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  Trey shrugs and doesn’t reply. I hope that the magic that connects us will start working soon. I try to think back to when it seemed to magically fall in to place with Manu. I realize that it happened after Manu and I were intimate. I haven’t even acted on even the smallest urges with Gabal.

  The flap of the tent opens, and my Mother runs in. I am surprised by how spry she looks. Vex and she must have done the thing mystics do best, and it was enough to give her a boost. Only Rhett is with her, so Vex must be sleeping.

  Queen Maris is dressed in her best as always, although her now graying hair is flowing down her back. She pushes everyone out of her way as is her right. “What happened?” she asks as she goes to work inspecting my mouth.

  I go to speak, but she stops me, “Shhh. I can fix this real quick.”

  If she looked like how she did yesterday, I would have told her no, but now she appears like a new person. Well, the same person but with new energy.

  Her hands glow green, and my mouth goes numb and tingly. It takes just a brief second before she sits back and says, “Good as new!”

  I flex my jaw before I attempt talking, “What happened to you?” I ask.

  She shakes her head, “Nothing for you to worry about.”

  “No, I won’t tell you anything until you tell me first.”

  “Okay, fine when you awakened the node, I felt it. It is the first time I have ever had a node reach out to me instead of me to it. Tivian visited a short time later and told me that since I birthed a full mage daughter, then I must have mage blood. He taught me how to connect into the ley lines like him.”

  “Doesn’t that come with risks?” I remember Tivian and one of his mad dances.

  “Yes, it does, but it takes years for that to come into effect.”

  “So, this means you will continue to rule?” I have a sudden hope that I am not the heir to a dying Queen after all.

  “Sadly, no. I plan to hang on in an advisory role for a few years after the dust settles, but it will still all be on you and Gabal. You are blessed to have a gentle man to rule at your side as an equal in every way. It is a symbol of what you always wanted. Now tell me what happened, so we can remedy it.”

  “If you are connected to the ley lines you must be aware that Celeste is on her way into the mountain?”

  “No, she didn’t care to show me that information.” My mother's face goes grim when seconds before it displayed glimmers of hope. “Stop stalling, Dina, what happened to you?”

  I take a deep breath and recount the entire telling to Queen Maris. She takes it all in and says, "Come on, we are going to Gabal. I demand you get married tonight. Something is off. We need to start evacuating as soon as possible. You and Gabal must be married first."

  “Say what?” I ask. Trey, Rhett, and Manu are all wearing similar expressions of shock.

  “Pick your chin up off the floor, child, stand tall, and do your duty. We are working to save a world."

  With a flurry of skirts and long hair, my mother storms out of the tent on a mission, looking every bit the powerful queen she is. We all are left with no choice but to follow.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Gabal could be anywhere in Lumbai. I have no idea how to find him. I am sure I could work magic with our connection, but that takes time, and I do not understand how to use it. My mother is more resourceful than me. She stops a man dressed in mage robes and tells him that she needs to see Gabal as soon as possible. Halfway to the meeting room, she stops another man and tells him the same. She does this multiple times, and it makes sense. Surely one out of five can find King Gabal.

  We enter the same meeting house we were in earlier in the day. Nothing has changed, except now I am getting wed tonight, and I will have an evil brother-in-law.

  “Are you okay with this all?” I ask Trey while leaning into him to hold me.

  “I don’t have a choice. I will follow you to the ends of the earth, I love you. We all do,” he replies.

  “Do you think you would still love me if it were not for the marks and their magic?”

  “Dina, I fell in love with you the day I found you cutting your hair off. Rhett fell in love with you the day you took off running and raced him to your room. Manu fell in love with you the moment he met you, otherwise why turn his back on his nations? We all loved you before being marked. The problem is that you can’t see why you are so easy to love.” He moves in for a kiss, but now is a bad time. I won’t have any privacy, and I am desperately craving the physical touch a mystic needs. Not because I need the energy, I think it is more because it is ingrained into my genetics to make me a hormonal mess, so I am always ‘full’.

