Changed by Fire (Phoenix Rising #6) - Harper Wylde Page 0,102
eyes on our girl where she lay curled in my arms, her breathing still ragged.
We’ve all kept pieces of ourselves hidden, Damien argued. It’s natural. How many times now have we fought about it? When one of us pulls away because we’re angry or scared or hurting? I could hear the pain in his voice as he shook his head. I want to share with her. I want us all to share with her. Give her back what she gave us—ultimate trust.
I’ll do it, Theo replied.
I’m… I’m not sure how she’ll react to some of my secrets, Joshua disclosed warily. She hasn’t known me as long as all of you, and not all of my secrets are little. I figured they’d come out in time, but doing it now, when she’s so emotional, is it really the best time? I don’t want to hurt her more.
I think that’s exactly why we do need to tell her now. I racked my mind, attempting to find a secret of magnitude, something none of my brothers even knew about me. She showed us her soul. We need to have the strength to do the same. Damien’s right. This is forever, and we need to start treating it like that. She made the first step. She needs to see we’re willing to strip ourselves bare for her even when it hurts.
Joshua sighed. I’ll do it. Just… I hope you guys don’t think differently of me when I do. I could feel his nerves skittering across the bond.
You’re our brother, I stated. That won’t change, no matter what you say. I thought I heard Ryder growl, but his face was serene when I glanced his way.
She deserves it, Killian agreed. I’m in.
Ryder? Damien asked. This isn’t going to work without all of us.
Ryder ruffled his hair, the purple strands falling into his eyes as he chewed his lip. I swallowed hard, focusing on the wall. I didn’t need to get aroused right now, especially with Nix on my lap. Now was definitely not the time, and it wouldn’t accomplish anything other than to make things awkward. I breathed deeply and evenly as I waited for his answer, wondering why he’d hesitate. That was exactly what this exercise was about though.
For her. His words were hard. Anything for her.
“Nix,” Damien spoke up, drawing her attention from where she’d snuggled in my embrace, listening to my heartbeat through the thin fabric of my shirt.
“Mmm?” she hummed, playing nervously with the ends of her sleeves. “Are you done talking without me?” she questioned, a hint of hurt and worry in her tone.
I angled her so she could see all of us, waiting as Killian, Joshua, Theo, and Ryder joined us, forming a circle on the floor.
“Sweetheart, it wasn’t like that. We’re so proud of you and, if you’re willing, we have an idea. We’d like to share as well.”
I could practically feel the downward pull of her eyebrows as confusion set in, and she cocked her head in confusion. “Share?”
“Secrets,” I told her, rubbing a hand down her back. “A piece of all of us for you, for each other. Something that none of us know. Something we’ve held inside.”
She scrambled from my lap, her eyes wide as she held up her hands. “You guys don’t have to do that. I just wanted you to understand what’s going on with me—why I can’t just jump on this chance. It wasn’t fair to you not knowing—”
“It’s not fair to you either,” Theo interrupted. “We aren’t doing it because we have to. We’re doing it because you’re our mate.”
“All of you?” she asked, looking at us each in turn as we nodded.
“We’re all in agreement.” I saw her shoot a glance at Damien who nodded, confirming we’d held a mental conversation. She huffed, apparently annoyed at being left out, and I felt a small smile tug at the corner of my lips.
“I don’t want this to be forced. We have time to learn about each other, to share what we need to,” she argued again.
“I don’t want any more walls,” Damien retorted. “You’re my mate, my everything. These are all my brothers. I’d die for them just as I know they would for me, and we’d all die protecting you.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I wouldn’t want that.”
“And we wouldn’t want to live without you,” Joshua countered, truth ringing in every word.
“Will you listen?” Theo questioned. “If it’s too much right now, we’d understand.”