Cade loaded more weight onto the bar, needing a distraction from the alluring female in the training room. The truth was, he was losing his fucking mind. It was bad enough he stalked Brianne and his brother from the bushes near the lake. But when Cade watched Cael swoop his mate into his arms and head toward the woods, his last ounce of control snapped. He shouted his rage and attacked his twin.

His mind blanked as he watched Brianne drop the dumbbell and pick up a towel to wipe her face. Sweat glistened all over her skin and Cade’s mouth watered for a taste.

Brianne was an exquisite female. Reality had been one blur after another since Cade had walked into Cael’s room and sealed his fate. And, he hadn’t really looked at his mate. Brianne’s silky black hair shone in the fluorescent lights, and her red-tipped wings were just as regal. Her wings were very different from Illianna’s angelic wings, which were larger than her body. Much like Tori’s Valkyrie wings, Brianne’s didn’t run the length of her body, but gave off immense power, nonetheless.

Cade bit back a groan when Brianne pulled her cotton t-shirt over her head. The top momentarily got caught on her wings before she finally tugged it free. Her red sports bra hugged ample breasts to her chest, and sweat glistened her stomach.

He was too far away to hear what Brianne muttered as she braced her feet against the leg machine’s platform, and pushed. No doubt she was cursing him for interrupting her date with Cael. The image of them flirting and kissing still sent Cade into orbit.

Being pissed and at odds with his twin left an uneasy feeling in Cade’s gut. Never in their lives had they disagreed. Most days, Cael finished Cade’s sentences. They agreed on nearly everything. Until now.

Cade didn’t want to hate his brother. Nor did he enjoy the fact that he wanted to scoop out Cael’s eyes for looking at Brianne with desire and passion. Intellectually, Cade knew that he and Cael still shared the loyalty and bond they were born with, despite their dilemma. Cade would give his life to save his brother, but he would lock him in a dungeon to keep him from Brianne.

Nothing about the situation made any sense. From everything they’d been taught as striplings, they were each given a Fated Mate. There was a whole host of impulses and driving needs that arose the moment he discovered Brianne was meant for him. The most pressing matter was he needed to claim her fully and bind her life to his for eternity. None of that was conducive to sharing a mate with his brother. She belonged to him, and him alone.

Unfortunately, there was no denying the Goddess gave Brianne two mates. The brand made it clear the Goddess intended her to belong to Cade and Cael. What Cade didn’t understand was why he wanted to rip his brother to shreds.

If Brianne carried both their souls, then why weren’t things amicable between the three of them? Cade should be able to see his brother as an ally instead of the enemy. Most infuriating was that the Mystik Grimoire had absolutely no helpful information. There was a passage about severing the mating bond altogether, but neither Cade nor his twin wanted to do that.

Cade wasn’t sure why the information was there at all. No one would effectively kill part of themselves and turn their back on the mate the Goddess chose for them. One of the first messages striplings learned in the Tehrex Realm was that the Goddess Morrigan selected the perfect mate for her subjects and entrusted part of their immortal souls to her choice.

The bang of the double doors drew Cade’s attention. Mack entered the room with a smile on her face and a bag in her hand. The female donned nylon shorts, tennis shoes, and one of her snarky t-shirts. Today’s read My Quiet Time Involves Heavy Metal with a barbell beneath the words. The slogan made him chuckle. Undoubtedly, Mack was most comfortable with a sgian dubh in her hand battling skirm, or in the gym training.

Brianne stopped working out and grabbed her water bottle. “Mack, Buenos Dias. Thank the Gods it’s someone I can stomach right now,” she said and glared his direction.

“I take it life isn’t all rainbows and orgasms having two mates,” Mack replied as she sauntered across the mats.

“I suppose it would be too much to ask to send them into battle.”

“I have something for you,” Mack said, changing the subject as she handed Brianne the black gift bag she was carrying.

“¿Un regalito? Brianne asked. Cade didn’t miss the avarice that lit his mate’s eyes. She liked gifts, it seemed. That was helpful information. “You totally shouldn’t have, but I’m glad you did. Oh, my Gods! Me encanta,” Brianne sputtered as she lifted a black t-shirt from the bag, laughing aloud.

Cade hadn’t known Brianne long, and yet, he realized he hadn’t seen real humor light the features of her face until now.

“I had to put a drink on there with the way you sucked back Elsie’s pina-ritas,” Mack explained.

