Lienna.
The past few weeks have been nothing but a dream. A complete, utter dream. A dream I desperately don’t want to wake up from. Every time I wake up from bed and remember the final day of the banquet, I get goosebumps and need to pinch myself to remind myself it wasn’t just a figment of my imagination.
That unforgettable night replayed in my mind – from the moon goddess’s majestic appearance, to her blessing, and the declaration that made me the mate to the shifter kings. Their heartfelt confession in front of everyone still sends shivers down my spine.
In moments like these, the streak of white in my hair serves as a tangible reminder that it wasn’t just a dream. It really did happen.
How had I become so lucky? Their love and devotion still feel surreal.
Ever since their confession, the shifter kings have been more than sweet to me, taking care of me and tending to my every concern with utmost devotion. Hermes, Adonis, and Caspian have been attentive, making sure I lack nothing. Their actions elate me as much as they concern me, leaving me wondering how I deserve such love.
Their unwavering dedication is a double-edged sword – comforting yet overwhelming. Yet, I couldn’t get tired of it.
Preparations for the mating ceremony were well underway, and I’d been learning all that it entails from Mara. We sat in my room, surrounded by the soft glow of candles and the gentle rustle of silk fabrics. Mara’s voice was calm and matter-of-fact as she explained the intricacies of the shifter mating ritual.
“Unlike humans who consummate their marriage in one night, it’s quite different for shifters,” Mara began, her gaze fixed intently on me. I lowered my head, trying to hide a blush, but my cheeks betrayed me.
“They usually need an extended period of time to complete the consummation and marking, allowing you to bond with them,” Mara continued.
“Consummate?” I asked as I looked up at her, my brows furrowed in confusion. “But I have already been with them so many times,” I said, recalling the intimate encounters I shared with the shifter kings. My face grew warmer as memories flooded my brain.
Mara offered a knowing smile. “The mating ritual is vastly different from any encounter you might have had with them. Trust me, it’s why they needed the moon goddess’s blessing in the first place.”
I nodded slowly, understanding beginning to dawn on me. “Okay… How long is it going to last then?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
“That depends,” Mara replied. “Each shifter has a different time frame for their mating rituals, but since you’re bonding with all three of them… you can imagine. It can take weeks, months even.”
“Oh…” I murmured, my voice trailing off, unsure how to respond to that revelation. My cheeks grew hotter, and I looked away, trying to process the magnitude of what lay ahead. It was probably why they delayed with their confession. A mere human wouldn’t be able to handle the rigorousity of the mating ritual. I shuddered, taking a deep breath as I tried to gather some courage. I’ll be fine. They would care for me.
“So, that’s about it,” Mara said, concluding our lesson. “Do you have any questions?”
I looked at her, shaking my head.
“In that case, this lesson is over. You’re dismissed,” Mara announced with a warm smile.
No sooner had she spoken than a knock came on the door. It opened, and a soldier walked in, his eyes scanning the room before settling on me briefly. He lowered his head, his voice firm.
“You have been summoned by the shifter kings, my lady.”
My eyes widened in surprise, and I stiffened. Mara chuckled.
“Oh, speak of the devils. They want to see you,” she teased, her eyes sparkling.
My cheeks grew hot once more, and I felt a flutter in my chest. Scoffing, I stood up, dusting off imaginary wrinkles on my dress as I hurried over to the soldier.
Turning back, I did a small wave. “I’ll see you later,” I said.
Mara nodded, a small smile still on her face.
I followed the soldier, closing the door behind me. He led me through the winding corridors of the fortress, finally stopping at a study. I took a deep breath, my heart racing.
The door swung open, and I stepped inside. The room was filled with the warm scent of leather and wood. My eyes adjusted to the soft light, and my heart skipped multiple beats.
All three shifter kings were present, their piercing gazes fixed on me. Hermes leaned against the desk, Adonis sat in a chair, and Caspian stood by the window. My pulse quickened.
I hastily lowered my head, my voice barely above a whisper. “Good morning, your majesties…”
“Shouldn’t you have come up with a nickname for us already?” Hermes groaned, rolling his eyes as he pinned me with a playful glare. His piercing green eyes sparkled with amusement.
I bit back a chuckle, raising my head to meet his gaze. “None of the ones I had in mind seemed to fit,” I said with a shrug, walking further into the study. The soft creak of leather-bound books and the warm scent of wood surrounded me.
“You’ll have to make do with this one for a while,” I added, trying to sound nonchalant despite the flutter in my chest.
Hermes groaned, but a faint glimmer in his eyes betrayed his teasing tone.
Standing directly in front of them, I glanced at each of the shifter kings. Adonis’s intense blue gaze, Caspian’s warm smile, and Hermes’s playful expression made my heart skip a beat.
“You called for me,” I announced, my voice firm.
“Yes,” Caspian said, his deep voice commanding attention. “We’ve picked a date for the mating ceremony.”
My eyes grew wide, and I tensed involuntarily. For some reason, I had expected it to take even longer.
“Really?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“When is it?” I prompted, my curiosity piqued.
“Three days from now,” Adonis replied, his eyes locked onto mine.
I snapped my head to look at him, surprise etched on my face. “Isn’t that too quick?”
Adonis’s expression turned disgruntled. “No… In my opinion, I think we’ve waited far too long to be honest.”
I glanced at Caspian, and he offered a reassuring smile. “He’s right; we should have done this much earlier. But we needed to get some things in place first.”
His calm demeanor soothed my frazzled nerves, and I nodded slowly, processing the sudden deadline.
“So, what’s going to be happening… I meant, how is the whole thing going to play out?” I rushed out nervously, fiddling with my fingers.
“Simple. We’ll be leaving the fortress for quite se time for it. But we’ll do our best to make it brief.” Caspian announced and the words of Mara saying the ritual taking weeks came back to me. A flicker of fear tried to bloom in me but Caspian leaned in to kiss my forehead and it all disappeared.
“Don’t worry… You’ll enjoy it.” He murmured and I nodded, letting out a breath. My life is going to change in the next few days.
I can’t wait.