(Amaia)

My arms go around him and I press my ear against his heart. "I will miss you too."

"Stay safe, Amaia and under no circumstances take off your necklace. No matter the situation. Don’t expose yourself," he sternly instructs. There is such seriousness and urgency in his voice.

"Mhm!"

"Remember your training. Remember, everything I have taught you." His large but warm hands rub against my back.

"Will do," I slowly say, taking in his rich scent and storing it away.

"Is Rigel safe?" I know he is the one who went with him. Saiph’s body slightly tenses at my words.

I lift my head and press my chin on his chest so I can stare at him.

Slowly, he nods. His intense blue eyes hold nothing but endless love for me. "I am sorry he had to go away. I promise I will bring him back to you."

The knuckle of his index finger slowly rubs against my cheek and I try not to cry again, although tears shine in my eyes. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"No crying before you leave. I want you to go happy." Saiph lowers his head and kisses both my eyes, one by one, drinking away the tears from them.

Rigel is gone and I don’t know where he is. I have to leave Saiph behind too when I know he is also in danger.

That cruel being warned me that Saiph will be hurt and I will never know the truth about him. My heart trembles at the implication. Alnilam had promised he would help me uncover the truth once we return but what if Saiph gets hurt before that?

"Promise me that you will also take care of yourself, please," I plead with him, blinking away tears.

Saiph smiles at me as if sensing what I am thinking. "Nothing is going to happen to me, my bunny. I love you more than anything in this world and we will grow old together. This yeti is going nowhere." His words put a smile on my face and I tilt my head, rubbing my cheek on his chest.

"You better." My words come out shaky.

"Here, you need to drink this." He shows me a vial with that bitter blue liquid. It’s called Haliso but I call it hellish. I fucking hate its taste.

"This again." I wrinkle my nose and Saiph lets out a cackle.

"I am sorry but Alnilam gave it to me. We have to be careful." He pops the cork and softly presses it against my lips.

Opening my mouth I accept it. Saiph tilts the vial and empties it into my mouth. My body shakes as the bitter liquid hits my throat.

"Eghhh! Blegh!" I make faces while Saiph lovingly rubs my back trying not to laugh at my reactions.

"Take candy from that candy hoarder," he sweetly says.

"Yeah, he promised me all his candles for helping him with the packing."

"Bugger, never lifts a finger. Lazy Alnitak." Everyone knows about Alnitak’s laziness.

"His special trait." I press more of myself into Saiph and he holds me to his chest.

We finally separate with heavy hearts. My emotions are pulling me down again. It’s time to leave or I will end up crying.

My desperate eyes find him and he grabs my face, hungrily pressing his lips onto mine.

A shot of current flows through my body at this connection. His hands travel to my hips, squeezing and lifting me up until my legs are snuggly wrapped around his waist.

I feel his hardness brush against me through our clothes. The desires dribble down the bond.

Pushing me against the closed door, Saiph takes his time exploring my mouth like the thorough summer lover he is.

We are still busy ravishing each other when the mindlink opens and Alnilam’s voice filters through.

"I am standing here with the Officiant, headmaster and others and all I can feel is both of you kissing. Don’t make me hard, we need to travel."

I almost fell down in embarrassment. He can actually feel me kissing Saiph, our lust must have travelled through the bond.

It doesn’t stop there. Alnitak and Mintaka, speak through as well.

"Should we come up?"

To my utmost surprise. Saiph answers in the mindlink. "Hold your horses. You are tagging along, it’s me who is being left behind. Let me devour her and store away her taste."

How did he speak through the mindlink?

I break the kiss.

"What just happened? How did you establish a mindlink?" I ask, bewildered.

"It happened after we held that combined session. Just like how you have a mindlink with them without a wolf, I established one too and I am sure Rigel did it as well. He is just at a distance to feel it," Saiph explains.

It means all of us are connected through the mindlink now. Since I am mated to them all, we can converse through the mindlink.

Saiph lowers me to the ground.

"We are coming down, stay put," I tell them through the mindlink while Saiph adjusts my uniform and ponytail.

"Come, I will take you." Opening the door, we leave my room and head downstairs towards the training grounds.

Everyone is ready and waiting for us. Headmaster Fallon is standing with a man who has to be the officiant. Dark grey hair, humourless face and cold blue eyes. He dons a red and black costume which is quite similar to the one Dread Army wears. Theirs are yellow and black and way more detailed ones.

He watches me with a keen interest while I hold his gaze, refusing to be intimidated.

"Amaia, this is Officiant Jabal Tilns, one of the organisers of Inter Guild Wars. He will be escorting us to Istrale," Alnilam grimly says and I nod, making no attempt to shake hands with him.

"Do your best. I will be rooting for you." Headmaster Fallon hugs Kacir.

"We will," he answers, quietly. There is still tension between the two.

"If you all are ready. I will be opening the portal now. Step inside, one by one," Tilns says.