Radiant Light_A Reverse Harem Romance

by Chloe Adler

  “Dominic,” I breathe across his scorching lips.

  “Iphi.” His hands cup the sides of my face, over my hair. A boundary? “I want this. More than anything, I want you. But . . .” He drops his hands and pulls away. “My brothers, I just can’t.” He gets up and sits across from me.

  “I understand.” He’s right.

  “The last thing I want is to hurt my family, to have anything come between us and tear us apart. I know you feel the same way.”

  “I do. I’m actually relieved that you stopped.”

  He presses his lips together, thinning them even more, and I have to tear my eyes away from them. So incredibly kissable.

  “It’s the right thing to do. Knowing that we both want to explore whatever’s between us is enough. For now.” I bite the inside of my cheek.

  “It has to be.” He shrugs. “Right?”

  I blow a stream of air out of the side of my mouth. I want to stop because we need to talk to Cas and Rhys first. He wants to stop because he thinks he has to forsake me for his brothers. Obviously, he’s not quite on the same page I am. He’s not even on the same book I am. To be fair, mine is a little unorthodox, but self-reflection is good for the soul.

  “You know, we’re silly. Two peas in a pod. Clichéd, but true.”

  “How exactly?” He tugs at his ear, rubbing it between his fingers.

  “Sacrifice is our platform.”

  “Ahhh.” He lets go of his ear and tilts his head to the side. “I see sacrifice as your platform, diplomacy as mine.”

  “Are you psychoanalyzing me?”

  “You asked for it. Yes?”

  “I guess I did.” But that doesn’t mean I like it. “Tell me, is it true that psychologists are often the most screwed up?”

  He chuckles. “That’s why most people go into psych, yes. They’re hoping to fix themselves.”

  “What about you?” I rub my hands on my thighs.

  “I went into it because of my brothers, I think. I wanted to help all of us past our traumatic childhood. I also wanted to help other kids who are dealing with trauma.”

  “But you don’t do that, right? You work for the Edge PD.”

  “I had a private practice back in New York, when I wasn’t consulting for the police. It’s true I had to leave that behind when we came here, but the chief is flexible and I do get to help kids sometimes. Not as much as I’d hoped, perhaps, but I love working with my brothers and I fell in love with criminal profiling.”

  I look down at my hands, still moving across my lap. “It’s an admirable trait.”

  “Helping kids or working on the force?”

  “Working with your brothers. Putting them first. Doing whatever you can to keep your family together.”

  “Iphi . . .” He crosses back over to me and sits next to me on the couch, reaching for my hand. I let him take it. “Feelings are complicated beasts. If my brothers weren’t in love with you, I would scoop you up right now and carry you wherever you wanted to go. I don’t want to hurt you and I don’t want you to feel like you’re not as important to me as they are. I consider you family too. If we jumped off this cliff . . .”

  “I know.” I squeeze his hand. “There’d be no turning back. I don’t want to hurt them either. But . . . what if we didn’t have to hurt them? I mean, what if—” I pull my hand back, using both of them now to clamp my thighs, as if I need extra support just to stay upright. “What if we had their blessing?”

  Dom’s mouth unhinges, his jaw hangs open, and his green eyes darken behind his glasses. We’re so much alike, him and I. Always trying to please others, put them first, before our own needs. I can hear his mind turning, pushing back, stamping out his desire. He can’t keep putting himself last, being the one that suffers for everyone else’s happiness.

  “We can’t make others happy or unhappy, Dom.”

  “You’re schooling me on codependence? Nice.” His warm smile radiates across his gorgeous face, the five-o’clock shadow just adding to his sex appeal.

  “I don’t want to choose. I want you all.” I make sure to say it loudly, while looking him in the eyes. “I know that Rhys and Caspian are fine with sharing me; they’re used to this type of arrangement. Neither of them have that possessive quality of a monogamist.”

  “Oh they’re possessive of you all right,” he smirks.

  “Yes, but in a protective way, not in a caveman, ‘she’s mine and no one else’s’ way.”

