Realms and Rebels: A Paranormal and Fantasy Reverse Harem Collection

by C. M. Stunich

  I forced myself to take a few bites, sipping my orange juice in silence while I waited. He was a good cook, but I was too anxious to enjoy the meal. Between my uncertainty over the events of last night and the enormous willpower it required not to ogle him, I was ready to snap.

  “Did you sleep okay?” he asked.

  “I guess I was more tired than I realized.”

  “You and me both,” he said between bites. “I don’t know if it was the stress of getting the website back up and running or what, but I had some crazy dreams about Elias.”

  I waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t. Finally, I asked, “How are the auction preparations going? I saw some original cover art listed for several hundred thousand dollars.”

  “Been checking out my website, have you?” He puffed out his chest, and it took every ounce of restraint to keep my eyes on his face.

  “Maybe.” I gave him a sly grin. “My sister gave me an old bottle for my perfume, and I was trying to do some research on it.”

  “You still make custom scents?” I was touched that Declan remembered.

  “And blog about them, now that I have the time.”

  “You always smell so amazing, I should have known.”

  “Thanks.” I stared at my plate, my cheeks heating.

  “If you swing by my office later this week, we can grab lunch, and I’ll introduce you to one of our art and antiquities experts. She can shed some light on its history and give you a free appraisal if you’re interested.”

  “That would be great, but only if it’s not an imposition.”

  “Not at all. Thursday afternoons are reserved for appraisals, and it shouldn’t be an issue to squeeze you in.”

  When someone knocked on the door, I jerked and nearly sent my plate crashing to the floor. Declan padded over to answer it, and Adrian’s eyes bounced between us—fresh out of bed, or the couch in my case, and still in our pajamas. Elias appeared in the doorway, and the meager breakfast I’d consumed threatened to make a reappearance. When Declan stepped aside to let them both in, I didn’t know whether to be relieved or concerned.

  “I apologize for interrupting your morning,” Adrian said. “But I wanted to discuss the incident last night.”

  Declan grabbed a T-shirt from his gym bag by the door and took a seat on the couch, inviting us to join him. “Not a problem. I’m anxious to hear your thoughts.”

  I could feel Elias’s watchful eyes on me, and I couldn’t resist chancing a glance at him. His face gave nothing away, his expression shuttered. I nearly sagged with relief when Adrian began a rundown on the investigation, informing us that the website appeared to have crashed due to increased activity, not as part of a targeted attack. But I was just waiting for the moment questions about the kiss with Elias would arise.

  Unable to sit still, I said, “I’m going to make some coffee,” before darting to the kitchen.

  “Let me help you,” Elias said and followed me.

  With Declan and Adrian deep in conversation, I busied myself with the coffee. Elias came to stand behind me, placing his hands on the counter and trapping me between his arms.

  “Katerina.” My name was both a plea and a curse, the warmth of his breath skating across my skin and making me shiver. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”

  I felt the connection too. I’d brushed it off as a side effect of my powers, but even now, with the necklace anchoring me, it hadn’t faded—that low thrumming in my veins, the indescribable pull.

  “Fuck, that kiss was…magical.” His whispered awe said it all. If only he knew.

  I turned in his arms and pressed my hands to his firm chest, wanting to give us some space. He was way too tempting, and the events of last night were too fresh in my mind. I needed to take control of the situation.

  “What do you remember about last night?”

  His brows drew together, and I could tell he was struggling to recall. He leaned in, nearly brushing his lips against mine. “The way your body fit perfectly in my hands, the addictive taste of your sweet lips.”

  Momentarily stunned, I struggled to keep us on task. “And then?”

  “And then…” He trailed off, perhaps waiting for me to fill in the blanks. “Oh yeah. And then Declan came home, and I left.”

  Ice pumped through my veins, chilling me to the bone. I not only had the power to persuade, but my powers could alter someone’s perception, their memory, of reality. I’d always known it was a possibility, but I’d chosen to believe it wasn’t the case. Until now, until he’d confirmed it.

