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My eyes widened as I looked at the open nightstand drawer, where anyone paying attention could clearly see the stash of battery-operated goodies.

“Touché,” I mumbled, feeling my face warm as he backed away.

When they both exited the room, I went over and slammed the drawer shut.

I’d planned to pack those, but now I wondered if I shouldn’t toss them. It’d be a shame to waste the money.

Besides, I needed something if I had to live with four hot men—two I’d already fucked.

Nope. The BOBs were coming with me.

I jerked the drawer open, dumped everything into an empty box, taped it, and scrawled KEEP: DO NOT OPEN across the top. I shoved it over beside the boxes marked for keeping.

It took the rest of the day to finish up, but I managed to get my entire room packed away except for my bedding and the essentials I needed for the rest of my time on Earth.

After the first night back on Earth, everything returned to normal.

I wondered if they avoided talk of Elyrdin so I could have a sliver of normalcy before my life turned upside down.

I collapsed on my back, staring at the ceiling.

The scent of herbs and marinara made my stomach growl. Zeke said Cyn was making spaghetti Bolognese after their grocery run.

With nothing left to do for the rest of the week, I couldn’t keep the thoughts I’d avoided at bay. It was time to accept reality.

I wondered what life in Elyrdin would be like. With all their Earth comparisons, there had to be a catch. It couldn’t be as simple as moving states—even if everyone looked human.

I rolled over onto my stomach and buried my face in my pillow.

New world aside, I needed to come to terms with having mates.

Not mate.

Mates.

Four of them.

I groaned.

A few months ago, I didn’t even want a boyfriend. I wasn’t sure how I’d cope with four… Could I call them boyfriends? Not likely. Maybe Ash?

I shook my head.

I didn’t exactly know what being mates entailed, so on our second night back I downloaded a few of Maya’s paranormal books onto my phone to see if I could find answers.

She’d laugh if she knew I’d stayed up reading a book about dragon men until sunrise.

Without the risk of someone fleeing at the first sign of mental illness, I could get on board with some of it. I wasn’t sure I had the stamina to keep up.

I flipped over onto my back. “Oh my god.” I pressed a hand over my eyes, laughing.

It wasn’t as though a magical link alone meant we’d all be together.

Did I even want that?

I could say without hesitation that I wanted Ash. My heart ached at the idea of not being with him. Even Zeke stirred feelings I couldn’t explain. He seemed excited that I was his mate, even if we’d never gone beyond friendship.

Taking multiple partners? It wasn’t a concept I understood.