  He nods slowly, looks away and then looks back. “But they’re not enough for you?”

  “It’s not like that. It doesn’t have anything to do with one person not being enough. That’s too simplistic. Each one of you offers something the others can’t, emotionally and mentally. No one sees me the way you do and no one’s called me on my shit before. I can be myself with you, one hundred percent. I don’t have to hide that I’m an empath.”

  “You never have to hide anything from me.”

  After tonight, it’s clear I couldn’t if I even tried. And with that thought, my armor melts away.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Thorn

  Waiting for Iphigenia outside of Dom’s is maddening. I tried to peek in the window but I didn’t want my brother to see me. I’m still pissed at him but I can’t remember why. Whatever. All I can think about is “save Iphi, protect Iphi, Iphi first.” Watching her at her mom’s was easier, mostly sitting and waiting while eating insects. I did attack one ghoul that was circling the block, but it ran off when I aimed my talons at his eyes. And nothing ever stepped foot in the yard.

  Iphi opens Dom’s front door and walks out. Alone. Why the hell isn’t he with her? Knowing Iphi, she probably refused to be chaperoned.

  She turns on her phone’s flashlight and walks to the parking lot. As far as I know she doesn’t have a car so I fly ahead to scope it out. A black Bentley sits next to Dom’s Prius. A freaking Bentley? It must belong to her mother.

  A branch snaps and I fly back to Iphi, narrowing my eyes at whatever is following her. I’ll have a quick look and then I’ll set them on fire.

  Nolan stops a few yards away from her. He looks normal enough, not his past deranged self. His clothes are clean, his hair is brushed out of his face. Even his scars look like they’re fading. “What are you doing out here alone?”

  An owl hoots loudly next to us. Dominic. There he is. I knew he wouldn’t let her walk alone. Good, we’re all here to protect her.

  “Are you all right?” Iphi asks, backing up a step.

  “I was about to ask you the same question.” Nolan doesn’t move forward. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to walk around alone in the dark.”

  I fly to the tree that Dom’s perched in and land next to him. He blinks once at me, slowly. His version of a bro nod—hard to do a real one when you have no chin. I huff a smoke ring in acknowledgment. I should have known he wouldn’t hold a grudge. I can’t even remember what we fought about anyway, and as we’ve done before, we both shrug it off and move forward, intent on the same singular purpose.

  Iphi looks around, like she’s listening for something, and then back at Nolan. “I cast a protection spell, a ward, over the Grove, and there’s one over me as well.”

  “All right. But will you allow me to escort you back, just in case?”

  I can see her smile from where I perch. It illuminates the darkness around her, as bright as the sun. “I’d appreciate that. Thank you, Nolan.”

  The crossbreed walks along next to her. Dom and I both take flight at the same time but keep high so neither will know we’re following.

  When they reach her car Nolan stops a few feet away and shoves his hands into his pockets.

  “I’m glad to see you looking so well.” Iphi opens the door with the key, no modern-day key fob for this classic.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” Nolan asks, his voice low.

  Iphigenia leans into the car and grabs a tissue, backing out to wipe her nose. “Is it that obvious?”


  I can’t see Nolan’s face from where I’m hovering but he must nod or something because Iphi sighs.

  “Sit in the car with me for a minute?”

  That makes me more uncomfortable than anything but without revealing that I’m following her, there’s not much I can do. Next to me, Dom hops up and glides to a low tree branch closer to the car. I follow reluctantly.

  Nolan slides into the passenger seat and Iphi goes around to the driver’s side. Thankfully they both leave their doors open. Iphi may be trusting but Nolan’s got to know that Iphi would be over-the-top naive to be locked in the car with him at this point.

  Iphi twirls a strand of her flaxen hair between her fingers. “I don’t want to tear your family apart.”

  Nolan cocks his head to the side.

  “I’m in love with Rhys and Caspian.”

  “They seem happy with the arrangement,” Nolan says.

  What about me? I hop up and down on the branch.

  “And I’m falling for Dominic.”

