(Amaia)

The situation with Alnilam has left me more frustrated than I could have imagined. The thought of him never owning and recognising me as his mate has destroyed my peace. The curse on me will never be fully broken if he won’t accept me as his mate.

I want to be left alone but Rigel doesn’t understand boundaries.

My insistence on his leaving me alone falls on deaf ears. He follows me like a desperate, lost soul, until we get to my room.

Holding onto my arm, he spins me around so I can face him.

Desperation clings to him like a second skin. His face holds so much contempt. "Alnilam will not accept you. Once he makes up his mind, he won’t change his decision. His reputation is more important to him than you."

The truths he is uttering are something I don’t wish to hear at that moment. I know Rigel means well, but right now I just want to be left alone and contemplate my feelings. My chest burns and I can hardly speak.

"I don’t want to have this conversation. I want to be alone." Hurt passes over his face as if I am trying to hurt him. I am not, just setting up boundaries, knowing all of them are going to overwhelm me if I don’t.

Besides this trend of them speaking shit about each other with me, needed to end. My relationship with each and every one of them is different, and I need to sort my problems on my own, not involve them and have them go at each other’s throats.

Today Rigel hurt Alnilam because he believed Alnilam had hurt me. He did, but only emotionally, and knowing Alnilam, I could sense he carries a lot of baggage.

I can’t have them hurting each other over these issues when none of them is physically hurting me. The emotional connection with them is still developing, and that has to be my issue with them, not their issue with each other.

I know it’s easier said than done. Their bonds are new and senses heightened and all of them care deeply for me. But we need to sit and open communication with each other, instead of going for physical violence. At the end of the day, all of them are equally important to me.

Alright, maybe I am biased towards one but others do not need to know that.

The door to my room is still open and I hear a small knock. Turning my head I find Saiph standing there, his eyes focused on Rigel.

"Give her time and space. She will come to you when she is ready."

"And why exactly are you interfering and lecturing? This is not one of your sessions," Rigel blasts at Saiph.

"Ezran! Please! Not everyone is the enemy," I seethe out, placing my hand on my forehead and shaking it. A severe headache is descending.

"For me, everyone is the enemy except you. I don’t trust them."

"I do, so trust me." I let my hand rest on his heart so he will remain calm. I think he is more upset with the fact that Alnilam is my mate too.

Rigel relaxes but only slightly. I can sense him still being on the edge.

"Why don’t you go and get some rest and let me have some too. It has been a day," I request, trying not to cry from all these overwhelming emotions.

"I don’t want you to be alone tonight. Just let me stay, or I will be restless thinking about you. I promise to behave," he implores with such urgency that I can’t say no anymore.

"Okay!" Rigel visibly relaxes at my one-word answer.

My eyes are pulled towards Saiph. Silently, he is observing me, ensuring I am alright. His silent care is always there. He doesn’t speak like others, nor fight like them, but he is the balance between the brothers and Rigel, and I am thankful for him.

"I am fine, Saiph. You can relax." Giving me a nod he says.

"I will be nearby if you need me." I know what he means. In his bird form, he will remain closeby.

Saiph leaves, closing the door softly behind him. Kacir is not here and I can only guess he is spending the night with Rahria.

As promised, Rigel quietly sits on the edge of my bed while I grab some night attire from my cupboard and proceed to my wash area to change.

Emerging from it, I find Rigel watching me with his sharp, haunting eyes.

"Come, sleep. I will sing you a lullaby." He stands up from my bed so I can lie down.

I blink at Rigel and his tall stature. The darkness exudes from every pore he possesses like a demon who has escaped from hell—and yet he wants to sing me a lullaby.

I wasn’t in the mood to deal with any of them, but I could hear a lullaby. Quietly, I lay down, curling into myself like I usually love to do when I am hurting.

Rigel sits near my head and his hand lands in my hair, fingers weaving through them.

The bonds in my chest are agitated, especially the one I share with Alnilam. But I am done chasing him, it’s his decision now what he wants to do about it.

Rigel’s long and cold fingers are soothing.

"Sing for me," I request and he obeys.

In his deep, baritone voice, Rigel begins to sing me a lullaby.

"You are my lone star

You are my little one

You are my twinkling star

You have travelled from afar."

It’s something I have never heard before, it’s soft and at the same time powerful and soothing.

Where did he learn this?

My gaze is drawn towards him and he is watching me with nothing but endless love.

"Where did you hear this?" I cannot help but ask, letting myself bask in his comforting voice.

A veil of pain drops on his face, covering it. His fingers delve deep into my hair.

"My mother used to sing this to me when I couldn’t sleep at night." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

We are the same when it comes to our mothers. Both have lost them and both of them used to sing us lullabies.