Szereto, Mellanie - Two from the Triangle [Bewitching Desires 7] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Mellanie Szereto

  Brushing her tangled hair from her face, Heath frowned at her. “Don’t you trust us?”

  The hurt in his eyes had her pushing aside the knowledge that she’d have to give up her lovers. What difference would erasing a little more information make? Then again, they might decide she was crazy after she told them about her family’s legacy and choose to leave immediately.

  Lying wasn’t an option, though. “Yes, I trust you. Are you sure you want to know?”

  “I want to know everything about you.” Heath held out a cube of cheese. “Eat. Please.”

  She submitted to his request, grateful for the short reprieve to gather her thoughts. Where should she start? Should she tell them everything? Considering they stayed with her for roughly thirty-six hours straight while she’d recovered her strength, she owed them that much. She’d deal with the consequences later.

  A drink of water helped her prolong the delay another few seconds, but the time came to answer their questions. She drew in a shaky breath. “I’m a witch. Well, actually, I come from a family of witches.”

  When they didn’t bat an eyelash at her admission, her confidence grew.

  “Grand Grandmother Romána was our matriarch. She was the wisest and most powerful in our family, having presided over us all for two full generations. We work to stay in tune with nature by growing many of the fruits, vegetables, and herbs we consume. From the time we’re born, we learn about the Earth and how to live in harmony with it, studying the stars and living by the moon’s phases.”

  Owen urged her to take another drink. “You have powers, like the ability to go from place to place with rhyming spells.”

  “You brought us here from the cay and saved us from the storm.” Furrowing his brows, Heath seemed to mull over that statement. “Kazmer caused the storm, didn’t he?”

  They were taking the news much better than she’d expected, even drawing a few of their own correct conclusions.

  “Yes, he did.” She debated telling them about her botched attempt to send them home. What do I have to lose? “I tried to spell you back to where you came from, but for some reason you ended up here with me.”

  A faint smile lifted the corners of Heath’s mouth. “Because we belong here with you. Your grandmother said as much.”

  Ignoring his implication, she delved into more of her family’s history. “The conflict with Kazmer began long ago. His goal was to destroy the Macska line of witches and the warlocks from the Order of the Elements. Both of our clans tried to live in peaceful coexistence with the outside world, inciting his anger. Romána’s middle daughter was destined to mate with one of the Elemental warlocks, uniting our clans against him. Magdolna and Boldizsár fell in love and produced a female heir to the line, but he interfered, keeping them apart for seven cycles of seven years.”

  Owen asked the inevitable question. “These cycles, what do they represent?”

  Closing her eyes, she willed her nerves to calm. This would be one of the most difficult aspects of her life to understand. She blinked to clear her vision, focusing on the folds of the blankets at her feet. “Every seven years, the women in my family go through a fertility cycle, lasting from the full moon immediately after their birthdays to the next third-quarter moon. The cycles begin with her twenty-first birthday. She seeks out her mate, and if he successfully impregnates her, they are joined. Married, in a way.”

  Heath’s finger beneath her chin eased her face sideways to look at him. “Your sisters and some others have two mates. Are you permitted to join with a pair of men?”

  She couldn’t hold his gaze. “Only if they are my true mates and I am a full-fledged witch in the coven.”

  Owen wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “Your grandmother said we’re your true mates, so that means we can join.”

  His enthusiastic tone seized her attention. They wanted to stay with her?

  She nearly cried at the irony. Her mates were here with her, but she couldn’t go through the joining ceremony because she hadn’t taken the vows and become part of the circle. Her powers had let her down. Or rather, her lack of powers.

  Gathering her composure, she evaded directly responding to his assumption. Now to reveal the final tidbits that would surely send them running. “Only if I get pregnant by both of you by the third-quarter phase. The second of January. In three and a half days. And we have to love each other.”

  Neither man spoke for several interminable moments, the sound of her pulse surely too loud in her ears to hear them anyway. She must have shocked them into silence with the last requirements.

  May as well tie it up with a ribbon. “Oh, and when I brought you here, we traveled through time.”

  Chapter 12

  Traveled through time. Heléna’s proclamation ran circles around and around in Owen’s brain, keeping his tongue stuck in neutral.

  “What year is it?” The half-choked whisper from Heath suggested he was having a hard time processing that thought too.

  Heléna started to scoot out from between them and down the bed, but Owen tightened his hold on her shoulders. “Don’t go, Heléna. Please tell us.”

  She ducked her head. “It’s December 29 of the year 2015.”

