“Make some coffee,” she called out to Uri. “We’ll be right back.”

She hit close on the lift doors and then crossed her arms and glared at me. “Well?”

“Well, what?”

“You and celestial boy out there. Something happened between you, didn’t it?”

I could never get anything past Cora. “We kissed, but that’s all. I wouldn’t take it further, not without the guys agreeing to it.”

“You’re going to speak to them, though, right?”

“Mal and Az have already given me the green light with Uriel, but I thought they were being ridiculous. I mean, I have feelings for Uri, but I thought he saw me as a friend.”

“Friends don’t kiss with tongue,” she said. “Wait, there was tongue, right?”

I covered my face.

“Omg, you’re fucking blushing. What the hell? You don’t blush.”

“I know!”

She grinned. “So, this is the Uri effect.”

The lift opened, and she led us down the corridor toward her room. “And Grayson?”

“I need to speak to him.”

She pushed open the door, and I stepped into an explosion of pink and purple. “You…decorated.”

She shrugged. “Grayson said it was cool, and I spend so much time here.”

Did that mean she wasn’t leaving?

She pressed her lips together. “I know I said I needed to spread my wings, and I will. That doesn’t mean I can’t put my mark on this place.” She threw herself onto a beanie chair. “What will you say to Grayson about Uri?”

“I’ll tell him I have feelings for Uri.”

“How do you think he’ll take it?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. Az, Mal, and Grayson have an understanding. They came together for me, and Hunter…we have no choice about him because he’s part of our Tribus.”

“You’re worried Grayson will reject the idea of Uri.”

“Yeah. I wouldn’t blame him if he did. I mean, he’s an alpha Loup, and they don’t share, and I can’t help but feel like a selfish bitch for asking.”

“At least you’re not banging first, asking questions later,” Cora said. Her expression sobered. “Mal and Az are okay with it, but what if Grayson says no.”

I ignored the tightness in my chest. “Then, no. I won’t go there with Uri. I’ll add some distance so that this thing blossoming between us can’t flourish. Right now…Right now, we’re on a precipice. I can allow myself to fall or turn and run the other way.”

“You’re right, babe. Grayson has resolved himself to Mal and Az. I guess his Loup can accept them because they were with you first, a part of your life, like a package deal.”

I covered my face. “Why am I such a hussy?”

She sighed and pulled me into a hug. “You’re not a hussy. You have a lot of love to give, and you just happen to have found several guys you have a strong connection with. Just be prepared for resistance from Grayson. He won’t like this. It’ll take time for him to adjust, but I can’t believe for one moment he’d make a decision that would make you unhappy.”

“And I won’t do anything to hurt him.” Which made me wonder. “Am I being selfish for even asking?”

“No, Fee,” she said. “You’re being true to yourself. Too many people sacrifice their happiness for others, and as long as you don’t expect the men you love to sacrifice their happiness, then there’s no harm in wanting more.”

“And what if they want more?” The thought made my chest ache. It made me wonder how they could share me when the thought of sharing them made me want to cry. “Oh, fuck, I am selfish.”

“Stop it!” Cora said. “You went through shit for these guys. You were hurt, and you got back up, your heart was battered, but you carried on, and now when they’ve finally come to an arrangement to share your heart, you’re doubting it?” She cupped my shoulders. “Your problem is that deep down, you always think you’re not worth it. But you are. So shut the fuck up and accept the love you’re offered. Trust me, if any of the guys ever feel they can’t hack it anymore, they’ll let you know.”

She was right. Of course, she was right. “I’ll speak to Grayson as soon as he gets back. I have to be honest, whatever the outcome.”

She studied my face. “Damn, Fee, you need more sleep. You have dark circles under your eyes.”

“I did sleep. A lot.”

“I think Cyril must be doing the same. I haven’t seen him in days.”

Come to think of it, neither had I. “You know what…I think Keon left without Delphine. I think her and Cyril are holed up somewhere here. He did say something about nesting.”

Cora sighed. “Even the fucking python is getting some love. He’ll show up when he’s ready. Come on, let’s get you some healthy food.”

We headed for the door. “How is the Magiguard mission going.”

“It’s not. I’ll tell you all about it later, and you can fill me in on the Underealm escapades.”

