Page 47 of The Erion Triad

Confusion edged her consciousness and she was aware that all three of her mates wore frowns. If her heart wasn’t beating like a rabbit, she might think it funny that three of the toughest and most intelligent warriors were so confused.

“She thinks we’re tough and intelligent.” Juliran grinned.

“What this mind-meld?” Kyel asked.

Oh, God, oh, God, oh, God. They really could hear her!

“You are broadcasting quite loudly,” Zaen said with a lift of his brow.

There was a squeal and Kira pushed through her brothers and hugged Lucie. “Is it true? You’re fully bonded… But how? Lucie has been here all the time.”

“I think we’d all like to know what had happened.” Madlyn said as the kings helped her to her feet.

Kira looked as lost as Lucy felt. She tapped her foot and her eyes narrowed as her gaze bounced between her brothers. “I think you need to tell me what’s really going on.”

“That’s what I’d like to know, too,” Lucie said, her voice weak, but then she was enveloped in a flood of humor and warmth and love and… desire and arousal.

Her skin prickled and her blood heated. She squeezed her thighs, trying to relieve the pressure the onslaught of emotions brought about in her. Kyel chuckled, and the sound wove through her. Her own emotions spiked and spiraled in a cyclone of yearning and need.

Juliran groaned. “Lucie, I’m not going to be in control of my actions if you don’t stop that!”

A gentle, cool hand rested on her arm, and she looked at Madlyn.

Madlyn’s gaze locked on her. “It had to be true, my dear. You are finally mate-synced to my boys.” She smiled and it was like the sun coming out from behind clouds. “I can hardly believe that something so monumental has happened. You are a true miracle, Lucie.”

Lucie’s cheeks heated, embarrassment and desire warring for place of attention.

“There now, I’ve embarrassed you. It need not be this way. We have all experienced those first few weeks of the bond. I am only happy to see that the first Quad has formed in ten years, and honored that it has been my sons and you, my dear Lucie.” Madlyn smiled and her gaze ran over Lucie’s skin. “However, might anyone explain to me what has happened to Lucie’s skin?”

With a scowl, Lucie stood on her tiptoes to peer into the mirror on the far wall. “Oh, my God! What’s happened?”

She blinked and shook her head, but it made no difference. Her skin was imbued with little blue and green glittering stars that caught the light whenever she moved. It was like her skin was the shiniest sequined material.

“I… I’m shining!” She looked to Zaen. He always had the answers, with that brain of his. “Zaen?”

Zaen’s lips fell open and his eyes grew wide. Her heart lurched at the panicked look on his face.

“I don’t know, my Lucie. I can only assume that something happened to you at a molecular level. When you bonded with us, you also bonded with the crystal’s energies. Because you are human, it has affected you differently than it would if you were from Negari.” His fingertips skimmed along her arm, his gaze roaming her skin. “It is beautiful, Lucie. Stunning, in fact.” His eyes were deep pools of emotion, when finally, he looked at her face. “You are special, Lucie. The crystal has bonded you in a way it has never bonded with any being before.”

“But, that’s not right,” Lucie said.

“How so, my mate?” Kyel asked.

She thought of Evelyn and the magenta gem that grew from the middle of her forehead. She thought of Riley’s golden eyes, whom she’d virtually met when they’d returned to the Erion Homeland. “Riley’s eyes glimmer with golden light and Evelyn has a magenta crystal in the middle of her forehead, and I’m… glowingblue. All the crystals have bonded with us separately. I’m not the only one.”

Zaen shook his head a little, planting his hands on his hips. “I never thought about that.” He shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. “It’s as amazing and our beautiful human mate.”

Several guards bolted into the room. Sweat gleamed on the guard’s skin. Another had splotches of blood over his uniform. Lucie’s blood ran cold. They snapped to attention when they saw their Lucie, the Princes, and their family. The guard that had entered first, stepped forward and spoke in a rushed voice. “The clouds have descended and are destroying our city,” he said. “We’re fighting it, but… it’s having no affect. Nothing is stopping them. We’re at its mercy.”

Chapter Nineteen

Zaen

Lucie was so frail, looking no more filled-out than a child in Juliran’s arms. He’d become so used to how she looked in the reality from the depths of her mind, that it was almost painful to see how she’d become.

If only he’d known she was being mentally tortured like she had been. He would have done everything in his power for her not to have suffered like that. The one consolation was that it wasn’t because of them. If she had, he didn’t think he could have ever bonded with her. Better to let her leave and find someone who could love her, even if they never would find anyone else for the rest of their lives.

“No. It can’t be!” Lucie wriggled from Juliran’s arms and bolted to the door.

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