Even if Valentine's Day had passed, there were times I would find myself lost in thoughts, recalling my odd adventure in the mausoleum where I gained a new ability, and I still had no idea how it was possible to return the wandering soul into their decaying body without harming myself or having a cost.
It was nighttime, and I was alone in the living area, staring at the lit fireplace, when I heard Fraye's gentle but wondering voice. "What's troubling your mind, darling?"
She kissed my head before sitting beside me, and automatically I leaned on her shoulder before answering after a sigh, "Nothing, I'm just wondering about my ability when I returned Eliazar to his body."
"What about it?" she asked gently, caressing my hair.
"In your time, were any creatures able to do such a thing?" I asked before coughing a little.
She stroked my arm tenderly before answering, "They were, and back in those days, that ability had to be kept hidden because it was taboo, but nowadays, everyone has begun to see it as a rare gift. Meaning, only a few had received such a gift, and most of them were either a witch or a shaman."
"Why only them?" I wondered as I played with her fingers.
"Aside from those who were born as spirits, they were the creatures who were close to them," she answered before explaining, "Spirits have unique, rare abilities, and most of the creatures were envied because they could walk between life and death."
That got me worried, asking, "Am I in danger now?"
"It will depend on how powerful your ability will turn into," she answered carefully before warning me, "But, Darling, I am not scaring you, but based on how you tamed the most dangerous and powerful blood in the Knightrose family and your awakening abilities, there will be a moment that you have to be a monster to fight for your survival, especially if either Mirxalyn or I isn't at your side." Her voice was gentle, but her eyes were serious as she reminded me, "You need to be strong; keep standing up because danger is always around the queen's mate."
I sighed when we both felt and saw my wife, Mirxalyn, come home late. Then she said, removing her coat, "I see you two were being cozy.
Her voice remained neutral, but her eyes softened whenever she gazed at me. "Come here,"
Without a doubt, she went to us. She kissed Fraye's head before she sat beside me and kissed my cheek. Then she asked softly, "What is it?"
"She is bothered by her power, and I think it has something to do with her spirit wolf," Fraye answered, making her frown, staring deeply at me.
She was looking deeper into my soul before reacting sadly, "I haven't...Why haven't I thought you had it in you?" Her voice sounded defeated as she squeezed my hand, mad at herself for not sensing it before. "I'm being stupid."
"Mirxa, don't blame yourself; even I didn't know about it until I went to the mausoleum," I said, caressing her hand to reassure her that I was fine. Then I guessed, giggling slightly, "I think that's why the old man sent me there."
Mirxalyn shook her head before correcting me. "No, Grandpa, she didn't send you because of it. He sent you there because he couldn't fathom the golden spirit lurking around you. It has been with you, protecting you from losing sight of the light. He hadn't seen anything like that before; if it's not carrying something that would change you, then it scared him."
I frowned, confused. "Is that the reason why I had the will to change for the better?" Mirxalyn confirmed it by nodding before I asked again, "I see, and what do you mean, he's scared?"
Mirxalyn and I were confused when Fraye suddenly laughed, "HAHAHA! I didn't realize that he was still scared about it. "
"You sounded like you did something to him when you're still around here," Mirxalyn guessed, slightly amused.
"Well, I did. I threw him in the crypt filled with unclaimed babies' bodies." Fraye replied, grinning mischievously at the memory before continuing, "I think he was sixteen and arrogant with his necromancy's power. So, to teach him a lesson, I locked him with those wandering babies' souls. And by the time I check on him, he has become cautious about souls and spirits." There was humor in her voice, making us giggle before her voice softened, "I thought I broke him, but gratefully, I didn't. He learned that the necromancy ability wasn't a joke because those souls and spirits still had their memories; they could still feel things, although they could be called and manipulated. But once you did something wrong to them, some spirits would give severe punishment."
"Do I have that ability? because whenever I spoke to the spirits around him, they backed away and played with me." I wondered what I had noticed whenever I came into the old man's office at school.
"I've noticed that too. They were all looking at you with respect and awe," Mirxalyn added before wondering, "What do you think about that?"
"Hm, I'm not sure about the full potential of necromancy, but in your case, Darling, the way you move around them was like a silent command even without trying." Fraye's voice was stern as she explained what she knew about my ability around souls. "They would follow you whether you command it or not, and it has something to do with your old wolf's ability."
"Sigbin...she has been protective of me ever since I gained her at eighteen," I muttered, and she nodded.
"I could feel that. She left you her essence; that's why we met, and you helped Eliazar," she said, and I looked at her with wonder and puzzlement since there was a message there that I hadn't heard before. She glanced at Mirxalyn as if she were asking permission before sighing. She met my eyes before explaining further. "Bernila, darling, there's a reason why we're mates too. Mirxalyn is truly your wife and mate too, but she's more deeply connected to your soul core—your spirit wolf. And I am yours and your old wolf, Sigbin."
"Wait—what?! " I got confused, pulling away from her arms, before pacing back and forth, thinking about it carefully. "Mirxalyn is connected to my spirit wolf, and Fraye's is connected to my deceased Sigbin. And all dwelled in me?" I'm confused, but deep inside of me, I understand it clearly. I sighed before I voiced out how I understood her confession. "Let me get it straight, Mirxalyn is my mate because of the awakening spirit wolf, and you are because of my Sigbin's essence left in me."
