Lachlan pricked the pad of his thumb so that a drop of ruby blood welled up and then handed the dagger to Bran, who did the same. Then he began to chant.
“Marked by blood
Bound as Three
Tied together
Yet still free.
You are ours
And we are thine
Those who touch you
Pay the fine.”
Then he and Bran both pressed their thumbs to my forehead.
A cool, tingling sensation rushed over me. I felt as though I was suddenly naked in the middle of a snowstorm and tiny, cold snowflakes were caressing my skin.
Then it was over and I was back in the Common Room, looking up at my guys.
They’re mine and I’m theirs, I thought, and a sense of complete rightness washed over me. I knew it couldn’t last forever, that eventually I would have to choose between them, but right now that time seemed very far in the future—something I didn’t have to worry about yet.
“I want to Mark the two of you, too,” I said.
But Lachlan shook his head.
“It’s better if you don’t, little one. Our Mark on you will be subtle enough that not everyone can see it unless they’re looking.”
“It should be more something that other males feel when they have the urge to come up to you,” Bran added.
“If you Marked us as well, it would be blatantly obvious,” Lachlan said.
“All right,” I said reluctantly. “I’ll wait—for now. But I reserve the right to Mark you two in the future.”
“Agreed,” Lachlan said and both of them smiled.
“What did that line mean—‘those who touch you pay the fine?’” I asked Lachlan.
He gave me his one-sided sarcastic grin.
“Let’s just say that I borrowed a bit from your fence metaphor. But it will only affect those with evil intent.”
I wasn’t quite sure what he meant but I knew that his eyes were very green in the firelight and Bran’s were very blue. I could still feel the faint tingle of their Marks on me and it drew me to them—made me want to be between them, holding them both.
I couldn’t resist then—I pulled them both into a three-way hug and they hugged me back. I loved the feeling of their arms wrapped around me and each other. For a while we stayed close just like that, the three of us warm and safe and bound together.
I don’t want to choose, I thought as I breathed in Bran’s cedar and ocean scent and Lachlan’s warm, forest and spice fragrance. I never want to choose. I want both of them—always.
“A-hem.” Someone cleared their throat.
I pulled out of the hug and saw that Avery was standing there in his retro-looking maroon smoking jacket with its wide black lapels. He looked at my face and then frowned as his eyes fastened on my forehead.
“Will you excuse us?” I said to Bran and Lachlan. “I, uh, think I should talk to Avery alone.”
“Of course, little one.” Lachlan kissed my right temple and Bran kissed my left, murmuring,
“Good night, Emma.”
The two of them went into the dorm room they were sharing and I turned back to Avery. The way he was looking at me, I knew the magic of the Marking had been immediately apparent to him—maybe because he knew me so well.
“Both of them, Emmers?” he asked, arching one blond eyebrow at me. “I mean don’t get me wrong—they’re both gorgeous guys and you’re living the dream. But I guess you don’t care if people talk.”
“Let them talk,” I said defiantly. “I don’t care what anyone thinks—especially not the other Fae. They’re all stuck-up, bubble-headed snobs—I never liked them anyway.”
“But what if you go to the Realm?” Avery asked. “There are going to be a lot of questions if you show up at the Summer Court with the marks of two different males on you.”
“I’m never going there,” I said, frowning. “Why would I? I’ve lived all my life in the human world—I’m perfectly happy to stay here.”
“Are you?” He shook his head. “I suppose it’s all you know and of course I can’t talk about the Realm. No one but the Fae can pass through the Obsidian Portal to get there. But what if you want to find your true parents? Your father might still be there, at least—we know that he’s paying for your schooling so he must be somewhere.”
“We don’t know for sure that he’s the one paying,” I pointed out. “And we don’t know where either of my real parents are.” I lifted my chin defiantly. “And even if I did know where they were, I’m not sure I’d want to meet them. I mean, they abandoned me! The woman who raised me is still my mom, even if we’re not related by blood.”
Avery smiled.
“You always were fiercely loyal to the people you love. It’s one of the things that makes you such a good friend.”