by Amy Brent
It was just so unconventional.
Helen brought dinner up before she went home for the night. Being our cook for so many years as well as a close family confidante, she had a cottage on the property with her husband. They had a bigger house when their kids were still growing up, but now they were adults with their own children. Lily and Jacob were ten years older than we were and the apple of Helen’s eye. “I have some soup for you, Braden. Are you feeling any better?”
“Getting there. Thank you.” I told her as she set one bowl on the table beside me.
“Your mother is fretting. You need to come back to them after what your father’s been through.” Helen advised as I looked at her. “I notice that Freya is moping around these days too, even with the good news. Is there a connection here?”
“What good news?” I demanded as my eyes darkened. I hadn’t heard anything.
“Several of the guests are interested in hiring her after seeing the queen’s dress. I think that she’s going to get a real name for herself here in town. They might work it out that Freya’s mom might come here to work to help her.” Helen stared at me knowingly. “The queen adores her. She doesn’t get close to too many of the staff.”
“I know.” I replied curtly as she shook her head.
“Castle or not, the heart wants what it wants. Maybe it’s time to change the rules around.” I looked at her, wondering if I should tell her my secret.
“As usual, my brother and I like to bend them until they break.” She looked curiously at me. “It isn’t just me with an interest in Freya. It’s the both of us.” Helen’s eyebrows shot up as she seemed to take this in. “Where does that fit in with royalty?”
“There’s been scandals for years behind the closed door of a castle. In the old days, it might be your sister.” I winced at the idea and she chuckled. “Maybe you should talk to Freya and clear the airs. She’s been so quiet.” Helen left to take Callin his dinner, and I leaned back against the pillows, lost in thought. Maybe I should go see Freya and talk to her.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Freya
Weeks passed without any contact with Callin and Braden. In a place as big as this, it wasn’t that hard to not see people. In this case, I was sure that we were avoiding each other.
I didn’t know what to say to them and threw them out of my room. Telling someone that you loved them meant that you were moving forward. It meant that you were putting everything out there. For us, it was a reason to walk away in fear.
It hurt even more when the queen told me how many people loved her dress. They wanted me to work for them and I’d become known in the area. I could make a lot of money, but it would be exhausting to do on my own, so I asked about Mama joining me here. The idea was being considered, and I was nervous about it as I made my way through each day.
Violet and Helen knew that something was going on and I felt the looks of the other women. There was always a little gossip about the brothers and some people wondered about us. We worked hard to keep it a secret, and I never gave anybody a confirmation or denial. It hurt me when I heard that they were spending time with two new girls in town three weeks after our falling out. They were seen frequently with them and my heart ached every time someone whispered about it.
There was speculation that they found their mates. People spoke excitedly about a royal wedding or maybe two. There was a buzz about grandchildren being born so the king and queen could spoil them. There would be heirs again and their father would be alive to see it.
I knew that they would move on. It was inevitable, and I never fought for them. I told myself that it would be enough to have Mama working here with me, building our dream back from the rubble. We’d only soar this time, not fall. I’d already met with some people in my work room, though there was talk about my having a cottage with space to live and work on the grounds. There would be security to provide me safety, but it just made more sense to work outside of the castle. Eventually, we could open a store in town and live above it like I’d seen so many times in the last few months.
Mama was excited about the prospect of coming here but she knew that something was off with me. She tried to get me to talk about it, but I remained quiet. Since it was over with the brothers, I saw no reason to risk talking about it here. I did plan to go to collect her and bring her back, so maybe that was the time. We were close, and Mama would see changes in me. She would sense that I was slightly different from before. I was even brave when I felt like it was a good day and made witty jokes with those that I was close to. I was a little snarky at times as well, earning long looks from Helen and Violet.
A month later, I was packing my meager things into a box to move to a two-bedroom cottage on the grounds. I could see the castle from the windows, but it was far away enough to be able to feel like I was on my own to a degree. I was leaving to get Mama one week from now once I was set up in the work shop and we’d start our business. I was folding my clothes into a box and staring outside, lost in thought one evening. I heard a tap at my door, turning my head sharply. People rarely came up here to see me since it was easier just to meet on the first floor. I walked across the room and turned the knob, surprised to see Braden and Callin.
“What are you doing here?” I asked sharply as they took my appearance in. I hadn’t been sleeping well and there were circles under my eyes.
“You look terrible,” Callin told me walking inside as Braden followed him.
“Thanks. What do you need?” I repeated as they looked at the boxes stacked around the room.
“You are moving out.” Braden stated as he slowly looked at me. I could see that he wasn’t in the best shape either. For that matter, neither was Callin. “I heard that you were, but I needed to see it for myself.”
I wondered if they knew that it was just a place on the grounds that I was moving to. “Yeah. I need more space to work.”
Callin looked from Braden into my face. “You have your dream now. It’s what you came here for.”
It didn’t feel that way to me. Even Mama sensed it when we spoke.
“Yeah. I did. My mama is coming out to help me so it’s perfect.” I looked at the floor. “I heard that you’re doing well.”
“Castle gossip?” Braden asked dryly as I stared at him. I loved this man. I loved both of them.
