Page 8 of Pandemonium

“Something sweet,” China said.

“Long Island?” Farrah asked.

“Oh, do the beach one.”

“Long beach iced tea?” Farrah asked.

“Yeah.”

“What’s in that?” Demi asked.

“It’s a long island with cranberry juice.”

“I’ll be right back,” Farrah said.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d be working or not tonight,” Demi said to China.

“I was supposed to, but I switched off with Farrah. I’m going to the outlets with my mom tomorrow and she’s an early bird.”

“If you see anything cute for me, I’ll pay you back.”

“Sure thing,” China said. “I’d offer to let you come with us, but I think you’re planning to be busy.”

Demi’s cheeks heated. “I have no idea what to do.”

“Sure you do. You just take off your clothes,” China said.

Demi pressed her hand over her friend’s mouth. “Holy crap, you know I didn’t mean that.”

China shook off Demi’s hand and grinned. “Yeah, it’s just fun to tease you.”

“Thanks.” Demi rolled her eyes. “I don’t know if I should wait for them to come to me, or if I should go up there when they have a break. I mean, what if it’s just one-sided and they only think I’m cute and not their mate? Or what if they want to fight over me and not share? And holy crap, what would it even be like to share myself with two males?”

“Whoa, whoa,” China said, putting her hand on Demi’s arm. “You’re overthinking things. They haven’t taken their eyes off you. It’s more than just them thinking you’re cute. If you think they’re your heart-matches, then that’s what they are for you and they’ll feel the same way.”

Demi smiled at her friend. “Thanks for talking me off the ledge.”

“That’s what friends are for. I’m happy for you finding your heart-matches, and keeping my fingers crossed I’ll find a great guy of my own.”

“Or maybe two?”

“Just one for me, thanks.”

“It’s not like I went into tonight expecting to come out with two mates.”

Farrah dropped off their drinks and disappeared. China picked hers up and took a sip. “True. Still, I think it’s safe to say that most lions only have one mate. You’ll be the talk of the pride.”

Demi rolled her eyes. “The good news is that finally finding my heart-matches means that Benecio isn’t an issue for me anymore. If he comes around again, he’ll realize I’m mated and fuck off.”

“Hear, hear,” China said. She lifted her drink higher and Demi clinked her soda with it.

Demi’s heart fluttered and she smiled at the males as she listened to them sing. She couldn’t wait for their set to be over so they could take a break and she could meet them.

She hadn’t planned for tonight to be special, but it sure was turning out that way.

Chapter Five

Rafe knew the moment his heart-match stepped into the bar. He’d felt a pulsing within him, like his bear was coming alive for the first time. His skin prickled with awareness, his bear rolling inside him and stretching, wanting free.

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