Her days were filled with work, either sitting in on meetings at Belai or finishing her dress designs. She’d taken to the stitching machine easily and often sat up into the late hours completing her gowns. Her next step was to find a shop that might take them on consignment, to see if they struck a chord with her intended market.

She had two of them wrapped in gown bags and draped over her arm as she made her way down to Madame Huey’s shop. She pushed open the door one-handed and entered the small, fragrant store. During the first days of the revolution the glass windows and doors had been smashed, but by now they’d been repaired. In fact, the shop looked just as it did when Evangeline had lived at Belai and had scraped every coin together she could to come here to have clothing made.

Staring around her as though she’d suddenly taken a trip backward in time, she made her way to the counter.

“Miss Bansdaughter!” a woman squealed.

Evangeline turned to find Madame Huey moving her considerable bulk around the edge of the counter toward her. She embraced her so tightly she crushed the gowns between them, then held her at arm’s length with an expression of awe on her face and looked her up and down. “You survived!”

Evangeline smiled. “Yes, I made it through.”

Madame Huey hugged her again.”I’m so happy to see you! So many of you didn’t, you know.” She wiped away a smile and stared at her with tremulous lips for a long moment, as though caught in a memory.

She didn’t quite know how to react. Madame Huey had never been so friendly toward her before. Of course, much had happened since then. Perhaps the times had changed Madame Huey as much as they’d changed her.

“You look well,” the madame said. “Healthier than you did before. You’ve put on a little weight and your color is good. You look . . . happy. You never looked happy before.” She glanced down at Evangeline’s fine day gown, a gift, of course, from Gregorio. “Looks as though times haven’t been all that hard for you.”

“I’ve been lucky. Much luckier than many of my peers.”

Madame Huey patted her shoulder. “That’s for certain.” She walked around the counter again. “Now what can I help you with?”

Evangeline laid her creations on the counter and unzipped them. “I have recently begun to try my hand at dressmaking and wondered if you might consider taking these on consignment.”

Immediately the madame went into business mode. Pursing her lips, she unzipped the dresses the rest of the way and took them from their protective coverings, hanging them from a nearby hook. She stepped back from them both, putting a finger to her mouth. A frown of contemplation creased her fleshy face. Then she set to touching the dresses, testing their seams and buttons, the weight of the fabric.

Finally she turned back to Evangeline. “They’re very beautiful, but they’re also . . . unique. My customers will either love them or they’ll hate them.” She nodded and smiled. “I’m willing to try them out, however.”

Evangeline let out the breath she’d been holding. “Thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure to help out one of the few Jeweled left in Milzyr. Now, would you like some tea while we discuss the terms?”

Evangeline stayed for tea and also remained to help Madame Huey in the shop for the afternoon, since she was badly understaffed. By the time she returned home, Gregorio was already home for dinner and the evening chill had begun to sap the promise of summer from the air.

She hung her wrap up near the door and entered the sitting room, where she could hear Anatol and Gregorio talking in their low, rumbling male tones. The fires in the hearths warmed the town house and the cook’s efforts in the kitchen smelled delicious. Ah, I’m home. Comforting pleasure settled into her body, relaxing away all tension.

She went to Anatol and kissed him and then Gregorio. It was nice to have them both here and happy to see her. She wasn’t sure how she’d gotten so lucky to have snagged both of them, but she wasn’t going to complain about it.

She wasn’t going to fight it anymore, either. What woman in her right mind would do such a thing?

Gregorio pulled her down into his lap. She went with a sigh and nuzzled into the crook of his neck, inhaling the scent of his skin. Anatol watched them with heat flaring in his eyes.

Occasionally she felt flashes of jealousy from Anatol, though they were quickly suppressed. They came from Gregorio as well, though he seemed to have his emotions under control a little better. Evangeline assumed it was because she’d been with Anatol first and because Anatol had loved her from afar for so long. Yet, most of the time Anatol seemed happy that she was with Gregorio and the jealousy was the infrequent interruption of that steady emotion. Mostly when Evangeline tasted his emotions Anatol felt calm, contented, and confident.

And, perhaps Anatol had been right; with both of them she did have what she needed.

Gregorio’s strong arms came around her and held her close. He kissed the top of her head. “How did it go?”

“It went wonderfully. She remembered who I was and gave me a much warmer reception than I ever would have predicted. She’s taking two of my gowns on consignment and has asked me to bring more by for her to look at.”

