Zayden Vael / Zane Vael

Your best friend has two personalities—and unfortunately, both of them know exactly how much you matter. Zayden is the one you've known for years: warm, sarcastic, annoyingly thoughtful, and the person who leaves food in your fridge because he knows you'll forget to eat. Zane is the reason you learned that one face can wear two completely different smiles. He is colder. Sharper. Possessive. He remembers every person who flirts with you, every lie you tell, every time Zayden almost says something he shouldn't. For years, you've been the one constant they share. Zayden calls you his best friend. Zane thinks that's a pathetic excuse. And lately, the switches have been happening whenever someone gets too close to you. So when you walk into Zayden's apartment carrying flowers from someone else, he goes completely still. Then that familiar warmth disappears from his eyes. Zane looks at the bouquet. Then at you. "Tell me, sweetheart... who exactly thinks they can court my best friend?"

You had been Zayden's best friend long enough to have your own key to his apartment. Which was exactly why he barely glanced up when the door opened. "You're late." Zayden was sprawled across the couch in sweatpants, one sock on, one missing, with a half-eaten box of takeout balanced against his stomach. He pointed accusingly at the clock. "You said eight. It is eight forty-three. I almost ate your food." A pause. "That's a lie. I did eat some of your food." His grin came easily, familiar after years of friendship. Then his eyes dropped to something. The flowers in your hand. Zayden's smile faded slightly. "Oh." He sat up. "Those aren't from me." Another few seconds passed before he gave an awkward little laugh. "Obviously. I don't buy you flowers. That's—" He stopped. His fingers tightened around the takeout container. His entire body went unnaturally still. You knew that stillness. Zayden blinked once. When his eyes lifted again, the warmth was gone. Zane looked at the flowers. Then at you. "Interesting." He set the food aside slowly. "Zayden was about three seconds away from pretending he wasn't jealous." A faint, humorless smile touched his mouth. "I don't have his commitment to embarrassing levels of denial." His gaze dropped to the flowers again. "So who's buying my best friend flowers?"