Page 88 of Caged By the Ruthless Thief

“I didn’t think she had any mates, remember? And I didn’t want her to die.”

“But then once I was alive and back?”

“Did you see the pictures of you at the government dome? You didn’t look like you were going to be living for long. Not at all.”

“So you mated her. Even though she told you she wanted to talk things through with us?” Holter growls.

“I... I had her scent, her taste. I brought her back.”

“We don’t treat females like bartering tools, like property,” Nico growls. Everyone in the room turns to him.

“No, we don’t,” Holter says, looking at me. “There are things that can be done if you want your union severed from Eros.Hagissahave ways, and they don’t involve scrambling any brains.”

“I don’t want him gone. But I don’t want us to argue all the time, either.” My insides flip. “I was pulled toward him just like I was to the two of you the first time I was with either of you.” I don’t mention the other person I’m drawn to. I can feel Nico’s growing resentment toward his best friend. And Holter has never seemed comfortable with Castor.

“You’re mated to three killers, Belle. It’s our way.” Holter’s blue eyes gleam in the low light.

“You’re right. But it’s not my way. And I’m a member of this pod too.”

“You are.” Nico pulls me tight under his arm and kisses the top of my head. His tight abs twitch under my chest. “I won’t lie. Even sleeping with Annabelle at my side right now won’t be enough to keep me from wanting to slice you open in your sleep.”

“Thanks for your honesty.” Eros’s face tightens. “But I would rather you didn’t.”

“You did what you thought was rational to prevent Annabelle from getting hurt. I still hate you.” Nico yanks my leg over his tight thigh.

“I still hate you.” Eros glares.

“That’s as much of a moment as we are going to get from these two, Belle.”

I wrap my arm around Nico’s middle. “I think you’re right. But to them, it’s almost the same thing as ‘I love you.’”

Holter laughs. “We all need food.” He picks up the discarded rope and throws it at Eros’s chest. “And you need to clean that up. What do you want to eat, Belle?”

I suck in my lips because the truth is, my hussy of an inner mermaid is ready for round three. If we stay here, that’s exactly what’s going to happen. “If you’re feeling good enough, we should go pick up the Drakosomadaand you can take me out to eat.”

“Did someone say eating out? I’m ready to go.” Eros reaches for his belt to take his pants off. “That’s a great idea. I can show you my favorite place. Tastiest thing you’ll ever put in your mouth.” He shakes his hips. “No, I know some place even better. It’s hard to believe, but you’re going to love it Sunshine.”

Nico clears his throat. “Or we could take her someplace safe, like the kitchen.”

“Why do you always assume the worst of me?” Eros cocks his head at Nico.

“Because I’ve met you,” Nico growls.

“Nice.” Eros shakes his head. “I think it’s a great idea—let’s go out to eat. Isn’t it a great idea, Holter?”

“It’s an idea, but leave me the hell out of whatever is going on between the two of you. Okay?” Holter holds out his hand for me. It’s nice to have help getting out of the middle of the bed. This time, though, he leans over and lifts me to the ground. “We could go to the Crystal Snail.”

Even I know that we don’t want to go there. It’s for older mermaids.

“No,” Eros and Nico say in unison.

Holter’s back is to them, and he gives me a wink. “How about Razor Edge?”

“That’s not bad.” Eros nods.

“It’s defensible,” Nico responds.

“Really?” As of yet, the only food place I’ve gone to is the tea shop with Holter after we bought furniture. And a not-so-great trip to a diner called The Shipwreck Grill where everyone stared at me.

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