“That’s fantastic,” said Anatol.

“I’m definitely pleased. It’s yet another step toward carving a new life for myself post-revolution.”

Now they had to get Anatol on track. He was still struggling despite his love for the new government of Rylisk. She looked up at Gregorio, who was studying Anatol fiercely. Was he thinking the same thing?

At dinner, over a baked chicken with peas and carrots, she discovered the answer to that question.

Gregorio raised his gaze to Anatol over the table. “I would appreciate your help at Belai, if you’d be willing.”

Anatol looked up from his plate. “With what?”

“I could use a go-between, an emissary of sorts between the government and the magicked.”

Anatol set his fork down and leaned back in his chair. “Yes, you will need a liaison, but why do you think I’m suitable?”

“Anatol, you’re perfect. You’re intelligent, magicked, devoted to the new order, and sensitive to your fellow former J’Edaeii. I couldn’t think of a better, more qualified person to ask.”

“I agree,” said Evangeline.

Anatol looked at them both in turn, then leaned back in his chair. “Ah. I get it. You two think that I need a new occupation, especially since Evangeline seems to be finding her footing now.”

“This is not charity. I do think that you need something to occupy your days, but that’s not why I’m asking you. I’m not lying when I say I can’t think of anyone more perfect than you to ask.”

Evangeline took a sip of wine and then set her glass on the table. “I think you’d be wonderful. Gregorio, did I ever tell you about the day of the revolution?”

“No.”

“I was so wrapped up in my little life that I had no idea what was happening. Then Anatol was there, rescuing me, dragging me out of Belai to safety. Even though the mob was ransacking the palace, he was behind the revolution from the first day, even when I was still in a shocked haze.”

Gregorio had his heavy gaze leveled at Anatol. “I’m not surprised. That’s why I think he’s a good fit for this position. He is aligned with my vision for Rylisk and always has been.”

Anatol sighed, then took a long drink, as though stalling in his reply. He set his glass down and sighed. “All right, I can try it. It won’t be easy, seeing as most of the magicked have gone to ground, frightened for their lives. The government is going to have a hard time earning their trust. It would be better if it was someone they knew reaching out to them. Someone like me.” He touched the back of his neck, where he was scarred from the violent removal of his jewel. “The fact that I was nearly beheaded by the mob, yet I’m still behind the new government, may hold some sway with them.”

Gregorio smiled, raising his glass. “And those observations will be why you’ll excel at this job. Perhaps now that Evangeline has begun to help me at the meetings with the province representatives, she might eventually help you.”

Evangeline nodded. “I’d be happy to help draw the magicked back to Milzyr.” She paused. “At least in a capacity where I’m not using my magick to impinge upon their free will.”

A smile broke out over Anatol’s face. “You’ve changed so much, Evangeline.”

“For the better,” she answered, taking a sip of wine. “Definitely for the better.”

Gregorio loomed over her in the half light of the room, his hand stroking her clit softly and slowly in the quiet of the night, arousing her straight out of her dreams. Her breath hitched at the look of feral hunger on his face. On her other side, Anatol slept.

“Gregorio, what are you doing?” Her breath came out, as it so often did these days, breathy with arousal.

He speared a finger inside her, drew it back out, and added a second, drawing a low moan from her. “I wanted to see if I could make you orgasm in your sleep.”

Her hips rolled as she met the thrust of his hand. “You almost did,” she whispered. “I’m close.”

He stroked her clit with his thumb, nestling it down in her curls and applying just the right amount of pressure. “I love to watch you orgasm. Come for me.”

She shattered, a moan of pleasure ripping from her throat as it crashed over her. Before the tail end of it was gone, Gregorio was between her thighs, sliding his cock inside her. She lifted her hips, welcoming him into her body. He seated himself deep inside her and her teeth sank into her lower lip as the muscles of her sex stretched pleasurably to accommodate him.

His hand skated down over her hips to the back of her knee and lifted her leg as he pulled out and thrust back in, setting up a slow and steady rhythm.

Anatol woke and watched Gregorio take her for a couple of minutes before he reached out and stroked her clit. Evangeline shuddered. Anatol always knew exactly how to touch her there, either withholding her climax or bringing it forcefully. Now he withheld it, letting it build, making her mindless with need and passion. Then he yanked her nightgown up farther and leaned forward, sucking one of her nipples into his hot mouth and flicking the hard peak with his tongue.

