Free Trial by Heart (Trial Series Book 4) by Lizzy Ford Page B

flames.
    The moment I see Myca and Tristan, my dark thoughts explode into happiness.
    Ben is right. I do need my friends tonight.
    I race towards them and end up tackle hugging Myca, nearly driving him to the ground. He laughs and manages to keep us both on our feet, squeezing me in a fierce hug.
    “Good to see you, angel!” he says cheerfully.
    I breathe his familiar scent and sigh. “You, too.” I probably hug him longer than I should and release him to sling my arms around Tristan.
    I love these men. Nothing will ever change that. The temporary mating bonds may be gone, but I’ll always love them, always believe them to be two of the most beautiful people in the universe.
    Wiping my face free of happy tears, I release Tristan and step back to grin at them. I don’t know if this is supposed to be weird having two exes together, but it’s really not. Myca’s too laid back to be offended by pretty much anything, and Tristan can read souls and is as far from petty as possible.
    I’m not going to let myself think about how they’ve been talking about me for several months, since my father chose the candidates. They’re conspirators, but ... they’re also mine and always will hold pieces of me.
    Seeing them both, however, also reminds me of my last talk with Nathan, and how he told me the truth about what he lied about, which ended up being everything, considering he was pretending to be someone else. At some point tonight, I’m going to ask Tristan and Myca what they sacrificed and hid from me.
    But not yet. I don’t feel ready to be crushed.
    “Dig in,” Ben says, reaching us.
    “Werewolf rules: Food first, then whatever else,” Myca says with a wink.
    “Absolutely,” Ben agrees.
    I smile. I’m not really hungry, not when my emotions keep me on the verge of panic and nausea, but I fill a plate anyway. The four of us sit down around the fire.
    “I watched Underworld, ” Myca says, shaking his head. “Why does everyone think vampires and werewolves are born enemies?”
    “At least Hollywood doesn’t give you wings or pointy ears,” Tristan responds.
    I laugh.
    “You’re both predators,” he continues. “Might have something to do with that.”
    “You’d look adorable with pointy ears,” Myca teases.
    Tristan ignores him.
    Ben is smiling. “Buffy’s my favorite,” he admits. “There aren’t a lot of shows where vampires or werewolves are the good guys.”
    “I noticed,” Myca replies.
    I listen and eat, gaze on Ben more often than the others. I’m still trying to figure him out and finding it difficult. I’ve never encountered the strong, silent type in my life, and being an extrovert accustomed to the company of other extroverts, I’m not sure how to talk to him. The man who doesn’t say more than a sentence every ten minutes to me opens up when it comes to movies. He’s too reserved to be considered social, but it’s obvious from the discussion he likes his movies. Easygoing Myca has a way of drawing him out, too, and is good at keeping the conversation alive.
    Watching them, I’m struck by the idea the three friends wouldn’t know each other this well if not for the trials. I wonder if they’re able to see the smallest positive to come out of the trials, such as friendship, or if they’re stuck in the rut I’m in and unable to acknowledge anything but the morbid darkness of the whole thing.
    It’s gratifying to see them happy and talking, to know they really are good friends, and that my part – however terrible – in this mess helped bring them together. When I’m gone, when the trials are over, they’ll have each other.
    It’s a small blessing but one that helps ease some of my suffering, even if temporarily.
    Warmed by the fire with my belly full, I grow drowsy and rest my head back. The three continue to talk between bouts of comfortable silence. Ben is right. I need this. I need them . They’re a reminder of why I have to be stronger than Erish, of what I have to