  I can’t help but wonder how Trey is not my heart. He is my first everything and will always hold a special part. To be honest, I am scared to give myself to Gabal. Each man I bond with makes me weaker. It is as if parts of my heart have left my chest and are walking around facing danger after danger. If something were to happen any of them, I will be left broken, but if something were to happen to Gabal after our blood bond, I will die with him.

  I take a seat and bury my head in my hands. I wish I had Bee around to reassure me. “Do any of you know where Bee and Tim have been? And should we be allowing Tim free range when Celeste is on our heels?”

  “They are packing up Tivian’s library and helping oversee the movement of supplies. Gabal is sending all of their food storages to Lorcan to help with the influx of people,” Mother answers me. How am I ever going to know as much as that woman?

  It isn’t long before Gabal enters the room. My heart jumps in my chest when he enters, and the butterflies in the pit of my stomach come alive. I have only seen a handful of kings in my lifetime at special events. They were always dressed immaculately and appeared soft. King Gabal is neither of those things. He is rugged, strong, and oh so handsome. I still don’t understand how I can love all of my men so much. I also am experiencing a tinge of guilt that I am already adding another when Manu just entered the mix.

  “What’s wrong?” he asks from the door.

  “Your secret brother you told none of us about!” Queen Maris spits.

  “Braeden?” Gabal asks.

  “Yes, Braeden! He harassed Dina, alluded to marrying her if something bad happens to you. Oh, and Celeste has entered the mountain. So, I demand plans be moved up. I want you and Dina married tonight. I want you to stay with Dina in the mountain, and I want you three,” she points to Rhett, Trey, and Manu, “to guard them through the night. If we want to win this, the key is that King Gabal and Dina stay alive. Now please, tell us about Braeden.” My mother is all Queen Maris right now, throwing demands and accusations.

  I watch as Gabal’s face darkens in anger, so I interrupt to diffuse the situation. “Don’t worry about Braeden. We need to be concerned about Celeste and if she has found a way into Lumbai. I am guessing he hasn’t stayed in Lumbai after you became king?”

  “You guessed right. He left, I haven’t seen him in five years, at least. I didn’t even know he was back.” He ran his hand through his dark hair.

  “Is there any chance he could have joined with Celeste?” I ask and look to my mother who nods her approval.

  “There is always a chance.”

  “Okay, that settles it. You will marry tonight atop the mountain in a private ceremony. We will open the portal for the first round of evacuees and supplies first thing in the morning. Now, I need to go tell Vex of the changes, so he may prepare our warriors. I will send Bee here within the hour to get you ready. Gabal you must prepare elsewhere.”

  When she leaves the room, the tension lessens. I am now alone with all four of my men, who are only bound through me, and they are not yet all bonded to each other. “Sorry about her.”

  “Don’t be, she has been a Queen for years, and she is right. Although I hate the circumstances, we are stronger together.”

  “Does that mean she should marry each of us as well?” Trey asks. I roll my eyes. I wish he was dealing with
this better. He will always stand beside me, but his behavior is one reason I never wanted a harem.

  “I don’t think it works like that. Although, I wish it did, and I don’t see why I can’t marry all of you, eventually. However, only Gabal will be the king. Please remember I love all of you. I never wanted a harem, but now that I have one, I don’t want to lose any of you,” I reply.

  “Trey needs to stop it. We are all a part of something bigger than any regular harem. We are following the stars. I respect your relationship with Gabal, but I would like to point out that I am also a prince, and someday, I may be a chieftain of Luhl. Although, I will step down, but if I keep my position and take you as my wife we can unite nations, in the future . . . right now, we need to focus on this Celeste bitch.”

  I chuckle at Manu’s use of words. I haven’t even thought of the possibility of uniting with another nation, but it sounds perfect for spreading my message of equality. “Okay, so we are doing this tonight? I am getting married upon the node at the top of the mountain in a private ceremony?”

