“Apparently.”
Hunter ran a hand through his hair.“No pressure, huh?”
Brielle gave a short, humorless laugh.“Exactly.So, finish breakfast—we’re going upstairs to tell the others.”
They climbed the stairs to the rooftop, the morning wind cool and sharp against her skin.The others were already there.Ursula wrapped in a blanket, nursing a mug of coffee like it was a holy relic, and the rest looking various shades of exhausted.
Brielle squinted at Willow and Saffie, who looked infuriatingly composed.“Why do you two look like you slept for a week while I feel like I died?”
Saffie sipped her coffee innocently.“Good genes.”
Willow added with a grin, “And grape juice.”
Brielle froze.“You didn’t.”
“Oh, they fucking did,” Ursula muttered, glaring into her mug.“They’re both traitors.”
Saffie shrugged.“You were stress incarnate.You both needed to vent some steam, so we made an executive decision.”
Ursula groaned.“I hate you all.”
Brielle dropped into the chair opposite her.“Trust me, you’re not alone.”She took a long breath and straightened.“Betrayal aside, everyone listen up.I talked to the Goddess last night.”
That got their attention.Even the hungover one looked up.
“She said the new moon is tonight, so by midnight, I have to be bonded—completely—to my fated mates.Otherwise, Caleb wins.”
Willow blinked.“Bonded as in...”
“Sex, magic, vows—the full package,” Brielle said, exasperated.“And apparently, that’s the key to unlocking whatever power I’m supposed to use to end him.”
Ursula rubbed her temple.“Well, that’s not ominous at all.”
Lennox muttered, “She really said all that?”
“Yes,” Brielle snapped.“And I don’t know what ‘find your inner strength’ means either, so don’t ask.”
Hunter folded his arms.“We’ll figure it out.”
Saffie arched a brow.“The three of you had better start figuring fast.Midnight’s not waiting.”
Brielle gave her a look.“Thanks for the reminder.”She turned back to the group, her tone edged with disbelief.“So, what?I have to find my fated mates before midnight?”
Both Hunter and Lennox growled at the same time, low and possessive, the sound rolling through the air like thunder.Hunter’s eyes darkened.“No need to look, baby.We’re right here.”
Lennox crossed his arms, meeting her startled gaze.“What we need to figure out isn’t who—they’re standing in front of you.It’s what’s blocking the bond.Because there’s no universe where we’re not yours.”
Brielle blinked, her mouth opening and closing once before she managed, “You two really don’t do subtle, do you?”
Hunter grinned, sharp and unrepentant.“Not when it comes to you.”
Lennox smirked.“Subtlety’s overrated.”
The rooftop wind caught her hair, and Brielle felt that pull again—the same invisible tether the Goddess had warned her about.Dangerous.Powerful.Real.
She took a breath and squared her shoulders.“Then I guess we better find out what’s standing in our way.”
Hunter’s voice dropped low, steady.“And when we do—nothing will stop us.”