by Honor James
“Yeah he is,” Lacey admitted and squeezed his hand. “I don’t know, Zhu,” Lacey said softly, honestly. “I really don’t know. I want so very much to be able to have the life that we are supposed to have, but then I’m so terrified that he will somehow find a way to break the two of you and that’s just not good,” she admitted. “I…” She sighed and shook her head. “I don’t know. I really and truly don’t know. What do you want?”
“Come here.” He tugged on her hand until she stood. Drawing her toward him he settled her on his knee. Sliding his arms around her, he rested his chin on her shoulder, his breath lightly brushing over her cheek. “I just want you in my life, Lacey. Whether you only are ever my partner with the AEDA or my partner in life I will accept your choice. You are our fated mate, but the Fates often do not take free will into consideration so it is a choice you must make on your own. As to your mutant stalker, let Ansell and me worry about him should he come for us. We won’t let him catch us unaware now that we know he exists and we know his potential for harm toward us.”
“Good. As long as you won’t be caught unaware,” she murmured softly. Taking a deep breath she moved so that she could rest against him, and bit her lower lip. “I will always be a part of your lives,” she murmured. “Don’t let him catch you, please don’t ever let him catch you because you two are my weakness. I would gladly give myself up for the two of you.” Forever, always. “And Fate has a way of putting the right people together. The question isn’t if I want you but more if you want me. Period.”
“I’ve wanted you since we met, Lacey,” he said, brushing his lips to her cheek. “When we were first put together as partners all I wanted to do was shred your clothing and take you. Had you even seemed the slightest bit receptive, I might have. I wasn’t particularly caring of where we were.”
She grinned and shook her head. “Oh I wanted you,” she said simply. “I have wanted you from the moment I met you. Both of you. I have wanted and needed you both from the very first second I met you. Why do you think that nearly every time that you saw me I had wet hair? It was all of the cold showers I was taking.”
“I didn’t even notice,” he chuckled, giving her a squeeze. “I was much more concerned with not attacking you where all could see. I didn’t think it would bode well for relations between our people if we mated you in the midst of the station. Especially without gaining your permission before we did so.”
“Yeah that might just give them something to be pissed off about,” Lacey said with a small laugh. “So what happens now? How does a Luhpyne claim their mate? How does it work when there are more than two people in the fated pair, trio as our case is?”
“If you accept our claim on you we begin the mating dance. As I mentioned, it is the wooing and courting phase. Then, when the moon is new, if you choose us, we mate with you. You will have a choice to make, who will be the father of potential children. The decision needs to be taken seriously because only one of us, me or Ansell can be the father. We don’t know why but it’s how it is in such situations. Whoever claims you from the front, in your pussy when we mark you as ours forevermore will be the only Luhpyne that can father children with you. Unless he is killed and then the magic would shift and allow the other to father children.”
“I, wow, that is something that I didn’t know,” she murmured softly. “And if I chose you? Would you want that? Would you take me? I very, very much want that. I adore Ansell, very much so, as I do you as well. It’s a choice that I honestly don’t know how to make. How does a person chose one man she loves over another?”
“I don’t know,” he told her honestly. “That’s why we don’t mate until you’ve made the choice. If you chose me I’d be honored and pray each day to the Gods that I could live up to your view of me. If you chose Ansell I would be happy as well, I’m still getting a mate if you do decide to be with us fully, Lacey. So either way it will be a win. I would talk to Ansell though before you get too far into your thoughts. Spend some time with him and get his feelings on all of this. You know where I stand but I can only tell you what I think he is feeling about it all. I can’t swear to the validity of my words.”
She nodded thoughtfully and bit her lower lip. “All right. I think that talking to you both will be a very good thing, trying to figure out just how we will all fit together would be best. Right?” she asked with a smile. “For now.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “For now I just want to bask in this moment, enjoy the comfort of having the two of you close and that will be good for now.”
Wrapping her fully in his arms, he rested his cheek on her hair. For long moments he said nothing, just held her and, occasionally, stroked a finger over her arm. Pressing a kiss to her hair, he straightened. “Let’s finish breakfast and then we have work to do. As much as I’d prefer staying locked in the house with you all day, the bad guys don’t take days off.”
“Yeah, wish that they did because there are days I feel as if there isn’t enough coffee in the world for us,” she admitted. “All right. That means I need to move doesn’t it?” she asked with a frown and gave him one last squeeze. “You know this is the first time that I’ve ever sat in your lap? First time that I’ve ever actually been really held by you, period. I like it, a lot. I really think that this is something that I could get used to.”
“You don’t need to move but you will need to drag your plate over,” he pointed out. “Or if you’re more comfortable going back to your seat, feel free. I do have a question though.” He looked into her eyes. “Why aren’t you bombarding me with questions? The races aren’t exactly open about ourselves and I know you’re fairly curious naturally. I suppose I’m just a little surprised by how you’re not pelting us with questions.”
“Honestly?” she asked and then chewed her lower lip. “The truth is that, well, remember us busting the ring of Luyphines about a year back? They couldn’t wait to tell me everything and anything just to get me to back the hell off of them.”
