(Amaia)

I know what’s coming, I can’t avoid it any longer. The memories of last night come flooding back, bringing with them a sense of guilt.

It’s not that I regret defending my mates. I would do it all over again and not let anyone harm a single hair on their bodies.

It’s the fact that I took two lives for the first time. I know they belonged to the bloody Dread Army, but taking lives affects you on a psychological level.

Min’s hold tightens on me. He can sense my emotions through the mate bond.

"I understand the consequences of my actions. Will they be coming for me?" The blast resulting from my powers must have reached every Enforcer in Orion.

"We will annihilate whoever dares to," Alnitak fiercely says. His hand takes mine, and he assures me by squeezing it.

"We won’t let anyone harm you, Amaia," Saiph says in his thick voice but there is an underlying concern for me.

Aziel said "Five mates" in my vision and I can’t get that out of my mind every time I look at Saiph.

"The palace is surrounded by huge Shungite Crystals since both my parents carry powerful magic, they want to keep it contained. So, we are safe on that side. No one felt your magic or Jamina would have said something," Alnilam assures me.

I remember the tiny, black Shungite Crystals Alnilam had tried to use in our training session; we ended up blasting the poor crystals. He has larger ones fixed in the corner of this space now.

"That’s a relief." I relax in Mintaka’s hold.

"But we will have to be careful in the future. Yesterday, we got lucky with crystals," Alnilam continues.

"I have spoken to my parents and the brass of Orion. I implanted the idea that the creatures were being controlled by the Reavers."

"Yeah, Chitterings don’t act like they did yesterday. They were definitely being controlled by those "Buzzers". Saiph used the derogatory term for the Reavers. People who hated them usually used this term. It was offensive to them.

"The Bloody Buzzers," Alnitak spits out.

"But how? I don’t understand," I ask.

How could they control creatures like Chitterings?

"From the moment you people faced that Chittering, I have had a theory. There have been speculations and rumours but nothing is confirmed," Alnilam says as all of us intently listen.

"They might be using some advanced magic to either create these monsters or bend them to their will."

Alnitak dramatically snatches in a breath while Mintaka snorts.

Saiph puts away his empty plate. "I have a similar theory. Chitterings shouldn’t emerge like that and be controlled. An absolute sorcery is behind it all."

"I wouldn’t put it past the Dread Army to be involved in something shady like that." I relax in my mate’s arms. Although both Saiph and Alnilam watching me like that puts me slightly at unease, I am not ready to part from Mintaka and his warmth.

"We will try to get some answers at the Inter Guild Wars," Alnilam confides in us. He appears tired. They all do, no one seems to have slept the entire night especially because of me.

"Try to keep your performances up so we can send Guild Leo. There are always whispers going around among the participants. Maybe we can learn a thing or two."

All three of us nod at Alnilam. An excitement runs through me at the prospect of representing our Academy at this event.

Alnilam leans back, drops his shoulders but still doesn’t appear relaxed. I have noticed he has changed into his uniform from his night attire. His gaze travels towards his brothers and then swipes to settle on Saiph.

"Remember, Amaia’s secret needs to stay between us, to ensure it does and no one blabbers. We will be doing a Blood Oath between us five."

Saiph raises a brow at Alnilam. Somehow they don’t trust him because of his position with the queen.

Alnitak lets out an excited sound.

"Whoa! Aren’t they nasty?"

"Yes, they are. That’s why we are going to do one. Ezran will take part in it too," Alnilam explains.

"What is a Blood Oath?" I question, not being familiar with it.

"It’s nothing you have to worry about," Mintaka whispers into my hair. I am loving his protective side. How his hands refuse to budge from me makes me a satisfied woman.

"It’s an oath taken to protect a person or a secret. Done under either the full moon or a powerful constellation to harvest that extra energy. It requires the presence of everyone who will take the oath, and one personal object, plus a silver dagger," Alnilam goes on to explain the terms to me.

"What happens if someone knowingly or unknowingly breaks the oath?" I ask.

I don’t like the sound of it. I have already been cursed so I understand how it feels to be chained to something you can’t even remove—or made to do against your wishes.

"Usually, it brings you some kind of affliction, but mostly it’s your personal item which gets affected. You either lose it forever, or it gathers negative energy because of your betrayal and no longer remains pure or usable. Nothing too dramatic. One can set the terms of the oath."

No way I want my mates to suffer because of me. This seems so over the top. I know Rigel can’t even control his emotions and actions. What if his captor hurts him and makes him break his oath?

"I don’t like this. No way do I want you people to do it." My eyes waver from Alnilam to Saiph and then to Alnitak.

"I have complete faith in all of you so let’s drop this perilous idea," I request and hope the fear I am feeling is not prevalent in my voice. I have a bad feeling about this.

Alnilam’s jaw is set at my words, I know the cogs of his brain will be turning to counter my words. His secretive eyes let nothing out, but for me, there is always a kind of sadness he carries in them.

But I didn’t expect the next words he said,

"If you say so, Amaia. We won’t do it."