Page 65 of Within the Veil

5/6 weeks 4 days

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The next morningI lay in bed, completely and utterly spent from yesterday. After I was thoroughly and suitably chastised, Hunter carried me to bed and tucked me in without a word. Xena followed and laid down next to me, just as silent. Fucking silent treatment from everyone, and with my shields down, all I hear is their disappointment and anger, and it fucking sucks.

While I feel lighter and infinitely more relaxed now that I'm not holding everything in anymore, the tears working as a flush of sorts, the guilt is nothing short of awful.

Xena lifts her head,Human. What is done is done. Everyone will move on. Also, I am not angered. As I said before, I see all, I feel all. As your familiar you cannot block from me, our connection is branded within our souls. It is different than a mate bond or a sentinel bond. It is all and more. However, I have been taught that some lessons are better learned without interference. If you were in danger at any time, I would have stepped in.

I look at her, "You have been taught?"

She nods slowly,I have told you that I have much to share. It is time for me to share. We must gather everyone.

My stomach swirls at the thought. Everyone? Fuck. King, what the fuck am I going to do about King? How do I feel about him? Just the thought of his name makes my heart constrict, squeezing painfully. His words yesterday hit me harder than anyone else, leaving me with an inexplicable feeling of emptiness. It was one thing to be angry, I can handle anger. But disappointment? The raw ache in his throat as he spoke ripped my heart into pieces, and yet all I wanted to do was soothe all his pain. This confused the hell out of me because I always assumed that once you are mated, then it is a done deal--no more peens or clitoral queens.

Xena huffs,You love him. You have always loved him. As a friend, then as something more, but you also respected your Mate bonds. You have felt the stirrings of jealousy when Finleigh showed interest. You have admired him from afar. While you can look at Jensi, Luca, and any of the other Fae males objectively, you have never been able to do the same with King. While it is highly unlikely that you will develop a mate bond with him, a sentinel bond is just as strong. If you search within the knowledge library, you will find that there have been many Queens and Kings who have had meaningful, long-lasting relationships within their lifetimes outside of their Mate bond. While you will have to do so with the blessing of your Mates, it is possible.

When the hell did my lion become a damn therapist?

She gives a cat-like chuckle in my head,it is easier to see from the outside looking in. Also, when you were granted the privilege of the entirety of the knowledge library, I was also given access to the same resources. So do your Mates since you have stopped shielding. Utilize it, it will be useful. In the meantime, go shower and dress for the day. The little ones are stirring and will request food at any moment.

I grab her giant body and tug her close, "I love you, gorgeous. Want to help me waddle my ass to the bathroom?"

She leaps off the bed silently in response, and I smile because Xena is my feline Kalen-- always there and always present in the background, even when I don't realize it. Only in this case, I wouldn't be losing her.

The fates wouldn't be so cruel...right?

* * *

Grayson

* * *

I stand silentlyin the kitchen, waiting for the coffee to brew. While Zane and Remi work, just as silently, like a well-oiled machine, as they make breakfast. I felt Hudson stirring earlier, felt her guilt coming through the bond, but even more so, I felt how much lighter her spirit was. So while the events from yesterday we not ideal, at least they had the desired effect--no more emotional blocking and window into her thought processes. Which, with Hudson, is a damn necessity seeing as when under pressure, her impulsive tendencies can have disastrous consequences.

While we are no longer upset, we all slept in different rooms last night, needing time for ourselves to process the influx of emotions we are now responsible for. While the ability to feel the entirety of Tir ag Nog is a blessing in disguise, it is a lot to process at once.

However, the biggest elephant in the room has nothing to do with any of that. No, King's declaration of love weighs heavily on all of us. It is complicated, to say the least. Years ago, the four of us had always known we would love Hudson together. We spoke about it at length and developed an agreement never to be jealous of one another because Hudson would always come first, which was a feat in itself, considering our strong personalities.

When Remi and Hudson started to develop a relationship, it was different but not unwelcome. Remi and Hudson both have similar personalities, except while Hudson is blood thirsty, Remi is violent when warranted. Together they balance one another. In the end, Hudson was happy and that is what counted

Oberon was a harder pill to swallow, but the mate bond spoke for itself. Five alpha male personalities within a bond, is unheard of, but together we have developed a stonger friendship. Especially during the time when Hudson was in a coma.

King? We were all close at Delorean having gone through school together, then becoming professors. Of course, we had no knowledge that our destinies would be so deeply entwined, but after, we all worked seemlessly. Ryder, Zane, Hunter and I, trained the soldiers and immersed ourselves in knowing everyone in the camp, Oberon took point in gathering intel, while King, Jensi and Luca were deeply involved in Council matters. Diplomatically, together we work well. Romantically? The idea, stirs the green monster in me more than I will like to admit. As for the others, even I couldn't feel their emotions, judging by their reaction alone, they too, feel the same.

But what we felt yesterday weren't the stirrings of an infatuation, no it echoed the very depths of our feelings for Hudson. And there-in lies the complication, because whether she realizes it or not, the same affections stir within her, she has simply buried it, just like everything else. In theory, non-matebond relationships are still powerful and meaningful and King, not being full-fae will never be bonded in the same way we are to any Fae female. Sentinels, however, can only be matched based on their feelings of loyalty to the person they are to watch over. In King's case, his loyalty comes with his heart. Complicated.

I lift my head as I'm hit with demands for food and I chuckle.

Remi sighs, "It is absolutely insane how four small beings can be so demanding and they aren't even born yet."

Zane scoffs, "have you met Hudson? Of course they are demanding."

Ryder appears in the room, "Hudson? Dude, aren't you the self proclaimed leader? Your ass is more demanding that she is. And that is saying something."

"Ryder," Remi looks at him up and down and I smother a chuckle considering I have taken a look into his purchases and I have given up on questioning the shit he buys. "What the fuck are you wearing?"

Ryder grins and strikes a pose, his biceps bulging through his light green sheer muscle shirt that display his new diamond nipple rings. The shirt is tucked into dark green, combat leathers that have pixies imprinted into the material. Across his back is a darker green weapon sheethe that comes down to also wraps around his waist, where there are a variety of weapons, from his spear that is across his back, to a mace, and several daggers on his hips. But what draws the eye is his diamond encrusted black combat boots that somehow, don't reflect any light.

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