Brianne stood up and turned the shirt, holding it over her chest and Cade got a look at the design. The shirt said Magically Delicious in green glitter with the ‘y’ substituted for the outline of a margarita glass. Those words were the best way to describe his mate, but it was the meaning behind the words that had Cade’s feet moving forward with his fists clenched at his sides.

“Those are my new favorite drink,” Brianne told Mack. “In fact, I could use some right about now.” Brianne’s eyes followed Mack’s gaze, landing on Cade.

“Yep, rainbows and orgasms,” Mack murmured. “I will find Elsie and ask her to make some beverages. I can see your night is about to get more complicated.”

“No te vayas, you don’t have to go,” Brianne objected.

Cade cocked his head and wondered why she wanted the female to stay. He preferred to be alone with his mate.

“I have a killboard to update, but I will see you later for drinks,” Mack said with a wave as she made her way out of the training room. Cade and Brianne watched the female leave in silence.

“Haven’t you done enough for one day?” Brianne asked finally.

“I haven’t done nearly enough. There is so much more I want to do with you. To you,” Cade admitted. He was encouraged by the fact that she didn’t rebuke him. Not to mention the way her neck and cheeks flushed with desire. “Listen, I didn’t mean to stalk you earlier. And, just so you know, I didn’t follow you here. I needed to let off some steam.”

“You could’ve at least shown me how to use this machine,” she countered, pointing to the ab and back machine.

He almost came forward when he noticed her struggling, but then he would’ve missed her delectable ass in the air as she tried to figure out the machine. He lost all rational thought as she shifted her hips, trying to adjust the device.

“And miss the show? There is no way I would have given up the view I had for those blessed few seconds. You have the best ass I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

Brianne turned her head away and lowered her eyes, almost nervously. The thought that she was shy seemed incongruent given what Cade had seen thus far, but there was no mistaking the nervous smile that graced her luscious lips.

“You lie. I am fifteen pounds overweight, and I carry most of it in my butt.”

“Now who’s lying. Every inch of you is perfect,” Cade proclaimed and tugged her to him, meshing their bodies together. His hands landed on her hips, and his fingers dug into her flesh as he held tight. He never wanted to let go.

“Want to spar with me?” Cade asked to keep from acting on his base impulses.

Sweet mango filled his nostrils, teasing and tempting him to insanity. Perhaps he should rip the clothes from Brianne’s body and make love to her instead.

He recalled Brianne’s furious gaze when he launched himself between her and Cael by the lake. That alone kept him from acting on his desires. The second his first punch landed on Cael’s jaw, Brianne cursed them in Spanish then promptly left them to beat each other senseless. Cade wasn’t capable of logical thinking where Brianne was concerned and was content teaching her to box. Anything to spend time with her.

“As long as you go easy on me. I’m not a warrior and have never been trained to fight this way,” she told him.

He narrowed his eyes, considering her comment. She wasn’t skinny like Elsie, nor muscular as Breslin. Instead, she was the best combination of muscle and soft flesh.

“I can’t believe you don’t know how to fight. I recall Crocell’s attack on Mt. Ranier to know better. I may not remember seeing you, but there wasn’t one of your kind that didn’t kick major ass.”

“Oh, I’m scrappy and can defend myself, but that’s not the same as being a trained warrior. I don’t know how to dodge a blow and deliver one back. I just hit, kick, and stab my way to safety. It’s kinda like survival mode makes me a swirling dervish on the battlefield,” she said as she took a step back and put some space between their bodies. It allowed some of the blood flow to return to his head, and he could think of more than fucking his mate senseless.

“Alright then. Let’s see what you’ve got, mate,” he encouraged as he crouched a few feet away from her.

“Will you go easy on me, mi leóncito? I’m fragile,” she purred. Bouncing on the balls of her feet, Brianne’s breasts called to Cade as they moved with her body.

“Fragile like a bomb,” he croaked as he toed off his boots and socks, tossing them to the side.

He didn’t catch her intentions as she jogged toward him. Cade relaxed his stance and stared at her boobs before her foot connected with his jaw and sent him flying to his ass. He landed with a thud, unsure what had just happened.

A laugh echoed around the room as Brianne’s amusement lit her face. “Is Cael the fighter of you two? I know he’s more aggressive in bed, but I figured that was where the differences ended. Guess I was wrong.”