  I eye my brother, perched next to me. Lucky dog. If I weren’t stuck in dragon form, I’d be a contender. I think back to the kiss we shared at Pleasure. The way her body fit tightly against mine, the way her mouth opened to me. Oh yes, I remind myself, I am a contender.

  “And he feels the same way?”

  She nods. “He does.”

  Of course he does. He’d have to be gay not to feel the same way about her. Or dead.

  Nolan nods thoughtfully, pausing. “I’m sure it’ll work out.”

  I blow a puff of smoke in Dom’s face. He bats it away with a wing and ignores me.

  A loud crash comes from the far end of the parking lot and both Dom and I take flight. Three ghouls come into view, a woman and two men, and run straight toward Iphi. I swoop down to cut them off but Nolan, with his vampire speed, has left the car and stands in front of them, cutting them off.

  “You will not go near the girl.” His voice is deep and menacing. A new look for him.

  “You’re a complete disappointment to the master. He will have the girl and then he will kill you for your betrayal,” says the woman.

  “I don’t care about the master and I don’t care about you. I do care about the girl so if you know what’s good for you, the three of you will turn around and leave.”

  The creature laughs and lunges at Nolan. I swoop down to help, seeing Dom in my peripheral vision. Nolan attacks the woman, who leaps at him. She grasps for purchase but the amulet Iphi gave him seems to hold her at bay. She can’t touch him, but he can sure as hell touch her. Interesting gadget. Angling his head he sinks his fangs into her neck, apparently delivering a dose of tranquilizer because seconds later she falls on the ground, unmoving. I pick the heavier one up by my talons and flap my wings hard, holding him in the air. Dominic has buried his talons and beak into the third, who swats at the owl with his hands.

  Iphi has closed the car doors and locked them, remaining inside but staring at all of us through the window. At least she’s not getting involved.

  The car rumbles to life. Iphi aims it toward the skirmish and hits the gas.

  “Dominic, fly!” Nolan yells a moment before Iphi’s bumper knocks the ghoul airborne. When he lands, Nolan is on him, injecting more serum. The thing collapses and my packmate looks up, spotting me.

  “Bring him down,” Nolan instructs, “but don’t let his feet touch the ground.

  I do as instructed and when I hover above the ground with the ghoul, Nolan grabs his leg. The thing kicks and wails so hard that Nolan is knocked backward and I lose my grip.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Iphigenia

  Dammit, I didn’t include the parking lot in my spell. The ghoul drops a few feet, landing on its feet, and runs toward me. I’m not sure what it’s thinking, I’m encased in steel. It’s still scary though, especially when he lunges himself at the car and hits the windshield with a thud.

  I reverse and back up fast. He rolls off and lands on the asphalt. I should put the car in drive and drive over him but I can’t. I can’t be responsible for killing someone, even if it’s an evil creature hell-bent on killing me.

  “Iphi, get out of here,” Nolan shouts. He’s running toward the creature and has proven himself more than capable of subduing them. Plus he has Thorn and Dom as backups, as well as my—his amulet. My heroes. I give him a quick nod, glance at the other two and then race away. After all, those ghouly things are after me so it stands to reason that I should be the one to leave.

  Ten minutes later, I pull into Aurelia’s driveway. I shook all the way here, but I have control of myself now. The text from Nolan helped—all three ghouls are under control and on their way to nice padlocked cell at the police station. But I still take a few slow breaths in through my nose and out through my mouth. If Aurelia saw me flustered, she’d know something happened and lock me up for a month. At least. I wouldn’t put it past her to change me into some tiny creature and keep me in a cage, or worse, her pocket.

  When I let myself inside, the house is dark and my mother doesn’t run out of her bedroom to see if I’m okay. Well, that’s a first. Maybe she has changed after all. I pet Armageddon on my way to my bedroom and drop kisses all over his silky black coat.

  As soon as I open the door to my room, there’s a scratch at my window.

  “Botting!” I run and open it, scooping up the tiny chimera and kissing his whiskered face. “Where were you?”

  I put him down and he winds his way between my legs, rubbing against me.

  “You would not believe what just happened.”

  “Meow.”