We headed back downstairs and stepped out of the lift into an atmosphere charged with tension. I smelled Grayson before I saw him. He was standing in the kitchen, face to face with Uri, lip curled, husky eyes in Loup shift mode.

“Answer me,” he said. “Why do you have Fee’s scent all over you?”

Uri kept his hands loose at his sides, his stance non-confrontational. “I slept in her bed.”

Oh fuck.

Grayson’s chest rumbled in a growl. He was about to attack. I ran across the room, and his head whipped my way. I skidded to a halt, my Loup instinct warning me to back away. He strode toward me, and the alpha in me kept me rooted to the spot in defiance. His nostrils flared, and then I was scooped off my feet and slung over his shoulder.

Heat coursed through me as my Loup recognized her mate, acknowledging the fact he wouldn’t hurt her, but the demon and the human sides of me trembled with fear. Because this was rage. This was crazy. And Grayson was in their grip.

I barely registered the lift ride, and then we were slamming into our chambers, but he didn’t stop there, he took me straight into the bathroom and set me down.

“Grayson?”

He wouldn’t look at me. Instead, he turned on the shower.

“Grayson, look at me.”

“Take off your clothes and wash him off you,” he growled through clenched teeth. “Do it now, please, Fee, before I lose my shit and tear his head off.”

I wanted to explain that he had the wrong end of the stick. That Uri and I had only slept together, not slept together. But he was on a knife’s edge, the beast warring for control, and I needed to remove the trigger.

I stripped quickly and got under the spray of water. His shower gel was at hand, so I lathered up and began to wash, heart thundering in my chest like an epic storm.

So far, I’d seen many sides of Grayson, but this…This was new. It was frightening and exhilarating, and I was so totally fucked up. I caught movement through the frosted glass of the cubicle, and then Grayson slid back the door and stepped in with me. He pushed me up against the wall and pressed the length of his powerful body to mine.

“You fucked him?”

“No. I didn’t.”

“He reeks of you. He said he slept with you.”

“He did sleep with me. Sleep, Grayson, not fuck. I sleepwalked off the pinnacle, and he saved me. He was making sure I didn’t do it again.” I kept my gaze locked with his. “We kissed. That’s all. Nothing else happened. I wouldn’t take that kind of step without speaking to you first.”

He gripped my jaw and forced me to look up at him. “But you want him. Your heart wants him.”

“I care about him…More than a friend.”

His chest rumbled. “And if I say no. What if I say you can’t have him?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and blinked back hot tears. “Then I’ll understand, and I’ll let him go.”

His harsh, punishing expression softened. “Dammit, Fee.” And then he kissed me.

I was expecting a punishing kiss, bruising even, but it was soft and pleading and filled with longing.

I wound my arms around his neck and pushed up on tiptoe to kiss him back properly. He tasted of bacon and coffee and something sweet I couldn’t put my finger on. I devoured his mouth with teeth and tongue, raking my fingers through his wet hair and pulling him closer. The water battered against our skin, blocking the world out as he hoisted me up, wrapped my legs around his waist, and entered me. A gasp tore from my throat as he filled me, and he pulled back to lock gazes with me. His hand went to my nape, gripping firmly.

“Mine,” he growled. “Say it.”

“Yours.” My voice trembled with need as he flexed inside me. “Grayson, please.”

“Please, what?”

“Fuck me, dammit.”

His gaze dropped to my lips, and he rolled his hips against mine.

My moan barely kissed air before he captured my mouth in a bruising kiss. And then he began to thrust, hard and fast, pressing me up against the tile, trapping me there and branding me with the heat of his arousal. This was a claiming our Loup understood, and my body spiraled fast, eager, and ready for release.

“Mine,” he growled in my ear as he came. “Mine.”

“I wanted to hurt him,” Grayson said. “I would have torn him to shreds and I don’t think he would have fought back.” He shook his head.

“He’s a good guy.”

“I know that, but the beast doesn’t care about how good a guy is if he’s carrying its mate’s scent.”

“I’m sorry I put you in that position.” Guilt was a boulder on my chest bringing tears to my eyes. “I feel awful.”

He gathered me to him and kissed the top of my head. “Don’t. This thing we have, it’s new to us all. We’re all adjusting and learning, but the premise hasn’t changed. We all love you, and we want to make you happy.”