Chapter 247

Davyna's POV

I decided to walk slightly behind the boys as we head towards the

council chambers. Both Caleb and Vincent reassured me everything will be fine, but I can't shake the feeling that this may turn out badly. As we approach the council chambers near the back of the compound, both Caleb and Vincent look back at me and move slightly apart, signalling me to now walk with them as we enter.

The large doors open, and I take a deep breath and exhale, steadying myself.

Here we go I walk alongside the boys as we make our way up to the council's seats. I've never been in here before, but it's definitely an intimidating room.

The stone floor makes me slightly uneasy, my black flats making small clapping noises as I walk. I startle as I hear one of the guards announce our arrival.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the council, Caleb King, Vincent Valdun and Davyna Blackmoon have entered the chambers."

I look to Vincent and he smiles at me, which settles me down a bit, but not enough to shake the sheer amount of nerves I have right now. This is actually my first time approaching the council, and here I am to announce my mate status with two of the council member's sons. Oh boy. I look upon the council members sitting at their stations as we approach, the intimidating feeling washing over me yet again. We stop and stand in silence for a few moments, just a few feet away from the raised platform. I fiddle with the end of my braid, trying to keep focused until Vincent steps forward, just slightly ahead of Caleb and I.

"Councilmen and Councilwomen, we have come before you today to

inform you of a change in our status." Awkward silence ensues until a woman speaks.

"What change might this be, Vincent?" Watching her speak, I can only assume her to be Vincent's mother herself, due to the blood drop insignia in front of her station.

"Yes, Caleb, what is this change?" His mother speaks as well. I'm already spinning in my mind, now realizing that these women are my potential mothers-in-law. I swallow the lump forming in my throat due to my nerves. I really have to pull it together. Think calming thoughts, think calming thoughts....

Caleb steps forward, standing in line with Vincent. "We are here to

inform the council that we have found our mate." Caleb states plainly. There is another short moment of silence. I feel my palms start to get clammy, if its taken a new place in my head rather then my chest. I take glances at everyone in the room, and it takes much of my resolve to stop myself from just bolting out of here.

"Who is your mate, Vincent?" His mother asks. Vincent turns back to me, our eyes meeting briefly and I step forward to join them.

"Davyna is my mate." Vincent states calmly, as he takes my hand.

"And you Caleb?" It's his father who speaks this time. Caleb turns his head to look at me and holds his hand out. I take it. I'm now standing in line with them both, holding each of their hands, our statement being made perfectly clear. I see the surprised looks on the entirety of the council's faces as Caleb answers.

"Davyna is my mate as well."

"This cannot be possible. You are saying that Davyna is mated to both of as still mostly you?" Vincent's mother asks with her aimed at Vincent, and he nods at her to confirm.

"Is this some kind of joke?" Caleb's father stands from his seat suddenly, his tone much angrier sounding then before. Dam it. I was hoping that manage to keep myself steady and prepare for the worst.

Caleb interjects to try and diffuse the tension that has now reared its ugly head.

"Council, we would never joke about finding our mate. You are all aware how important it is when we find them. Believe us, Davyna mated to both myself and Vincent."

Vincent continues,

"We feel the mate pull and connections with the bonds. We have not accepted them, as we are seeking approval from you to proceed. We understand this is an unusual situation, but we ask you to take a chance and hear us out"

"How long have you both known and withheld this information from

us?" Vincent's father asks plainly. Vincent meets his fathers gaze as he replies.

"We have known since Davyna first arrived, but due to. complications. we decided to wait to inform the council."

Complications....he means Asher - and my safety. The tension in the room continues to thicken as we wait for someone to say something, When no one says a word, I decide to step foward ahead of Vincent and Caleb and speak to break the silence. I hear both

boys inhale sharply, clearly nervous of how I may be received.

"Council, may I speak?" I ask, surprised at the strength of my own voice.

"You may, Davyna." Caleb's mother replies sweetly. She seems to like me. Maybe there's a chance?

