by BE Kelly
“Open your eyes, Baby,” he ordered. She did as he asked and found that they were standing in her dorm room in Graystone Hall. This time, her stuff was laying on the old dresser and she quickly looked around to make sure that everything else was in place.
“Are we back?” she asked.
“Looks like it,” Anson said.
“Duff, your leg,” she breathed, reaching for him.
“It’s healing,” Duff said. “Shifters heal faster than other supernaturals. I’ll be fine, thank you, Honey.”
“I was so worried,” she whispered. “About both of you.”
“Well, we really didn’t do anything,” Anson said. “Our kick-ass girlfriend saved us.”
“And Glory,” Eden said. “Don’t forget she was there too. We should make sure that she’s all right. What if things didn’t go as planned with the authorities in the past?” Eden asked.
“Give me a few more minutes to finish healing and then we can drive back to the house to check on Glory,” Duff said. Eden was anxious to check on her, but Duff was right. They could all use a few minutes to catch their breath. Then, they’d venture out to see what traveling to the past had cost them. Hopefully, not everything in their future was changed.
The trip across town felt as if it took forever. Eden kept looking out the window for things that had changed but found nothing to speak of. She worried that their time in the past would have screwed up their futures, but so far, she couldn’t see any physical changes.
“Glory is standing on the front porch,” Eden said, pointing to where she stood watching them. “She looks—um, the same.”
“What did you expect?” Anson asked. “A three-headed monster in her place?” he teased.
“No,” Eden said. “I’m just excited to see her, that’s all,” she lied. She was surprised that more of their time hadn’t changed. But seeing Glory only drove home the fact that they had done what they needed to do and made it to the other side. They were all safe and that was all that mattered.
Glory waved to them and met them in the driveway. “It’s good to see the three of you. I’m glad that I was glad to send you home safely.”
“Do you remember what happened?” Anson asked.
“Of course I do. I also remember how things were before you showed up in the past—let’s call the time before you three left for the past the ‘real one’,” she said. “And this new future that we’ve created can be ‘reality two’.”
“Wait, we’ve created another reality?” Eden breathed. She knew things seemed too good to be true—too quiet almost.
“We did,” Glory said.
“But how do you know that it’s different? If things changed, wouldn’t you be out of the loop like everyone else?” Duff asked.
“If I hadn’t put a spell around myself when I sent you back here, I’d have no idea about the changes. You see, I might not have returned to the future with you, but I was part of the spell. Think of it as a bubble—everyone inside of that bubble would remember how things were before you went to the past and how things have changed since. You three were in that bubble and I just tweaked it a little to include myself. I made myself part of that bubble,” Glory said.
“I’m glad you did,” Anson said. “Now, you can fill us in on what’s changed.”
“Come on in,” Glory offered. “You’ll want to get comfortable for this. I’ve got a lot to catch you three up on.” They followed her into the kitchen and sat around the big table, just as they had the day before. It felt like a lifetime ago that the four of them sat there, hatching a plan on how to time travel.
“Not a lot has changed to the naked eye,” Glory began. “But you’ll all see subtle changes.”
“For example?” Duff asked.
“Well, your father was never accused by Theo, or anyone else, for Bianca’s murder. The authorities showed up just after you disappeared from the past and I told them the story about how Professor Simmons attacked Bianca and killed her. I told him that I caught him in the act of covering her body, and he attacked me, and I had no choice but to defend myself with a spell. They confirmed that my spell killed him and ruled it an accident.”
“That’s great,” Anson said. “Did they exhume the other witches and faes from the forest?”
“They did, but there’s more,” Glory warned. “The murders didn’t stop. I’m sorry to say that your friend, Geneve was still killed in the woods and you still found her, Anson.”
“Shit,” he breathed. “Simmons warned that killing him wouldn’t stop the witches and fae from dying. He must have been part of something bigger. Does anyone have any clue as to who killed Gen?” he asked.
“No,” Glory said. “Her murder has gone cold, according to the authorities. All I can tell you is that someone is still killing witches and the only clue they have to go on is that the person is probably a shifter.”
“That’s not much more information than we had before we left for the past,” Eden said.
“It’s not. I’m sorry—I wish I had better news on that front. I too was hoping that killing Simmons would solve the problem in the future, but it didn’t,” Glory said.
“What else has changed?” Duff asked.
“Um, well, your father’s changed,” Glory said. “Both of your fathers have, actually.”
“Both of them?” Anson asked. Eden wasn’t sure how her father might have changed. His sister still died, but he never accused an innocent man of murder.
“Yes—they’re friends. Remember when I told you that your fathers were once friends, back in their academy days?” The guys nodded and Eden barked out her laugh.
“You mean to tell me that our fathers—two men who hated each other so passionately just a day ago, are now friends?” Eden asked.
