(Mintaka)

Jealousy had never been such an ugly bitch as it is at this moment. Seeing her in the arms of another man wrecks me in ways I can’t even explain.

I am grateful, though, that she is awake.

"Can we not just kick him out of the room and have Amaia to ourselves?" Zelen roars in my head.

"No, we need to respect Amaia. She has just woken up and we can’t create drama."

At least Zelen has fully awakened and is invested in our mate.

So I try to speak to her through the mindlink and she hears me. Zelen lifts his head and lets out a victorious howl.

The mindlink works and now we will be able to converse with each other even when we won’t be near.

Amaia appears surprised beyond words and her voice in my head makes excitement run through me like a tidal wave of satisfaction.

Her hand remains tightly intertwined with mine while Ezran holds her, kissing her neck softly.

The intimacy of his actions and the way Amaia keeps her back glued to him, tilting her neck to give him more access feels so invasive. I should look away and yet I keep my gaze locked with hers.

And then Alnitak’s excited voice comes through the mindlink. It doesn’t surprise me as much as it should have. I had anticipated this. Since we share a mate, it is natural for us to share the bond and mindlink with her too.

"Ali? You are here too?" She asks excitedly through the mindlink.

"Yes! Ummmwah!" He sends kisses through the mindlink and Amaia has to purse her lips and not burst out laughing.

"Stop it, Ali," I scold him. But I know this is only the beginning of this new relationship we are going to share.

It feels intrusive and at the same time, it doesn’t. Intimate and ours. But am I ready to share her with this vampire?

That’s most likely a no.

"As much as I want to spend every second with you. I have to go, Amaia....," Ezran wistfully says. His hands rub on her arms. It must be his bloodlust.

"I will come to see you." He turns his bloody red eyes towards me and stifly says, "Take care of her." All that warmth his voice carries evaporates the minute he addresses me.

He seems like the kind who carries a grudge and I don’t think he is going to forget how I had impaled his hand when he tried to touch her.

"I will wait for you." Amaia’s voice is heavy with yearnings.

"I know, Sundust."

A nickname for her???

Ezran lets me take his spot behind her before he disappears through the partition.

Amaia leans on me and my arms finally shackle her to myself. One above her chest with my hand holding onto her shoulder. The other wrapped around her waist.

That agitation, that restlessness, that desperation disappear as soon as her body meets mine.

I place my nose at the back of her head and breathe her in. That mind-numbing scent of her, that softness and hardness of her body and the feel of her velvety tresses that now carry my colour too.

"Amz!" I say softly. That’s what I am going to call her.

A for her name

M for mine

And, Z for Zelen’s name.

"...uum!" She closes her eyes and leans further into me.

"Why didn’t you tell us you are Fae?" I quietly ask, not trying to startle her. She slightly stiffens in my arms but I rub my cheek on her temple, keeping her calm.

"No one will hurt you. I won’t let anyone."

My words make her whimper but she doesn’t speak. The bond overflows with so many emotions, mine, hers, even Ali’s. I don’t even know where one of us ends, and the other one begins.

"My mother had made me promise not to tell anyone. Besides, I wasn’t sure who I could trust. You guys hated me in the beginning because of that liar Tarian."

My lips feel the velvetiness of her hair.

"I am sorry for how we treated you in the beginning. But remember, from today onwards, you can share anything and everything with me." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

She slowly nods her head. The partition opens again, diverting our attention. Saiph and Alnitak return with food.

Ali waves the food dishes towards us.

"Who is hungry?"

I keep her in my arms, not letting her go and extend my hand towards him.

"I will feed her. Give it here."

He raises his right brow at us. "Why not I feed you both?"

I glare at him but Amaia lets out a small chuckle.

"Don’t be cringe. Let her eat. She needs her energy," Saiph reminds us again. Like the ever-knowing wise man he is.

Alnilam has left him in charge so of course the man is going to brood and exert dominance over us.

He just takes his plate and sits on the sofa while Alnitak sits in front of us with the dish he has brought.

"I met Kacir. He was worried sick about you. So I told him we will bring you to the room soon." He picks up an apple slice and offers it to Amaia.

She graciously takes it and begins nibbling on it.

"Oh! I hope you told him not to worry."

"I did." Alnitak affectionately rubs her cheek.

We feed her turn by turn, keeping the conversation flowing, nothing too serious which might overwhelm her or bring back the memories of the incident.

Amaia doesn’t mention it either. I guess she just wants a genuine connection with her mates.

After the meal, she turns towards Saiph and hesitates before saying.

"Can I ask a question?"

"Yes!" The big man says. All that haughtiness he carries seems to have disappeared today. He speaks so softly to her.

"Can the effects of your induced nightmares be long-lasting? Like what you see there, stays with you?" She asks, but I feel her curiosity through the bond, not only that, but there is an underlying sadness.

Saiph’s forehead gathers a single crease.

"Not that I know of. It’s just a temporary thing until my powers drive you crazy—that damage is permanent. Why do you ask?"

She shakes her head. "Nothing, just curious."

She is lying, I can tell. As Alnitak said, she is a terrible liar.

The partition opens again, and enters Alnilam, and he appears not very pleased.