  “Yes, we are.” We all sit there in an intense silence for a few moments. “I will have Laura prepare my room for you and to move my things. You can go bathe while she works. All of you are welcome to the hot spring within my rooms. I guess I will see you later.” Gabal is a giant of a man. My heart goes wild when I notice his cheek bones go pink above the shadow of his beard. He leaves. Next time I see him, I will be marrying him. At least, I get an hour or so with my three men first.

  All four of us make it to Gabal’s rooms. No one is saying anything. The mood is somber, not because of the marriage, but because of everything that is to come. I decide that a bath is a good idea. I still have dried blood on my sleeve, and I am sure there may be some on face as well.

  I walk into the cave and experience a warm embrace like I am being welcomed home by the node. I am closer to her here than anywhere else. We continue our silence as we all take off our clothing to get into the water. There is no laughter or any of our regular shenanigans. Even Rhett has joined in the somber tone.

  All three men follow me into the water. We all groan as the warmth releases some of the stress.

  “How much will this marriage change us?” Rhett asks. It is one of the first times I have ever heard an uncertainty from him. He ducks his red head under the water and comes back up quickly. Water beads roll off his muscles in perfect droplets. He is just as gorgeous as the others. They are all perfect in their own way.

  “I’m hoping not much changes at all,” I have the same concern, so I can’t pretend to know the answers.

  “I think the problem is we aren’t complete. We all became closer after you spent time with Manu, but we were talking last night, and Manu is not experiencing any of the side effects of being with you. Like we both can see and sense energy now.” Trey points to himself and Rhett.

  “Oh, I hadn’t considered that. I mean I felt the energy from our . . . um . . . time together.” I blush with embarrassment of having to be so frank. Manu is sitting in the water with his arms stretched out on the edge of the pool. His hair is still tightly braided hanging over his shoulder and into the water. He gives me a wink, and I can’t help but laugh.

  I'm aware of what I need to do. I need to connect with all of them, so the jealousy will end. This way, they will all be bonded to one another through me, and Gabal will join them after we wed. I nod to Manu, and he pushes off from the edge and stalks through the water towards me looking like an island god.

  My insides flip as he approaches. He stops so close, we are almost touching. I reach up and play with his braid between my fingers. His hand caresses the side of my face. The energy building between us is intense. I need him.

  The node thrums through the water, the walls, and the air of the cave. “Can you sense it?” I ask. Manu shakes his head no. I look past him to where Rhett and Trey are watching us and both of them acknowledge they can.

  I don't hesitate. Wrapping my long arms around Manu’s neck, I pull his mouth to mine. Energy bursts forth, rushing into me and then back into him. It isn’t enough. We need more. The ache between my thighs is proof of that.

  Manu holds me to him with one muscled arm, and with the other, he leans me back and rubs his palm up from my navel to my breast. I get a glimpse past him and notice Rhett watching from the edge of the bathing pool with lust in his eyes. Part of me wishes all three men could join me. Maybe, someday, but right now, it is all about me and Manu.

  I give in to the energy and thrust my hips towards him. Manu takes the hint placing his hands on my hips as I lean farther back resting myself on the edge of the pool. In one smooth thrust, Manu enters me within the water. A shock wave of energy rocks through my core, and a moan escapes my lips.

  Last time with Manu he took his time exploring me, this time he is claiming me. Using the wall of the pool as a brace he releases one hand and grabs my breast to hold on as he thrusts hard again and again. I adjust my hips until he fits within my sweet spot just right.

  Every thrust now comes in time with the node’s thrum. The energy fills me so completely, I lose all sense of thought. I watch Manu bite his lip as he enjoys every ounce of what I am offering him. It is so hot. It isn’t long before my moans become more frenzied, and the energy is at a breaking point.

  When I let go, I scream, tightening and convulsing around his throbbing shaft. He Leans over me, burying his head in my neck and his fingers in my hair as he thrusts one more time before exploding within me.

