33. Kadia

Seeing Enzo with Beckett, Arlo, and Esen boded well for her. All of their body posture was relaxed, but Enzo’s face held the gaze of someone who wanted to talk. Kaida stepped onto the porch with the girls at her back. Enzo looked past her at her friends, and his eyes widened. Kaida could feel that they allowed their power to show, hitting Enzo like a gigantic wave. She caught him stumbling for a second, but he quickly recovered.

"I think we need to talk," Enzo stated while his eyes were still on the girls.

"I think you do, too, twatwaffle," Remy countered.

Kaida pulled her lips into a tight line to keep her from laughing. She could save him right now, but Kaida wasn’t sure if he deserved to be saved.

"Excuse me?" Enzo narrowed his eyes to Remy.

Remy growled. "I didn’t stutter. You two do need to talk. You all need to talk." She pointed at all of the boys.

Enzo’s stare turned into a full glare. "I don’t see why you are the one who needs to say this."

Beckett put his hand on Enzo’s shoulder and chuckled. "I’d just listen if I were you, my friend."

With a scrunched face, Enzo glanced back at him. "I came here to talk to Kaida."

"And we warned you that her friends would make that difficult to do alone," Beckett reminded him.

"So, we can’t talk alone?" Enzo asked as he looked back at Kaida.

"Girls, let’s go back inside. Give them some privacy," Adrien called out from behind Kaida.

Kaida looked back at them just in time to see Remy glare at Adrien. "What? Why should we do that? We need to be here for our girl."

"This doesn’t concern us. Not to mention, I think we will be told in detail what happens anyway."

Remy growled and followed the others reluctantly. Kaida giggled before walking to the couch that was on the porch and sat down. Beckett pushed Enzo slightly as he made his way to sit next to her. Arlo and Esen went to do the same, but Enzo moved to sit on top of the ledge of the wall that was across from Kaida. Arlo sat next to Beckett, and Esen sat in a chair on the other side of Kaida. Beckett put his hand on Kaida’s leg, drawing Enzo’s attention. Before he could do anything, Kaida shot him a look to keep his words to himself about it.

Enzo took a deep breath, and after he let it out, he began his speech. "I want to start off by apologizing for letting my temper get the better of me. I didn’t mean for that to happen. I didn’t expect you to be already mated when I came here. Hell, I didn’t expect you to have multiple mates. So, my dragon and I grew possessive and wanted you to return home with us. I was wrong about that. You have your own mind and can tell me how you feel."

Kaida bowed her head and smiled. "Thank you."

"Also, I want to apologize for how I reacted to everything. Truth be told, I’ve never heard of someone having multiple mates before. I have read about Plasmas, because I had to in my studies, and I don’t recall the textbook saying anything about that. It was a shock and I reacted poorly."

"I’ll say!" Kaida heard through the window they were sitting in front of.

Kaida held back a laugh as she heard Adrien telling Remy to get away from the window and give them some privacy. Enzo clenched his jaw, but Kaida noticed that the others were holding in a laugh, too.

At least they understand that my friends are like this.

I wonder if Remy would punch Enzo if we let her.

Let’s not give her that opportunity…yet.

"Trust me, we were all a bit shocked at finding out that I can have more mates. I was already bonded to Beckett when it happened. When my dragon emerged, and the others showed up completely, it was confusing, and we all had to come to terms with this," Kaida offered.

Enzo nodded, "I’m still coming to terms with this."

"Enzo, we didn’t expect you to accept this information and join us in a big group hug. We are all still trying to understand this ourselves. We have spent time together to get a feel for the bond. At first, we kind of thought this was a ruse and that, when spending time with each other, the bond would just be there or not. Once we all felt the bond there, we realized that it was real for all of us."

Enzo blinked a few times, pondering her explanation. "That’s why you are only bonded to Beckett?"

"Yeah. It wasn’t like we read about this and just accepted the information and completed the bonds. After spending time with Arlo, and the bond opened up, I realized the text was right. I had multiple mates."

"Oh."

