Chapter 9

9

For once, Zanyr was happy to follow someone else's lead. Especially if that someone was his mate, and she was taking him to the bedroom. Though by this point, he'd happily take her on any available surface. He'd never been this eager, this hungry , for a female before.

The need for her had been with him from the moment he first caught her scent, but it was intensifying. How had the prince and his consort managed to give their mate the time she needed to accept them? Phaedra was the first human female ever to bond with one of their kind, and the rumors claimed she made them wait two days before accepting them.

He didn't want to wait two more minutes, never mind two days.

The home she'd been assigned was based on one of the standard templates—machine-made, sturdy, and quick to build. They were typical Vardarian designs with open spaces that allowed the occupants to stretch their wings and even fly from place to place through the wide halls, broad doorways, and tall ceilings. Still, compared to their home out on the farm, it was relatively small.

The door to her bedroom was open, and the air still held traces of soap and steam from her recent shower. He let her go first and then grinned at his anrik and tried to elbow him out of the way so he could go in next. Torren blocked him with one wing and stepped neatly around his outstretched foot to slip past him with the grace of a dancer.

"Nice try," Torren sent.

Zanyr was too busy looking around the room to answer. Everything here was basic, functional, and probably had come with the house. A handful of photos sat in frames on top of a dresser, and the small treasures he and Torren had given her earlier took pride of place on an otherwise empty bedside table.

The bed was made up with simple, cream-colored sheets and a fluffy white coverlet. To his relief, he noted that the bed was also a standard Vardarian design and was made for more than one person. While it wasn't one of the larger styles, it would accommodate them all.

"Uh, so, this is it. My bed. I mean my bedroom. The main bathroom is that way." She pointed out the door and then gestured down the hall. "And the ensuite is there."

The door to her private bathing area was open, allowing him a view of cream and white fixtures that looked about as warm and inviting as a midnight swim during a blizzard. He'd spent too much of his life in rooms like this, though they'd never been this clean or new. Cold. Impersonal. As if whoever lived here knew they weren't going to stay, so why bother trying to make it a home.

He knew why he'd lived that way before coming to Haven. The question was why did Jenna?

Torren only had eyes for their mahaya . He prowled across the room like a predator stalking his prey, and Zanyr knew what would happen next. Torren Vex loved the chase more than any other male he'd ever met. Now they'd had her permission, it was time to play.

"We will never harm you, Jenna. Anything we do to you will be to bring you pleasure, not pain."

"Uh. Yes. Of course," Jenna said, but she took a step back at the same time, and her gaze dropped to the floor.

"Do not run from me." The words were silken, but a blade of pure steel lay hidden beneath them.

Jenna froze. "I'm not running." Her voice was softer than a whisper.

Zanyr watched, curious to see what Jenna did next. They had to figure out what she needed and what she was willing to accept.

"Do not hide from me either," Torren said.

"What do you want from me?" she asked without raising her voice or her eyes.

"Everything you're willing to give us. Your body. Your pleasure. Your trust." Torren reached out to her, his hand brushing her cheek. "And someday, when we've proven ourselves to you, I hope you'll give us one more thing."

She trembled, but neither male spoke. If she needed them to explain, they would, but what a gift it would be if she instinctively knew what they wanted.

"You…" she broke off. Her teeth sank into her lower lip for several seconds, and then she raised her head to look at them. Both of them. "You want me to submit to you."

It wasn't a question. Blessed ancestors, she did understand. It was enough. At least for now.

"We do," Zanyr joined the conversation. "But not until you are ready. That's a gift not easily given."

Her next breath came out in a soft huff that might have been laughter but was probably relief. "True. Thank you for giving me time."

Her lips thinned for a moment, and she moved her hands together in front of her, one hand rubbing the back of the other. "I know you'll both need time too. I mean, I'm not exactly what you were expecting. The females of your species are beautiful, strong, and well…" She shrugged both shoulders. "A lot taller than I am. They can fly, too."

Zanyr heard what she said, but the doubt in her voice drove daggers into his heart. She had doubts, not about them, but about herself.

"No," he said, the denial out of his mouth before his brain could catch up. When he couldn't think of what to say next, he let his heart do the talking. "You are not what we expected, ana-thi . You are so much more. I've done things in my life that I'm not proud of. Things that made me question if I would ever find my mate or have any of the things I truly wanted."