Gregorio and Evangeline came at the same time, her back arching and her cry splitting the quiet air of the room while Gregorio groaned, releasing his seed deep within her.

Breathing heavily, Gregorio collapsed to her side, holding her close against him and nuzzling her hair. Anatol fit himself against her other side and she reached down, catching his shaft in her hand and stroking him until he groaned. This was one of the tricky things about being in a relationship with two men, making sure neither of them felt left out.

“Now we’re all awake,” she murmured, kissing Anatol.

He pushed her to her back and slanted his mouth across hers hungrily. He pulled away after he’d kissed her breathless. “I won’t be able to sleep after waking up to that.”

She grinned at him. “Me neither.”

“And I can’t think of a reason why we should,” said Gregorio. He met Anatol’s eyes over her head for a meaningful moment.

“What are you two not saying?” she asked.

Gregorio was already out of bed and going through a drawer in a nearby dresser. He came back and sat on the edge of the bed. “Come here, Evangeline.”

She eyed him curiously in the flickering half light of the dying fire in the hearth. He had a few objects in his hand, but she couldn’t tell what they were. “For what?”

He smiled. “Don’t you trust me?”

“Of course I do.”

He inclined his head. “Then take off your nightgown and come over here.”

She pulled her nightgown over her head and let it fall forgotten to the mattress, anticipating a long night of eroticism with Anatol and Gregorio. She scooted over the bed toward him and he pulled her facedown into his lap. Yelping in surprise, she opened her mouth to ask what he was doing, but he slid his hand down over the curve of her buttocks and then in between her legs, making the question dry up on her tongue.

He toyed with her rear entrance, making delicious shivers run through her. “Have you ever taken a man here?”

“Several times. Men are oddly fascinated with the act, I’ve found.” Her breathing quickened as his hand stroked down between her thighs, rubbing her clit.

“So you’ve never enjoyed it?”

Anatol moved to lay on his side by her head. “Of course she hasn’t, Gregorio. Until she could feel emotion, she never enjoyed any sex act.”

Gregorio stroked her climax-sensitive clit straight into bliss. “Ah, well, I think she’ll like this new experience, then. Don’t you, Anatol?”

“What are you doing?” she asked thickly.

“He’s preparing you,” Anatol answered. “You can’t take both of us at the same time without a little practice first.”

“Both of you . . . at the same time. Oh.” A shiver of unease went through her. Though she didn’t want to deny them anything they wanted, her history with this particular act was an especially bad one. It had hurt every time.

The sound of a bottle opening caught her ear. “You must be stretched a little. Neither myself nor Anatol are small men.”

“Stretched? I never had to be stretched before.”

“No?” asked Gregorio. “And how did you like taking a man in your rear, then?”

“It was awful, painful. I endured it badly.”

“Ah, yes. So you see you need to be prepared. This will be cold.” Gregorio smeared something on her nether area and she jolted in his lap. “Sorry. It will soon be forgotten.”

He eased the tip of an object inside her and her body tensed. Sweet pleasure with the slightest edge of discomfort to make it more poignant eased through her body. Her breath hitched in her throat.

“Good?” Gregorio asked.

“Odd, confusing.” He eased the object in another inch and she could feel it was graduated in width, stretching her wider as it went. She moaned. “It’s good.”

“I thought so.” Gregorio’s lust-husky voice held a note of satisfaction.

He stroked her clit, keeping her right on the edge of a climax, as he worked the object in and out of her, pushing it farther within until she was squirming on his lap in a hot mess of need. Pairing pleasure with an edge of pain so sharp she barely felt it.

“Please,” she cried. Arousal held her body in tight grip and she needed to be released.

Anatol watched Gregorio thrusting the object into her rear with eyes dark with desire. One of his big hands stroked his rigid cock from base to tip, making her crazy at the sight.

“Gregorio,” she implored, “please.”

“Yes, my sweet. It’s almost time.” Gregorio pulled the object from her body and Evangeline pushed him back onto the bed, desperate to have him inside her.

She crawled up his body and lowered herself down onto his hard cock, sinking him deep within her cunt. She flipped her hair back from her face, arching her spine and moaning as she rose up and sank back down on him, riding him.

Then Anatol was behind her, pushing her forward to lay on Gregorio. His cock was slicked with some kind of lubricant and the crown breached her nether entrance easily. Her breath hissed out and her fingers clenched the sheets. Inch by inch he speared into her, filling her up.