“Really?” He frowned and shook his head. “Assholes,” he muttered. “Well that explains why you’re not unloading on me.” He shook his head. Picking up his fork, he went to eat but offered her the bite instead.
“You seem to forget what a big bitch I can be, Zhu,” she told him honestly. “I mean don’t get me wrong, I’m happy that you forgot it but, yeah. They didn’t give me a hell of a lot but enough to know that Fated Mates are something to be revered instead of hunted. Pretty much told me if there is a fated trio or quad they are summarily worth more than single men and women are. It doesn’t make sense to me because every single life matters but the way that they made it sound it’s not so. Why is that?”
Giving her another bite to chew on, he seemed to be gathering his words, thinking. “It’s old myth. Our old myth I mean. In days of old, centuries past, millennia ago really there were one male and one female fated to be mates. But then there was a disease that ran rampant through the realms, never touching Earth. We assume because the Veil protected you from me but we can’t say. Things began to change then. After the disease ran its course the number of females born was lower than males, nearly a three-to-one average.”
He lifted a piece of bacon and offered it to her. “That’s when the matings began to become between threes or fours. I’ve only ever heard of a handful of matings that were more than that as the norm is three, two males and one female. There are still a few single male and single female pairings, but it’s very rare. Most are assumed to be a herald that the disease is coming back, yet it never has. Some of our people are very superstitious, others less so. I suppose we all have a level of superstition to our beliefs, even I do on some things I guess.”
“So that is why they try not to do anything to mated couples or fated mates because they mean too much to your people.” Interesting, she didn’t know that. “Is it the same with the other races from your realm?” she asked as she took a bite of the bacon that he offered her. “I pray that you are right, that the disease isn’t c
oming back because sadly the humans that are a part of this world are very, well, honestly.” She shrugged. “Horrible. Don’t get me wrong, there are persons that are truly amazing people, that would do anything for another soul no matter the cost to them but sadly people as a group are very, well, weird. They will do anything that it takes in order to get rid of what they feel is a threat to their own personal well-being, you know?”
“Why do you think the Council and Regents so carefully keep an eye on you little hotheads? Because honestly, pulling out the nuclear devices is just beyond childish. Plus, as your people learned, the races don’t fight fair, we fight to win.” Pressing a kiss to her cheek, he rubbed his nose to her temple, “No offence meant to you in particular, Lacey. But yes, among the Luhpynes the fated mates are to be protected, especially if they haven’t yet entered the mating dance. Though they will also tease and tempt the female in the hope they can pull her from her fated mates and into their beds knowing no Luhpyne would willingly take the…” He paused and cleared his throat. “They wouldn’t want to have her after that even though their souls cry for her. We’re complicated beasts, Lacey, there are layers upon layers of small things that make up who we are and our beliefs, if that makes any sense. It may not, I’m likely babbling given I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“So, since I’m not a virgin you don’t want me?” she asked with a frown. “Because I’m not. Granted I’ve not had a lover since I met you and Ansell but the truth is that I have had lovers before, just as I’m positive that the two of you have as well so, yeah. What happens now?” she asked with a frown.
“I didn’t say that.” He shifted in his chair and turned her more to face him. One hand came up to cup her cheek. “I’m not making a lot of sense, I know that, but let me try this again. When a female meets her mates, or mate in rare cases, her body changes slightly. New pheromones to tempt and tease her mates are the easiest way to explain it. Those pheromones are specific to her mates. Because of that specific nature other males of the species recognize she’s met her mates and they’ve not claimed her. After the claiming, her scent changes to match the males, taking on traits of theirs as they take on traits of hers.”
He paused and looked to be gathering his thoughts once more. “During that time before the dance begins between mates other Luhpynes are supposed to protect the female and look after her but not touch her. Some believe that if a female can be turned from her mates then they are better off without her. There are factions that specifically look for the females destined for Luhpyne males and when they find one preparing for the mating dance they tempt and tease. It’s an attempt to find out if she will be true to her males. Luhpynes cannot stray from their mates once they’ve claimed her, it’s absolutely impossible,” he explained.
“Some males believe if a female is lured into another Luhpyne’s bed that she is tainted during that time. I do not. We have but one chance to find a mate and just because she may have been lied to in the form of her own sensuality being used against her, basically a form of rape to my mind, that is no fault of hers. It is the fault of those that dared to break the sacred covenant that is a pairing. You’ve had lovers, as have I and Ansell. But that is the past. We are now facing the future, Lacey, and that is all that matters to me or to Ansell, if you were to ask him.”
“Thank you for explaining that to me. There wasn’t another man in my life since meeting you guys. It is just completely and fully been the two of you and my frustration living and breathing in life,” she added with a small shrug. “I never knew what to think of the two of you. Don’t get me wrong, I knew who I was to you, albeit I knew because of the monster who has been making my life hell for the last little while, but still I knew,” she said softly. “I am very happy to have you in my life, but there have been times I’ve wanted to hit you upside the head to make you see me for me and for who I am to you two.”
“Well you could have at least given us a sign, preferably a large one with big letters,” he said with a slow smile. Pressing a kiss to her lips gently, he nipped and tugged her lower one. “We need to eat and then get to the office. I have a feeling there will be a stack of paperwork for us to fill out given we nearly blew up last night.”
