Changed by Fire (Phoenix Rising #6) - Harper Wylde Page 0,153

knowing full well that she had a giant crush on Cedric, one my suitors before I’d dismissed his bid, not that any of that mattered now, having been Council sanctioned. Here in the rebellion, those rules didn’t apply, a fact I was very grateful for.

“One or two.” She shrugged shyly.

“Let’s see,” I teased. “Cedric.” I ticked off a finger. “And Hawthorne?” I questioned.

“Ew, no.” Molly shook her head adamantly. “Hawthorne was a suitor, but honestly? He’s been a little pushy—”

“I’ll cut his balls off and hang them around his neck like pearls if he’s laid one finger on you in any inappropriate manner,” Rini growled, her sisterly instinct pushing away her previous melancholy as she snapped to attention.

I cringed from the visual, but I appreciated—and fully agreed with—the sentiment.

“It’s nothing like that.” Molly waved her hand in the air like she wanted to dislodge the picture Rini had painted from her mind. “He’s just not mine, you know? I mean, I haven’t seen him shifted to know for sure, but it’s a gut feeling. Not every guy who bid on me will be Mr. Right. I just need him to accept that answer and move on.”

“If he gives you trouble…” Rini smashed her fist into her other hand, and despite her small frame, I knew she’d find a way to injure anyone who hurt or attempted to hurt Molly. We both would.

“So…” I singsonged. “Ceddy, huh?” I giggled as Molly launched a throw pillow at my head, my hair getting knocked askew from the force. “I think we can take that as a yes, but who’s the other one?” I brushed the strands of hair out of my face, hugging the pillow to my chest as both Rini and I turned curious eyes on Molly.

“I said one or two,” she hedged.

“Which means two. As you said, dear little adopted sister of mine… spill!” Rini ordered.

Molly huffed and rolled her eyes, but I could tell she was having fun, feigning annoyance rather than actually feeling it. “You cannot tell Theo, do you understand? He’d just… freak out.”

“Deal.” I held out my pinky finger and Molly hooked hers around it, following suit with Rini.

“It’s Tao,” she admitted with another deep blush.

I chuckled to myself, a wide grin splitting my lips. “Oh my God. I knew it.”

“He’s cute,” Rini teased.

“Paws off!” Molly pointed a finger at her friend.

“Talk about a sexy age gap romance.” I waggled my eyebrows at her. “You’re right, your brother would spiral if he knew,” I conceded.

“And cockblock you at every turn.” Rini clucked her tongue and shook her head sadly.

“I think he might be mine… like actually my mate.” Molly sighed dreamily, and I saw the hurt creep back into Rini’s expression. My heart ached for my friend, the need to fix what was wrong riding me hard.

We spent the rest of the night finishing off obscene amounts of ice cream while planning ways to distract Theo for Molly and picking out dress inspirations for Rini’s mating ceremony.

When Molly left, I pulled my best friend into a tight hug.

“Are you going to be okay tonight? Are Cayden, Donovan, and Barrett coming back to be with you?”

“Yeah, I already texted them. Will you… would you wait with me until they get here?” Her question was so innocent, and I saw the pain buried deep within her eyes, as well as the desire not to be left alone with her thoughts.

Nodding, I kept her company until the triplets arrived, and then I ducked out of the cabin, the chill of the air doing nothing to cool the heat of my growing anger.

I shook my head, upset that I’d let this divide between Rini and Ciarán go unchecked for so long, and I made plans as I walked back to my cabin, harvesting my fury to build up my wrath.

There was no questioning it now.

It was time to see a Puca about a Bear.

Thirty-Six

Nix

I slammed the door of the small cabin open with a bang, throwing my hands onto my hips. The interior of the cabin stunk to high heaven. Food and bottles of alcohol littered the floor like confetti, punctuated by dirty socks, underwear, and who knew what else. On the narrow, sheetless bed, Ciarán lay unmoving.

“Go away, little sister,” he muttered, unwilling to keep up his cheery facade when it was only me invading his space.

I closed the door behind me with a click, crossing my arms over my chest. Wrinkling my nose, I took in the sty he