  My vision went spotty, and I heard Elias’s voice calling my name as if from a distance. With my eyes closed, I was floating on a cloud. Careless and utterly free. It was a pleasant change after all the excitement of the past few weeks.

  “Kati, can you hear me?” Declan asked. “What the fuck did you do to her?” he hissed, and I assumed the question was directed at Elias, but I didn’t hear a response.

  “If you can hear us, wake up,” Adrian chimed in.

  My eyes fluttered open, and I found three incredibly handsome men staring intently at me. Their expressions were marked with concern, and I felt far too exposed beneath their gazes.

  When Elias said, “Welcome back, beautiful,” I clamped my eyes shut again. But not before catching the perplexed look Declan shot him.

  Still not ready to face them, I hoped if I remained motionless they’d leave me alone.

  “Maybe we should call the paramedics,” Adrian said. That got my attention, and I forced my eyes open.

  “No need, I’m fine,” I chirped, attempting to sit. But when the room spun, I lay back down on the couch. How long had I been out?

  “Easy there,” Declan said.

  “You should see a doctor, just to be safe,” Adrian said.

  “No,” I insisted. “No doctors.” A doctor meant questions and tests, and that was the last thing I needed. “Can you please call my sister and ask her to come over?”

  While Adrian assessed me, checking my pupils, having me follow his finger with my eyes, Declan attempted to pry my phone from Elias’s grasp.

  “Give the phone to Katerina so she can unlock it,” Adrian said, having finished his exam.

  After I tapped in the security code, I sipped from a glass of water Elias had brought over then closed my eyes. My head was pounding, and the light pouring through the windows wasn’t helping.

  “Too bright,” I mumbled and pushed myself off the couch, intent on making it to my room, even if it meant crawling.

  Without a word, Declan scooped me into his arms, cradling me close to his chest. I rested my head on his shoulder, allowing myself to enjoy his closeness for once. He gently placed me on the bed, and the next thing I knew, Ana was calling my name. I opened my eyes to find her crouched beside me, face drawn from the shadows cast by the bedside lamp.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  Feeling well enough to attempt sitting, I pushed myself up against the headboard. “I blacked out, and when I came to, I was super dizzy.”

  “Has this happened before?”

  “No,” I answered, afraid to shake my head. “Wait, yes.” The words lodged in my throat, but Ana could read the unspoken meaning in my silence. My eyes darted to the closed door, and I prayed the walls were thick.

  She ground her teeth but otherwise remained calm. “You swore Jeff never hit you.”

  “He didn’t.” I swallowed hard. “But he liked to push my powers to the limits, and one time I blacked out.”

  I’d been so naïve, so excited to find someone who possessed powers similar to my own, that I’d been willing to ignore the warning signs. For too long, I’d overlooked his flaws, convinced Jeff was the best, the only, chance I’d ever have at a relationship. In the end, I was better off alone. A tear streaked down my cheek before I swiped it away.

  Ana’s hands shook with rage. “Maybe I could enchant a knife to stab the bastard and make it look like suicide.”

  “Tempti
ng, but he’s not worth it.”

  “If you say so,” she muttered. “Why don’t you tell me everything that happened since you dropped me off after brunch yesterday.”

  She listened patiently, and when I finally finished, she appeared deep in thought, processing everything. “You had quite the exciting weekend. I still can’t believe you used your powers in such a public place, especially with Adrian nearby.”

  I shrugged. “The look of terror on the little boy’s face broke me. I had to do something.”

  “You know what this means?” Her lips curved into a smile. “You were able to put aside your fear of losing control when you had the chance to help someone.” I hadn’t thought of it that way.

  “So why did I black out?”

  “Your body must be struggling to keep up with the sudden surge. It’s like if you woke up one morning and decided to run a marathon without a proper diet or training. Your body needs time to acclimate.”

  “Or I could stop using my powers completely.”