“Oh yeah, I’m sure.” She sighed and leaned into him. “I think you should kiss me again though. After all, we will have to keep our hands and our lips to ourselves at the office, right?” She didn’t want to, but hey, you did what you had to do. “And we need to go by my place so I can get some clothes.”
Pressing another kiss to her lips he slid a hand into her hair. Tipping her back gently he took her mouth in a deeper kiss. His tongue stroked her lips, begging for entry as he shifted them until she lay back on his arm.
She opened to him readily. She kissed him as if he was the very air that she breathed. She was kissing him and wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled him closer. She finally pulled back and looked up at him with wide eyes. She smiled and licked her lips. “Damn,” she murmured. “Amazing. I really think that I could get very, very used to you kissing me. Often.”
“Any time you wish, Lacey,” he told her softly, loosening his hold on her hair. Straightening up, he ran his hand down her back. “But not at the office unless we can find a nice quiet corner. I don’t think the Council would be pleased to find out about us until we either complete the mating or not.”
“Yeah, I think that you are right. Especially since I’ve had to fight every turn to remain partnered with the two of you. Believe me, it’s been an uphill damn battle. Every turn, every month, they tried to separate us because of that monster. So yeah, the less fuel we give them the better, please.”
Nodding he rested his forehead to hers for a long moment. “We won’t give them any excuses at all to separate us, Lacey. And if you choose to mate with us we can never again be separated as it’s against our laws.”
“When. We have danced around each other for far too long. I swear this has been the longest mating dance in the history of them.” Leaning in close, she pressed her forehead back to his. “It would take something terribly significant to make me change my mind and I don’t think that can happen. I happen to truly adore you. Very much so. Both of you. I need you. Both. I just don’t know anything beyond that.”
“We can work with that,” he said with a chuckle. “But the true mating dance is yet to come, Lacey. That’s when things truly become interesting. One we can’t begin until you speak with Ansell as well and face my parents.”
“Oh God, seriously? Uhm.” She had never met parents before. Ever. “Okay.” She gulped. “I can do this, right? You will be with me when I see them, right?” she asked softly. “Because I think I can handle meeting the parents if I have you with me.”
“Yes, I will be with you as will Ansell. They are normal people Lacey. Just like you and I, but older, much, much older.” He smiled. “And they gave birth to me but that’s really not that big of a deal right? We’re going for a meal, embarrassing stories of my youth and Ansell’s. I’m sure you’ll quite enjoy it as we die of shame.”
Lacey nodded and sighed. “All right then. I trust you, completely,” she told him with a smile. “What is it with you and Ansell? Are you related? I take it that he doesn’t have parents that are alive?” And that made her hurt for him, she hated that he didn’t have family, just as she didn’t, so she understood. Completely.
“His family abandoned him when he was little, we don’t know who they are or where they are. We have no idea if they are still among the living or the dead. He says he doesn’t care so I don’t push it but…” Zhubin paused for a long moment. “You can’t ever tell him, but I’ve been looking for them since I came of age and was able. I know he says he doesn’t care but I can’t help but wonder if it’s truth or merely a protective instinct to shield his heart. So I’m looking and, if I find anything, I’ll have to make the call whether to tell him or not. My parents adopted him into our clan and he was raised next to me as my brother. We don’t share
blood but the parents see him as one of theirs, be warned, they are seriously protective of us.”
“Sounds like that he needs to have someone protecting him and keeping him close,” Lacey said with a smile. “Don’t worry, I promise I will work very hard at trying to not hit him in the shoulder when we are at your parents.” She had a habit of punching Ansell in the shoulder. Not because she didn’t like him, because she truly did, a great deal, but there were times he said or did something that made her reach out and punch him.
“Just be yourself, Lacey. If he deserves to get popped on the shoulder, don’t resist,” he said with a smile. “You might pop something from the need to restrain yourself. And I think that would be worse personally. Besides, Mom pops him when he’s being a brat, usually upside the head though.” Zhubin chuckled, shaking his head, “He usually deserves it a lot.”
Lacey laughed and shook her head. “Oh dear god. It’s too funny to know that this woman pops him too. Poor Ansell, he gets it when he’s around me and gets it when he’s around your mom. Too funny. I like it. All right. How about we finish eating and then we will go and get cleaned up and all that, okay?”
“You definitely need to eat up,” he said softly. “Then we have things to do. So yes, eat, we’ll get cleaned up, run by your place and then go face the music at work. You can also see if you can snag Ansell and talk to him for a while. If there’s a chance, that is,” he murmured.
“I would like that,” she told him honestly. “I would like to be able to spend some time talking to him. It would be very nice, I want to hear his thoughts on this, see if it’s something that he would even want. I want to know if this is something that he wants to pursue or if I have scared him off over the years.”
“I doubt you’ve scared him off, maybe plain old scared him. Hell, you’ve scared me on occasion,” he muttered. Reaching over he pulled her plate close and handed her her fork. “Eat and then we’ll go and shower. It’ll make the stop by your place faster if you wash up here.”