“It’s all I have anymore.” A tear slipped down my cheek and I wiped at it with an angry movement on my end. Someone pulled on my hand and I was suddenly in Braden’s arms as he held me close. I paused before wrapping my arm around him while I reached for Callin with my other one. I tried to walk away from them. I tried to let them live their lives. “Are you with someone?” I asked in a broken voice.
“We tried. Mom asked us to give some women a try to we did. Every moment spent with them made me miss you more.” Callin said as Braden nodded, kissing my hair.
“I missed you, Freya. So much.” I looked at them both and happy tears slid down my cheeks.
“You know that I feel the same way but where do we go from here?” I asked as I pressed my head to Braden’s chest.
Callin claimed my lips in a kiss, silencing me as I moaned against him. This felt so right, and I’d never considered another man in our short time apart. I tilted my head, so he could deepen it as Braden kissed my neck. I could argue with myself that this wasn’t conventional and that I should feel guilty. I could tell myself that we could never work out, but my heart soared as my tongue danced with Callin’s. Braden’s mouth was pressing wet kisses to my skin, and I gripped them both tightly. Before I knew it, I was on the bed and Callin was on top of me, kissing me breathless. I pulled him closer and closed my eyes as he devoured me.
Eventually, I was turned, and it was Braden kissing me. I was on top of him and hands moved to the hem of my shirt, lifting it as I pulled away briefly. Braden sucked a lonely nipple into his mouth as I moaned, needing the feeling. Hands pushed up the skirt that I was wearing, stroking my thighs as I groaned softly. I let them
strip me and felt a mouth on my pussy as well as one on my chest, sucking and biting. It was too much, and I mewed softly as my body threatened to go over the edge. Fingers entered me as Callin sucked my clit between his teeth, making me jerk against him. “Oh, God.” I cried out as my body exploded, taking me into a blur 0f white stars. Callin prolonged my orgasm with his mouth, making me shudder as the waves just kept coming.
When he pulled away, I blinked at them. Braden switched with Callin, stripping off his pants and telling me to get on my knees. The gravely tone to his voice made me pulse deep inside, and I dropped down, raising my ass in the air just like they wanted me to.
“You’re so fucking perfect,” Braden told me, taking his place behind me before he drove inside of me. I felt everything as I typically did after coming from one of their mouths on me. I rocked back, needing all of him as me buried his cock in me. I felt someone in front of me and when hands cupped my cheeks, I leaned forward to take Callin into my mouth. He rocked against me as I rocked back against his brother and we moved in sync. I don’t think we could ever forget what it was to be together. We were matched perfectly.
I tightened my mouth around Callin as we moved together, his cock deep in my throat when Braden was deep inside of my pussy. I moaned as I felt the pressure building and reached forward to cup Callin’s balls as I sucked harder.
“Fuck, Freya. I’m going to fucking come.” He warned me as I just moved harder. Braden adjusted his angle and as he moved over my sweet spot, I came for him. I focused on taking Callin’s spurts and swallowing them down as my walls tightened around Braden. We dropped to the bed and rested together, breathing heavily.
“Nobody has ever felt as good as you do,” Braden told me, stroking my hair back.
“Did you sleep with them?” I asked weakly, fearing the answer.
“No. There was no chemistry, and we didn’t want to sacrifice our happiness for the good of the family. You are more genuine than any of the women we should be with in other’s eyes. It is you that will give compassion to the people and work hard. It’s been you since we met you.” Callin assured me as I blinked.
“What do we do? Mama is moving here to stay with me in the cabin. We’re going to be working together.” I told them as Braden chuckled.
“She still is. We’ll take you to get her after we talk to Mom and Dad. That way, we can all get to know each other on the drive.” Braden offered as I dropped my head to the mattress.
“You’re going to tell them about us?” I breathed as Callin kissed my lips.
“We are. It seems that we haven’t been as subtle as we thought we were. Well, not once we walked away from everything that night. People caught on.” I flushed a deep pink.
“I kicked you both out. I was so scared,” I admitted as Braden pressed his mouth to my jaw.
“So were we. It’s okay. We’re here now.” Callin soothed me as I turned to smile at him. He kissed me again, making my body heat up for them again. We moved together again as I moved over Callin, sinking down over him as I leaned forward. He caught my nipple in his mouth as I felt a hand squeeze my ass before moving towards my tight hole. I shivered excitedly as I heard the sound of lube being stroked over Braden’s cock as Callin bit me.
“Are you ready for me? Do you want me to fuck this tight little ass?” He whispered as I cried out.
“Yes. I want you everywhere.” He drove in slowly, letting me adjust. I rocked down on Callin after a moment while Braden held my hips and thrust into me at the same time. I bit my lip to keep from crying out in pleasure even though most of the castle was out for weekend errands. I hadn’t gone out with Violet in a few weeks once she realized that I was nothing but miserable. I came, arching my back as Braden kept pumping, slipping deeper inside. Callin jerked up to join me and Braden moved until he was filling me with his seed.
