37. Give Us Another Chance #2
The wind picks up, disrupting the surrounding stalls. The sellers rush about trying to save their wares, but she holds onto my hand reciting in a strange voice vibrating with power:
"When the Veilmoon bleeds into the sky
The bound shall break, and souls shall bind
What once felt right, shall be lost
Truths shall unveil at a great cost
Hearts once tethered shall wander blind
Fate shall devour fragile minds
The kiss once sacred will taste of ash
Lovers shall kneel—or burn—and crash
The new shall emerge
The old shall perish
But when it ends
There'll be nothing left to cherish"
Before I can make any sense of it, the strength of the unnatural wind makes me close my eyes and by the time I open them, the cyclops is nowhere in sight.
The ominous prophecy cast a pall on my thoughts but I had pushed it to the back of my mind, to analyze later. And the days leading up to the Veilmoon hadn't been easy on my body or mind.
But now that I think about it—trying to piece together the conspiracy brewing against me—could it be that the goblins heard the prophecy and plotted to use Malakai at the opportune time?
With how they've been conspiring against my family, it fits. The discord brought upon by that rodent would've separated me from my husbands, making me a better target. Not easier but more accessible, less protected. Bet they didn't anticipate that I'd end up in Duat or here in the Nephilim kingdom.
Something Zien says brings my attention back to the room.
He seemed to have picked up where Alistair left off.
"We want to lay ourselves bare so there's no room for any misunderstandings later.
The Veilmoon also lent me a temporary power, Aleiraah.
I dreamt of your past, after drinking your blood.
" Zien reveals quietly, making me stiffen in alarm.
What the fuck, Fate?
"I dreamt of your encounter with that pathetic mortal. And what happened before it too. You...you're worried about someone called Jadeth."
I grip the arms of my chair, ready to get up and leave but Zien holds up his hands cautiously and hurries to explain," No, please wait, Aleiraah! Hear me out. I don't know who he is, and unless you want to share, I won't ask. We won't ask." He shoots a glare at Azael who grits his jaw.
"It's just that you'd withdrawn even before the Veilmoon. And we know it's because of our constant fuck-ups, but this Jadeth was also weighing heavily on your mind. The dream cleared some things up, but not everything."
He swallows thickly. "I regret treating you like a blood-slut.
I–I don't heal them afterwards. They've spells for that.
When you called me out for not healing the bites, I was appalled at myself.
It's like a veil had been drawn before my eyes that was suddenly lifted.
But it was too late." His voice carries shame, red eyes glimmering with self-hatred.
I'm relieved that the memories he was shown were only from that day and Jadeth still remains a mystery to them. I don't wish to reveal anything about my past to these males who are no longer my safe space.
It's interesting however, that Zien has gone without blood for long enough that his eyes turned such a vivid red. But who knows, maybe he's drunk from a blood-slut but not his fill.
He notices me studying his eyes and shakes his head emphatically. "I didn't drink from any blood-sluts ever since the last time, Love. I swear! And I'll never drink from another but you. This I vow!"
I'm shocked at his vehement promise. "What do you mean you're not going to drink from anyone but me?"
Has he gone mad?
Before I can ask how he plans to abstain and not wither away, Silas jumps in, sounding desperate. "Aleiraah, will you please give me a chance to explain? I know—of all people sitting here—I'm the one who doesn't deserve it, but I'd like to at least try."
He looks as if his sanity is unraveling one thread at a time. Like he's wrestling with something feral inside him. Focusing, I sense the agitated energy of his panther pacing like a caged beast within.
"What's wrong with your panther?" My mouth betrays me before I can stop myself.
He looks taken aback for a moment then says with determination, "I've caged him. He's never going to come out again."
"What?" I whisper, dumbfounded.
Have they all gone mad after their experience in Duat? One is refusing to drink blood, another is caging his beast. What in the name of a brownie's bouncy bum is going on?
"He hurt you, Kitten. He doesn't get to roam around scot-free anymore." Silas declares stubbornly.
"If that's the case, you're punishing the wrong half of yourself, Silas." I counter without mercy.
He recoils as if I've struck him, and the sight sends a pang through my already bruised heart.