  “It’s 2015?” His thoughts stalled. “But the moon. It’s at the same phase as when we were on the island.” Logic had never failed him. “We can’t have traveled eighty-four years into the future.”

  Heath glanced over at Owen, his eyes wide. “Unless the moon cycle in December of this year is identical or damn close to the same month in 1931—which is completely possible. What if we were supposed to have lived now instead of then? We had to come here to be with Heléna, the place where we’re supposed to be.”

  Hadn’t the old woman mentioned the Fates? Owen had always been a firm believer of being in the right place at the right time.

  “You’re right. And after all that I’ve seen in this week, I have no doubt that’s the case.” With that issue out of the way, he tackled the next one. “Do you want to have our babies, sweetheart? I mean, I love you like you said a mate has to, and I’m pretty sure Heath feels the same.”

  Heath nodded, his admission coming quicker than Owen expected. “I love you too, Heléna. And I’ll spend every minute from now until the second of January trying to get you pregnant if that means I can be with you for the rest of my life. You love us, don’t you?”

  Slowly turning first to Owen and then to Heath, she wiped at tears trickling down her cheeks. “Yes, but—but...I’m not a full-fledged witch. I’ve been losing my ability to cast spells for months, and I didn’t enter the circle when Great Grandmother welcomed me into the coven. We can’t be mated. It’s my fault.”

  A burst of anger and frustration sent Owen’s normally even temper flaring past the satisfaction that Heléna returned their affection. “That bastard got to you! Forget what he told you. You got us the hell out of harm’s way in the nick of time. Twice.” He shook his head, disgusted that Kazmer had used her insecurities against her. “Don’t let that damn shifter suck away your confidence. Your powers were there when you needed them, and I have faith in you. Romána had faith in you.”

  Heath hauled Heléna onto his lap, cupping her damp face in his palms. “In the morning, you’ll take the vow and go into the circle. Then we’ll work on making those heirs to the Macska line. A couple of beautiful baby girls who look just like their mommy.”

  Giving a dainty sniffle, she seemed to accept their words. “You’re sure?”

  His anger ebbing, Owen leaned over to press his lips to her forehead. “We’ll fix this together. You found us, and I’ll be damned if I’m letting you go.”

  * * * *

  A horde of dragonflies zipped around Heléna’s stomach as she descended the staircase to the foyer between Heath and Owen. Today’s journey down the steps would change her life more profoundly than the trip to the Macska mansion library three days ago.

  Her sisters had escorted her along the hall to the gath
ering of the witches, with them inviting her into their welcoming arms before she even related why she’d asked to meet them. Their request that she perform a simple incantation hadn’t surprised her. The effortless execution of an ad motus incantation had, though. What had seemed impossible for weeks had suddenly become second nature again. Her powers had been restored. Had the transfer of Great Grandmother’s power from the spell caused the change? A final gift from the matriarch?

  Standing up in front of her entire family to join with her pilots was much more nerve-wracking than taking the vow of the coven. A single touch from her sister Lujza would allow the joining or end the greatest joy in her life. Confirmation of conception was the only obstacle standing in the way of tying herself to her mates.

  Heléna guided her lovers to the main parlor, the site of many a ceremony when the weather chased them inside. Dozens of warm smiles greeted her as she stepped through the open doorway.

  Great Aunt Szabina extended her arms toward Heléna, Owen, and Heath. “Come, come. We are anxious for the seventh joining in this cycle to occur. It is cause for much celebration.”

  Stopping before the new matriarch, Heléna mustered her courage. She had to get one very important detail taken care of first. “Matriarch, may I speak to my sister for a moment?”

  “Of course, daughter. Rebeka, will you please—”

  “Not Rebeka.” Heléna tensed as she realized she’d interrupted her most-respected elder. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

  Instead of a grim line of censure, Szabina’s mouth twitched as if she held in an amused grin. “You seek advice from Lujza?”

  A chorus of whispers spread through the room, the family apparently finding a request for counsel from the most outspoken, sarcastic witch of their clan ridiculous.

  Lujza growled and rolled her eyes as she stepped forward. “What makes everybody think I can’t give my baby sister good, proper guidance? Keep the reins tight and remind them often who’s boss, Heléna.”

  Male laughter echoed off the walls. Her mates clearly didn’t believe in that plan.

  Heléna pulled her sister aside for privacy, standing on tiptoe to whisper in her ear. “Tell me. I need to know before we begin the joining ceremony and I find out...” The sentence was impossible to finish. “Am I?”

  “That’s all?” Fisting her hands on her hips, Lujza looked down at Heléna with raised eyebrows and a smirk. “I could’ve told days ago if I’d known you weren’t sure. You were already pregnant when you took the oath of the coven on Tuesday.”

