Page 159 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
“Are you sure about this, Teddy? I’m fine with the bond being one-sided.”
Except if Eiran's statement were true, he wouldn’t be okay.
“I want you as my brother, Brent.”
He turned to me, waiting for me to reply. “It’s okay. I’m fine with this.”
Not believing me, he arched a single brow in question.
She lowered her chin and held up a hand. “What if you just pricked your finger?”
“We can do it that way.”
She took a deep breath, pressing her lips together as she watched Brenton press the tip of his dagger to his thumb. When he offered it to her, she guided his hand to her mouth. I couldn’t help the unwanted jealousy that hit me at watching her take in another male’s blood. My hands curled into trembling fists, and every instinct told me to rip Brenton away from my mate.
Yet somehow, beyond that, I was also happy for them both. Although much smaller than the frustration that burned inside me, a tiny glimmer of joy existed.
Done, she lowered his hand and grinned, raising her brows to her hairline.
“No vomiting on your nose this time,” she said.
He laughed, and when she stood, he enveloped her in a tight hug. That roaring jealousy simmered enough to be able to see them. Really see them. There was nothing romantic about their bond, and while Brenton now held a piece of her soul, it was in an innocent way that they both seemed to need.
“Sister,” he whispered.
“Brother,” she said just as quietly.
When she stepped back, they both had tears shimmering behind their eyes. Two fell in succession down Teddy’s cheeks. She brushed them away quickly and laughed, but shocked, she held out her hand in front of her. Squinted.
“Is that. . .?”
Brenton looked at her hand and then his own.
“We have matching tattoos,” Teddy said, tracing a hand over her palm.
Brenton traced his palm as well, and they grinned at each other.
“I’d bet a pot of coffee Eiran is somehow behind this,” she said.
“I’d take your bet, but the only way to find out is paying him a visit.” Brenton still looked at their twin tattoos I hadn’t yet seen. “You may have an open invitation to visit him, but I’m good not seeing him for a few hundred years.”
“Fair enough.” She grinned, her attention gliding to me before she looked back at Brenton. “Now, as my brother, I need your advice,” she said, her voice serious, but I saw the way one side of her lips twitched.
He nodded.
“Eiran told me that I could still accept the bond I sharewith Elias, and in doing so, I’d have an important choice to make.” She stole another glance in my direction, and I saw the elation that danced behind her eyes. “I could choose to extend my life to match that of my mate’s or keep my regular human lifespan.”
My heart hammered, my gut twisting as my throat went raw.But to have Teddy for the rest of my life.Don’t get me wrong, I was grateful for however many years fate gifted me with her but not to have to live hundreds of years without her, waiting to meet her in the afterlife? That was a gift, a marvel beyond comprehension.
“Of course, I want to choose a life with my mate, and now my brother, but it’s a big decision, and I’d like your opinion.”
The way Brenton looked at me, seemed to weigh who I was, made me want to squirm. But I held perfectly still, barely able to breathe.
“You know he’s an enormous pain in the ass, right?” Brenton said.
Her lips twitched. “Yes.”
He scrunched up his nose. “And he’s a royal.”