“Yes, but they were never enemies, as you remember them being. They’ve stayed friends all these years. Your father found out what I did to Simmons and I guess he thought that was the end of it. He never came forward about seeing the whole fight between his sister and Simmons. He never told anyone that Bianca tried to kill Simmons and that was when he attacked her. He never accused your father of killing her,” she said, nodding to the twins.
“What about dad?” Anson asked. “How has he changed?”
“He got over Bianca and didn’t wallow in his past. He married your mother and loved her very much—you boys too. When she passed, he did everything he could to make sure that you boys were his top priority. He cut back on business trips and he doesn’t drink,” she said.
“He doesn’t drink?” Duff asked. Eden could hear that he didn’t believe Glory in his voice.
“Not a drop,” she said. “He’s a lot nicer too. That poison made him mean, but he’s the same old Dugan he’s always been. The Kirkpatricks are once again credited with helping to found and build Graystone Academy. Nothing much has changed around campus since I went there. All the old names are still the same and it honestly feels like that is the way it should always have been.”
“I’m happy that Dad has changed and that he and Mr. Graystone are friends, but that doesn’t change the fact that witches are still dying. How do we find and stop the shifter who is doing this now?” Anson asked. Eden knew that he must feel guilty that they weren’t able to save Geneve. She knew that he was hoping that they’d be able to stop the murders that took place in their time.
“We keep our ears and eyes open,” Duff said. “The four of us stopped Simmons. I’m betting we can do it again.”
“There is one other change that the three of you need to be aware of,” Glory said.
“There’s more?” Eden grumbled.
“Yes, and this one might throw you three for a loop too,” Glory admitted.
“Crap,” Anson griped. “Just tell us—rip the band-aid off, Glory,” he demanded.
“You three are betrothed,” Glory breathed.
“Betrothed as in to be married?” Duff asked. “To whom?”
“To each other. Your fathers found out
that the three of you have been sneaking around and—” Glory wasn’t able to finish what she was about to say because both of the guys were protesting—loudly.
“We are most definitely not sneaking around,” Anson shouted.
Glory held up her hand, effectively stopping their shouts of protest, and they both immediately settled down. “You’ll need to teach me how to do that,” Eden said.
“Of course,” Glory agreed. “All I can tell you is that your fathers are quite fine with the three of you being together. You boys know that threesomes are quite common in the shifter world. As soon as Theo found out that you both were ‘spending time’ with his daughter,” she said, using air quotes, making Eden giggle, “he insisted that you both marry her. Dugan agreed to the match and the three of you are to be married in the spring.”
“The spring?” Eden breathed. “What about my education? How will I finish at the academy?”
“Well, Duff and I will both be teaching at Graystone. We’re fine with you finishing your education,” Anson said.
“That’s big of you,” she sassed. “You’ll allow me to finish my education while the two of you teach?” Eden asked.
“That’s not what I said,” Anson shouted.
“I’m not going to marry either of you because my father and your father made an agreement. That’s barbaric,” she insisted.
“You love us, Eden,” Anson said. He wasn’t asking—he was stating a fact. It was one she knew well and there would be no point in arguing with him. He could see into her thoughts and know just how she felt about the two of them, and she wouldn’t lie to either of them.
“I do,” she whispered. “But I won’t marry you—either of you.” She stood and stormed out of the kitchen and through the back door to the pool house. She was running, but Eden wasn’t sure what else to do. She needed a little space and even though it was laughably ironic—she needed time.
Anson
“You are both first-class asses,” Glory said, crossing her arms over her chest. She stared them down just as she used to do when they were boys and she was cross with them for doing something stupid. He was pretty sure that the way he just handled Eden was stupid and from the angry look on Glory’s face, they were both going to get an earful.
“Hey,” Duff complained. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Exactly,” Glory agreed. “You didn’t do anything while that poor girl ran out of here feeling like an obligation to you both, rather than someone you both profess to love. You do love her, don’t you?” she asked.
“Yes,” they both said in unison.
“Well, that’s at least a start. Have you told her how you feel about her? Have you given her the words?” Glory asked.
Anson and Duff looked at each other and shook their heads. “No,” Duff said. “But in our defense, we’ve been a little busy trying to rid the past of wolf shifters wanting to kill witches, and all that.” Glory crossed the kitchen and stood behind Duff and Anson almost felt bad for his brother. He knew what was going to come next and from the way Duff cringed, he did too.
Glory slapped him upside his head and called him, “Daft.” He was too—they both were for letting Eden run off the way she had. She admitted that she was in love with them and they still just let her go. They needed to go after her and tell her that they loved her. They needed to beg her to marry them and hope to hell that she agreed.
“Now, you’re getting it,” Glory said, pointing to Anson.
“So, the whole no magic in the house rule, did that ever change?” Anson asked. “Because I’m pretty sure that I didn’t say what I was thinking out loud and that you read my mind.”
“The rule is still in place. Your father believes it promotes more family time,” Glory said.