"Yes," Fraye answered without a doubt.
I was hurt, and then my voice cracked and went softer, saying, "So because of them you're with me..."
"Bernila, it's not like that." Mirxalyn tried to defend, but I didn't let her explain.
"It sounded like that." I cut her off, letting them know I'm hurt by the news they had opened to me.
But Fraye spoke differently. Her voice was neutral but blunt and honest, making me shiver. "In technicality, yes, it is like that."
"Fraye," Mirxalyn warned, trying to protect me from invincible pain.
"No, Mirxa. We need to be honest and clear about it with her. She does need lies; after all, we're taking responsibilities as her mates," Fraye said calmly and steadily, but I hear worry beneath them, and yet, she still chose to speak honestly. "Again, yes, in a typical manner, yes, it looked that way because we're mates. The pull of mates was hard to resist, particularly if it's the second or third chance already, because those chances were rare." She continued what she was saying, explaining further to make me understand where I truly stand in this weird setup. Fraye's voice was raw; she was trying to hold herself from breaking as she explained our status. "But you can't deny that because of these rare chances, we're here together. Yes, we're afraid of repeating the same mistakes from the past and afraid of losing love once again. I know we're afraid of where this mate bond would lead us. But we chose to see it through, stay beside each other, and hold on to it even when there's risk in it."
"Fraye..." I mumbled, trying to stop her from speaking more because she was hurting in silence.
She shook her head, smiling sadly. "Let me finish, Darling. You need to know that what I feel for you is more than just a mate bond." She stopped me and let herself continue, "Yes, there's a pull. Yes, I didn't know you fully. Yes, we're both scared because of what we've been before we met, and you're married to this brat." Her voice was steady and calm, but there was an edge beneath it, making my heart ache. "And yes, we're terrified of what it truly means, but when I held your eyes on mine, spoke with you, and touched you, I knew you were mine. You make me feel alive, like I could do wonderful things I haven't done before, and I would love to see them with you if you let me for good."
She's my wife's opposite. She confessed her feelings with honesty despite the worry in them, while Mirxalyn's feelings for me were quiet, but her eyes spoke enough. It's thrilling to have two mates who love you unconditionally and have no problem with each other. They treat each other differently, but well.
I sighed as I let their honesty sink inside before asking, "Are you in love with me, as in me, not because of the mate bond's pull?"
"Yes," Without hesitation, they answered in unison.
"Don't doubt that." Fraye smiled and kissed my head.
Mirzxalyn became serious and wondered. "Good, so how are you feeling now?"
"Fully recovered," I answered when I recalled something and asked them, "Speaking of, I wonder if I have a full resistance to any poisons now?"
Fraye's eyes went into a deep shade of blue as she studied me carefully, assessing the blood flow in me before answering, "Yes, my blood loves you. It's protecting you from inside."
I nodded but frowned confusedly when Mirxalyn handed me rolled paper. "What is this?"
"Read it." Mirxalyn smiled warmly at me.
I'm curious and only surprised by what I had read. I looked at her in disbelief before I jumped into her lap, crying. "Thank you."
"Happy?" she asked, giggling at my reaction.
"Yes, very. Thank you." I pecked her lips multiple times before Fraye read the paper and kissed my head.
"Congrats, Darling, you have your diploma now." Fraye greeted me, and I grinned.
"How? When?" I asked, wiping my tears away.
"Two days ago, when you collapsed. Grandpa had finally given his final verdict to you; that's why I ran late tonight. I had to settle your diploma to make it official," Mirxalyn explained before adding a condition. "But Grandpa wishes you'd be attending the knight's training tomorrow."
I was shocked because never in my entire life did I think I would be a knight. I reacted in disbelief, "Knight's training? You mean, I'm going to be a knight?"
"My knight." Mirxalyn grinned as if I already had a position before I even started the training.
"You've got to be kidding me." I frowned teasingly.
Fraye chuckled and teased her, too. "She doesn't want to be your knight."
She glared at Fraye, holding me on her lap. "Like it or not, she'll be my first knight before I make her queen officially."
"I don't want to," I whined teasingly. But honestly, I don't want to be a queen and rule a land, but I'd rather be on the field or something.
Fraye grabbed my hand and kissed it before giving me assurance, "Don't worry, I'll handle it on your behalf."
"I love you, Fraye," I confessed as I leaned toward her and kissed her lips in front of Mirxalyn.
Mirxalyn rolled her eyes, faking her annoyance, but amused. Then Fraye reciprocated, "I love you too."
"And what about me?" Mirxalyn asked, hoping to receive love too. It's rare and cute, but Fraye and I decided to tease her.
"Forget it." We teased in unison.
"You're ganging up on me." She glared, but was amused.
"And you're adorable when we cornered you," I countered, but I wished I hadn't said those words. Mirxalyn's eyes went dark, and grin stated danger and desire, causing my cheeks to flare and my heart goes frantic.