Page 50 of Rapunzel Unchained

Zane sat on the arm of the chair, drawing my hand into his lap where he laced our fingers. Fully clothed, Blake sat on the ground by my feet, his arm wrapped around my leg, his fingers trailing a liquifying path up and down my calf.

Normally, when faced with an opponent I meant to intimidate with my presence, I would’ve made my mages keep their hands to themselves. In the past, I was strong on my own, I didn’t need anyone or anything.

Now, I welcomed their presence. Their touch grounded me, and their blatant display of whose side they were on warmed my heart.

I could still taste Zane on my tongue. Blake and Luke’s release still decorated the inside of my thighs, pooling beneath me on the chair. I wiggled slightly at their cooling essence. I’d need to bathe soon, but I wanted to sit here before him with his friends’ cum in and on my body.

Even if he couldn’t see it, I wanted the reminder that they had me and he didn’t.

The door burst open, and there was a low murmur of voices before boots clacked on the wood floors. Adam appeared in the doorway of the living area, Luke trailing after him. Adam’s eyes searched the room before landing on me.

Those mahogany eyes traced over my body, taking in every aspect, Zane’s jacket, my bare skin peeking through the folds, their hands on me, before sniffing the air. I expected anger or at least jealousy from him at the obvious stench of sex in the air but, if anything, Adam’s eyes filled with sadness.

Luke placed himself at the empty side of me, behind his brother, his fingers finding their way into my hair, stroking it in long, soothing motions. I kept a hand free in case I needed to defend myself. I didn’t think I would, but I couldn’t be too careful.

It was a miracle Rebecca hadn’t woken because of Adam. Or the woman knew to give us privacy. Either way, I was happy to not have to face her and Adam together. Even if they were broken up officially, a small kernel of jealousy still lingered in my chest.

“Adam,” I greeted, keeping my tone flippant. “What do we owe for this late visit?”

The Arch Mage visibly swallowed, licking his lips before stepping forward. “I didn’t know you’d still have company.” His eyes darted to the other mages at my side. “Though I’m not surprised. I figured they weren’t coming here to bring you back.”

My lips tugged at the edges. “No. They didn’t, and I wouldn’t come back anyway. You and Gage have made your positions quite clear.”

Adam winced. “I know you’re angry at me... and Gage. He’s just trying to protect us.”

“And I understand that. The only ones I want to suffer are the mages who are responsible for my people’s suffering.”

He tousled his hair before looking off to the side. “And I suppose I’m one of those people.”

“Are you?” I canted my head to the side. “You might not agree with my methods, but you are trying, Adam.” I said his name softly, earning his gaze on once more. “It’s not your fault that the other council members don’t share your compassion for the humans. Besides Nick that is.”

Adam’s brow lifted. “Nickolai was here?”

Zane squeezed my hand, urging me to continue.

I was sure they all wanted Adam and me to make up. I wanted it, too. I wanted him by my side, but there were things we just weren’t going to agree on. Humans were one of them.

“Why are you here, Adam?” I asked, not answering his question.

If my intense gaze bothered him, Adam didn’t show it. He hadn’t even brought out his little book, which was as intriguing as it was confusing. What was he thinking?

“I wanted to be the one to tell you,” he began, his hands shoving into his pockets. “I meant to be here earlier, but my meetings took longer than I expected.”

My lips ticked. “If you’re here to tell me about your engagement, I know.”

Adam’s eyes locked with mine, his eyes searching my face for my reaction to the news. When I didn’t elaborate, he moved further into the room. The others tensed, not moving from my sides.

“I’m curious, though. Did you end it, or did it take Rebecca to make you finally put an end to the facade?” I shifted in my chair, uncrossing and recrossing my legs.

Blake shifted with me, his hand moving slightly higher.

Adam’s gaze dipped down at my movement, and a tortured longing filled his face. His mouth parted to speak, his eyes shuttering his emotions. “She did.”

His words pierced my heart, and it took a moment to regain my breath. “I figured as much. Your position is far too important to you to let anyone get in your way. You probably would have gone so far as to marry her, if it meant keeping that big fancy Arch Mage title.”

“It’s not like that and you know it,” Adam snapped, finally letting go of that carefully constructed cage he had on his words. “Ask any of them. All I’ve talked about was ending things. I agonized over how long it would take, how much I hated that I hurt you, and how I couldn’t be there for you. You don’t know how much it killed me to watch them take you away and then come to find out that, not only was Rebecca working for the rebels, but she was housing the woman I loved.”

I didn’t blink. I didn’t dare to breathe. My fingers tightened on Zane’s, unable to make myself believe what Adam had said.

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