  With a deep sigh, Ana covered my hand with hers. “You’ve been fighting your powers for so long, that you’re letting them control you.” But it was her unspoken warning that terrified me: if you’re not careful, you could end up like Mom.

  We were silent a moment before she said, “What are you going to do about Adrian, Elias, and Declan?”

  “What about them? Declan and I are friends, and Adrian and Elias are only here because of the case.”

  “Mhmm.” She smirked.

  “And on that note, I should probably reassure them that I’m okay.” I slowly pushed myself to standing. “Thanks for coming. I know you’re busy.”

  “I’ll always make time for you, Kati.” She pulled me into a hug.

  I followed her to the living room, and Elias, Declan, and Adrian immediately stood when they spotted me, each of their faces lined with worry. I gave them a reassuring smile, praying they wouldn’t ask too many questions while Ana bid them goodbye.

  Still a little unsteady on my feet, I leaned against the arm of the couch.

  “Kati, you should be in bed,” Declan said.

  “I feel a little better now that I rested, and I wanted to thank you guys for taking care of me and calling Ana.”

  “Do you want something to eat?” Adrian asked. “We were just debating where to order takeout from.”

  How hard had I hit my head? It was like the three of them were suddenly best friends.

  “Sure,” I said. “Whatever you guys want is fine with me.”

  “Since when?” Declan asked.

  “I can…go with the flow.” I nearly choked on my own words.

  Declan chuckled. “Kati, tell us what you want, and we’ll order it. We’re indifferent, and I’m sure you have an opinion on the matter.”

  “Fine,” I huffed. “Chinese food sounds good.”

  We sat around Declan’s table sharing the meal, family style. Adrian and Elias regaled us with colorful stories from the field, and I found myself laughing more than I had in a long time. Even Declan and Elias were on good terms, talking and smiling.

  Seeing them together like this alleviated some of my guilt from the night before. I still blamed myself for creating the need to use my powers in the first place. But Declan had been given a chance at reconciliation with Elias, or at least closure, and I’d never want to take that from him.

  After dinner, the three of them refused to let me help with the cleanup, and Elias escorted me to the couch like an invalid. He toyed with his glasses, running his hands through his hair, seemingly unable to sit still. “I wanted to apologize if I said, or did, anything earlier that upset you. But that kiss…”

  “Meant nothing,” I said firmly.

  He shook his head. “I refuse to believe that. Give me a chance. One date. That’s all I ask.”

  What was he thinking? He wasn’t—he’d made a decision based on something that happened under the influence of my powers, and now his judgment of the situation was impaired.

  Declan and Adrian chose that moment to join us, and I felt suffocated, trapped as they settled on the couch.

  “Katerina, you look upset. What’s wrong?” Adrian asked.

  Declan muted the TV and turned to me, brows knitted. “Did you say something to her, Elias?” he asked in a warning tone.

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but I asked her to go on a date with me.”

  A muscle in Declan’s jaw ticked, his eyes piercing mine. “If you’re not willing to date me, you can’t date him either.”

  “That’s mature,” Adrian muttered.

  The three of them started arguing over who was or was not dating me and why. I stood, ready to end this once and for all.

  “Enough.” I hadn’t even engaged my powers, and yet they immediately obeyed my command.

  Three pairs of eyes, one jade, one brown, and one amber peered back at me, and I took a moment to assess them. I couldn’t deny my attraction to these three men. And if the circumstances were different, if I were different, I might actually consider dating them. But they weren’t, and I wasn’t.

  So, I said the one thing I knew they’d never consider. “I’m not dating any of you unless I can date all of you.”

  Instead of laughing at the absurd suggestion, Elias readily agreed, Declan nodded, and even Adrian said, “Fine.”

  “Wait. What?” My head was spinning. “This is a terrible idea.” I turned my attention to Adrian. “You’re suspicious of me, and you work with him.” I indicated Elias. “I barely know you, and you,” I said, meeting Declan’s gaze, “despise him. Not to mention the fact that we’re roommates and good friends. Although, the roommate situation is temporary,” I added.

