Chapter 21

SINCE LEAVING WORK the previous day, Amy's eyes underwent such a dramatic transformation only dark glasses could conceal the change. Her warriors wouldn't allow it. They wanted everyone to know they had found their fated mate. Before sharing their unexpected news with anyone, however, they first had to inform the princep.

Both her mates accompanied her to work, their purpose twofold, to ensure her safety, but also to make use of the clinic's uplink with Primaria. There were two others on the colony, in the courthouse for official business and aboard the orbiting Primarian ship, neither of which was suitable for this private conversation.

Bleary-eyed from lack of sleep yet glowing with happiness, the threesome arrived at the clinic. During the lunch hour—yes, their celebration had taken the entire morning and made her miss half her shift—there were no patients around and less staff, so no one noticed them slip into the conference room.

A time difference existed between the two capital cities; currently it was midafternoon in Ariad. Janus, Max Kerr's chamberlain, answered immediately. But the call was unexpected, and the busy leader would have to break away from what he was doing. It required waiting, which Amy was never good at .

"Placed on interplanetary hold," she muttered, fidgeting nervously.

Tarus covered her hands with one of his. "Settle, mate. Our princep is a progressive thinker."

"He is correct. Kerr will understand," Remus assured her, tenderly tucking a few wayward strands of hair behind her ear.

"I can't help being nervous. I've never met anyone of his stature. He's like...royalty," she exclaimed. "And I'm just..."

"Our mate," Tarus affirmed. "Which makes you far from just anything."

"He isn't a king, koria ," Remus reminded her, running his hand down the length of her hair in back. Their touch calmed her, but not nearly enough.

"President, then," she corrected. "Which is equally as intimidating. The highest official I've ever spoken to is Mayor Kincaid, but he's Beck to me since I knew him before that happened."

The holo-vid cylinder flashed blue—royal blue to be exact, which wasn't comforting in the least—before the lifelike 3D image of Max Kerr, the leader of all Primaria, materialized before them. He had Eva, his prima, by his side.

"Janus informed me this was personal and involved a human female. I hope you don't mind that I asked the prima to join me."

"Not at all," Tarus said, as both twins bowed formally to their leader.

Amy wasn't sure what she should do. Did she curtsy to a princep?

"Kerr is the leader of the Primarian army," Eva informed her, spot-on with her assessment of her uncertainty. "He is like their commander-in-chief, but there's no need for you to be formal."

Without wasting a moment, Remus got straight to the point. "We are mated."

"We?" Kerr echoed, his golden eyes widening in surprise. "Are you saying all three of you are mates?"

"Indeed. She has transformed. Her eyes now reflect the unique hues of each of her mates." Tarus pulled her in front of him, his fingers gripping her shoulders tightly, offering unwavering support as Kerr and Eva scrutinized her more closely. "Amy also bears our mark on her lower back. It appeared overnight and is an exact replica of mine and Remus'."

Eva's gasp filled the air, and she stated the obvious, "You're fated mates."

Equally astonished, the princep quietly stated, "This is most unusual."

"Not for us," the prima countered. "Although hetero-gendered pairings are most common among humans, same-sex and multiple partners account for close to 20 percent of human relationships at last count."

"That may be true, sprite, but they account for 0 percent on Primaria. While it's true that sexual activity can occur among unmated partners in different combinations, mate pairings have always been one male and one female."

"For our people, it is about more than sex," Eva informed him. "It's about finding someone to love and spend your life with, no matter what genitalia they are born with."

Clearly mindful of those who were breaking tradition and waiting for his judgment, he quickly added, "We are not so backward that we don't know it's different among other species on other worlds. I merely commented that it is unusual for Primarians."

"Once again, I couldn't keep from climbing on my soapbox," Eva said, her tone sheepish.

"You did indeed, mate," he said, patting her hand. "But I'm growing used to it."

The technology made it seem like they were there with them. In awe of it, and of the powerful couple, Amy couldn't help but lean into Tarus when the princep's gaze locked solely on her.

"I cannot promise everyone will be as readily accepting of your triad, particularly the elders, but I will make my approval known."