“I’m guessing you don’t give a flying fuck about the rules still then?” Duff asked. Glory slapped him upside the head again and he turned to face her, rubbing the spot she just struck. “Hey—what the hell was that one for?” he questioned.
“For your mouth, Duff. You’re lucky that I don’t keep bar soap in the house anymore. Otherwise, you’d be sitting here with it in your mouth for cursing,” Glory said. Anson laughed and his brother shot him a look. If he said the things that he was thinking, Duff would definitely warrant a few more slaps to the head.
“So, are you two going to fix what you’ve done and go after that girl?” she asked.
“Yes, Ma’am,” they said in unison. Duff stood and Anson followed while Glory busied herself cleaning the already spotless kitchen.
“You have any idea what we’re supposed to say to Eden?” Duff whispered.
“You should start by telling her how you feel,” Glory called after them. “And work your way forward from there.”
Anson shrugged, “She’s not wrong,” he agreed. “I’m betting we will need to do a fair share of groveling and even some begging before we get her to agree to marry us, but Eden’s worth it.” She was too. Eden was everything that they ever wanted in a woman and mate and so much more. He knew that this all might feel rushed to her, but he could see his forever in her eyes and he was certain that Duff felt the same.
“You grovel, I’ll beg and we’ll get the job done,” Duff said. “We’re a good team and I’m betting if we work together, she won’t be able to refuse us.”
“And if she does?” Anson asked.
“Then, we’ll get her naked and remind her how good the three of us are together. It’s a no-fail plan, man,” Duff said. Anson wasn’t sure his brother was right, but they had nothing to lose by trying. Well, except for the girl of their dreams.
They found her sitting in the dark pool house on the sofa, crying. “Hey,” he whispered. She didn’t make a move to answer him, only her sniffles and sobs filled the room.
“Don’t cry, Baby,” Duff crooned. “I hate it when you cry.” He sat down next to her in the darkness and pulled her shadowy figure against his chest.
“Why does everything have to change?” she asked.
“What’s changing?” Anson asked, sitting on the other side of her. He grabbed her hand and held onto it as if it was his lifeline.
“Everything—we have to get married now and my father is forcing me onto you both. I won’t be a burden. As soon as I’m up to it, I’m going to call him and give him a piece of my mind. This is the twenty-first century and he can’t go around telling me who I have to marry just because we’ve slept together. That’s not his decision to make,” she said.
“No, it’s not,” Anson agreed. “Our fathers had no right to decide that for us. We’re the only ones who can decide if and when we’re getting married—not them.”
“Exactly,” Eden agreed. Anson smiled, knowing that she probably couldn’t see his face in the dark. If he could just get her to keep on agreeing with him, they’d have her just where they wanted her—agreeing to walk down the aisle to marry them.
“We messed up,” Duff whispered. “Anson asked you how you felt about us, but you left so quickly, we didn’t get to tell you how we feel.”
“How you feel?” she squeaked.
“Yes,” Anson agreed. “If you had stuck around, you would have heard me admit to Glory that I’m in love with you.”
“You are?” she breathed.
“Yes,” he whispered.
Duff cleared his throat and she turned back to face him. “I’m in love with you too, Honey,” he admitted. “I have been for a bit now, just too chicken to say the words out loud.”
Anson pulled her from between the two of them and onto his lap. “Neither of us can explain any of this, Eden, but the three of us have some sort of pull on each other. You’re our sun and we can’t help but gravitate to you. Tell us you feel that too,” he ordered. He felt as though he was holding his breath, waiting for her to answer.
“I do,” she agreed. “I’ve felt that weird pull with both of you since we met.”
“Thank fuck,” Duff growled. “Marry us, Eden.”
“We don’t care
when you want to get married, all we care about is you saying that you’ll be our wife. We love you, Baby. We want to spend the rest of our lives with you,” Anson said.
“Say yes,” Duff begged. He slid closer to them both, framing Eden’s back with his body. She was perfectly cocooned between them, just where she belonged.
Anson could feel her nodding against his chest, “Yes,” she whispered. “I’ll marry both of you. But I don’t want to get married in the spring.”
“When we get married doesn’t matter to us,” Duff agreed.
“Good, because I’d much prefer the fall,” she said.
“The fall it is,” Anson said. “Wait—it’s fall now. You mean next autumn, right?”
“No,” she said. “I mean now—I want to marry you both. I don’t care where we live or that I’m a student and you’re both about to become teachers. I don’t care how any of it looks—I want to marry you both now,” she insisted.
“Well, then,” Anson breathed. “It looks like we’ll need to get busy planning this wedding. Where would you like to get married, Baby?” he asked.
“In front of Graystone Hall,” she said. “Where our stories began and intertwined. Where our families built a future together that would join the three of us. How about it?” she asked.
“Graystone Hall it is,” Duff agreed. The lights came on in the pool house and they blinked against the brightness.