They all stood panting in the water, not able to move as somehow they had bonded even tighter. Allantra couldn’t remember how they ended up on the bank of the river. The soft grass welcomed them all; as her men surrounded her, she curled in tight against them.
This was how she wanted things to be for always. Dharean and Khaelen by her side forever. But she knew that, at least for the immediate future, things couldn’t be that way.
“Don’t think about it,” Khaelen suggested as he lightly stroked her arm.
“I can’t help it. It has to be done.”
“Tomorrow will come soon enough. We can talk then.” Dharean moved closer to her.
“I finally understand what Za’rae meant,” Allantra said quietly.
Dharean snorted. “You can’t always take what she says literally.”
“No, listen. I now remember who Persephone was. She was torn between her mother and her husband. She lived with her mother part of the time and her husband the other.” Allantra waited. Neither man said anything. “Don’t you see? I have to do the same but it will only be temporary.” Silence still met her. She sat up. She should have known the men wouldn’t agree so easily.
“Think about it. Dharean, you have to help your people rebuild. Khaelen has to go to the Civil Lands. I made a promise to help with that.”
“So you’re leaving me.” Dharean stood quickly, his back to her. He shut his mind to her.
“Don’t you dare!” Allantra stood as well. “I love you. You know that. But I made a promise to help Khaelen rebuild the government in the Civil Lands. Your people need you here. Think about it. Some of them may even want to explore the Civil Lands. Khaelen and I will make sure it’s safe for them.”
Dharean turned and looked at her. Then his gaze slid to Khaelen, who’d sat up and was leaning on his elbow with a smug expression. “So he gets to have you, while I have nothing?”
Allantra closed the distance between them. “In the beginning, yes. But once things are settled, I will return to you.” At that statement, Khaelen jumped up.
“And you would just leave me—again?”
Allantra groaned at his words. This had sounded so much easier in her head.
“Look, you two.” Allantra stepped back to she could eye both males. “I can’t be two places at once. Work with me here. Right now the Civil Lands are at war. That has to be taken care of.” She couldn’t believe they were acting this way.
“Then I will come to the Civil Lands as well,” Dharean declared.
“Wizard, you should stay here and lead your people.” Khaelen looked at him shrewdly. “They need you.”
Dharean shook his head. “They will be fine. The immediate danger of Dominica is over. Claudium and the twins will be going to the Civil Lands as well. The more of us that go, the quicker we can restore order.”
“That’s a great idea.” Then Allantra sobered. “But what of my mother? She needs care.”
“I will teach your mother what she needs to know of her new powers. When she awakens she will want to be around you, Allantra. I think we all should go to the Civil Lands.”
Khaelen let out an impatient breath. “And who, Black Wizard, will guide your people while you are gone?”
“Ah, vampire, they will be fine. As a matter of fact, I will give them the choice to stay or come fight with us. After all, they stand to benefit a lot from this war. Yes, that’s a good idea.”
“Just out of curiosity, what did Za’rae give to you?” Allantra asked, feeling a little sleepy all of a sudden.
“Her gift of seeing into the future. Though I suspect I cannot see my own or any of ours. But it will certainly help when I lead my people. When we lead our people.”
She looked at Khaelen, then Dharean, and knew no man would give the other quarter when it came to her. Though she was a little irritated, she was also very flattered. And she was also very loved. The road ahead was still rocky. The two men would be almost unbearable in their quest to dominate the other and have her to himself. But that was fine by her.
Allantra settled down next to Khaelen and extended a hand to Dharean to join them. Without hesitation he settled down next to her. Allantra smiled to herself. Her mother would be on the mend soon. Dominica was defeated and at last there was a tentative truce between the vampires and the shifters. Change was coming, and she was the harbinger of it all. The smile remained on Allantra’s face as sleep began to overtake her as she reclined between her destined mates.
The End
About the Author:
I live in Michigan. Don't let my last name intimidate your tongue it's simply pronounced-Mell Yer. Well that's it phonetically anyway. I am a Personal Trainer and also work in Theatre. I love writing and am a mother of two. So I stay pretty busy with life.
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