  I strip, not bothering to throw on pajamas or wash my face, and climb into bed. The adrenaline rush has exhausted me. Botting crawls under the covers with me and I spoon his little body, falling asleep.

  When I wake up, I’m not alone in my bed. I’m spooning a naked man, one that I recognize by feel and smell. Vanilla and spice lace my tongue and without thinking I nuzzle my face into the back of his neck. Both of us startle as the same time and Rhys flips around to face me.

  “I’m so sorry,” he says.

  “I know.”

  “I mean, I’m sorry for what happened, of course, but I . . .” A small crease appears between his eyebrows. “I lost control of my shift.” He sucks in a breath and looks away. “I’m so embarrassed about that. I’ve never been able to control it fully. I’ve spent so much of my life suppressing who I truly am, hiding it and . . .” He rolls over onto his back and runs both hands through his hair. “I wouldn’t have just shown up naked in your bed without your consent. I shouldn’t have.” He sits up. “I’ll go.”

  I wrap my arms around him, pulling him back down onto the bed. He lets me and I follow with my legs, twining them around his calves and hooking my feet along the curves of his muscles to pull him as close to my body as I possibly can. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “You sure?” His mouth twists to the side and I kiss it.

  “Never more so.” I pull back and touch the light cat scratch across his cheek. “I’m sorry Army scratched you.”

  “At least that’s all he did. Your cat is a bully.”

  I grin and kiss the scratch. “He’s just looking after me.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “I’m glad you’re Botting.”

  “Did you know?” He brushes a strand of hair from my face, looping it around his finger and twisting it.

  “Nope, I had no idea. You’re a good kitty.” I tug at the loose strands of his hair that drift over the pillow. “Can other vampires shift?”

  “Besides Nolan? Not that we know of.”

  I kiss his nose. “A vampire and a shifter.”

  “A crossbreed.” He spits the word out as though it’s dirty.

  “I think that’s really cool. Do you have other shifts too? A large and a medium one?”

  “Nope, just the one.” He sighs, his mouth forming a circle.

  “And Nolan? He’s a cat too?”


  He shakes his head. “He wishes.”

  I raise a brow.

  “I’ll let him tell you, if he wants to.”

  I nod. Jared, Sadie’s male BFF, told me once that most shifters don’t reveal their shifts outside of family members unless they have to. “I’m really glad you’re here. I’ve been worried about you.”

  “I thought you’d be angry and want to break up with me. After what I did, I wouldn’t blame you.” The dark circles under his eyes are a snapshot of his pain.

  “Shit happens. People make mistakes but you’re my love.” One of them.

  His eyes widen and he barks out a laugh. “Did you really just say ‘shit happens’? Are you my Iphi or a clone?”

  I pull him close, wrapping my arms around him, and bury my face in that perfect spot where his neck meets his shoulder. “I curse sometimes,” I mumble into the taut cords of his neck. “How come Alistair didn’t recognize you when you were Botting? Didn’t you spend time with him when you were younger?” But I think I already know the sad answer.

  “I had to hide what I was. Nolan did too. If the vampires had found out we could shift, I think that my father’s first wife, Nora, would have abandoned us even sooner than she did.” He rolls onto his back and folds his arms under his head.

  “But they all knew you were crossbreeds.” I nestle into the crook of his arm and stroke his chest with a finger.

  “Yes, and Nora hated us for that too. She may have hated that we were the children of her competition even more. Nicolas, my father, he played both women, impregnating my mother, Mila, a year after Carter was born. After Mom died giving birth to Nolan, he went back to Nora but he remained unfaithful and never stayed in anyone’s lives for long.”

  “But you were children. Why wouldn’t her natural instinct or Alistair’s be to protect you?”

  “We were an unknown quantity. The first of our kind. All those old monster movies with villagers storming the castle with torches and pitchforks? There’s more than a little truth to it. People are scared of what they don’t understand. That’s what we represented.” He shrugs. “It didn’t help that they were afraid of the witch who cast the spell on my father. She was yet another jealous lover. He had one in every county.”