  Declan scowled at that, but Elias spoke before he could say anything. “It’s not like we’re asking you to take us on a group date.”

  “Exactly,” Adrian added. “Besides, the point of dating is to get to know each other.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest, wondering how my plan had backfired so spectacularly. They were supposed to say no. They were supposed to drop the matter. Yet here they sat trying to convince me how great it was.

  “But I’m…controlling. And high maintenance. And—”

  “Scared,” Declan cut in. “Cut the bullshit, Kati. You’re incredible.” He glanced at Elias before turning his attention back to me. “I don’t despise Elias. I never could. He explained why he left, and I’m willing to put the past behind us if he will.”

  Elias nodded, and Adrian appeared unfazed, making me wonder how much Elias had told him about his relationship with Declan.

  “Now, what do you say?” Declan flashed me his winning smile, the one he knew I couldn’t resist.

  Damn it. I’d never wanted to say yes to anything so badly in my life. The idea that I could let go of the past, ignore who I was, and be normal was too tempting. There were a million reasons why I should say no, yet I found myself whispering, “Yes.”

  8

  “Thanks again for lunch,” I said to Declan as we rode the elevator to his office later that week. His hand rested on the small of my back, and even that minimal contact was enough to set me alight.

  “Anytime. In fact, I was hoping we could go out for dinner later this week. There’s a new restaurant I’ve been wanting to try.”

  “Sounds great. I know I’ve been slacking on my roommate agreement.”

  “I wasn’t asking you as my roommate, I was inviting you as my date.”

  “Declan…are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked. “We’ve always been friends, and—”

  “And I always wanted more. I get the feeling you have too. Tell me I’m wrong, and I promise to let the matter drop.”

  The doors slid open, saving me from further response. Even though I’d agreed to date Adrian, Elias, and Declan, I was still trying to wrap my head around it. Not that anyone would bat an eye at the idea of three men with one woman, it was more that I wasn’t used to dating period.

  Decla
n ushered me through Ashworth Auctions, greeting every employee we passed by name. Finally, when we neared the end of the hall, he stopped before a conference room where several people were gathered. They kept to themselves, mostly staring at their phones.

  “I have a meeting. Otherwise, I’d stay and introduce you.”

  “Thanks, Declan.”

  “My pleasure,” he said and kissed my cheek in parting, seemingly reluctant to say goodbye.

  He strode down the hallway with a sense of purpose. Declan was exactly the type of man I could see myself falling for, given the chance. Sure, he was handsome and successful, but he was so much more than that. He made me laugh, he made me have fun, he showed me what it was like to live life.

  I took a seat in the makeshift waiting room and glanced at my phone, surprised to discover two new text messages. I responded to Adrian’s first—letting him know that I felt fine—before viewing Elias’s message.

  Elias: Dinner tonight?

  Technically, I didn’t have any plans, but I hesitated. Should I continue this sham of dating the three of them? What was the point when I knew it couldn’t go anywhere?

  Apparently, I took too long to respond because another message came through.

  Elias: Just say yes. You know you want to.

  With every day that passed, it became painfully obvious that the three of them wouldn’t give up until I relented. Tired of overthinking it, I typed out a hasty reply.

  Me: Why not?

  Elias: Glad you’re looking forward to it as much as I am. I’ll pick you up at 7:30 PM.

  I laughed at his response, feeling better already. It was dinner, not a marriage proposal. I could do this.

  Me: It’s a date!

  A girl slid into the seat next to mine, long, dark hair flowing down her back. My hair stood on end, and I felt like I was being watched. But when I looked around, everyone else had their heads buried in their phones.

  Returning my attention to the girl, I saw she held a small, framed oil painting in her hands, her gaze focused on the tile floor. She seemed so sad, so lost, that I felt compelled to talk to her.