“Fucking hell,” Callin groaned as I dropped to the side, spent, and sated. “I am not giving this up even if we have to leave the castle. We’ll get a place together and lock ourselves inside for a week.” I laughed but my face softened at the reality of it.
“You don’t want that. Your family…” My voice drifted off, and I looked into Braden’s shimmering eyes.
“We are going to stand our ground. You deserved that before, Freya. We were just too stubborn to fight.”
They stayed with me that night and we woke up in the morning, ready to go to war. For us.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Callin
I’d like to say that it went well. I approached my parents with Braden first, talking privately over dinner out. I wanted the initial discussion to be away from Freya, who was already shaken. We didn’t hold anything back and Mom cried when she heard our news. She admitted that she adored Freya but the idea of both of us sharing her terrified her. She wanted to know how that worked as Dad slipped an arm around her to comfort her.
We told her that we wanted her to stay working at the castle as planned. It wasn’t traditional, but Freya loved designing clothes. She’d have her mother to help her and handled so much already. She could still be an important part of the kingdom. She was made for it.
After wine and more tears, Mom wiped her eyes. “Both if you? Really?”
“It wasn’t planned that way, but yes. We’ll figure it all out.” Braden assured her as he sat straight at the table in the private room of the bistro. We left with smiles on our faces and a lot of future discussions to come.
Dad suggested that we advertise it as Freya being with one of us. It was enough for the prince to choose a commoner as something new. Introducing the three of us would be too shocking. I agreed and so did Freya when she joined us for dinner another night. It was decided that we’d go to get Freya’s mom and bring her here, using the car ride to explain the situation. At the end of it all, Mo hugged Freya and told her how much she loved her. She just wasn’t sure of the specifics just yet.
We picked up Freya’s mama in France in our new SUV. She’d been told about us but still looked at us with sharp eyes when we came in to carry her bags to the car. Freya looked just like her mom apart from her hazel eyes and we stood back and watched as they embraced and cried. Freya couldn’t be without her family. We settled them into the back seat for the ride back, stopping for dinner at one of our favorite French restaurants first. We broke it all down over that meal.
She blinked as she looked at her daughter. “How is this going to work, Freya? Two men?”
“It won’t always be easy, Mama. I love them, and I fell for them at the same time. It’s like having everything I’d want and love in a man with a little less convention.” She smiled at both of us and Braden looked serious.
“Ma’am, we love your daughter. There will never be a moment that we don’t protect her and keep her safe from hard. We can take excellent care of her and support her in all her dreams. I’ve never seen a woman work so hard for what they want.” He looked into Kerris’ eyes and she breathed in slowly.
“That she is. I must admit that I’m not surprised that she caught your eye. My girl is beautiful and shines like a beacon. Everyone has always loved her.” I smiled as Freya blushed.
We hit the road and finished the drive, pulling into the long driveway as Kerris’ mouth dropped open.
“It’s huge and beautiful.” Her words were soft as Freya slipped her arms around her mom.
“Just wait until you see the studio we get. It’s big enough for all the materials and has the spaces that give us room to create. We already have a list of customers waiting for our arrival. This is our dream, Mama.”
“It is, baby.” I watched as a tear slipped down her cheek and Freya pulled her closer.
“I love you, Mama.” We parked, and Freya pulled her mom out of the car and over to the studio. We grinned as they darted off and followed slowly, hearing their excited chatter. They walked into the studio first and Freya gave the grand tour as Kerris look around in pure shock. She was glowing as she pointed at fabric and stations, her mom looked
closely at the sketches on the desk and then at the myriad of material to work with.
Freya led her mom to the rock cabin that she’d be staying in and gave her that tour. The living space was generous with a beautiful fireplace and kitchen as well as two good-sized bedrooms. We brought in her luggage and set it in the room that she chose as Kerris looked around. “This is beautiful. I’m so shocked and happy to be here.” Freya hugged her as she eyed us over her daughter’s shoulder. “Will you be here with me?”
“Yes. I will. I might leave sometimes after working for the day. We will probably have our own home on the property before too long.” Freya explained, pulling away as she flushed. “I am going to marry Braden since he’s next for the throne. It’s just paper and we all know what will really be happening but it’s a dream of their mother. Callin knows that I’ll be giving him my heart as well that day. He knows I already have.” I smiled at her as our eyes locked for a long moment.
We got her settled in and took her into the castle to introduce her to our parents. There were hugs all around as we watched Mom fall equally in love with Kerris as they got to talking about clothes. Freya joined in and I sat at the bar with Dad and Braden as we took it all in.
“I never thought that something like this could ever work out,” he admitted as he looked at us. “It would have been unheard of back in my day. But after what I went through being sick, I just want to see you boys happy. Freya seems like she could do that for you. Let’s face it too. Mom loves her enough to look past the situation.” We chuckled and shook his head. “I don’t even want to consider all the details.”
“We don’t want to discuss them,” I assured him as Braden rolled his eyes. It wasn’t completely accepted by all on every term yet, but Mom agreed to plan a ceremony for a wedding. Neither of us cared who it was up there with Freya because we knew where we stood with her. It would be for all of us underneath it all and we’d damn well be celebrating later in our own place.