  In that moment, the energy became visible to us all. I can see a golden thread holding us together. Manu is laying upon me breathing hard. When he pushes off, his eyes widen at the sight.

  “You are a dirty whore not worthy of King Gabal! He saved himself for you all these years, and you have relations with these men on the day of your wedding! You don’t deserve him!” The beautiful moment is ruined by a small woman with long chocolate-colored hair and a round face.

  Manu pushes off of me. I am stunned, but am thankful when Trey speaks on my behalf. “You don’t know what you are talking about, little girl. I suggest you get back to work.”

  She narrows her eyes, and her wide mouth sets in a line straight across her face, but before she turns to go, I have to ask, “What is your name?”

  “Laura.” She doesn’t address me with an ounce of respect.

  “Well, Laura, I am Princess Dina, heir to the Aster throne. I am half mystic and half mage. You don’t know me to pass such harsh judgements,” I try to say nicely enough. Gabal cares about this girl, and I don’t want to step on his bad side.

  “You will never be a queen of mine. I don’t even believe you are a mage. Rumor says you are a mystic whore playing the game to expand your nation,” she says, but instead of leaving, her curiosity allows her to continue standing in the door staring at us with a disgusted glare.

  I feel sick to my stomach again. We are running out of time, and the node is trying to warn me of it. “You are woefully misinformed. Now do what Gabal asks of you, and I may or may not tell him about your atrocious behavior.” Her face goes ash white before she spins on her heel and leaves the room. All thoughts of Manu being able to see our connection leave my head.

  “She is dangerous,” Manu observes.

  “But she is so small and so insignificant,” Rhett counters.

  “Those are the ones you have to watch closest,” Trey replies.

  I dunk my head under the warm water and wash myself clean. “I need to get ready. Bee might already be waiting for me.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  My men dress and leave before I exit the pool. I take a moment longer to finish cleaning off. I get out and find Gabal's black robe hanging on the wall. I slip into it and breathe in the scent of fresh mountain air. Everything about Gabal feels right. I trust that man. It is the circumstances surrounding everything else that has me off kilter.

  I walk into the main room to find Laura still arguing with Trey. “You need to get out, so B
ee can help Princess Dina prepare. Now!” he yells at her.

  “No, I will not leave a bunch of strangers in my King’s chambers! Especially that one!” she yells back and points at me. The nerve of this young girl.

  Losing my temper, I send the flames in the center of the room flaring. “Who do you think you are to talk to me like that!”

  She shirks back against the wall, “I have heard of mystics, you need to use words to create magic.”

  “You know nothing of mystics after living your entire life secluded in the mountains. I am also a mage with the power of fire. Do you want to see what I can do?” I ask, making a fireball dance in my hand on instinct.

  Laura turns white and tosses her dark hair over her shoulder as she leaves, slamming the door. “Where are Manu and Rhett?”

  “Outside, trying to keep Bee from attacking Laura,” he replies.

  “That girl is trouble, for sure. I don't want her near me or Gabal once we wed, and I will tell him about her ridiculous attitude.” I eye the door.

  “She is in love with him, Dina. No one believed you existed, and then you come waltzing in with three very handsome warriors as your own and get to claim her king as well. Women are jealous, this is how they work.”

  In love with him? I guess that makes sense. “How do you know more about women than I do?” I ask.

  “I spent years living among warrior women. They may be a closer knit group, but ultimately they can be just as catty and jealous as mystics.”

  I move forward and pull Trey into a soft delicious kiss, “I am always amazed at how level-headed you are, most the time.”

  The door swings open, “Out! Everyone except Dina, get out! That means you warrior boy.” Bee points her finger at Trey who gives a graceful bow to my short friend and exits the room.

  “I don’t like that Laura girl, Dina. She has got to go.” Bee is still carrying on. “You are marrying a king! You will only do this once in this lifetime, and that bitch is trying to ruin your day!”