Page 47 of Dragon Rivals of New York

“We should go,” Kyro says, guiding me to the door.

In a daze, I walk across the hall to Jethro’s place. This week has flipped my life on its head multiple times, and after today’s most recent revelation, I feel disconnected from reality. Like this is all a dream, and I can’t tell if it’s a good one or a nightmare.

Even after only a few days with Jethro and Kyro, I know they’ll be good mates, good husbands and fathers. But I feel,once again, as if I’m being backed into a corner, as if my choices are being controlled by some deity who says I can or can’t do something.

Jethro guides me to sit down on the couch in his living room.

“If you don’t want this, we can help you run,” Jethro says, sitting beside me and taking my hands in his. “You just have to hide for the week and then the option won’t be available anymore.” He looks pained to say it, but I know his offer is serious. He’ll help me if I decide to get out of this. But what will happen to him and his horde if I do?

Kyro sits down in front of me on the wide coffee table. He cups the side of my face, and I lean into the touch.

“There are lots of things in life we don’t get to choose. Where we’re born. Our families. Our upbringing. Who we’re mated to.” His thumb caresses my lips. “But I would choose you every time.”

I sigh at his words, wishing I could return them. There’s no one else I’d rather be mated to—well, except maybe Jethro—butnotchoosing anyone else is different fromchoosingthem. And having the choice taken away from me makes me want to rebel against it.

Even though I know I can’t. I would never allow the hordes to suffer because of me. But for just a minute, I need to wallow in the unfairness of it.

“We hate that you’re being forced into choosing us,” Jethro says, glancing at Kyro as if verifying that he feels the same. It’s clear he does. “But I promise we’ll never control or manipulate you the way your ex husband did.”

“I’ll beat Jethro to a pulp if he tries to,” Kyro says, letting the hand that was cupping my face drag down to squeeze my shoulder.

“Like you could beat me up.” Jethro laughs.

“I’d have you on the floor before you lifted a finger.”

A watery laugh eeks out of me, shifting the mood and distracting me with a new train of thought. Who would win in a fight? They’re both massive. Kyro’s got a bit more bulk on him than Jethro, but Jethro’s all muscle. I picture them wrestling. Bodies twisted together. Muscles flexing. Clothes being ripped and pulled off.

My skin heats. I squeeze my thighs together, trying to hide the evidence of how aroused I am.

Two sets of eyes bore into me.

“Does our sweet girl like the idea of her men fighting?” Jethro asks.

Changing the subject. “It’s not just me being forced into this. You two also have to… share. From what I understand, mates don’t do well being separated. We’d have to live together. And you two… well, you don’t exactly like each other. I’m pretty sure Kyro outright hates you. I don’t think I can live with two men who are fighting all the time.”

“I don’t hate him,” Kyro says.

Jethro lifts his brows and drops his chin as if to say,‘really?’

“Okay, fine, Ihatedyou. But now, we’re… fine.” He says the last word through closed teeth.

“Would it help if I let you punch me?” Jethro’s face is serious, his voice lacking his normal teasing quality.

“Maybe.” Kyro’s grin is positively wicked. “A few good punches might help clear the air.”

The challenge lacks the hostility it would have had a few days ago. But there’s still an edge to it.

I was pretty out of it during their fight at The Black Wing, but it's clear something's shifted between them.

Jethro stands up and walks around the coffee table to an open space in the living room, which isn’t difficult to find since the whole place is designed with enough space for a dragon to comfortably walk around. He holds his hand out to Kyro, palm up, and crooks his fingers twice in a ‘come here’ motion.

Kyro answers the invitation, strutting over to Jethrowith a gleam in his eyes.

I twist my hands in my lap. The image of the two of them wrestling is replaced with one of Kyro beating Jethro to a bloody pulp. Much less appealing. “I’m not sure this is such a good idea.”

“I think it’s a great idea.” Kyro slowly rolls up his sleeves. “We’ll settle this the old-fashioned way. Then we’ll move on.”

“It’s okay, lovely,” Jethro says. “I’ll be—”

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