“Can I stay here the night?” Kyan asks.
“Yeah, you don’t gotta ask, you know that,” Jonah says before whoever he is talking to picks up. Kyan nods before turning to face the TV again, resting his chin on his hand. Kora watches him worriedly. Despite the bond being gone because he rejected us, I still feel the overwhelming need to touch him to ensure he is okay.
“Are you okay?” I ask him, and he glances at me.
“Yep, the house is just too quiet,” he answers, and I chew the inside of my lip before scooting closer to him. Kyan watches me warily, clearly wondering what I am doing. He lets out a breath when I stop, laying down. I put my head in his lap and look up at him.
Kyan’s hand cups my cheek, his thumb brushes along my bottom lip and jaw. “You don’t hate me?” he asks. His hand moves, dropping on my shoulder while his other pulls my hair back from my face.
“I never hated you, Kyan, and I’m sorry about Lucas,” I tell him, and he nods.
“I have no one left now,” he murmurs, staring away at the wall.
“You have Jonah and me,” I tell him, and his eyes flick down to me, his fingertips trail over the scar left by Kaif’s old mark, and he smiles sadly.
“I have Jonah, not you. You belong to him now,” Kyan whispers as Jonah sits back down, lifting my feet onto his lap.
“You two kiss and make up yet, or are we still being the awkward throuple?” Neither of us say anything, and I’m not exactly sure what any of us are anymore. Everything is different now; the bond is gone, however, the feelings remain. My love for Kyan remains, yet I know how toxic that love can be, and so does Kyan.
“Awkward throuple it is then,” Jonah sighs, pressing play on the movie we are watching.
Kyan
Marabella squirms, and I try to tug the blanket up to cover her. She rolls into me, and I exhale, giving up on trying to keep her covered. “Where do you want her?” I ask Jonah as I scoop up Marabella off the couch where she has fallen asleep. Jonah chews his lip, his eyes dart to mine as I wait for him to answer.
“Ah, in the bed,” Jonah says awkwardly, while scratching the back of his neck as he stands.
I shake my head at his strange behavior. I figured they would be sleeping together but thought I would ask if they weren’t sharing a bed on the off-chance. Carrying her to the bedroom, I place her in the bed and nearly walk into Jonah as he comes in the door.
Kaif writhes beneath my skin, wanting to stay. The bond may be broken, but that doesn’t mean we stopped loving her. However, I find it strange being the third wheel, making me wonder if this is how Jonah felt when she was still mine.
“She didn’t even wake; I expected her to when I picked her up,” I admit to Jonah. His eyes flick to her and darken. “What’s wrong?” I question, and he looks up at me.
“I made her go back on her medication,” Jonah says, which makes me look over at him.
“She is retaking her antidepressants?” I ask.
“Yes, her mother had the doctor refill her script, and he faxed it to the pharmacy down here for me,” I nod at him before glancing down at her again.
“Are you sleeping in here too?” Jonah asks, tugging his shirt off over his head.
I’m not even sure if I can sleep. The manor stinks so heavily of bleach I haven’t slept since the night Lucas was killed, the urge to keep myself busy prevents me from sleeping. Looking back at the bed, I shake my head. “Na, I might head home,” I tell him, feeling a little awkward, suddenly.
Especially now that Jonah has claimed her. And with Kaif feeling uneasy inside me with his burning jealousy; I’m not sure it would be safe to stay.
Jonah throws his shirt at me, making me look at him. I raise an eyebrow at him, tossing his shirt toward the hamper in the corner. “Kyan, get in the damn bed,” Jonah growls at me before climbing in himself.
Kaif presses under my skin, wanting to sleep here and not go back home, but I am slightly worried. Everything feels different now. Off. I no longer know what to do with myself. I have spent years fighting the bond, and now I just want it back. Only that she is no longer mine now.
Staring down at her, I want nothing more than to hold her, but is it safe to do so?
“I will behave, please,” Kaif whines while peering longingly at the bed.
“Kyan, get in the damn bed; I know you want to. She is your mate, too,” Jonah snaps, which gives Kaif a boost because he also wants her.
“Was my mate,” I remind him. I really don’t like how those words sound when they roll off my tongue. Kaif growls at me but says nothing.
“She is still your mate; nothing is preventing you from remarking her. Preferably you this time, though, and not Kaif,” Jonah says before yawning and covering his mouth with his hand. “And you’re still standing there like a damn creeper; if you want I will spoon you,” Jonah offers with a laugh.
Although that actually doesn’t sound half bad, not that I will admit it to him. I’m not exactly known for liking cuddles. Sighing, I move toward the bed, toe off my shoes, and shrug my jacket off.
Jonah watches me while he tucks the blanket around her and sweeps her hair from her face. Her medication really knocks her out. Removing my belt, I let my pants fall when Jonah reaches into his bedside drawer and tosses me a pair of his boxer shorts.
“Seriously?” I ask, catching them. “I would rather go pantless,” I tell him.
“Suit yourself,” Jonah says before rolling on his side and tugging Mara closer so I can squeeze in next to her.
“Ah, are you going to turn the lamp off, or are we sleeping with it on? I promise not to let the bogey man get you,” I tell him, rolling on my side to face Marabella. Jonah sighs, and I peek over the top of her to look at him.
“Jonah, what?” I ask, feeling he is hesitant to ask about whatever is bothering him.
“Marabella wants to mark me. I have been putting it off,” Jonah tells me.
“Why?” I ask him. I half expected him to jump at the idea; Kaif presses forward to find out why he would hold off. Still, he is also jealous, which makes me a little uneasy knowing he is actively listening in.
“One, because of you. I don’t want to upset you. I know you were a little peeved that I marked her,” Jonah states.
“I wasn’t angry; I don’t know what I was feeling. Still don’t know.” I admit, still unsure how I will fit into this bizarre relationship they have going on; it was different when she was mine. I was willing to share; maybe I thought Jonah wouldn’t be now that he has her to himself. “The other reason?” I ask him when he doesn’t continue.
Embarrassment washes through the bond, making me sit up on one elbow to look at him. I have never seen him embarrassed before. He didn’t embarrass easily, usually, he is the one embarrassing me.