They said that I had been in bed for three and a half days after the chaos and my arrival from the mausoleum. They said that I exceeded my limit, forcing my body to reboot and hibernate. During that slumber, I dreamed nothing except healing, adjusting, and preparing myself for a new version of me.
And I hate to admit that I missed the comfort of the mattress. I turned and snuggled myself into a fluffy and comfy pillow, but it was ruined when I heard sweet but mischievous giggles from my other mate, Elizabeth Fraye Knightrose.
"I know it's big, but it's too early to snuggle your face on my chest like a pervy woman," Fraye teased, making my cheeks burn and my ears red.
I hide my face on her chest, admitting, "It's comfy."
"I know." She chuckled, caressing my hair before informing me about the update on my blood. "And from what I could see, my blood residing in you was perfectly blending with yours."
"Meaning?" I wondered about it as I rested in the crook of her neck. Her scent was a calming blend of minty sandalwood and blood-red strawberry, which I soon became addicted to.
"You can do what I can do or maybe discover something new," she simplified.
I nodded, considering her suggestion. "Hm, I'll check it when I feel fully charged."
"Good." She kissed my temple when Mirxalyn came inside our bedroom. She looked like an intimidating boss wearing a pale white polo and sleek trousers.
"I see you're awake," she said, folding her sleeves as she went to my side.
I smiled, greeting her. "Morning, baby."
"Morning," she responded with a little smile before kissing my lips.
"Damn, I miss kissing her lips," I thought.
"Aren't you greeting me, brat?" Fraye teased like a jealous partner.
Mirxalyn didn't hesitate and kissed her lips before greeting, "Morning."
Fraye jolted before relaxing, and when Mirxalyn pulled away, she admitted, "Well, I didn't expect that."
"You're her mate, which makes you mine too," Mirxalyn responded coldly but steadily. She meant them, and I noticed a slight blush on Fraye's cheeks.
Fraye tried to hide it by reminding her about their gap. "But I'm older than you."
"Then stop being mischievous and help her heal," she refuted gently.
I felt a silent twitch in Fraye's side before she responded with annoyance, "I already did if you can't see that."
There was a building tension between them despite how simple their banter was. And I don't want them to fight in front of me. "My, my...stop it." I stopped them before things escalated. They cut their staring before I changed the subject and asked my wife, "Mirxa, what happened? Why were the rogues and nomads attacked again?"
Mirxalyn does her signature jaw clenching until I squeeze her hand. I gave her an assuring look, making her sigh. Then she answered, "It was the usual issue they had—me." I frowned at her reply, and seeing my confused reaction, she continued, "It's about my power as a conqueror. They wanted the power and thought they could get it by killing me."
"Is it possible?" I wondered curiously.
"No, Bernila," Fraye answered immediately but gently. Then she continued, "No gift can be stolen once it has been given to you." Her voice was firm before explaining further, "It could have some similarities with others, but how it works or applies—that would be different."
"I don't want our people to suffer because they were under my rule; that's why I had been strengthening our security around the borders," Mirxalyn explained her reason.
I reached out to caress her face before smiling. "And you're doing great."
Mirxalyn's soft gaze hardened before glancing at Fraye and then at me, asking, "And care to tell me why this ancient woman became your mate?"
"Hey, I'm a noble vampire, and age doesn't apply to me," Fraye defended as her voice filled with annoyance.
Mirxalyn looked her up and down, assessing before she smugly teased, "Still, you're my ancestor—meaning you're much older than me."
Fraye's reaction dropped, annoyed at my wife's comment before refuting smugly, "And this ancient lover of Bernila already made love—fully marked each other."
And I am not hearing this. I sighed, shaking my head, but Elizabeth Fraye's words stung deeply in Mirxalyn. Her lips opened but went thin, saying nothing, but her hands were in fists. She looked at my other mate before me. I felt, and before I could say something or touch her, she abruptly stood up, grabbing her coat.
"I'll be late," Mirxalyn said coldly before adding, "Stay with Fraye and nobody else."