"Thank you, your eminence," Amy replied with an awkward curtsy.

"He prefers princep or Max Kerr," Eva suggested in a gentle tone. "And please, don't treat him like a king. He believes he isn't one, no matter the power he wields, and I don't want him getting ideas."

Kerr's hand disappeared from her shoulder, and the next instant, Eva jumped and let out a surprised yelp. "My prima is in rare form today," the princep drawled. His gaze swept over the three of them, settling on Amy. "I hope you are as happy as we are, little one. Without all the strife and drama we had to endure starting out."

"As an EPIC candidate, I'm no stranger to scrutiny and judgment, but I...we...appreciate your support, sir," Amy acknowledged in a surprisingly steady voice.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that, but at least you know something about what to expect. And you have two strong warrior mates to see you through it." His gazed shifted to his warriors. "I know the two of you left for the colony unhappy you hadn't matched successfully. To find the female destined to be yours on your own, without the aid of the testing data bank, has to be a blessing from the Maker. What other explanation can there be?"

"None that we can think of," Tarus declared.

Eva smiled at them. "Don't worry about the council. Kerr is adept at getting the elders, who are rather prudish and old-fashioned, to think out of the box. Accepting a human as their prima, for example."

The princep grunted as though she'd understated the matter. "That convincing took the form of threats and law changes, but I persevered, and they came around."

"Thank goodness for all of us they did," Remus replied.

"I'm pleased you brought this to my attention right away. I'd prefer that the elders hear about it from me rather than the gossipmongers. When you return home, we'll have it all sorted out."

The two warriors shared a look, which their princep aptly interpreted.

"Let me guess. You've decided to remain in the colony?"

"We think it would be best for our mate," Remus replied. "Amy is happy here with her work and her friends. And, except for the extreme summer heat, we like it here."

"You forgot to mention the ten-foot snowdrifts, frigid temperatures, and blizzards of winter," Tarus reminded him.

Speaking over his brother, Remus continued, "Seeing a world grow from nothing, and being a part of it, has its own rewards. "

"Indeed," the princep agreed with a nod as Eva fought a smile, and not very well. "We will be a security presence on Terra Nova for quite some time. With Adria mated with Beck, and now, the three of you, I expect more human-Primarian matches on the colony. As such, I expect our alliance to be permanent. If you should ever tire of extreme heat and cold, and change your minds, you'll always have a place with me in my elite guard."

"We are honored to serve," they both said at once.

The tension left Amy's body as the uplink disconnected. "That was easier than I expected."

Remus nodded, squeezing her hand. "Our princep is an understanding leader. He's also a peacekeeper, despite how our association began."

"The prima has been beneficial as a de facto leader for the human females," Tarus interjected. "She has a remarkable ability to smooth stormy waters, as Kerr does with all Primarians. They make a great team."

"It is apparent in the progress we've made with the integration of our two peoples," Remus added. "A few years ago, the idea of the prima leading instead of simply being a helpmate to the princep was unheard of."

A wistful sigh passed over Amy's lips. "Imagine the enlightenment you could attain if you abandoned your antiquated practice of corporal punishment, particularly of mates."

They looked at her askance.

With one black brow arched, Tarus replied, "That, I believe, is what humans refer to as sass."

"Perhaps the mate's punishment she received last night wasn't enough," Remus suggested .

"You spanked her over her clothing," Tarus scoffed. "There is no perhaps about it."

"That's easy enough to correct," Remus said, eyeing her pointedly.

"Now wait a minute," Amy stated, her daring wavering as she backed toward the door.

When they moved in her direction, intent glinting in their distinctly different lavender eyes, she squealed as she whirled and bolted out the door. Boots pounded on the floor as they followed in hot pursuit. Their legs were long, but she had a head start and was through the front door well ahead of them.

They caught up with her before she reached the hover car, however. Remus snatched her off her feet and tossed her ass up over his shoulder.

"I was teasing," she protested. "You can't punish me for that!"

