13. Alessandro

13

ALESSANDRO

W e’ve never been lucky enough to have Valentina for two full weeks. She keeps busy with research for her project, visiting every single business multiple times and interviewing many of the Evertons. We host a dinner for the haven leadership group in our apartment so she can talk to them about her ideas for the new haven.

They give her tons of excellent feedback, so much so that she finishes her notebook and has to start scribbling in a new one.

It is a marvel watching her work. And it reinforces to me how important her dreams are. She’s in her element while haven planning. She’s happy.

None of us are any closer to an answer on how to be together when we’re fulfilling our dreams so far away from each other. Her idea for the portal station is well thought out, but Evenia isn’t known for taking risks. It seems like such a long shot for her to agree to it.

Valentina leaves today. She packed early this morning since it’ll take nearly sixteen hours to go through the portals and get back to Hearth HQ.

She and Pietro stand in the doorway kissing. Tears stream down her face as he strokes her hair with both hands. I watch, helpless to make this better for them, or myself. The familiar ache I get every time she leaves has already taken up residence. I’m hollowed out like a dead, empty tree. I rub at my chest when they break the kiss. She reaches for me and pulls me close, transferring to my arms.

We kiss too, but I’m more desperate than Pietro, devouring her because it’s the last time I’ll get to do this for who knows how long. A century, maybe.

Or maybe, if her project comes to fruition, we can join her to celebrate the grand opening. Perhaps it won’t be so long, after all.

She breaks the kiss first and dabs at her tears. “Okay. I’m going to go. But we have a plan, and if we manifest it enough, it could work.”

Pietro and I both nod, but he’s already miserable at the idea of her leaving, no matter that we have a possible plan.

We manage to make it to the portal station before he goes stoically silent. Valentina turns, slinging her bag over her shoulder, her smile bright but forced.

“I know this seems impossible, but I need you both to trust that I will make this happen for us.”

“There’s no doubt in my mind,” I reassure her, bending to nuzzle and kiss her cheek.

She beams when we part, then flicks her gaze to Pietro. He’s silent by my side, and her smile falters. I’d nudge him to respond, but that would be too obvious.

“Of course,” he finally manages, his voice ragged with emotion. “You can do this, my love.”

She presses into his arms, resting her head on his chest. “I can. I will . Because I have to. I can’t bear parting another time.”

Moments turn to minutes as my mates cling to one another. Eventually, Valentina pulls away from Pietro, adjusting the luggage at her back. “Goodbye, my loves,” she whispers.

“Goodbye, amore.” I smile despite the ache in my chest.

She gives us a final, watery smile before turning and disappearing into the portal.

The moment she’s gone from sight, Pietro begins to tremble, his heart rate spiking.

“Come, mate.” I take his hand and guide him back outside. Halfway to the street, he halts and nearly crumples. Holding back my own misery, I gather him in my arms and spread my wings, lifting into the sky. I crawl through the clouds as Pietro stares morosely into the distance. I get us home as fast as I can. We scheduled others to work the shop today, knowing we wouldn’t be in a good place after our mate left.

Pietro’s head lolls against my forearm as I alight on the rooftop. Carefully, I carry him downstairs and to the kitchen, where I deposit him on our window seat. It’s a place he often sits after we’ve seen her. His face crumples, bloody tears streaking down his light skin as he lets his head fall back against the wall.

He says nothing, but trails of tears become full-on rivers as he sobs.

I run my fingers through my hair, choking on my own grief as I watch him fall apart. I’ve never known what to do for him when he’s like this except be there. Feed him, keep him company, plan the next time we’ll get to see her.

But…maybe it’s different now. Something changed this time. We all felt more deeply connected, and he and I were more physical than we’ve ever been. I decide to test something, so I slip behind him in the window seat and pull him between my thighs, resting his head against my shoulder. I kiss the side of his face, his neck and his shoulder. He turns to me, silently asking for more as I lavish my utter adoration on him.

“This is going to work out, mate,” I promise him.

It has to. Because it was always meant to be the three of us.

Without her, we’re just not complete.