Page 73 of Sent To A Fantasy World and Now All the Men Want Me 7

“To use his power for your own gain,” Maddox said, his accusatory tone biting. “King Silas is desperate to get his hands on Evan, and you’re no better. Taking advantage of the fated bond in order to persuade him to help you enact your vengeance.”

“My vengeance?” A lethal glint ignited in Onyx’s eyes, the red flashing brighter for a moment. Much like Lake’s did when he was overcome with a strong emotion. “Against whom?”

“Bremloc,” Maddox answered. “Last night during dinner, you were persistent in convincing him to march on the kingdom and bring Cedric to heel. For centuries, you’ve been wasting away in this realm yearning for revenge against the humans and what was taken from you. With Evan by your side, that vengeance is possible.”

“You know nothing of what you speak.” Onyx’s nostrils flared. “If I truly wanted to set fire to Bremloc, I would have done it years ago. I wouldn’t need his power to do so.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” I interjected before things heated even more. “Both of you take a breath.”

There was an instant shift in Onyx’s expression. His fiery temper dropped to a low simmer. “Your captain started it by being so combative.”

“And I’m putting an end to it,” I responded with a snip in my tone. “Don’t make me send you both to separate corners. Because I will. Don’t think I won’t.”

Rowan lightly coughed.

“Not a word, thief,” Maddox told him.

“Is a man not allowed to cough?” Rowan countered, displaying both hands in an innocent gesture.

I closed my eyes and took a calming breath. Shouldn’t have expected anything less, though; all of my men together, with Onyx in the same room, were bound to stir up some tension. Maddox had been the same way with Lake and Rowan in the beginning.

“If you’re finished tossing insults and being belligerent, may we continue?” Onyx stared at Maddox a moment before glancing at my other men. “I didn’t ask all of you here to argue.”

“You wished to tell us of the mercenaries, yes? Well, you’ve done that.” Maddox strode around the couch and offered me his hand. “Come with me, sweetheart. We’re leaving.”

I glanced between him and Onyx: one brimming with a barely suppressed rage and the other with a somewhat defeated set to his brow.

“You said there were several reasons you asked us here,” Lake told Onyx, the soft gruff of his voice easing some of the thick tension in the air. “What more did you wish to discuss?”

Maddox turned to Onyx. Waiting. His hand remained around mine, though, more than likely seconds from pulling me off the couch and dragging me from the room, especially if he didn’t like what the demon lord had to say.

“I suppose I…” Onyx released a heavy sigh, his face scrunching up as he struggled for words. The awkward energy I detected earlier returned, taking shape in the tap of his finger against the arm of his chair. “Our relationship is quite unorthodox, wouldn’t you agree? All of us sharing the same male. We’ve yet to discuss boundaries.”

“Boundaries?” Lake asked. “Like what?”

“As in, the terms of our arrangement. The rules.” Color surfaced in Onyx’s pale cheeks before he turned his face toward the fire, hiding his expression from my view. “The five of you have been with him far longer than I, and I wished to know your… thoughts on these matters. How to move forward in a way that we all can agree on.”

As realization seeped into my brain, I didn’t know what I felt more: the embarrassment from the discussion of our love life or the giddiness that came from Onyx’s behavior. Both Varys and Fane had mentioned in the past that Onyx kept his distance from people, yet there he was, trying to bond with my men.

“I take it you don’t wish to share a bed with us?” Rowan asked.

“Most certainly not.” The demon lord’s gaze shifted to me. “However, I’m not opposed to a compromise if one should arise.”

“Like alternating nights?” Briar asked, brow furrowed in thought. “With us one night. With you the next.”

“I think not,” Maddox said without missing a beat, pinning Onyx with a hard stare. “There are five of us and one of you. A fair compromise would be him staying with you every four nights.”

Onyx scowled at him. “Every four? How absurd.”

I looked between them, feeling like a kid caught in the middle of a custody battle. Truth was, I didn’t know how we’d sort it out either. Would be nice if fate had factored in the fact that some of my mates might loathe each other.

“You should graciously accept the four.” Maddox glowered right back at him. “It’s more than fair considering how little I trust you. Be grateful I don’t take him far away from you, mercenaries be damned.”

“Is it?” Onyx tipped his head, eyes flashing brighter once more. Something appeared to move beneath his porcelain skin. Like the faintest lick of flames. “And what gives you the impression I’d let you take him from me?”

“Enough.” I pushed from the couch, propelled by a sudden spark of frustration in my core. “Stop fighting. In case you two have forgotten, I’m a person who can make my own goddamned decisions. I’m not a toy for you all to pass around and play with when you want.”

“Love?” Briar stood and rested a hand on my lower back. “Take a breath.”