Soon the three of them were joined in the most intimate way imaginable, Evangeline between the two men. She panted, her thought processes sluggish at best from the massive physical experience they were giving her. Both her entrances filled and stretched beyond belief, the sensations seemed to mesh and merge, weave and blend.

All of it was pleasure.

Then the men began to move. Soon they found a rhythm that connected all three of their bodies in concert. The sound of their breath and the slide of skin-on-skin was soon all that could be heard. Gregorio yanked her head down to his and speared his tongue deep into her mouth. The sensations seemed to blend seamlessly; she wasn’t sure where Anatol began and Gregorio ended.

Their cocks thrust in and out, building ecstasy inside her until she couldn’t think or form words. All the pleasure centers of her body were stimulated and she held perfectly still, letting the bliss wash over and through her. Giving her men sexual ecstasy as they gave it back to her.

Her climax built to an incredible level and exploded. Evangeline cried out when she came in the most powerful climax of her life, the pleasure pouring through her like a heavy wave that made her knees weak and made her vision grow dark for a moment. Her eyes filled with tears and her hands found Gregorio, her fingers twisting his hair.

Her orgasm triggered Gregorio’s and then Anatol’s. The men groaned, their cocks jumping deep within her body as they spilled their seed.

Exhausted, they fell into the middle of the bed and curled up with one another, limbs intertwined. Evangeline’s breath came fast and her heart pounded. She had no words to describe the experience of having both these men she cared so much about making love to her at the same time.

Tears pricked her eyes and Anatol wiped them away when they fell, while Gregorio nuzzled her hair and neck. They finally fell asleep wrapped around one another, Evangeline nestled safely in the middle.

“Yes.” Anatol came to stand beside her at the window of the hotel where they were staying. “I don’t remember it, of course. They took me when I was four years old.”

She glanced at him. His brows were drawn up and the lines around his mouth seemed abnormally deep. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

He took a moment to answer. “If I don’t do it, I’ll always wonder.” He paused. “Yes, I want this.”

She looked back down at the street. Anatol was much braver than she was. She still wasn’t sure if she wanted to track down her birth family yet, the way Anatol had done. By this time tomorrow they would be at his family’s hat shop, a store that was only a few streets away from the hotel. Arentz wasn’t very far from Milzyr, but even leaving early in the morning they’d arrived in Arentz too late to visit today. The shop was already closed.

“I’m just sorry that Gregorio couldn’t be here,” Anatol murmured.

Evangeline tasted his emotions and found calm. That meant he was likely speaking the truth. He and Gregorio had developed a deep friendship over the last few weeks and the flashes of jealousy she got from him—from both of them—had waned considerably. She thought that was partly because she never missed an opportunity to show Anatol or Gregorio that each one of them was special to her.

She turned to face him, winding her arms around his waist and burying her face in the crook of his neck.“I’m sorry he’s not here, too.”

Anatol grunted his agreement. His arms came around her and held her close. For a moment the only sound was the fire crackling in the hearth and the thump of Anatol’s heart. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment.

“Of course, there is a part of me that’s happy I get some alone time with you.” Anatol’s voice rumbled out of him.

She lifted her head and smiled at him. He hooked her hair behind her ear. “Hmmm, yes, and alone time we have since it’s only twilight and we have to wait until morning to see your family.” She affected an innocent expression. “Whatever shall we do with all that time alone?”

Anatol let out a low chuckle, drew down the blind, and led her to the bed. “I can think of a few things.”

“You can?” she continued with her mock innocence. “Will you . . . show me?”

He growled and pulled her against him, covering her mouth with his while he worked at getting her out of her clothes. Moments later they collapsed naked onto the bed, laughing.

Anatol rolled her onto her back and stared down at her. “I love you, Evangeline.”

Her smile faded as she looked up at him. The words were there, right there in her throat. I love you, too. All she had to do was give them a little air and they’d be free. And yet that old fear still lurked. The shadow of that deep, unending well of grief deep inside her. Of memories just out of reach. They made her too afraid to admit she loved him. So afraid that if she made that kind of commitment and then she lost him, she would fall into that well and be lost forever.

“It’s all right.” Anatol kissed her. “You don’t have to say it. I can see it. You show me you love me every day.”

He slipped his hand down to her breast and toyed with her nipple until her breathing hitched. She found his cock and stroked it from base to tip until a shudder of pleasure escaped him.

