Page 76 of Ever Dark

My stomach flips under the heated stares of all three of them. “Good morning,” I murmur.

Bones shakes his head at me. “You promise not to set any more fires if we take you home?”

My cheeks flame. “I-I don’t know what got into me.”

Aries snorts. “You might be crazier than all three of us. I’m going to start calling you little pyro from now on.”

Draven stares at the floor, his shoulders hunched. He’s holding something back again.

“Hey, is your driver okay?” I ask. In the chaos of everything that’s transpired, I forgot to check on the man who saved my house.

He grits his teeth. “Rodrick is fine. He’s worked for my family since before I was born. Putting out fires is what he does best.”

I nod, still concerned with what’s eating at him today.

“We have that meeting with my father later,” Aries quips. “So do we have any ofthisfigured out?”

My stomach knots. Aside from the fragile bonds we’ve threaded between us, there is still the matter of the enormous field of baneberry my property sits on.

“Not entirely,” Draven grumbles.

“What if we compromise? I could sell you the poison whenever you want. But I get to keep my land and my house.”

Bones arches an eyebrow at Draven, his eyes lighting up. “That could work, Dray.”

“You think I haven’t already thought about that? It still doesn’t give us the control we need. Gemini Thorn will try and get to her somehow.”

Okay now I’m getting pissed again. “Hello? I’m still in the room. We could sign an exclusive contract or something. Why are you making this difficult?”

He glares at me. “Are you prepared to be tied to us forever, Mia? If I have that contract drawn up, it’s for life. It will require your unwavering loyalty. A deal like that carries more weight than any other. It’s like a marriage except there is no divorce if you change your mind.”

He’s angry again. Scared maybe. “I said I wouldn’t leave, and I meant it. Who are you trying to reassure, Draven, me or you?”

Aries snort laughs again. “I’m down for whatever you two lovebirds decide. But I want my share.” He stalks over to me and snakes an arm around my waist. “You belong to all three of us, little pyro.”

I roll my eyes, but there’s a spark flickering in my chest. “Stop calling me that. I was pyro adjacent.” Although, it does sound more badass than little lamb.

He fixates on my lips. “It’s a turn on for me. I’ll happily watch you set fires all over town.”

“Don’t encourage her,” Draven growls.

Bones slips his arm around me from the other side. “If we agree to your deal, you’ll have to be a good girl and do exactly as we say.”

I know he’s talking about contracts, but my dirty mind immediately heads somewhere else. Fucking hell I am way too needy for these men. “The baneberry is all yours, just so long as my name stays on the property title.”

Draven finally looks up, his eyes dark and stormy. “And you. I want to hear you say it.”

My heart skips as the three of them surround me. They want me to admit surrender. To give them complete control over my body and my soul. But I come with a lot of fucking baggage.

“I need to talk to Nox,” I rasp out, my throat still sore.

The three of them exchange a look before Draven pulls out his phone. “Rodrick, I need you to drive Miss Harker home.”

He’s pissed at me. Fuck. “You’re not taking me?”

“No. We have work to do. I’ll let you know later what we decide.” He turns his back and stalks out of the room.

Aries playfully slaps my cheek. “See you later, little pyro.”

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