Page 17 of Not a Pawn

Is That Relief?

Harlow

“I need you to listen to me carefully, Harlow,” Julian says sternly. “We never intended to keep you for a night or a week. Since the moment we scented you, laid eyes on you, both of us knew you were it, our forever. The only person that can ever keep us apart is you.”

“I don’t want to keep us apart.” The relief I feel at knowing I don’t have to choose between them is palpable.

“Did you really think we would make you choose?” Sebastian asks with a frown. “After what the three of us did together?”

“I don’t know what I was thinking,” I confess. “I just knew I wanted you both.”

“Well, isn’t this just sweet enough to rot your teeth?”

The voice has fear and revulsion crawling up my spine.

Marco Pezzo. Shit.

Julian quickly turns and flips me between him and Sebastian, protecting me from the threat none of us saw coming. I can feel the anger vibrating off both the men beside me, and I can feel their rage even more clearly through our bond.

All of us have heightened senses even if mine are still brand new, and we should have heard or smelled him before he even made it halfway through the house. But we are all distracted trying to sort out the mess of our mating.

“Sorry to interrupt this moment but you have something that belongs to me,” he says from the doorway.

I push myself upright to see what is happening, even though I know neither of my mates will be happy about it. But I need to know what is going on.

I stare at Marco, a man I used to find unfairly handsome. In the place of the man I met just two weeks ago is someone, something completely different. It looks like he got stuck mid-shift, half-dragon, half-charred human. And the smell of burnt flesh hangs in the air, unmissable now that I know he is here.

Strangely, my dragon finds this monster appealing, knowing our mates did this for us. They took one of the most feared and powerful Alphas in the realm and destroyed him. Like a disturbing gift from our loves.

“There is nothing here for you,” I say flatly. “And if you want to live past this moment, I suggest you leave.”

Marco glares at me while pride comes off my men in waves. And that is what they are. My men. Once we get rid of this minor inconvenience, we will be solidifying our mating and nothing will ever be able to keep us apart again.

“Still a mouthy bitch I see,” Marco sneers. “Not to worry. What these two couldn’t fix, I will beat out of you.”

I smile brightly at the idiot standing in the doorway. “You have no idea how I look forward to you trying.”

Sebastian jumps out of bed, fully intent on killing Marco for the way he is speaking to me, but is stopped dead in his track when Marco levels a gleaming gun at his chest.

“I wouldn’t try anything, Sebastian,” he says angrily. “You and your brother have been a thorn in my side for long enough and I won’t be caught off guard again. Tonight, both of you will die and I will claim my prize.”

“You’re only one man,” Julian says casually. “Actually, it looks like you’re only half a man. Did you try to shift before putting out the fire?”

Sebastian chuckles and a shot is fired. My mate falls tothe ground, blood pooling beneath his leg. I fall from the bed even as Julian tries to hold me back. The moment I am beside Bas I can feel my dragon pushing to get out, to defend her mates and destroy this insignificant little man.

I glare at him. “You are going to regret that.”

“I doubt it,” Marco replies casually. “Tonight, I will take out two of my greatest enemies and you will be the spoils.”

Chapter Twelve

Over My Dead Body

Julian

My dragon is filled with rage to the point where it feels like the blood in my veins is on fire. I want to rip this half-man-monster in front of me limb from limb, not only for hurting my twin but for disrespecting our mate. I can see on his face the vile and degrading things he intends to do to our woman.

“Get up,” he motions toward me with the gun. “Help your useless twin outside so I can kill you without making a mess.”

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