“Drink this, it will help with the nausea. I’m Tillan, by the way, and this is my home.”

I reach up and take the cup from Tillan’s hand, reading her lips. She is careful not to touch me skin to skin.

“Thank you,” I murmur. Taking a sip of the drink that smells very much like elderflower, I take the opportunity to look about her place. I am sitting crossed-legged on a floor cushion, a low, wooden table separating us. The room is a perfect square, the walls made up of sliding panels of white paper. It is sparsely decorated, simple but elegant. The drink eases the sickness I feel, instantly reviving me.

“Ether and Gabe have explained who you are. I’ve read the prophecy. I live with Queen Adrielle’s curse. I understand your importance to my people. Though it would seem this isn’t going to be an easy task, not with that creature desperate to kill the three men fated to you, and not now that Gabe has marked you with death.”

“That thing wasn’t trying to kill me?” I ask, avoiding the other point she made about Gabe.

She shakes her head. “Oh, I believe it would’ve killed you too, given half the chance. But, no, Queen Adrielle sent it for those traitors who betrayed her. I do not believe she has any idea you exist. If she did, you would never have reached such an age.”

“I see.” I know I should be more worried, but a strange calmness has settled over me. “Where is the creature now?”

“It has been left behind in the place you’ve called home these past twenty-seven years. Gabe managed to sever one of its wings. If we are lucky it didn’t survive the fall, but I suspect that would be too easy. Queen Adrielle made it, after all. For now, we are safe, you are safe.” She pulls a face. “Well, as safe as you can be, given the circumstances.”

I take another sip of the sweet drink, observing Tillan from behind the rim of the cup. “About Gabe…” I start, only to be interrupted by Ether sliding open one of the partitions and striding into the room. Mihr follows behind him. Gabe is standing just beyond the boundary of the room. He’s as close to me as he was when they were fighting, but I don’t feel nearly as unwell as I should. Tillan twists her head, following my gaze, before turning back to face me.

“Gabe will wait outside. He understands he cannot come too close. Of course, I can ask him to leave if it pains you for him to remain, though the inhibitor should help,” she says.

“No, don’t turn him away again, I want him to stay. This drink seems to be working.” I catch Gabe’s eye. Does he mean to devour my life like his look suggests, or is it the kind of hunger only a passionate roll in the sheets can satisfy? Either way, no one has ever looked at me like that before. I find it hard to peel my eyes away.

“As you wish, but the moment you feel unwell you must tell us,” Ether says, taking the proffered drink from Tillan’s outstretched hand and downing it quickly. “Tillan is great at working miracles, but they don’t always last.” He is still bare-chested, still inked in that beautiful, watercolour tattoo, the delicate imagery belying the strength and power he exudes.

Mihr, who has been quiet all this time, takes a seat in the corner of the room. He is holding onto his arm, clutching it against his chest.

“You’re hurt?” I sign, suddenly feeling guilty that I hadn’t noticed before now.

He grits his teeth and nods sharply.

“You didn’t regenerate?” I ask, getting up on relatively stable legs, given Gabe’s proximity. Whatever’s in the drink Tillan has given me, it seems to be working in combatting the symptoms of the marking. I don’t feel nearly as bad as I ought to in his presence. Mihr shakes his head.

“No. These two can heal the old-fashioned way. It’s a reminder of what just happened, and what mustn’t happen again,” Ether says, a note of anger still lingering. “We are Clan Vitae, we are brothers-in-arms and we do not fight amongst ourselves.”

“But he’s in pain,” I say, giving Ether a look of annoyance. As far as I can tell, Gabe looks like he has a split lip, and a nasty purple bruise is forming around his eye too. Not to mention the jagged claw marks that have ripped through his top. I can just about make out great angry slashes underneath. Courtesy of the metal winged creature, no doubt.

“Look at the state of them both. This isn’t right. Why do you get to decide that this is their punishment? Why do they need to be punished at all?”

“Because I am the leader of this damn trio, and what I say goes,” Ether bristles. He looks both equally pissed at me for questioning his authority and impressed by it. Tillan leans over and whispers in his ear. If I am not mistaken, she is saying how much she likes me. I catch her eye and she grins. I smile back, glad of the female camaraderie. I think I am going to like her. She reminds me of Dani. Strong, sure of herself, confident and not easily scared.

Crouching down in front of Mihr and ignoring Ether’s mutterings, I take his arm and press my fingers along his skin. “This is broken, healing will take weeks… unless you heal quicker than a human? Do you?”

Mihr sucks in a breath, the dark pupils of his summer-blue eyes enlarging. “We do heal qui…” he signs.

“What in Life’s name do you think you’re doing?” Ether says sharply, cutting Mihr off. He’s looking at me with a mixture of shock, concern and wonder.

“I…” It’s pretty obvious what I’m doing. Then I remember we’re not supposed to be touching skin to skin. I snatch my hands away.

“Well, this is an interesting turn of events. How long have you known Mihr?” Tillan is looking at us both curiously and Gabe looks like he wants to rugby tackle Mihr again.

Ether whistles under his breath. “That explains a lot,” he says.

“Since the first time we touched I suspected it. Now I am certain.” Mihr’s hands move quickly.

