(Alnilam)

Horrors flash across my mother’s face as I reveal what has been bugging me. How Amaia is mated to not only me, my brothers but also Ezran and Saiph.

Her eyes enlarge at my words and the cup almost drops from my hand.

"....I...I have no words..."

Silence falls where both of us awkwardly stare at each other.

"Saiph? Are you sure?" She finally whispers.

"Yes, and both of them have accepted the bond."

I can’t even tell her the whole truth without revealing Amaia’s secret and this will make the situation even more difficult.

"I know it’s a lot to take in but Alnitak and Mintaka are too confused to understand this and after Jamina, I don’t even know where I stand with Amaia. I can’t reject her now."

Hurriedly, Mama places the cup down and leans in to hold my hands.

"My child, I know. I understand and I feel more than you can imagine. I am your mother, I carried you in my womb." She sadly smiles. "I can see how painful this is for you, especially with Jamina’s passing. But this could be a sign for you. Maybe the Moon goddess wants you to accept her."

Mama is right. I have seen the sign. That prophecy which binds us together is a sign. I can no longer deny that.

"How will this even work? Mate bond is supposed to be sacred," I ask, confused.

"It is. Maybe, it’s sacred between the six of you. You are each other’s shield."

Her point hits home. Maybe, I am not meant to do it alone, unlike my father. It can mean, they will be my companions, my comrades, my advisers. All six of us hold the same views when it comes to Orion. They will help me take Orion to new heights.

"I understand, your words make sense," I tell her.

She slowly smiles. "I am not saying it will be easier to share a mate but with our changing world, this is becoming a possibility. We have to adapt or risk being left behind and forgotten."

Survival of the fittest. If I reject Amaia I will be left alone with no one, my lineage will end with me. I will never have babies but most importantly Amaia will never reach her intended potential.

That’s something I will not let happen. She needed to grow and survive. I had promised to be her shield and I couldn’t be without being there for her, emotionally and physically.

I don’t need to share her when she is with others but I will need to be intimate with her, just for the sake of helping her.

"She is our mate. It will be more than just helping her. She is ours," Snow raises his head, seeing I am changing my decision.

"Once Amaia comes back from the Inter Guild Wars, I have to mark her."

Mama nods. "You and your brothers too. We can hold a marking ceremony on your return."

I knew Mama would understand but what about father? Will he?

"And father?" I ask, taking a small sip of tea. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"I will speak to him. Leave that to me."

"What if he doesn’t agree?" The cup I return to its plate.

"Alnilam we love you guys more than anything. Your father may be tough but he loves you. If this is something you want, he will eventually agree. Even if he doesn’t. The three of you are adults who can make your own choices. No one can force someone to reject their mate."

Mama is right. It’s our decision at the end of the day.

"What are you people discussing?" I hear my father’s voice and turn around.

He is marching towards us on graceful strides, clothed in his royal attire. Both of us stand up as he draws near.

"Father!" I greet and he offers me a nod of acknowledgement, that hostility he carries is less today.

"How are you?" He questions, settling down in his chair while two sentinels adjust his garb and step back.

The maid behind Mama pours tea for my father and places it in front of him.

"Good. And you?"

"Same." He picks up his cup and begins to sip.

"I understand how hard it is after Jamina but I warned you not to mess with the Dread Army."

I was wondering when the judgement will start and here we are. The resentment and guilt that have already consumed me surge.

"Then the B-Twins should have killed me and not her. I was the one who killed those Reavers. They were controlling monsters who tried to kill my brothers and me," I blast, unable to hold myself back.

"Alnilam, I say that because I care. Some things which should be left as they are or one gets hurt."

"What I don’t understand is, why were they after my sons? Why did they come for them? They critically injured Mintaka and then tried to kill them. What’s their game?" Mama asks, annoyed.

"To exert control and to pressurise us that they can do whatever and get away with it," father concludes for her and my hand tightens against the cup so tight, it breaks in my hand.

"They won’t. I will fight them till the last drop of my blood. I am confident a new era will rise, and this darkness will be abated."

That prophecy slithers in my mind and somehow I know, Amaia is the key to it. The very reason I have to guide and protect her. I can’t reject her. I have made up my decision.

"I understand your passion, son. I was once there where you are but power comes with responsibility and responsibility requires making sound decisions. This time they even warned us to never interfere with Huradis. We are even required to invite him to events we will hold in the palace."

This enrages me. Why did they push him upon us? What was the connection?

"We will see," I say and get up to leave with hopes that Mama will be able to convince my father.