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Before we can make our way down the stairs, Castor grabs my shoulder and presses a finger to his lips. Footsteps race up the stairs towards us, little panicked footsteps.

Grinning, I let go of my sword. I know those footsteps.

The second she emerges from the staircase, I catch Eden by her waist.

“Eek!” she yelps until I spin her to face me. “Oh Lux⁠—”

I cut her off with a kiss, the warmth of our bond washing over me despite my iron collar.

“Did they hurt you?” she panics as I pull away. “Either of you?”

Jealousy prickles inside me when she turns to Castor and cups his cheek.

“I’m fine, princess.” He kisses her palm. “We both are.” When he glances at me, his smile falls. “Lux?”

“Let’s just go home.” I pry Eden off him, positioning her so she’d have to go through me to get anywhere near my brother.

“Lux,” he sighs.

“Did you manage to speak with your sisters?” Ignoring him, I press a kiss against my mate’s forehead.

She peers up at me. “Well, yes, but⁠—”

“Then let’s go,” I say firmly. I don’t care about the deal we made last night. If I’m not back in my carriage and inside her in the next five minutes, I’ll make Castor burn this damned palace down.

“Lux,” Castor says again.

I march towards the stairs.

“Lux,” he snarls.

That’s it. “Eden is mine.” I whip around to glare at him. “You may be my brother, but that doesn’t give you the right to waltz into my relationship and steal the woman I have been courting for the past few months.”

Both he and Eden blink at me.

“I don’t like it when you touch her,” I snarl. “I didn’t like it last night when she sat on your lap, and I hated it when you kissed her.”

“You didn’t seem to mind when she had my cock in her mouth,” he taunts. “I seem to remember you coming just as I did.”

“Sex is different to love!”

“Lux, please.” Eden pushes me back. “Please don’t fight. I will always love you. My feelings for Castor are separate. No matter how I feel about him, I will not love you any less.”

“You will not let him court you.” I hold her possessively. “You can fuck him for the sake of the bond, but I will not give him the chance to make you fall for him.”

“She already has,” Castor laughs as I see red.

“Don’t you dare fucking joke about this.”

“I’m not joking,” he says

My breath stills. “What is he talking about, Eden?”

“Lux,” she whimpers.

“Do you love my brother?”

“No,” she blurts. “Or at least, I don’t think so? Not yet.”