"Like I said earlier, dude. We are all on a learning curve. This isn’t easy for any of us, but I think it is easier for us than you. We have known each other since birth, really. We look at each other like brothers. If we had to share, we couldn’t have been luckier to have to share with each other. You, on the other hand, are the odd man out."

Enzo’s nostrils flared, and his eyes flickered to his dragon. With a blink, his eyes returned to the storm gray Kaida knew so well. "Which is why I didn’t want to do this."

Kaida held up her hand to make him stop, "Listen here, and listen well. I will put this out there now, before anything else is said. Enzo, I am not returning to the mainland with you without them. I’m sorry if that hurts, but I refuse to leave here and go back without them. I know inside my soul that they are also my mates. I feel their bonds inside of me. Yours is still the broken shell of what was, and it will take you to fix it before we can move on to better things."

Enzo swallowed and took in her words. Kaida waited for his response while she thought that what she wanted to say came out harsher than she’d intended. She felt the energy of his dragon rising after he said that he didn’t want to do this. She didn’t care if that was past tense or not. The last thing she wanted was for this conversation to move forward without what she wanted to say being put on the table.

"Trust me, Kaida, I understand that. After you left, we had a talk. This is not going to be easy to navigate, but it’s pretty damn clear that this is the only way. You, being a Plasma, are a game changer. I don’t think this would happen if you were any other kind of dragon. It makes sense for you to have a mate of each breed. Much to my dismay, I have to share you with them. I came here thinking I could put my life back together just by having you by my side. Now I am seeing it in a different way."

Kaida’s heart fluttered at his words. It sounded as though he was more accepting of this situation. Am I going to be able to have Enzo, too? Can I finally have the bond inside of me fixed, and I can feel whole again?

"What way is that?"

“Maybe this happened for a reason. Maybe our people need someone on the throne who can bring everyone together, not just those who live on the mainland but also here on this island. If you are to have a mate from each breed, then it will show how we are all the same but just hold a different magic inside of us. Our people must forget the past of outcasting anyone who is not a Storm dragon. You were chosen for me because I am next to reign. You are a Plasma, so the Queen of Dragons could bring us together."

Kaida’s eyes welled up at his words. Not only was he okay with her having multiple mates, but Enzo also believed she was the one destined to make enough change in the world that could bring together their people.

"You really think so?"

"I do. I think the Great Dragon is sending us a message. We are paying attention to it, so now we must accept this message and bring it to light."

The boys nodded in agreement with his statement. Kaida looked over at them, and they gave her a wink and a smile.

"So... you are going to... fix the bond and join us?"

Enzo nodded. "Yes. I won’t be going back right away, either. I’ll send a letter to my father saying that we need to sort through some things first. There is much for us to discuss, but I think this is more prevalent."

"I didn’t think you would accept this so easily."

"I didn’t think so either. But on our way over here, the guys and I talked. I really think we can make this work. It will take some time, but I will do anything to keep you. I came here to fix things so we can be together. If that also means I must build a relationship with these guys to make you happy, then so be it. Again, The Great Dragon has a plan. If we want our people to prosper, we must listen to their plan and see it through."

Kaida smiled and stood up. Enzo’s eyes darted to the boys and then back to her. Kaida stepped in front of him and put her arms around his neck. Enzo immediately wrapped his arms around her and tightened his grip as he buried his nose in her neck. Kaida sighed as she found herself relaxing in his embrace. She had missed how good this felt.

Enzo pushed her away only enough so he could look into her eyes. He gave her a light smile, relieved that today’s worst was over.

"I, Enzo Stymrir, Prince of Dragaal, accept you, Kaida Hilmir, as my mate and recant my rejection."

Kaida sucked in a breath as the bond inside of her felt ignited in flames as it stitched back together. The feeling of electricity ran through her body as Enzo’s relief rushed through her. It was quickly replaced with anxiety as he waited for her to finish the ritual.

Kaida smiled at him. "I, Kaida Hilmir, accept your recanting and accept you, Enzo Stymrir, as my mate."

Enzo sucked in a breath like she did as the magic of the ritual fixed the bond between them. Enzo pulled her back into his arms when the aftereffects were over.

He’s mine...he’s finally mine again.