Cade’s brain shorted out when he heard her mention sex with his twin. “I’m twice the warrior Cael is. And, I’m twice the lover. You’ve only gotten a brief taste of what I can give you, love. I have so much more in store,” he informed as he rushed toward her. His arms wrapped around her waist and kept his momentum moving forward. Twisting so Brianne wouldn’t land on her back, Cade took the brunt of the impact and relished the feel of her body smashed on top of his.

Brianne jumped to her feet before Cade could lay his lips to hers. Uncertain of what she planned, Cade did a backflip and landed on his feet. Brianne’s foot connected with his shin, and she cursed, walked off the pain she inflicted to her foot.

He chuckled at her scowl then jogged around her for several seconds. “What’s your favorite food?” Cade asked.

“Puerto Rican, of course. But, I do like most types of food,” Brianne replied as she feinted with her right fist and threw her left into his kidney.

Expelling his breath with a growl, Cade danced out of reach and grabbed for her hands when she tried to punch him again. “I’ve never had Puerto Rican food. Can you cook?”

“Hell no. I leave that to bored females with too much time on their hands. I do make a mean Coquito, though.”

“What’s that? Will you make it for me?” he asked, wanting to taste anything she had to offer.

“It’s a drink, similar to eggnog if you’ve ever had that. It has Mexican cinnamon and evaporated milk, among other ingredients. It’s not something I often do as it’s complicated. Most associate it with the human holidays, but as soon as Fall hits, my sister and I make a batch,” Brianne explained.

Cade thrust his fist but controlled his blow, so it landed with half the force on her shoulder. Before he could dance out of reach, she punched him in the flank, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her off the ground.

“Looks like I met you right on time then,” he murmured with his lips hovering a few inches above hers.

It was officially Fall in Seattle, his favorite time of the year with the new apple harvests and longer nights. He knew it was cliché to love Halloween, but the vampire in him loved the human holiday. He and Cael enjoyed prowling the streets in black capes, exposing their fangs and scaring the human children that asked strangers for candy.

“You say that, but I’ve caused problems between you and your brother,” she began, but he cut her off by lightly pressing his lips to hers.

“Shhh, stop. It isn’t your fault. Everything is going to work out after I win your heart and soul,” he informed her.

“I’m not that easy,” she told him and kissed the corner of his mouth.

He ran his hands down her back and cupped her generous ass in his palms. She moaned when he squeezed her flesh and pulled her against his erection. One of her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms wound around his neck. She fit perfectly against the hard angles of his body. He couldn’t have asked for a better fit or a sexier female.

“I don’t mind working for your affections. I don’t need to have known you for months, or years, to know you’re worth every effort,” Cade vowed.

“You say the sweetest things,” she murmured as she continued to kiss along his jaw.

Cade quickly took control. His mouth moved over hers, and his tongue licked her lower lip, seeking entrance. The second his tongue ran along the slick length of hers, a loud shout interrupted the moment, and Brianne broke the kiss.

Panting, he turned to see Cael prowl toward them. “I don’t think so, brother. You will not kiss my mate or take liberties that aren’t your right.”

“For fucks sake – ya deja de joder,” Brianne muttered. “You both need to stop this bullshit right now.”

“I will never stop fighting for you, my love,” Cael vowed.

Cade added his own pledge as he stepped in front of Brianne, keeping her from Cael.

“She’s not yours, Cade. How many times must I tell you? I had her first, and my mark appeared hours before yours. She belongs to me,” his brother roared.

“It doesn’t say that anywhere. I have just as much right to her as you do,” Cade objected.

“I don’t belong to anyone!” Brianne screamed, yanking on her hair.

Cael ran at Cade and punched him in the face at the same moment Cade thrust his fist into his brother’s throat. The blows didn’t separate them as Cade scrabbled at Cael’s face and punched his kidneys while wrapping his leg around his ankle, trying to make him fall to his ass.

“Stop it, now,” Brianne ordered.

Unfortunately, Cade was too busy blocking his brother’s attack to respond to his mate. He kicked and scratched and considered grabbing his blade until he remembered it was with his boots and socks. That was a blessing, he amended. He might want Cael out of the picture, but he didn’t want him dead.

“You two are idiots. I’d rather fuck the young warlock than have anything more to do with your feuding,” Brianne proclaimed and stormed from the room.

Her harsh words stopped Cade and Cael cold. They stood there panting, their arms wrapped around each other’s necks, the same determined look on their faces. They might be at odds over Brianne, but Tristan would die if he touched one inch of her body.