Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
Tisera
The next day, while I escorted Veora to the palace, I told her about my encounters with the guys the day before. I found myself growing giddy, a silly smile on my face, which I couldn’t hide and didn’t want to.
“Oh, wow,” she breathed. “It sounds like you fully embraced my advice and went for it. Though, for Leo and Kel, you still need to tell them you want to see them and others at the same time. Or…” Her tone grew mischievous. “You don’t have to. It’s not like men don’t do it all the time, being with multiple women, cheating on their wives and lovers with others. Usually those situations end badly, though, and I get the sense you care too much for each of these men to wish for that?”
“Indeed,” I said, not able to imagine trying to keep all those relationships secret. “If I’m going to do this, they all need to know the truth.” To myself I then whispered, “I hope they can handle it.”
“Oh, it sounds like you’re really in trouble, Tisi,” Veora said lightly. “You want to be with all of them all of the time, don’t you?”
I had to admit it: “I do… is that even possible?”
Veora sighed.
“There are tribes in the far north, beyond the Valterran Mountains, who live in family groups with several husbands and several wives. They have complex relationships, but they never stray outside of their family. Even the Dathi have been known to share mates, occasionally. It isn’t common for them, but occasionally a man will have two wives or a woman two husbands, though rarely more than two. If you want all three, you’ll be starting something entirely new, at least here in Pearlia.”
“I shouldn’t even think of it,” I whispered. “The more I do, the more I want it, but as you say, it’s not likely to happen. I… I feel like I’m going to hurt someone eventually, maybe all of them. But I don’t want to hurt any of them.”
What a horrible — and wonderful — situation I’d gotten myself into.
“Then the best advice I can give is enjoy it while it lasts. Hopefully, you’ll end up with at least one of them, and hopefully it’s the right one. But in the meantime—” she lowered her voice to a conspiratorial tone, “—fuck all three and enjoy every moment of it!”
I was a bit surprised at her language — she was a lady after all — but she winked at me, and I laughed.
I decided I’d take her advice and enjoy this curious time in my life. I was healthy, there were no wars, and I had three men who loved me. And I was finally in a place where I wanted them to love me.
I shivered just a little with the anticipation of my next encounter, though I reminded myself that if it was with Kel or Leo, they needed to know the rules first. No more leading them on.
I’d told Kel I’d see him tonight… but I also had a lesson with Leo this afternoon. And our lessons would no longer be private. I had to remember that. Gods, I was so flustered and excited all at the same time.
Veora and I chatted like dearest friends. She gave me some tips for how to please men, some of which I’d known about but not yet tried, others were… new — and a bit shocking — to me. But I drank it all in.
Once we were at the palace, we proceeded up through the servant’s halls to the prince’s room, where I dropped her off.
I stayed on guard and tried not to think about how I might use Veora’s lascivious suggestions on each of my glorious guys.
I needed to remain focused.
And in my state of heightened alertness, I caught the sound of fighting, distant but unmistakable. I rushed to a nearby window, which looked out over the palace’s yard.
Below me was a sight I’d never seen in the palace: men fighting and dying. This was no mock combat, no training or practice. This was true battle.
A large covered wagon disgorged armed men who spread out into the palace, slaughtering guards as they went. The cobblestones were bathed in blood.
I blinked, not fully understanding what I was seeing.
The palace was being attacked…
And I needed to do something about it.