"Mirxa…" I called out, but she was already gone. I sighed and glared at Fraye. "You didn't have to slap it to her, you know."
She shrugged her shoulders before saying, "She could've done it long before I came here."
"Trust me, Fraye, our almost was unbearable, but she's holding her ground, being respectful to my pace," I admitted that Mirxalyn and I had almost done it, but Mirxalyn's control was something I was grateful for.
"Are you saying I'm not?" She quickly defended.
"I didn't say that." I sighed before adding, "But you would do the same if you knew how many times I had been violated before I came here or became the person I am now." My voice softened as I stood up from the bed and stretched before saying, "I'm not like this, Fraye; I was thin, malnourished, and suffering with severe PTSD from being gang raped, and I had lost my child. I was drowning, dying, and Mirxalyn had never pushed me even once. Although she annoyed me, I'm grateful for what we had."
Fraye sighed, defeated, but leaving a warning, "Fine, I won't tease her with it. But you can't blame me for not pushing her buttons."
I frowned, asking, "Why are you doing it?"
"Because it's fun?" she replied teasingly as she followed me inside the bathroom.
"Fraye." I glared at her as I took off my clothes.
"It's my nature," she responded, shrugging her shoulders.
"I can see that, but don't push too much." I sighed, but I reminded her not to get carried away, and then I took a bath, still talking to her.
"Why?" she asked as she prepared my new, fresh clothes.
"I'll be the one who'll handle the consequences as her mate and her wife," I replied as I finished my quick bath.
She faked a gasp. "Oh, I almost forgot that."
I threw a bottle of liquid bath soap, shouting, "FRAYE!"
"Kidding." She chuckled as she handed me my comfy clothes and left the bathroom to head to the dining room for breakfast.
By the time we arrived at the dining room, everyone was holding their breaths as if they were afraid to set something on fire. I frowned over their silence until the servants brought the food out. We started eating, and it wasn't the usual taste. I love it.
"Who cooked this? This is delicious," I praised as I enjoyed the food and asked for more. "Can I have some more?" The silence at the table was odd, and I started to be bothered by it. Then I asked after our breakfast. "Okay, spill the tea. Why are all of you not on speaking terms?"
"They were hiding something," Fraye said flatly as she savored the red velvet dessert.
Before anyone could answer, Mirxalyn came out with a tray of my favorite dessert. "Sorry for the wait. Here. I made this for you."
I'm speechless. I watched her place the dessert in front of me because it was a small, rounded sansrival cake filled with different types of nuts and mango on top. "You…you remember…" I muttered softly, trying to stop my tears, but they fell anyway. "I love it," I cried, and without thinking twice, I pulled her collar and kissed her lips. It was deep and calming before whispering, "I love you."
"I love you too," Mirxalyn responded softly and kissed my forehead.
But Fraye interjected, whining, not letting herself be left behind, "Yah, what about me?"
"Nothing for you," my wife teased; my other mate suddenly glared and pouted. They were adorable together, but also a pain in the ass if they started bantering for my attention. "My wife comes first before the old geezer."
"You're old too, and I'm proud to be Bernila's mate—her equal," Fraye refuted, which caused some snickering on the sides.
I blushed in embarrassment because I had two mates who could turn my world upside down without even trying. "My, my, calm down, you two," I said, trying to ease the building tension over their teasing. But my words weren't able to meet them, and something twitched in me. I am smiling, but they weren't kind. I sliced the cake into small, equal parts before shoving them into their mouths. Both looked at me in disbelief while the others laughed, and I warned, "Once I say 'stop' or 'calm down,' please do, or you're both sleeping in the training ground for months. Are we clear?"
Everyone jolted at my authoritative voice, but my mates froze. They both nodded mechanically, responding in unison after swallowing what I fed them, "Yes, love."
"Good, I love you both." I kissed their cheeks, and they became red instantly. "Honestly, I love this feeling, being in control," I thought, enjoying my authority over our relationship, and I hoped they didn't learn that. Before they could pry into my thoughts, I quickly added, "Let's enjoy Valentine's Day peacefully, or if not, you know my punishment."