Better Together

It was once again early morning, “We should get some rest. It has been a long night.” I yawned and streched as I made my way to the door. “We can pick this back up in the morning.” They both looked just as tired as I felt.

“Caroline, you should feed before you sleep. It will help with the fatigue your feeling.” The thought of eating has my stomach growling.

“Thats a good idea, I'll ask May to get me a glass for your blood.” We all walked back to my room; Deaken carried a few books I wanted to read in his arms.

“There is no need to ask for May,” He offered me his wrist. “Just drink from me.”

I was a bit surprised, “We haven’t done in a while after what happened last time.”

Deaken plopped the books down on the table next to the love seat. “What happened last time?” he asked, a bit confused.

I looked at Damon because even I didn’t know what really happened. He confessed, “I almost lost control.” He let out a long sigh, “You had been on my lap in nothing but a towel and all I wanted to do was make you cry out my name in pleasure.”

My checks turned a bright shade of red, “I didn’t know. I just acted on instinct. My need to feed took over and I couldn’t stop myself.”

“I know,” he pulled my face up to look at his. “I am not mad about it but when you bite someone you can make them feel emotions. The state I was in would have ended with me taking you in every way I could.”

He offered me his wrist once more; I took it gently in my grasp. I placed a few kisses on his skin before biting down on his vein. I was thankful for the meal; it had been a long time since I had a taste from the source. I forgot how good he tasted, the hints of nuts and fruit had me moaning out loud as I sucked harder. Damon moaned out a low sound as his eyes fluttered close in pleasure. I let go realizing what I had accidentally done, “I am so sorry! I didn’t mean...”

He wiped away a bit of blood from my lip, “Don’t be sorry. That felt amazing.”

Deaken cleared his throat, “It's okay to finish the binding between you too. So long as I can mark you as my mate as well.”

The tension in the room was palpable, a charged current that connected all three of us. Damon's admission hung in the air, a confession of desire and restraint that sent a shiver down my spine. Deaken's interjection, though gruff, was laced with an underlying current of possessiveness and longing.

I swallowed hard, the reality of our intertwined fates settling heavily upon me. "I... I understand," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. "The binding... it's more than just a physical connection. It's our souls intertwining, isn't it?"

Damon nodded, his eyes dark pools of intensity. "Yes, it's a bond that transcends the physical. When we bind, we share more than just our bodies; we share our essence, our very being."

Deaken stepped closer, his presence a comforting force. "And it's not something to be taken lightly. The mark is permanent, a sign of eternal commitment."

I felt the weight of their gazes, the gravity of the decision before us. "Then let's not rush into this," I said, finding strength in my resolve. "If we are to be bound, to be marked, I want it to be a decision made with clarity, not clouded by hunger or lust."

Damon's lips quirked up in a half-smile, a flash of admiration in his eyes. "Wise words, Caroline. We'll do this the right way, with respect for each other and the bond we're about to form."

Deaken's hand found mine, his grip firm and reassuring. "Together," he said, a promise in that single word.

We stood in a circle, the candlelight casting dancing shadows across the walls, mirroring the flickering uncertainty within us. Damon's hand reached out to join ours, completing the circuit of our joined fates. "Together," he echoed, his voice a deep timbre that resonated with the promise of unity.

The room seemed to hold its breath, the very air charged with the power of our collective resolve. "But before we bind," I continued, "we must understand each other fully. Our fears, our hopes, and our dreams. This bond... it will not just unite us. It will amplify everything we are—good and bad."

Deaken's thumb brushed over the back of my hand, a silent vow of support. "Then let us begin with honesty. No secrets, no shadows lurking in our hearts."

Damon's gaze met mine, a silent storm brewing in his eyes. "I have lived in the darkness for too long," he confessed, his voice a whisper. "But with you, I see a chance for redemption, for a light that could guide me back to something resembling humanity."

"And I," Deaken interjected, "have been a warrior, a protector. But without something to fight for, it's just... existence. You, Caroline, you give me something to believe in, a cause worth more than survival."

I felt a tear slip down my cheek, the emotional gravity of their words pulling at something deep within me. "And I have been lost," I admitted, "adrift in a world that no longer made sense. But with both of you, I feel like I've found a home. A place where I belong."

We knew then that the binding would be more than a ritual. It would be a rebirth for all of us. A chance to forge a new path, one where we could be strong not just as individuals, but as a unit, a family forged not by blood, but by choice.

Deaken's eyes twinkled with a mischievous glint. "Well, if we're to be a family," he said, his tone light, teasing, "we should start with some family traditions, don't you think? Perhaps a nightly game of hide and seek in the manor's shadows?”

I laughed, the sound bright in the solemn mood. “How would we play?”

He grinned at Damon, “Whoever can find you first get to spend the night in bed with you.”

His smile told me exactly what he meant by that. “What do you think Damon?”

He gave me a sexy smile, “I think you have a five-minute head start.”

That wasn’t a lot of time, so I took off out of my room down the hall. I don’t think either of them know how to count though as they are already hot on my heals.