I grinned. “So, the ceremony is the actual wedding? A big deal, right? And I can decide if I want to accept both of you? Because I can’t have one without the other.” It wasn’t a question. They’d both spoon-fed me the truth, but it was still up to me if I wanted to embrace it. “Or I can return to Earth, right?”
“Yes,” Qay said simply. “It’s your decision.”
I looked at Zyn, waiting for him to acknowledge that I had a choice. He didn’t.
I looked at Qay. “Did Zyn send you to Earth to seduce me?”
“I fell in love with you, Jana,” Qay answered quietly. “But yes, he told me he’d found Dezra’s heart but that he lost his cool in the heat of the moment and scared you away. So he asked me to go and get you. If it helps, I didn’t believe him at first, until I met you.”
I turned, heading toward the door. “Considering all things in the past, I might choose to return to Earth.”
As I had expected, Zyn stepped in my way, the cat trailing at his footsteps. “I won’t let you leave,” he said. “You are mine.” He held the choker in his hand, the metal glinting softly.
I lifted my head, meeting his gaze square-on even though inside I was trembling.
“You will await my decision. Or do you want to enslave me, control me with your mind, like you do with this cat?”
“I’ll set the cat free.”
“That’s a good start,” I said, stepping around him, but his hand landed on my shoulder, stopping me again. I caught Qay’s gaze, saw him smile, and I was sure that he knew what went on in my head. Zyn, however, was for once clueless.
“You are mine, woman.”
“Set me free,” I whispered, “and when I return to you, I’ll be yours forever.” A vein throbbed in his temple, and I knew he struggled with the concept of giving me the freedom of making my own decision. Then he stepped away from me, giving me enough space to step through the door.
The only way I would ever leave Dezra—and both men—would be kicking and screaming. But they needn’t know that yet.
Well, I hadn’t fooled Qay—about that I was sure. But I was messing with Zyn, and that was curiously satisfying. I walked on, slowly, my heart lifting when I heard Zyn’s voice behind my back.
“Catch,” he said, and I turned, instinctively raising my hand as something flew toward me.
When I opened my hand, I stared at the choker, and I traced along the three-leaved flower pattern. Zyn kept his distance, but his gaze was on my face as I raised the choker and closed it around my neck.
“Never take it off again,” Zyn said, and I bit my lip, already looking forward to my punishment, and admitting that it took a whole lot more to fool the best man when it came to his woman.
About the Author
Amy Redwood lives in Vancouver, Canada. This wasn’t always the case. She grew up in Europe, moved to New Zealand and then explored China before settling down on the west coast of Canada. She likes nothing better than dark chocolate, autumn rain and curling up on the couch reading a great story. But what she loves is writing about smart heroines and sexy heroes enjoying hot nights, hotter days and a happily ever after.
After all, nothing beats a happy end.