(Amaia)

Kacir tightly hugs me as I enter our room with Mintaka.

"I am glad you are alright. Where were they hiding you?" He asks, full of concern. His eyes settle on the red spot on my impeccable white dress caused by Min’s blood.

"Well, we had an interesting night. Mintaka recognised me as his mate." I couldn’t tell Kacir about my origin and what happened last night. "And he injured himself, hence the stain."

I didn’t want to add him to the list of people who could be targeted because of knowing who I was, so I edited my reply but kept it true.

Kacir froze, his head turned so sharply from me to Mintaka behind us.

"He what? You what? Wasn’t it Alnitak and Ezran?" A storm of confusion hit him with full force.

Mintaka let out a loud chuckle as Kacir stupidly blinked at us.

"Yeah, it has been established that I have more than one mate. Mintaka is finally able to recognise me too."

Kacir turns slightly and holds his head with both his hands, shaking it.

"I knew it. My first instinct was correct."

I let out a small laugh. "It was but that wasn’t Mintaka."

"Yeah, she has a fourth mate too. We just don’t know who the mystery guy is. He keeps sleeping around though." Mintaka’s arm comes around my shoulder and he pulls me into himself, bathing me in his oceanic scent.

"This keeps getting complicated," Kacir says, still trying to wrap his head around this new development.

"You can imagine how it’s going for us." Mintaka takes me forward and helps me sit on the bed. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"On the brighter side, I have reconnected with my wolf and gotten my powers back. Even tested them on Ezran earlier." Mintaka winks at Kacir making him purse his lips.

Sharply I turn to watch Mintaka. Did they fight while I was unconscious? Has to be. "You did what? What are your powers?"

"Yeah! We had a slight difference of opinion. Nothing for you to worry about? We boys can handle ourselves," he says with amusement.

"I don’t want you guys fighting over me." I close my eyes, trying to calm this rising agitation.

Was this how it was going to be? They were fighting all the time, especially with Rigel, because he was different and not their brother.

"Did you forget what he did to Kacir?" Mintaka asks, his eyes taking on a darkness.

"I didn’t but he can’t control his actions at times. He is learning to control his urges."

Mintaka lets out a frustrated breath at my answer.

"Please, don’t defend his actions."

He doesn’t understand Rigel but he is also correct in his stance.

"Guys, don’t fight because of me. That was training and Ezran is strong. So let’s leave it at that," Kacir requests, letting a small smile rest on his lips. Always understanding and kind.

"And I am happy for you both. You guys are my best friends and nothing will make me happier if you guys can find love in each other and not fight."

"As you say, Kacir." Mintaka nods and stands up. He listens to Kacir and never disagrees.

He then turns to face me. "Sleep, I will come to check up on you in a few hours." A yawn escapes him and I can see how tired he looks.

"I am just going to read a book and relax." Bending down, I begin to take off my shoes.

"Why don’t you sleep here? I promised Rahria that I would teach her chess, and you would get to remain close to Amaia." He winks at us, making a blush appear on my cheeks.

"You are a gem. That’s why you are my best friend," Mintaka says with a broad smile and does a high five with him.

Kacir moves to the cupboard and takes out the chess set I had gifted him. He takes it with him, closing the door behind him. Mintaka moves to the door and locks it; unlike us, he is not chill about keeping the door unlocked.

Turning towards me, he swipes a hand through his carmine locks and asks, "Want me to help you change?"

His enchanting eyes take me in, leisurely making both my breath and heart beat to rise.

Slowly he prances towards me like a graceful panther. Kneeling near my feet he grabs my right leg and raises it, ready to take off my sandal.

I lean back, using my hands and arms to keep my body at an angle from my bed.

The moment his fingers brush against my skin, a spark of lightning shoots up my calf.

Mintaka’s touch is provocative, like a sacred ritual he is undertaking. A quietude descends upon the room, the air thickens and charges between us. The bond is heavy and brimming with our heightened emotions.

The soft leather slides away, like a cool whisper against my skin, and then his hand cradles my bare foot. The intimacy of his actions has my breath coming out in a rasp.

His head bends and he presses his lips against the delicate hollow of my ankle, like a devoted pilgrim at an altar.

A gasp is caught in my throat, not of surprise, but of a profound, unravelling tenderness.

His eyes remain glued to me, watching and observing my reaction to him, the heaving of my chest, the changing shades on my face.

Shyness and delicacy, fleet and melt into a flood of awe at his actions. I hadn’t anticipated Mintaka to do something like this.

"Min, what are you doing?" I try to remove my foot from his grasp but he holds on tight.

"Let me," he says, a voice heavy with adoration.

In his touch, I feel cherished as a whole and earthly being, flaws and all.

A fierce, quiet joy blooms in my chest. Warmth spreads as his lips slowly move up my leg, planting reverent kisses in their wake.

He repeats the process with my other foot and hikes up my dress up to my knees, opening my legs wider and remaining settled between them.

His hands clutch both my thighs as he sensually whispers.

"Now, I am going to taste you, Amaia and you are going to come in my mouth."

I shudder at his words while he disappears inside my dress, making my back arc like a ballet dancer’s.