Page 63 of Ready or Knot

“Of course,” I say. “Isn’t there a rule somewhere about that? My brother and I look just like our father. Especially my brother. People have mistaken them for brothers before.”

Her nose crinkles when she laughs, and the sun catches on a small silver stud in her ear.

“Do you normally wear a hoop in your daith piercing?” I ask, twisting the back of the stud I put in my orbital piercing.

She nods. “Studs work best out here I’ve found. They’re less likely to catch on anything, especially if you’re having to navigate pretty heavy underbrush.”

We walk in comfortable silence for a while, helping each other scramble down a particularly steep section of the mountain. Ahead of us, Carter says something just quiet enough I can’t understand him, and both Logan and Jude start laughing. Gina pushes Jude half-heartedly a moment later even as she smiles.

Ashlynn leans closer to me. “This is the most I’ve seen Jude laugh in a long time.”

I swallow around the sudden lump in my throat.

“They were beside themselves when they got the announcement from the Council,” she continues before I can decide what to say. “They called us because they were scared to open it alone.”

She smiles and pulls the water bottle from her side pocket without missing a step.

“I was scared to open mine, too,” I say, twisting my braid around my hand to keep from fidgeting with my pack. “I opened mine with my best friend. She didn’t have any problems looking at hers alone, though. Violet’s always been like that.”

“Gina is, too,” Ashlynn says, shaking her head. My lip burns with how hard I’m biting it as I suck in as deep of a breath as I can manage on the side of a mountain.

Before I can chicken out, I ask, “Were they happy?”

Ashlynn’s smile is radiant, lighting up her entire countenance as she bumps my shoulder with her own. “Ecstatic. Carter cried. They’ve been going to those galas for the last four years. After the first few times they were shortlisted but not matched, everything just stopped. They’d go and then not hear anything at all.” She frowns, her eyebrows pinching. “They were talking in January about this being the last year. It was really demoralizing for them.”

Logan had mentioned at the gala that they’d been to a lot of them. My heart hurt then, but it aches even more acutely now that I’ve gotten the chance to really get to know them. It must have been awful to have so many years pass with nothing to show for it. Did Jude wonder if he had made the right decision?

“Anyway, it’s been fantastic seeing them adjust over the last month.” Ashlynn gives me another bump of her shoulder. “I know you probably have better things to do, but we’d love to take you out for a girls day if you’re interested. Logan mentioned that your best friend was matched, too, and that the distance has been hard on you.”

How in the world did he even notice that?

I stare at the back of Logan’s pack, his blond hair messy but bright in the midday sun.

“Of course,” I say, pulling my phone from my pocket and turning it on.

She enters her information and then Gina’s before handing it back. I bite my lip as I hesitate, and Ashlynn is quick to notice, her eyebrow quirking. I blow out my breath and just say it. That’s the “Faedra Way” according to my mother.

“I’m not sure we should schedule anything for a bit. My heat is probably going to start soon, and I don’t want to have to reschedule with you since babysitters need lead-in time.”

Ashlynn nods. “Whenever you’re wanting some estrogen, just let us know.”

Twenty-Five

CARTER

Faedra knocks on the frame of my door, her hair still pulled up into the single braid she wore while hiking this morning, her teeth biting her bottom lip. I set aside my hiking gear, leaning it against the window to deal with later, and then cross the room, pulling her into my arms the moment I’m able. Her shoulders move with her heavy sigh, and she twists her hands into my belt loops, tightening her hold around my waist.

“You feeling alright?” I ask.

She nods, humming a bit. “The nap back from Estes Park was perfect. Thank you.”

My lips are featherlight as I press a kiss to her temple.

“Good,” I murmur.

“I’m ready for that shower,” she whispers. A rush of heat licks down my spine and straight to my dick. Faedra notices, my sweats hiding nothing, and she laughs under her breath. “I’m ready for that, too.”

A soft chime sounds before I can decide what to say. She pulls away from me, her eyebrows furrowed. I step away from her, running my thumb over her cheekbone.

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