could deal with it after some sleep, but I saw the pain in his eyes. I didn’t like it. We needed to figure this all out and fast.
* * * *
After a whole five hours of sleep, I was up again…and overheating. My body was on fire with need to claim my mates, but I needed to give them more time until we knew what we were doing. Like if Aaron would try to eat Imogen. Silly little things like that.
I scurried out of bed and into the guest bathroom down the hall. I practically threw myself into the shower and blasted the cold water. When I realized I was standing there in my boxer briefs and T-shirt, I tore them off and moaned. The spray was freezing, and I swear I could almost see the steam rising from my skin as it cooled down.
“Sasha?” Avery called out as he knocked on the door. Like all close family would do when worried, he didn’t wait for me to answer before coming in. By then I was on all fours on the tile, panting as if I’d run a marathon. Holy shit!
“I remember your memories when you didn’t claim your mates right away, but I had no idea it would be like this.” I felt the tears burn in my eyes as he knelt down in front of me and nodded.
“Blows big time, doesn’t it?” He pushed my wet hair out of my eyes. I saw the concern and indecision. I’d bet he was dying to let my mates know I was hurting so they’d come help me.
“Why does fate do this to us? I don’t understand any of this. Yesterday I was upset about mom and dads having to leave the farm and the Hunters taking over our lives in a way. Now I just don’t know which way is up anymore, Avery.”
“I have a theory why, but I can’t give you any definite answers, Sasha.”
“Okay, I’ll take a theory right now.” I snickered. Right then I’d take just about anything because my brain was just fried from the past twenty-four hours.
“Having three in a relationship is harder than two and most people would automatically run if given the choice. Fate takes away the choice with dire consequences because fate knows what’s best when we don’t.”
I thought about it for a moment, and it made sense. I didn’t really like it, but it was logical. “But why a fairy and a vampire? They’re like oil and water from what I know now. Why do that to all of us?”
“I have a theory on that one, too,” Imogen whispered from the doorway. I turned to look at him so quickly that my world almost went black with how ill and faint I felt from overheating.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.” I grabbed my head as if that would stop my feeling dizzy. It didn’t, but it was just instinct to hold something that hurts.
“You should have,” he said angrily as his eyes flashed violet. “You say I’m your mate but don’t come to me when you’re in pain and need help. That’s not how we treat our keepers, Sasha.”
“You’re right,” I agreed immediately and shook my head. “I wasn’t thinking other than you have enough on your mind, and I didn’t want you to let me claim you out of pity. I won’t force you into anything.”
“You stupid, stupid man,” he sighed and joined us in the shower stall. Avery was slowly backing away but then stopped.
“What’s your theory, Imogen?” Avery’s tone was gentle as if he knew it would be hard for my mate to answer.
“My parents were killed by vampires,” he answered and swallowed loudly. Oh this just got better and fucking better! “And I’m a prince of the fae. I’ve been on the side of going to war with the vampires so that we may live on this plane freely without worry of them attacking us. If they’re gone, so is the threat.”
“Holy shit,” Aaron gasped. Well goodie, now the whole gang was here. “The vampires don’t know about that.”
“Go run and tell them then,” Imogen snarled as he put his arm around me, getting his expensive-looking clothes wet.
“I would never betray my mate’s confidence even if he doesn’t trust me,” Aaron said firmly as if trying to hold