He closed the distance between them, stopping about a meter away. "Today, I got the answer to my questions. Today, the ancestors gifted me with you."

This wasn't what he'd intended. They should be in bed already, but something told him to hold tightly to his last shreds of control and do this right, even if he wasn't sure what that was.

"You really believe that?" Jenna asked.

"I do."

"As do I," Torren added. "You are our mahaya . The female we have been waiting for. A moment ago, I told you what we wanted from you. I want to know what you want from us."

Jenna sucked in a breath. "What I want?"

Both of them waited for her to continue, but she stayed silent.

"What do you wish for in the darkest hours of the night?" Zanyr prompted.

"There was a time I was alone in the galaxy. Shunned by my family and forgotten by everyone. Back then, I wished for a brother, a companion to laugh with, a warrior I could trust to have my back." Torren bowed his head toward Zanyr. "The ancestors led me to Zan, and we forged a bond that will last all our lives."

"Now, we want you to be part of that bond. As powerful as it is, it's still incomplete. We've been waiting for you, Jenna. Tell us what you need, what you dream of, so we can find a way to complete you, too."

Tears glittered in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks as Jenna looked at them. "I…" She blew out a breath and then started again. "I've never let myself think about things like that. It was easier to be content with what I had. I told you I was an orphan, but there's more to the story, and I don't want to tell it right now." She smiled softly. "I'd rather be doing other things."

"And we will get to them. Soon," Torren said. "But first, I want to know what you want from us."

"Okay. I can do that. Be honest with me. I know we all have secrets to protect, but if it's something you think I should know, I would like you to tell me. I'd rather be hurt by the truth than fooled by a lie."

Veth . It was such a simple request, but it meant they needed to tell her about their past sooner than they'd like. So much for giving her time to get to know them first.

"I can do that," Torren said.

"As can I. But is that all you want?" Zanyr pressed her gently.

"That's all. For now, anyway." Right. She needed more time. They'd already agreed to that, and here he was, pushing for more.

"For now," he agreed, and then let his lips curve up into a wicked grin. "Which means this meaningful moment has ended, and we can get back to what we were doing before we wandered down this unexpected detour."

To his delight, Jenna feigned confusion, her finger tapping at her lips. "Remind me what that was? I seem to have forgotten."

Torren pounced, closing the distance between them so fast he doubted Jenna saw him move at all.

She yelped in surprise as Torren swept her into his arms, turned, and deposited her in the middle of her bed.

"Did that jog your memory?" Zanyr asked as he unclipped the sheath from his belt and placed it and the dagger inside on a nearby dresser.

"Yes, it did. But now there's a different problem. I need to get back up."

"Why?" Torren growled.

"Because I'm still fully clothed. Or do you want me to try to get out of this dress while lying down?"

Zanyr raked his gaze over their mahaya's body. The clothing she wore was unadorned, dull, and covered far too much of her body for Zanyr's liking.

"Do you like that dress?" Zanyr asked.

"It's a dress. It's comfortable and suitable for work. Why?"

Zanyr bent over her, claiming a kiss as he gently caught her by the wrists and pinned her hands over her head. "You asked for honesty, so here it is. It doesn't do you justice. Why do you hide your beauty?"

"I'm not hiding—hey!"

Torren whipped out his blade and used it to slice through the fabric. He started at her neckline and didn't stop until he reached the hem of her skirt. The dress fell away, exposing bare skin and red silk.

"Now that, I like," Zanyr said approvingly. "Red is a better color for you, and the fabric looks as soft and inviting as you do."

"You ruined my dress!"

"I did." Torren set the dagger aside, taking care to put it far out of Jenna's reach. Just in case.

"We'll buy you a replacement." Zanyr pointed to Torren. "He's rich."

"So are you," Torren retorted.

"Well, I'm not." She was riled enough to actually glare at them, which only made him smile. If she was comfortable enough to talk back to them while she was mostly naked and pinned to the bed, things were progressing quickly.

"You are now. Everything we have is yours. You are an equal partner in our lives, mahaya . In all matters.

"I… wow." She blinked, stunned. "You aren't getting much out of this deal. I get two hot males and all their worldly goods. In exchange you get… me."

"Don't do that again," Zanyr growled down at her.

"What?" she asked.

"Diminish yourself. Make it seem like you have no worth. You are our mahaya . You are our everything ."