Primals (Reverse Harem 1)

“Hard to believe, I know,” Syllas says. “Which is why I’m eager to find out how she does it.” He rubs his hands together and licks his lips. “As I am eager to find out what else she can do.”

As Sebastian opens his mouth to answer, I step forward, stretching my arm in front of Theo. “You will not lay a hand on her.”

“Are you sure you should be saying that...” Syllas’ eyes narrow. “Toshi?”

At once, I feel Sebastian and Theo’s gazes on me.

“You know him?” Sebastian asks.

“His name is Syllas,” I answer. “Yes, we Cats know him.”

“Ah, yes.” Syllas rubs his chin. “But maybe the question you should be asking is: Why do I know Toshi?”

My heart stops, a lump forming in my throat.

“Why, indeed?” Sebastian asks, his voice sinking into a menacing growl.

“Shall I say it, Toshi? Or shall you?” Syllas asks.

I lower my gaze to the ground.

“Toshi?” I hear the concern in Theo’s voice.

“I guess I shall have to,” Syllas says. “You see. Toshi here has been working for me...as my spy.”

Beside me, Theo gasps. When I look, Sebastian has his jaw clenched. Worst of all, though, Clarissa speaks, though her voice is barely above a whisper.

“A...spy?” she asks.

My chest tightens in guilt and shame.

“That’s right,” Syllas confirms. “He’s been spying on you for me.”

“Is that why you started that fight?” Sebastian asks me. “So Clarissa would send us away and your friends could come in and take her?”

“Actually, he was supposed to bring Clarissa here, but the plan changed,” Syllas answers for me.

I lift my head to look into his eyes. “And what makes you think you’re the only one whose plans have changed?”

“Now, now, Toshi, don’t tell me you’ve turned rogue.” Syllas shakes his head.

“He was the one who led us here,” Theo points out, uneasily.

“He led us into a trap,” Sebastian says, his voice deadly quiet. “Didn’t you, Toshi?”

“See, Toshi, your new friends don’t trust you,” Syllas says. “So why keep them?”

“You told me you wouldn’t hurt Clarissa!” I hiss at him.

“Did I?” Syllas scratches his head. “What I remember is that I told you that you could have her.”

“What?” Theo turns to me with a look of both surprise and disgust.

“Now, do you still want her? Or do you want to share her, or worse lose her, to your so-called friends?” Syllas crosses his arms over his chest. “Choose. And quickly.”

Behind him, the men are already awake while around me, the Cats begin to growl.

I stay still, my fists trembling.