Page 9 of Infernal Bonds

Before we knew who Rae was to us, Ash had fallen for her but couldn’t stay with her.

She seemed to understand our duty, but I knew it hurt her and made her doubt him.

Their sealed bond guaranteed his feelings would come through loud and clear over their empathic connection, so I hoped she no longer doubted him.

“It still doesn’t feel fair to be denied everything you want,” Rae said, echoing thoughts I’d had time and time again. “If your people love you, wouldn’t they understand?”

“Of course,” Ash conceded. “The council is a different story. There are expectations we must accept to continue our family’s royal legacy.”

I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut and tuning out their conversation. I didn’t want to think about family politics. Every time I did, their expectations reminded me of what I’d never have.

Maybe one day I would be brave enough to tell Cyn how I felt—at least when I understood those feelings better myself. But I wouldn’t risk it if all that might come of it was resentment. And that was only if he felt the same—which I doubted.

3

JET LAG

RAE

Who turned off the air conditioning?

I groaned, shoving the covers off me but finding no relief from the oppressive heat—not with one meaty arm across my chest and another toned body wrapped around me like a koala, their legs entwined with mine.

I felt completely drained. Could teleportation cause jet lag?

I must have fallen asleep again because the next time I opened my eyes, Ash was standing beside the bed fixing his hair, and Zeke was nowhere to be found.

“Time to get up, Little Blackbird.”

I rolled over, throwing an arm over my head. “Get up? It’s finally not a sauna in here.”

“The air is on. Is it not cold enough for you?”

I lowered my arm and brushed the hair from my eyes, finding Ezra looking down at me. “Uh… it’s fine now.”

“We slept in here with her,” Ash said, drawing Ezra’s attention. “She gets overheated easily. Zeke got up earlier for breakfast.”

“Next time, change the temperature.”

Ash and I shared a look.

Had I hit my head last night, or was Ezra being considerate of me again?

I buried my face in the pillow, not ready to unpack what the change in his behavior meant. I wanted to sleep.

“You need to get up. Father requires your presence in the council chambers.”

I peeked up at him. “Seriously?” When he only stared at me with that unwavering gaze of his, I twisted and propped myself up on my elbows. “They tried to kill me, and now they want me to come and talk to them? I’m not particularly in a hurry to see them again.”

“Do you know what it’s about?” Ash sat down on the edge of the bed.

“I believe it’s about her living arrangements.”

“Living arrangements? She’s our mate. It makes sense for her to stay with us.”

“I don’t believe they intend to relocate her as they know it would prove detrimental to our health.”

Relocation or not, I wasn’t keen on seeing Ezra’s father or the rest of the council after what they put me through. I didn’t trust them. But what choice did I have? They would punish their sons if I didn’t comply.