Page 96 of Cruel Tides

Leander didn’t hesitate. “I never mentioned it, remember?” He shot Kai an annoyed glance. “I was waiting for the right fucking time until someone opened his damn mouth.”

He had a point. Could it be that Barren also thought we were underthe thrallbut was waiting for the right time to tell me? We hadn’t had a lot of time alone, except for the time he carried me back to his hotel room. Then there was the time in the kitchen when he made me coffee.

And the plane ride. And less than an hour ago, when he had me alone in his bedroom.

Okay, he’d had the time, so maybe we weren’t mates at all.

“Your face is so red.” With a soft voice, Leander approached me again, carefully cradling my cheek in his palm. “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing,” I lied. Goodness, I must have been blushing hard because his hand felt so soothing to my heated skin. “You guys aren’t upset?” My eyes bounced between the two of them as I held my breath.

“Well, Barren’s cool,” Kai said finally, his smile small yet genuine. “Honestly, hanging out with you guys is the most fun I’ve had. Hanging out like this forever?” His smile grew. “I’m down. As long as we aren’t constantly swimming into danger.”

Leander appeared to be carefully considering his words. “I know I told you to trust Barren. And at the time, I meant it.” He held in a deep breath before turning to me fully. “Do you trust him?”

Sure, I had doubted Barren. He had his secrets, but until he gave me a reason not to, I wanted to trust him. “I do,” I said with a nod. That protective feeling I had whenever Barren held me couldn’t have been a fluke. It felt like magic. Maybe fate.

Okay—I was getting way, way ahead of myself. “It’s not like it’s official or anything, though,” I said, backpedaling. “Like I said, he hasn’t even mentioned it to me. So, can we keep this between us three? Please?” I glanced over at Kai. “Laverne might murder me if she knew.”

Gosh, like she needed another reason to hate me.

“Keep it between yourofficialmates?” Leander teased, and I rolled my eyes. “Of course, beautiful.”

“I won’t say a thing,” Kai said with a firm nod. The top of his ears pinked. “But I’m curious why he wouldn’t tell you. I could barely keep it in when I realized you were my mate.” After a moment more of thought, he snapped his fingers. “Maybe Barren doesn’t want to share?”

The words hit hard enough for my chest to go numb. What if he didn’t want to share me with them? I could never abandon Kai and Leander for Barren.

“Fair point,” I said, sounding suddenly weak. “Damn, this is a mess. You guys don’t even want to share. Adding Barren to the mix?”

Kai dropped to his knees in front of us, his gentle hand going to rest on my thigh. Our eyes met, and he merely smiled—a quiet reassurance that brought comfort to my heart in a way that only he could.

“Well,” Leander spoke up, his wide palm closing in on my other thigh. “Who said we aren’t willing to share?”

Kai’s face colored fiercely as he glanced over at Leander, and my breath caught as they seemed to come to an understanding I was suddenly more than okay with.

25

Kai

Iwasn’t sure what was going on.

All I knew was that Claira’s distress had been clear when she told us about Barren’s voice calling to her. So, I’d done the only thing I could do—I’d reached out and taken her hand, hoping to offer my comfort.

And now Leander’s piercing eyes were on me, and unspoken words seemed to hang heavily around us. What those words were… I had no clue.

Claira’s lips tilted as she looked up. A lovely coral hue crested over her nose as she stared at me as well. Both of them were waiting. Expectant.

Then Leander’s impatience showed as his hand flexed over Claira’s thigh, his eyes darkening as he leaned in closer. “You don’t mind sharing,” he said in a sharp, commanding voice reminiscent of a king. “Do you, Kaius?”

Claira’s grip tightened around my fingers, and her eyes shone with hope as she nervously bit her lower lip, searching my face.

“Oh! Um, of course not.” My gaze flicked between the two of them. “I love it,” I said with complete conviction. Absolutely believable. “I’m a great sharer.”

It only took the span of my next breath for my conscience to tug at me, and I cleared my throat. “Okay, well, maybe I haven’t really had a lot of opportunities to share. But I’m definitely open to it,” I said, backtracking. “With my brothers, it’s mostly a take, take, take. And Laverne, well, you know how she?—”

Leander cut me off with a hard sigh. “Come here,” he said, making room by sitting back on the couch. I snapped up, letting Claira’s hand slip free from mine.

“Okay?” Scratching the back of my head, I turned around to take a seat on the couch between them.

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