Page 152 of Unhinged
I raise an eyebrow, glancing between the bundles. “Who do you think snuck in and dropped these off?”
“One of the two of them,” Acid says, pulling his shirt on like it’s nothing. “Or maybe the shower fairy.”
I snort but say nothing else. I tug the joggers up my sore legs, wincing a little at the stretch, then pull on the tank. I’m still bare underneath, but whatever. It’s not like modesty exists in a nest after a heat.
When we walk out, the scent hits first—familiar and comforting, a mix of them, and nowus. Gears and Arrow are on the mattress pad in nothing but their boxer briefs, sitting like they’ve been waiting for this moment all day.
Which, honestly? They probably have.
Both their heads turn when they see us.
“How ya feeling, Gidge?” Arrow asks, eyes scanning me like he’s checking for bruises or missing pieces.
“Good,” I say with a nod. “Great, actually.”
“You sure, Omega?” Gears chimes in. He sounds anxious, which is kind of weird coming from him. “This was your first heat with us. We tried to be respectful and not cross any lines. Next time we can, y’know, talk about kinks and stuff.”
I laugh. “You were amazing. I mean, from what I can remember. I felt safe. Taken care of. And I’m sore, so you must’ve done a good job.”
Acid wraps an arm around my waist and tugs me tight to his side like I’m something he just won in a game. “She’s also cleaned up and mine. Snooze, you lose, fuckers.”
I smack his chest, rolling my eyes. “Don’t be a smartass.”
He just chuckles, smug as hell.
Arrow raises a brow. “What are you on about?”
Acid doesn’t say a word. Just tilts his head and shifts so they canseeit. The mark. Shimmery and iridescent, opal-toned where his skin broke under my teeth.
“You bonded?” Gears blurts out, eyes wide.
“Yup,” Acid says, grinning like he just won first place in a bar fight. “Gidge and I are official.”
“Gidge?” Arrow asks, voice lower now.
I sigh and slide my tank strap off my shoulder to show them the matching mark on my collarbone. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Not that big of a deal?!” Gears shouts, throwing his hands in the air. “You’re bonded!”
I shrug like it’s nothing, but it’s not nothing. It’s everything. Still, I can’t help poking at him. “Oh, calm down. If you’re done throwing a fit, maybe you’ll listen when I say I want you two to mark me, too. Right now.”
Arrow stares. “You’re sure?”
“I’m positive,” I tell him. “I’m done running. Done fighting. Fate gave you to me and well, you've kept me safe. You've cared for me, listened to me, respected me. Most importantly, you care about my son."
“We do,” Arrow says. “And we will. Always.”
“Promise me,” I whisper, locking eyes with both of them. “If we have kids of our own, Judge doesn’t become less. He doesn’t get pushed aside. He’s equal. I know it already, but I need tohearit.”
“Promise,” Arrow says without hesitation.
“Swear it,” Gears echoes.
“I told you I’d adopt him. We all did,” Acid pipes in. “He can have my last name or I’ll take yours. Whatever makes it legal. Whatever makes it real.”
My head jerks toward him, eyes wide. “You meant it? It wasn’t just something you said in the moment?”
“We meant every word.”