His hand came down on her upturned bottom with a resounding smack. It sounded much worse than it felt through the thickness of her jeans. Still, she squawked in protest. He ignored her as he climbed in the passenger seat with her in his lap, chuckling like Tarus who slid in behind the controls.

"You aren't serious, are you?" she asked.

"No, mate. We were teasing too," Remus stated, tipping her face up to his and kissing her heartily.

Tarus reached over and squeezed her thigh. "Speak for yourself, Brother. I was serious about the sass."

When he glanced her way, he winked, contradicting his words—or was he ?

As he steered them toward home, and a bed that hadn't been unoccupied for long, she suddenly remembered it was the middle of the day. "I have to work, remember?"

"You can miss one day," Remus replied while nibbling on her neck. "Better yet, you can call in for the entire week and keep your mates satisfied in bed," he further suggested.

"On what basis? I'm not sick."

"True," Tarus replied. "But Adria and Ellar will understand the mating fire."

Remus' hand slid under her shirt and traced her mate mark. "Does it still itch?"

"No, but it tingles when you touch it."

"Imagine what it will do when I lick it and the rest of your beautiful body," he murmured in her ear before catching the lobe between his teeth.

Intense longing coursed through her, surging a rush of liquid desire to her pussy. She wriggled on Remus' lap. The vehicle filled with the sound of their mingled rapid breathing, the scent of passion heavy in the air.

"You've convinced me to take a personal day," she gasped as his big hand swept up her belly and molded over her breast.

"An excellent idea, dral ."

Tarus, left out of their impassioned interplay, didn't respond, but the hover car suddenly picked up speed.

The hunger with new mates was a real thing. They could go a few hours between rounds of sex—usually four, at least, before the need for her raged inside of them again. By her count, it had been two. Two and a half at most.

"Does the transformation start the hunger over again? "

"I sure as hell hope so," Tarus growled as he sped around a corner. The vehicle would have been on two wheels if a hover car had them.

When they arrived at her apartment, they rushed up the stairs, bursting through her front door, as their insatiable desire for her reached a peak. They didn't even attempt to go to the bedroom and their bed. Clothing flew in all directions, the sound of ripped material proclaiming their impatience. And she didn't mind, not one little bit.

Two sets of lips and four eager hands explored her bare skin. Time seemed to stand still as their nimble fingers traced every curve, every sensitive spot, driving her to the brink of release.

"Wait until we are inside you," Remus ordered.

Tarus placed her on her knees on the couch, facing the back where Remus now stood, hard and thick and ready for her. She wet her lips before she bent forward, took him into her mouth, and sucked greedily.

Behind her, his twin plunged into her pussy. As he drove ceaselessly in and out, his long arm encircled her to rub her clit with his thumb. Skin slapping skin, wet noises, and bliss-filled moans echoed throughout the room as in a frantic joining, they soared to heights of pleasure surpassing even the last time.

Breathless yet sated, they collapsed onto the couch. There wasn't room for her mates to stretch out, so she reclined on top of them, her upper half on Tarus and her legs draped across Remus' lap.

It was in that quiet moment, as one mate stroked her hair and the other caressed her thigh, their touch both tender and loving, she realized the mating fire was a transformative experience beyond the physical. It deepened their emotional connection and bound them together. With fated mates, irrevocably so.

Being on the outside looking in, she hadn't understood. Now, in the thick of it herself, she couldn't help but be amazed by it.

"You're quiet," Tarus observed. "Has our insatiable hunger worn you out?"

"Yes, but in a good way." She gripped Remus' hand where it lay on her hip and raised her hand to Tarus' cheek. "I was thinking about the intricacies of fate. I'd given up on finding someone to share my life with. You had both given up ever finding your mate. But fate brought us here, to this new world, with a tiny population compared to where we came from, to find one another. As a bonus, I found the love I've always yearned for, not with one man destined for me but two. Go figure."

Tarus smiled down at her while Remus laced his fingers with hers.

"We love you too, mate," Remus murmured. "But it's not so amazing when you believe in destiny."

"Good things come to those who wait," Tarus agreed.

"We have the same expression," Amy said with a drowsy smile.

"It's a truth that stands the test of time. We only had to be patient."