“What kind of sick shit is this?” Gabe says from his spot beyond the room. Bewilderment and rage pass over his features. “You two barely know each other. I’ve known Fern a fucking lifetime.”

What does he mean, a lifetime?

Even though I don’t understand what either men are talking about, Gabe is looking at me with so much hurt that my heart aches for him. I watch as he curls his fingers into a fist and puts it through one of the paper partitions. The sound of it tears slices through the tension in the room. He turns on his heel and walks away. I stand, wanting to follow him, that ache in my chest increasing as he leaves, even as the dulled sickness subsides.

“Wait,” I say, taking a step towards him.

Gabe pauses minutely, but he doesn’t turn around. Instead, his wings fold in tightly against his back, and he walks away from me again.

Mihr grabs hold of my hand, preventing me from following him. He stands, wincing as he does so.

“Don’t, he won’t thank you for it. This will be a blow to him,” he signs.

“What will be a blow?”

“Finding out that you and I are Harmonious, given how much he cares about you.”

“Harmonious?” Cares about me?

“It’s a special kind of bond for the people of Clan Vitae…” Mihr begins, his hands hovering in the air.

“It is?”

Mihr nods his head, his eyes flicking from my face to Ether’s. A drip of sweat rolls down his face as he cups his arm. Conversing with me in sign is clearly causing him a great deal of pain.

Ether sighs. “Perhaps I should have allowed you to regenerate after all.”

“Perhaps? Having a broken arm makes communicating pretty bloody difficult, not to mention painful. Perhaps you should have thought of that before being such an arse,” I snap, feeling protective of Mihr.

“I wasn’t the one who was fighting. These two imbeciles were.”

“They were fighting, yes. I don’t agree with it, but I don’t think they should be made to suffer because of some kind of power trip you’re having.”

“Power trip?” Ether looks at me aghast. Beside me, Mihr gives me a rare smile. Even Tillan laughs.

Ether bristles. “Who do you think you’re…” Ether starts.

“Talking to?” I finish for him. Ether folds his arms across his perfectly sculptured chest. I try not to be distracted by his half nakedness. He has no right looking as good as he does when he’s being so unreasonable. “I am talking to you, Ether,” I say, exasperated. “Mihr is in pain. Gabe doesn’t look great either. How is being in this state good for either of them?”

“You are sticking up for the man who marked you?” He shakes his head in bewilderment.

“I just don’t think it helps any of us if Mihr and Gabe aren’t at their best…” My voice trails off. Ether’s right, I am sticking up for Gabe. Anyone else would be furious, but not me. Clearly, I am losing my mind here.

He raises an eyebrow at me, which only serves to tick me off even more.

“Look, just tell me what this Harmonious bond is,” I snap.

“Careful, Fern. I am not a man who takes insolence very well,” Ether says.

I scoff. “Insolence? Let’s just get one thing crystal clear, Ether. I don’t take orders from anyone and I certainly won’t keep my mouth shut if I disagree with something either.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I get the impression you might just like taking orders, Fern.”

“Ha! I don’t think so.”

Is he flirting with me? I cross my arms defensively, pissed that my cheeks are burning with heat. Why does my body like to betray me? Ether uncrosses his arms and tucks his hands into his trouser pockets bringing her attention back to his gorgeous tattoo and stunning physique. Burning cheeks or not, I manage to drag my gaze away and stare him in the eye.

“Well? Are you going to tell me about this Harmonious bond or not?”

Ether glares at me but rather than continue with this strange flirting, he begins to speak. It feels like a victory, albeit a small one.

“All members of Clan Vitae sing, it has become an intrinsic part of our culture now. To be Harmonious with another member of Clan Vitae means you belong to each other in a sacred way. Not only will you be perfectly in tune with Mihr when you sing, you are meant for each other in all ways too; mind, body and soul. This must be why Mihr can touch you without hurting you and why you can understand him without having to learn the language. It takes only one touch to begin the process of Harmonia, regardless of whether it is desired or not. We do not question it. There are very few of Clan Vitae who have connected so wholly in such a way, but those who have are revered and honoured as they should be. It is a gift.”

“But…” I begin. My words freeze on my lips when I glance at Mihr, who is staring at me with such awe and reverence. I don’t quite know what to say. Don’t get me wrong, I like Mihr, more than like him. I feel a connection growing between us but being told I am meant to be with him is hard to digest, given my feelings towards Gabe. Besides, hadn’t the prophecy said something about three allied men? Being Harmonious sounds very one on one to me. Not that I am greedy or anything.

Not willing to try and figure this out, I turn my attention back to Tillan and Ether. I watch as she leans over and whispers into his ear. Something in the way she turns her body towards him has a knot of jealousy twisting in my stomach. If I am meant to be solely with Mihr, how can I feel this jealousy regarding Ether, or this deep yearning for Gabe? My gaze flicks from her fingers to her mouth as she speaks.

“The Harmonia is very sacred indeed, but do not forget Gabe, Ether. You know how hard it is for an angel to have such strong feelings, given the darkness we carry within us. That in itself is quite a feat, especially for one as troubled as him,” Tillan says thoughtfully.

“What feelings?” I ask.

She frowns at me as though I am stupid. “Why, love, of course.”