Page 162 of Fated or Knot

He nodded and motioned for me to follow as he took flight, heading around the outskirts of Once Else toward the utilitarian train station that sat right on the edge of the city. It was like a dry gray fingernail when compared to the color and whimsy of the other buildings. There was one magirail in and two of them out of the station, at odds with the complicated tangles of magirails in stations like the ones in Neslune and Ilysnor.

“The trains don’t run at night in the dreamlands, so each line is a short jump,” Kauz explained while we waited amongst a small crowd for the next train to arrive. It would double back the way it’d come to a massive station called the Dreamlands Nexus.

Marius was definitely on that train. Our bond swiftly fixed back into place as the magirail began to vibrate and my kelpie waspissed. I felt his anger for a fleeting moment before he sent feelings of greeting and love down the bond.

“What’s going on?”I asked him, trusting that shift in emotion meant he wasn’t mad at me.

“I’m not mad at you,”he said in echo to my thoughts.

The train pulled into the station with a groan of settling metal and the hiss of steam. It was a short thing, only five cars, with the front and back mirrored in appearance and, presumably, function. Amongst the disembarking crowd were the two princes. A storm cloud seemed to follow Marius, who cast a glare at his brother as he strode ahead. Tormund ducked his shoulders sheepishly.

“Here we go,” Kauz muttered, straightening to brace himself as they headed our way.

Marius walked right past him to catch my face in his hands and kiss the breath right out of my lungs. He tasted strongly of fertile mint and waterlily, and my senses picked up rut and aggression from him in equal measure before we parted for air. Resting his forehead on mine, he murmured, “I have to get back on that train, p’nixie. But I needed to taste your lips again first.”

I searched his gaze. “What’s wrong?” I asked, feeling a whine coming on if he didn’t tell me.

He bundled me close, petting my hair before he shared the news mind to mind.“My incompetent brothers failed to apprehend Pack Ellisar when they arrived in Neslune a few days ago. They are loose in the city somewhere.”

I stiffened so hard, it was a wonder I didn’t snap like a brittle branch put under too much pressure. He held me tighter as I clutched his shirt and keened. Not Pack Ellisar. Nothere, in Serian. How did they even know to come here?

Oh stars, they had to be here for me, contract in hand. They were going to try to steal me back to Osme Fen.

Whatever else he said was drowned out by the animal panic that threatened to choke me. He loosened his hold just as a sense of calm wrapped around my back; Kauz sandwiched me between them. Not to be left out, Tormund’s ever-present heat joined in as he hugged all three of us and ignored the feral snap of teeth Marius aimed in his direction.

“It’ll be all right, sweetheart. You’re ours. Nothing’s changed about that,” Kauz said.

“And you’re safe,” Tormund added. There was a low crackle of flames in his voice. Maybe he hadn’t gotten his rage under control while we were parted; this hug was feeling awfully hot all of a sudden.

“And you will remain that way.” Marius growled like a roll of thunder as the boarding announcement for the train, outbound to the Dreamlands Nexus, was announced around the station. He released me with slow reluctance, easing back. “I will ensure it.”

He was heading back to Neslune, then, to hunt the trio of barkfolk on my behalf. Everything they’d said soaked in as I regained my sanity and sucked in a grounding breath. I was theirs, I was safe, and I’d remain here, far from Pack Ellisar’s reach. “But…your rut,” I murmured.

“I will endure.” He left abruptly to buy passage before the train left without him. Kauz didn’t release me, but Tormund did, shaking his head sharply as smoke leaked from the corner of his mouth. I shifted to hold onto Kauz tightly and sank into him as he shrouded me in the privacy of his wings.

“I love you,”I thought to Marius. The words failed to encompass everything I was feeling as the shock continued to wear off and gratitude for my males swept in.

“Love you more.”As always, he delivered the same response with full devotion and it gave me an electric thrill.

He was gone again with the thrum and blast of air from the train launching back the way it’d come. I stirred when Tormund asked, “Is the li’l bird okay?” I realized I’d expected him to get back on the train with his brother.

“I’m okay.” A little shaken and a lot whiplashed, but fine for now. I was sure I’d worry over everything once I’d had time to really think about it.

“Good. I need to tell you both everything when we’re somewhere more private.”

“Aye, I want every detail,” Kauz grumbled. He withdrew his wings and scowled at the giant. “Can I trust you to keep it together around our mate?”

Tormund had one of his hopeful smiles fixed in place. “I learned how to get my rage under control,” he said in his too-gentle way. Stars, what a relief.

We started the trek back to our inn room. Tormund put Kauz between us, so I held my dream warden’s hand and leaned past him as I whispered, “So, are you going to tell me the solution?”

A blush darkened the redcap’s brassy cheeks. “Such things aren’t appropriate to talk about in public, li’l bird.”

Oh, now Ireallywanted to know. But I kept my questions contained until we reached the massive inn and showed Tormund into our room. Kauz cast a fireproofing spell over the couch in a whirl of starlight essence before letting his brother sit down. I dragged over a chair to sit at a safe distance, as it seemed Tormund’s monstrous form emerged more the closer I was to him.

“All right, the solution first. Sex is a known outlet for relieving the rage, but when we had sex, I didn’t do it right,” he told me.

I couldn’t help but giggle, despite the air of discomfort he had for even starting this conversation. “What do you mean?”

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