Chapter 25 Kaenon #2
"See, this is what I'm talking about. You're all goners for her. Too bad for you fuckers, Heidi told me she wants one boyfriend. Only one," the blessed one clarifies, holding up a finger.
"But she deserves more," I jump in, looking at these three males as I decide this is the time to share. "I overheard her speaking with her ghostly companion. She says she desires one boi-frehnd because she is not worthy of more love. We must show her that belief is false."
"What do you mean, she thinks she's not worthy? What a heap of shit," Zak scowls.
The vampire is staring at me. "Agreed. But first, time out. What ghostly companion?"
They listen as I describe the bracelet Athanis left me with, and how I see and hear him from his separate foothold in this plane of existence we yet share until he is reaped.
"There is a female spirit who also watches over Heidi," I finish. "My mate must have a fae-charmed object much like mine. She and her companion seem close."
Asher makes a face. "Let me guess—it's the blue-haired girl in all the pictures."
I follow his gesture to see images upon on the wall of Heidi's sitting room and nod. "That is the one."
"Ghosts. Fucking great," the magic-user huffs, which confuses me because he clearly does not find it great.
He may be unhappy with the dead who guide us, yet I am grateful that Athanis could guide me swiftly away from the fae facility to my mate's dwelling.
I look back at the others. "We must speak of how to convince my mate that she is worthy of more love, lest any of us feel the hellish sorrow of her choosing one and rejecting the remainder of us."
"Aw, hells. He's right. If she didn't pick me as her one boyfriend, I'd fucking drop dead," Zak agrees. "'Kay. Four boyfriends it is, then."
Ian frowns. "Where are you coming up with four?"
Zak nods his chin toward the magic-user. "You, me, Naked McGee, and Smoothtalker over there, obviously."
The vampire peers at Asher with narrowed eyes. "So you're not just her bodyguard. Liar."
Asher folds his arms, his stance immovable. "What lie? I'm keeping my hands to myself until this job is over. But if Heidi's not matched into a full quintet by the time the shitstorm ends, you can bet your dead ass I won't be just a bodyguard to her anymore."
Ian considers this as he looks between us. "Fine. Then she can have three boyfriends, because I'm going to be her fucking husband."
Husband? The word resonates in my head through the ear device, but it only makes me picture a mate. I look at Athanis, confused.
"A wedded one. Joined not only by fate, but also by social customs and choice," he clarifies.
"I wish for this as well," I say immediately, eager to claim my mate in all possible ways.
"Me too," Zak nods, smirking up at the blessed one. "And Smoothtalker can be her little side piece, if he ever even gets a chance with our girl."
I am pleased these strong suitors are in agreement with me.
It is the way of shifters to seek out our fated ones, be they one or many, and to care for them however we can.
These are strange males, but seeing how protective they were of my sweet mate when I arrived, they will do all they can to care for her.
Just as I will.
Asher rolls his eyes at Zak. "All right, motherfuckers.
If you're all serious about convincing Heidi to date all of you, here are three ground rules.
First, give Heidi her space and don't try to pressure or coerce her.
Second, you all need to be wearing mytherun at all times—and don't fucking touch her without her expressly asking for it first."
"No worries. She begged for it once. I'll get her begging again," Zak grins.
"Shut up," Ian sighs.
I look at the blessed one, nodding. "I agree to these earth rules. What is the third?"
"Not earth, ground—you know what? Never mind," Asher mutters before giving us a serious look.
"Here's the third rule. When Heidi decides to go to the Seeking, whether it's in a few days or a year from now, you three can't start any bullshit with her actual matches, whoever they may be.
There will be no getting in the way of the best possible future for Heidi, even if it means letting her go. "
Ian and Zak grow strangely quiet at this new rule.
"Seeking?" I ask.
Asher explains that in this modern day, descendants of monsters—legacies—are matched by the gods into fated groups which complete one another's souls.
The way he describes it, it is not so different from a Mate Hunt, only there is no chasing under a full moon.
