried to end you too when I thought you’d defiled Sy. I just never thought an asshole like you would have a fated mate.”

“I held back,” Killian said. “Part of me remembered you’re my brother.”

“Through all that madness,” Rowan said, “neither of us fought at full strength, even consumed by jealous rage. The bonds between us heirs run deep. Now our true mates have found us, unfortunately in one body, we’ll need to sort it out. You shared your secret, so here’s my confession. My little monster already knows, and now you will too.”

Killian arched an eyebrow, waiting.

Rowan let out a ragged breath. “I’m a bastard.”

Killian shrugged. “Obviously. Always have been.”

Rowan glared at him. “I’m not the king’s true son. If he discovers it, he’ll strip everything from me—my title, my heritage, all of it. Best case? He’ll exile me. Worst case? Death. Either way, I become nothing.”

The fae king’s cruelty was legendary. That was why I kept pushing my love to strike first and claim the throne for himself.

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