  “I was?” Heléna reached for her sister’s arm to steady herself. Relief stole control of her muscles. She’d truly found her life-mates.

  “Well, yeah. Worst case of the heebie-jeebies I’ve ever had.”

  Szabina cleared her throat. “I believe we are ready to continue now.”

  Heat crept up Heléna’s neck at the realization everyone had probably heard the entire conversation. “Yes, Aunt Szabina.”

  A pair of grins met her when she turned toward Heath and Owen. If she’d had any doubts about their willingness to become parents so quickly, they vanished in that instant. Each of her men slid their fingers through hers and gently squeezed when she once again stood between them.

  The matriarch unrolled a piece of paper. “My family, today we will witness the joining of another of our sisters. Before she and her true mates speak the vows, I will share a parting message left with me by our beloved mother, Romána.”

  Heléna blinked back stinging tears at the mention of Great Grandmother. The wise leader of the Macskas had spoken the truth about Owen and Heath, somehow seeing what the future held in store—not only for herself, but for all of them.

  Uncurling the paper, Szabina read. “‘Loved ones, as you gather for the joining of Heléna and the men who are to become her life-mates, remember that I am with you in spirit. Let not my physical absence dampen the joy of this new beginning. Our greatest enemy has been destroyed, and the Macska witches will have the benefit of peace and harmony with our allies from the Order of the Elements. Sweet Heléna, I wish eternal blessings for you, Heath, and Owen. The Goddess and the Fates have chosen well for you. Love each other and be happy, children.’”

  She released the lower edge, and the paper rolled back into a scroll. Slipping the message in her skirt pocket, she smiled. “I add my own blessings to those our mother wished for you before her destined end. Heath Ulrich, do you willingly offer your love and your life to Heléna and your loyalty to the Macska clan?”

  Lifting his hand to stroke Heléna’s hair, he met her gaze. His gray eyes brightened, and utter contentment washed over her. “I do.”

  “And, Owen Vance, do you promise your heart and life to your mate, protecting the secrets of her family?”

  Owen’s face lit up as he placed his free hand over Heléna’s flat belly, making her pulse skip a beat. “I do.”

  Without waiting for the new matriarch’s prompting, Heléna recited the vow she’d written months ago in anticipation of this day. The simple memorized line now had the names of her true mates. “I will love and cherish Heath and Owen with all my heart and soul until the day I die, sharing my life and all that I have, and protecting them from harm.”

  A single nod told of Szabina’s approval. She leaned in to kiss each of them on the cheek. “Long life and happiness to you, children.”

  At the proclamation, the family gathered around them to offer blessings and congratulations until a sudden hush fell on the crowd. A ripple of serenity brought elation to Heléna’s body and mind. The others had unmistakably felt it too—Romána’s presence among them.

  Peace to you, Great Grandmother.

  * * * *

  Stealing away from the open doorway of the Macska parlor, Patience Wyndham shifted into her ethereal form and returned to her lair with a single thought. As she settled into the wooden chair in front of the vanity dresser, she shifted again—this time into the corporeal being she’d once been. Picking up the brush, she ran the bristles through her waist-length black mane. Traveling through time and space always made a mess of her hair.

  One down, one to go. And I didn’t have to lift a finger.

  Now to set her next plan in motion.

  THE END

  WWW.MELLANIESZERETO.COM

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  When her fingers aren’t attached to her keyboard, Mellanie Szereto enjoys hiking, Pilates, cooking, gardening, and researching for her stories. Many times, the research partners with her other hobbies, taking her from the Hocking Hills region in Ohio to the Colorado Rockies and the Adirondacks of New York. Sometimes, the trip is no farther than her garden for ingredients and her kitchen to test recipes for her latest steamy tale. Mellanie makes her home in rural Indiana with her husband of twenty-five years and their two children, one dog, and two cats. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Indiana Romance Writers of America, and Hearts Through History Romance Writers.

  Also by Mellanie Szereto

  Ménage Amour: Bewitching Desires 1: Two if by Sea

  Ménage Amour: Bewitching Desires 2: Two Knights of Passion

  Ménage Amour: Bewitching Desires 3: Two Fated for One

  Ménage Amour: Bewitching Desires 4: Two Pirates to Treasure

  Ménage Amour: Bewitching Desires 5: Two Times the Trouble

  Ménage Amour: Bewitching Desires 6: Two Roped and Ready

  For all other titles, please visit

  http://www.bookstrand.com/mellanie-szereto

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

 

 

 
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