I snorted, unable to stop chuckles from trickling out. As Mischa’s mirth increased she started to laugh with me.

Eventually our amusement faded. I found myself focusing on the bed, flashes of memory shooting through me as I relived the time spent in here with Braxton. I was totally ready for another round, I had not had enough the first time. I’d probably never have enough of him.

Mischa interrupted my adult-rated thoughts.

“I’ll admit I’m jealous of you right now.”

I forced myself not to snarl. She’d never shown any interest in Braxton, so it must mean something other than what I feared. Of course, my wolf didn’t care, she wanted to snarl anyway.

“I might be a virgin, and I’m more than ready to hand that particular card in, but what I want more than anything is someone to call my own.”

My wolf calmed, along with my dragoness. They loved my twin too, but possessiveness was part of their animal instinct, and Braxton was ours.

I searched for the right words. Mischa was sensitive, I had no idea how to reassure her. Girls were hard, boys seemed much easier, more straightforward to deal with. I couldn’t completely understand her need to belong to someone. It kind of grated on my sense of independence. But what the hell did I know? I’d always had the Compasses and called all of them mine. I had never been alone.

“You will find someone to call yours, Misch. There is no rush, we’re young. To be totally honest, I never expected to find my mate anytime soon, but it’s Braxton...” Which said it all.

I breathed deeply at the emotions flooding me. There was a new intimacy between Braxton and I now, and it continued to bash against me like a surge of tides. Sure, we’d only been together for half a day, but that full-heart thing was a force living inside my chest. Maybe I had a better idea than I thought of the connection my twin was seeking in her life.

We both dropped onto the edge of the bed. I reached across and grabbed a cushion, pulling it into my lap. “I’m sorry I disappeared on you. I didn’t mean to abandon you.”

She raised her sad eyes to meet mine. “You didn’t do it on purpose, Jess, it just sucked that right when I needed you the most, you were gone. I was so worried about you, trying to deal with Maximus. Trying to hold it together.”

“Tell me what happened.” I took her hand.

She shrugged. “I cared about him. Like really cared.” Her lips twisted into a forced grin. “I hoped we could have something.”