Chapter 61-

Ember:
I smile at Oriel and squeeze her hand in encouragement when she calls her fathers and lovers together after we get back from our walk. I admit I am worried about her dads reactions, mostly James’s. He can be set in his ways about things and still thinks of Oriel as his little girl even though she has clearly grown into a strong woman who knows her own mind. Lucas looks at Oriel and I with curiosity, he is very observant and asked me last year if I thought Oriel had feelings for her vampire companion. I thought I had seen a difference in her and Darius’s relationship as well, but it was Lucas who brought it to my attention. I can tell by his face that he knows there is something going on and I hope he will be the levelheaded man I know he is. I don’t think he will have a problem with Irvin in fact before Rowen rode into our village with his brother, Lucas had always hoped Oriel and Irvin would end up as mates. “Dad, daddy I talked to mom earlier and I need to tell you both something. Please keep in mind that I am a grown woman, capable of making my own decisions, please also remember there was a time in your life when you all decided to defy the norm and follow your hearts.” I am filled with so much affection for Lucas when he gets up from his spot and kisses Oriel’s head. “There is never anything you could tell us that would make us love you any less sweetheart.” When he sits back down, I notice Rowen, Darius and Irvin all looking to my beautiful girl with encouragement and love. “Thank you, dad. I actually have a few things to tell you and then something I want to ask you to do for me.” She looks right at James when she says that and I see him tense, I think he is finally catching on to what’s happening. “Rowen is my mate and I have grown not only to respect him but also love him and I am so excited to spend our life together.” We all ignore James’s small scoff. “But Rowen is not the only one who has gained my respect and affection. We have chosen together the four of us to live as mates. I have decided to live with and start my own family with Rowen, Darius, and Irvin. I love them all and will not give any of them up. For now, we are keeping our relationship private but after the mating ceremony and my coronation we intend to stop hiding.”
Irvin looks like he is about to crawl out of his skin. I hope he doesn’t think the angry look on both my mate’s faces are because we don’t think he is good enough for Oriel. We love him as our own, and always will. I need to talk to him when we are done here, he needs to know that I want his happiness just as much as Oriel’s. “All three of them?” Lucas asks with confusion. “I thought maybe two, but all three?” “Yes, dad I know we will have hard times and we will have to grow together, but we have a big job ahead of us ruling Rowen’s coven and uniting our people. I need each of them with me to be the person I want to be. They each love and support me and they all have amazing things about them that I love. Rowen is a strong leader and driven. He cares deeply for his people and is my goddess given mate. We haven’t always seen eye to eye but we both have grown and bettered ourselves. Darius has been my teacher and my biggest support when people hated and looked down on me. He makes me feel like I can accomplish anything, he strengthens me. Irvin has been my rock; I have loved him for my entire life. He is my protector and knows me inside and out. I love them all and I need your support, and also your blessing to move my mating ceremony to a month from now. After the mating ceremony and coronation, we will have brought our people together with our bond and will be able to have all of the necessary people there to sign the treaty. I am ready to take my place in this world alongside the men I love. I won’t wait another year and a half, but I need to blood oath Rowen signed annulled.”
I see all the men’s mouths open with Oriel’s request, I guess she didn’t tell her mates that she planned on asking this of her dads. Rowen especially looks taken back. Lucas looks like he is considering her request but James as I expected looks furious. Before a fight breaks out and someone says something in anger that they can’t take back I grab both Lucas and James’s hand. “Oriel you have given us a lot to think about tonight. We will discuss it and let you know our decision in the morning. Irvin, can I see you privately?”
When Oriel leaves the tent followed by Rowen and Darius to go to their own accommodations, I turn to my mates who both look unhappy. “I need to speak to our son, why don’t you both go for a run and then we can talk about everything.” “A run queenie? More like drown myself in ale. Or rip those blood suckers apart. My princess is far too good for either of them, no way am I letting them share her.” “Oh, is there something wrong with a woman being shared? I hope you’re not implying there is something wrong with a woman who has more than one mate.” “Come on brother lets go drown ourselves before our queen decides to rip those balls off you love so much and figure out how to assassinate two vampires without anyone else noticing. Then we take our princess and Irvin back home where they belong.” Both Irvin and I chuckle as Lucas leads James from our tent. “They are not mad about you loving Oriel, honey. Your happiness is every bit as important to us as hers. When you two were growing up we always wished you two would end up fated together. It’s just a lot for them to take in, and I think they are scared for Oriel and for you. People can be cruel, and I know you have both have had a hard time finding your place in the coven.” “I never thought you and my dads would love me any less, and I expected at least some resistance from them on our relationship. If I could, I think I would hide Oriel away for myself, but I love her enough to want her to be happy.” “What about you my sweet son, will you be happy?” “If I have Oriel than I will always be happy. She is who I want.” I hug my son tight and feel much better about everything knowing he has thought this through, and this is what he wants. “What’s wrong?” I ask him when his eyes start to switch back and forth from green to black. “There is this smell that is making me want to crawl out of my skin.” I scream when Irvin drops to his knees and puts his hand over his nose, his whole body starts shaking and sweat drips down his face. “No! No! No!” Irvin stands and turns to the familiar voice that came barging into my tent. “Luna? My mom sent me to find you, apparently my dad, the Alpha and Beta are creating quite the scene out there something about kidnapping Oriel.”
Darius:
“Well, that could have been much worse. At least the Alpha didn’t try to kill us on the spot.” “Don’t speak too soon Darius, I can hear them by the fire plotting all the ways they can kill us and make it look like an accident. They have recruited that big one to their side too, so let’s not count our chickens before they hatch.” All we can do now is wait for their decision, I am thankful that Ember has given us all room to digest. “I had no idea you were going to ask them to renounce the blood oath. Why didn’t you tell me?” Rowen asks Oriel with a little pout. “Well, I wasn’t sure what they’d say, and I didn’t want you making your own plots to win them over when I know my dads would have shot you down if you would have asked. Our best chance was for me to present our case to my mom first, who we all know has the power to sway my fathers and then go with her support and bring it to them.” I wrap my cunning beauty in my arms and kiss her. “You did good my love. I’m proud of you for standing your ground and going for what you want.” Rowen joins our embrace and we both take turns kissing her. “Even if they don’t agree, this is what I want forever. I will wait for you as long as I need.”
We get settled in and snuggled together all laughing at the wild antics clearly going on by the large bonfire outside. Oriel jumps up from the little love nest we made and goes to the tent opening looking around outside. We placed ourselves close to her village’s camp but still far enough away for privacy, so I wonder if she sensed her dads coming to make good on their campfire threats. Oriel looks worried and before I can ask what has her all riled up, she runs from the tent. “What just happened?” Rowen looks at me and I just shrug we both go after her, I’m just hoping to skip the beating I fear is waiting for us.
Irvin:
Why is this happening right now? Why her of all people? I have the woman I want, the woman I have always wanted. As if I’ve been possessed and lost complete control of my mouth and body. “Mine!” Comes barreling out of my mouth. I’m trying desperately to regain my control when I look to the tent opening to see not only my fated mate but Oriel standing in the shadow of the tent flap with tears streaming down her face. “Fuck!”