“Are you sure you won’t be bored with just one of us here to pleasure you?” Anatol growled as he dropped his hand between her thighs and found her warm and willing.

She sighed as his hand stroked her, tasting his emotions. Curiosity . Unease.

Rolling him onto his back, she mounted him, his cock sliding deep. Arching her spine and letting her hair cascade down her back, she closed her eyes and moaned as he filled her. His hands roved her outthrust breasts, teasing and tweaking her nipples. “Oh, Anatol,” she sighed. “No, not bored. Never with you.”

Satisfaction infused his emotions, followed quickly by complete and total lust.

Her hips rolling, she rode him, his cock sliding in and out of her and sending waves of pleasure through her. He found her clit and stroked it with his thumb until she was a quivering mess of need.

Suddenly he flipped her to her back. Anatol rolled her to her stomach and she pushed up onto her knees, offering her backside to him. He was on her in an instant, his chest warming her back and his cock tunneling hard and fast into her cunt.

Her fingers found and gripped the blankets as he took her aggressively. His hand snaked around her front, stroking her clit and the sensitive folds of her sex around her filled entrance until she spasmed in climax on the bed beneath him.

When her climax ebbed, he withdrew and flipped her to her back, lifting her knees to spread her wide and entering her once again. His mouth came down on hers as he hilted inside her and her fingers tangled in his hair. Mouths meshing, they moved together.

She proceeded to show him she was not bored until well into the morning hours.

Evangeline squeezed his hand. “Is that your mother?”

He nodded. “I think so.”

She smiled. “I can sense her emotions. She feels like a very biddable woman, compassionate and caring.”

“I can’t see any truth by just looking at her.”

“Maybe it’s because you’re too close to this emotionally. You feel twisted up inside.”

He swallowed. “I am.”

After a moment, he seemed to shake off a little of his worry and walked to the door. The little bell attached to the top tinkled brightly as they entered.

The smiling woman turned with a hatbox in her hands. “Can I help you—oh!” The hatbox tumbled to the floor.

Anatol knelt to pick it up at the same time his flustered mother did. His mother suddenly burst into tears and embraced him, fair tackling him to the floor of the shop. “Anatol, we thought you’d been killed during the revolution! We thought we’d never see you again!” She dissolved into noisy tears, rocking Anatol back and forth as though he were just a toddler again.

Anatol enveloped his mother in a tentative embrace at first. Then his emotion seemed to break and he embraced his mother with everything he had, burying his face in her hair.

Tears pricked Evangeline’s eyes at the sight. She stood watching the scene with a hand pressed to her lips to keep from crying.

“Emelda, what is going on out here?” A man that looked like a much older version of Anatol came out from behind the counter. “Blessed Joshui,” he breathed, seeing his wife on the floor. “What are you doing?”

“It’s Anatol, Nicoli,” she cried. “He’s come home. Finally.”

Nicoli went red, then purple. Not with anger, but with the effort it took him not to burst into tears. Evangeline felt his emotions go from disbelief to wistful joy in under ten seconds. “Anatol?”

Anatol and his mother separated and pushed to their feet. Anatol stepped toward his father, offering his hand. Nicoli took his hand and pulled him into an embrace, finally breaking down into tears. “Son, we feared you’d never return to us. We didn’t want them to take you. You have to know that. We never wanted it. We tried to visit, but—”

“I know.” Anatol patted his elderly father’s back. “I know, Papa. I’m here now, though, and we can make up for lost time.”

But Evangeline could feel the swirl of Anatol’s mixed emotions and part of him was enraged right now, enraged that he’d missed knowing his family. No matter how calm he sounded, he was livid that he’d missed out on all this time with them.

Anatol stood back and swept his hand out to encompass Evangeline. “This is my friend, Evangeline. My very good friend.” He paused. “My love.”

“Oh!” Emelda immediately gave her a warm hug. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”

Nicoli wiped away a tear. “Our son comes home and he brings a woman with him.” He chuckled. “Maybe we’ll get those grand-children yet, Emelda?” He gave Anatol a wink.

Anatol met Evangeline’s eyes and gave her a little smile.

Then Nicoli turned and walked to the back of the shop. “Well, come on up to the apartment. We’ve got lots to talk about.”

Emelda flipped the sign on the door of the shop to closed, then took Anatol’s hand. “Come on home, son.”

Evangeline followed behind. Would her reunion with her parents be this heartwarming?

It almost made her want to find out.