"Believe me, Kitten, I know.” He whispers painfully after a beat. “I live with the guilt of what I did to you, what my panther did, every single moment. And I've made sure that what happened, never happens again. Even unknowingly." His eyes burn with a promise I'm unable to ignore.
"What have you done?" I don’t have a good feeling about this.
"That's not important, Kitten. I need you to understand that you're it for me.
I don't care about the Nightgleam pack’s succession rules anymore.
I was a fool to even consider it. I don't care about offsprings if I don't have them with you.
I should've never entertained another female approaching me. "
His throat works with effort before he adds, voice taut with regret. "I twisted my father's teachings into something else and became a cheater. In thought, but not in deed, Kitten. Never in deed!" His eyes turn wild for a moment.
"Letting yourself be pawed by a hoe-bag intent on fucking you and bearing your heirs is cheating in my books, Nightgleam." I sneer.
"I'm so sorry, Aleiraah. I swear I'll do whatever it takes to become worthy of your love again. Please, just don't push me away." He reaches across the table and I lean away even though we're not in touchable distance. His face falls.
"I can't live with the memory of my brutality, Kitten.
I need to see you healthy, full of life like I've always known you to be.
And given a chance, I'd make you happy again.
I know you're hurting. We all are. But I vow that I'll do whatever it takes to make you look at me with love again.
I beg you to give me a chance. Please, Kitten?
Give us one last chance, you won't regret it.
" His voice breaks as silent tears slip from his eyes.
Their confessions, full of guilt and regret, threaten to overwhelm me. All I feel is chaos, a jumble of emotions I can't untangle. Remorse thickens the air, until I can barely draw a steady breath.
Maybe Zenith senses my need for space because he stands up slowly. "Why don't we continue this conversation over the course of next few days? I believe we could all do with a break for today."
My husbands shoot to their feet, chairs scraping back, eyes feral, bodies tense as if bracing for a fight.
Pity, I'm too emotionally exhausted to find humor in the theatrics.
Strangely, it's Ispahan who ends up being the voice of reason.
He holds out his palm in a stop gesture.
"Calm your galloping thoughts. We're not barring you from seeing her.
Aleiraah is going to stay here for the time being.
With us. You're free to set up a tent on the castle grounds or find accommodation in the town.
But, you're not welcome into the castle unless Aleiraah, Zenith or I invite you.
"Now, it's been a long day, and we'd like to rest. Come on, Aleiraah. Butterball is waiting for cuddles from her favorite auntie." Ispahan steers me away with a hand on my back after that Kingly decree, not letting anyone get in a word edgewise.
I offer him a watery smile, feeling a little grateful.
Zenith
The seven look ready to murder Han and that puts me on edge. Time for damage control.
"You need to calm down and think through your next steps if you want to win Aleiraah back.
Storming the Nephilim castle while demanding for Aleiraah to return is not going to work.
Besides, she's safe here from goblin orchestrated threats.
And before you lose your minds, I'm not Aleiraah's lover.
I'm Ispahan's mate and consort, Zenith Ellowraith. "
Surprise flickers in their eyes followed by the realization that Aleiraah probably wanted to test them.
"I consider Aleiraah a good friend and she saved my marriage.
I owe her. And I'll always stand by her.
But I'm also familiar with the pain of having your mate withdraw from you while feeling helpless.
Aleiraah's advice helped us. But she's the only therapist in this realm that I know of.
So you're out of luck in case you were considering mediation.
" I shrug as they stoically keep listening.
"Try to woo her back, steadily, while respecting her space. She needs carnal sustenance. We're helping her indirectly but you need to figure out something better if you're serious enough to save your marriage."
I keep the news of Aleiraah's pregnancy to myself. She'd eventually have to let her husbands know, but I won't push her until she poses a danger to her health.
"Now, I'll escort you to the gates if you want to stay in the town. What will it be?" I ask reasonably hoping they'd choose to stay nearby on the castle grounds. Where I can keep an eye on them.
Visibly calm, they observe me, weighing my words.
"We'd like the tent." The demon affirms with a slight tilt of his head.
"Thank you." The dragon offers politely.
I motion for them to follow me as I lead them toward the grounds north of the castle, where a small lake lies—perfect for tending to their needs.
Crisis averted.