Instead, holy magic reveals one's missing soul pieces, who are later bound to the heart of their central "keeper. "
I am lucky, for I already know I am her mate. When she does go to the Seeking, I know it is inevitable we shall be bound together.
But now I understand why the vampire and the infernal one are disquieted. If they are not revealed to be chosen by the gods for Heidi, they will lose her.
"I agree to this as well," I say, looking at the others sorrowfully. "I do not envy your unknowns."
"Don't pity me," Ian warns, his gaze dropping to my neck before he looks at Zak. "At least I know I'm a legacy with a chance. Who knows if a half-demon metal elemental would even be considered for gods-given matches?"
Zak's jaw is clenched, his anger evident as he stares down Asher. "What if, when the time comes, our girl's matched with a quintet that treats her like shit? We still supposed to just walk away? Fuck that."
The blessed one appears angry at that thought, as am I.
Still, Asher is resolute. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there. Until then, these are the ground rules. Take them or get the hell out."
The infernal one huffs. "Yeah, fine. Agreed."
Asher rubs a part of his head as though it bothers him. "Then good luck to you fuckers with convincing Heidi to accept you as boyfriends. She's used to the way humans do shit and thinks group relationships are like cheating."
"She'll change her mind if we show her how much we all want this. It's better than not getting chosen by her in the end," Zak adds with a grimace.
Ian looks equally disturbed by the thought of her rejection, but I see that his gaze has wandered to the infernal one's wrist. His expression morphs into something tortured before he stands, his breathing labored.
"I'm going hunting," he announces, his voice a rasp like wind upon dry leaves.
Hunting? one of my beasts perks up, eager.
"I will join you," I offer, eager to once again enjoy my new freedom in the wild world, no longer imprisoned within the confines of my own mind.
I have not shifted into each of my forms yet, and they are restless within my skin, excited by the promise of fresh air and rain and crisp springtime chill.
Ian glances at me. "Again, how the fuck is this guy speaking English now?"
I tap the strange device on my ear. "The blessed one bestowed this magic translator upon me."
"What, he couldn't bestow some clothes upon you, too? I get that you're a shifter, but I'm getting tired of seeing your dick."
I glance down, realizing they are all clothed while I still only wear the shirt of the infernal one, which is tight on me. The shifter clans rarely donned trivial apparel, but I learned in my time at the fae laboratory that nakedness discomforts non-shifters.
"Covering up may serve you well in this new world," Athanis advises, still unseen by these others as he has observed the conversation.
Since these other suitors share in my protective adoration of my mate, and since my inner beasts are strangely fond of their presence, I do not wish to bring them discomfort.
"I will seek out clothing while I join you in the hunt," I decide.
Ian shakes his head. "Not unless you're volunteering to be my dinner, Kaen. I'm…fuck, I'm struggling."
"How often must a monster-descended vampire of your kind feed?" I ask, curious.
"He's a thrall," Asher tells me.
He must realize I do not know this word, because he explains that Ian was killed and brought back far stronger, but a mindless puppet to a vampyr. Now that vampyr is dead and Ian can think for himself again, but he's "fucked up."
"From what I've seen of other thralls, he'll be overfeeding and losing control for days, maybe weeks," Asher adds, staring down the thrall. "He's a danger to Heidi."
"I'm not a danger to her," Ian snaps immediately, dragging his hands over his face. "I'm not. I could never."
"Uh-huh. Sure. Go feed," Asher repeats once more, stalking into the food preparation area for water.
The tortured siphon vanishes, the front door of my mate's abode clicking shut in his wake as the storm rages on outside. I decide I will shift and let my animals bask in their new freedom later, once the vampire—thrall—has returned.
Until then, I have much to learn about this new world, so I turn to the infernal one on the cushioned bench beside me.
"What will my mate seek in a boih-frend? I desire to please her."
He grins, slapping my shoulder amiably. "If it's pleasing Candy you want, you've come to the right mutt. I'll tell you everything I've learned about this weird-ass world and everything I learned our girl likes once you get your mouth on her."