"Thank you, Councilwoman King." I clear my throat and continue.

Vincent said, I know this is a very unusual situation, but it is our situation, I know I haven't been here at The Hollow long, but I've been welcomed whole heartedly by your sons." I'll pause and shuffle my weight before I decide to continue on, and decide to keep with the honesty.

l came here knowing no one, and both Vincent and Caleb welcomed

me with kindness and sincerity, even knowing almost immediately I was their mate. I had no knowledge of your world, but both of these men took the time to make me feel comfortable in knowing what I was to them, even when I was skeptical myself."

I change my tone to be slightly more serious as I say my final statement.

"l do not come here today alongside these men to play around or joke regarding our situation. We truly believe we three are mated, and we wish to ask for your approval and request the ritual. I wish to oblige with your laws and customs, out of respect not only for you as the council, but as someone coming into your worlds, and possibly your families."

I see both Caleb and Vincent's mothers smile at me, and I gladly smile back, hoping that my words helped convince them.

"Please exit while we convene." Caleb's father states with some

frustration making itself known. I turn and walk out with Caleb and

Vincent and we sit on a bench outside the main doors.

"You spoke beautifully, love." Vincent leans in and kisses my forehead. I blush.

"I was only trying to help."

"You may have sealed the deal, Davyna. Our mothers seemed pretty

convinced." Caleb chuckles lightly. He grabs my hand and squeezes it.

"l can only hope I made a good impression." I sigh and lean into Vincent as Caleb massages the back of my hand with his thumb. A few moments later, a guard comes to retrieve us.

"The council will see you now."

We all nod and I walk beside both Caleb and Vincent as we re-enter the chambers. We standing the exact place we were before and stay there silently, waiting for the council to lay down their judgement or approval.

It's Vincent's mother who speaks. I hold my breath, waiting for the response.

"We, the council have convened and made a decision regarding what you all brought to our attention today." She pauses as she signals a guard from behind us.

"Please go retrieve the supplies for the ritual." I look at Vincent and then at Caleb and the and the both smile at me warmly.

"You did it, love." Vincent whispers in my ear. I stifle a giggle. A short while after, the guard comes back with a small knife and a witchy vial of some sort. Must be the poison for the blade that Vincent talked about.

My stomach churns in anticipation and worry, I haven't really prepared myself for this part.

Vincent's mother then comes down from her council chair and comes to stand in front of the three of us.

"Davyna, please set your arms out slightly, with your palms up."

"Yes, Councilwoman Valdun." I do as she asks. She dips the blade into the vial, grabs my right hand and quickly slices into my palm. I flinch slightly as it stings, but it's nothing like what I thought. I can handle it.

She does the same with my left hand, and I'm left with both my palms sliced open, blood slowly trickling from them as it pools and overflows from my tiny hands.

I feel slightly queasy but I push it down as Vincent is asked to step forward. His left palm is sliced as well, although he doesn't flinch like I did. No surprise there.

"Vincent, please place your left hand into Davyna's right hand." He does and I feel another stinging sensation, followed by the familiar warmth and tingles I'm used to feeling from the mate pul. Then Caleb's right hand is cut, and he places it in my left hand, the same sensation happening as it did with Vincent seconds earlier.

"Please stay like that for a few moments." I nod, just enjoying the normal sensations, my nerves settling down finally, but the smell of all the blood is making my queasiness worse.

"Vincent, please remove your hand." His mother states and he lets go, making me long for him as the warmth disappears. Vincent's mother my right hand and wipes the remnants of the blood to inspect the wounds on both mine and Vincent's hands.

She looks up at me and smiles warmly.

"You indeed are Vincent's mate." I smile back at her as l look at my own hand. No sign of any trauma whatsoever. It's then that Caleb's mother comes down as well and says,

"Caleb please remove your hand."

"Of course, mother" He replies as he removes his hand as well. His mother wipes and inspects my other hand as well as Caleb's and gasps in surprise.

"You are Caleb's mate as well." As surprised as they are, each of the council members claps in celebration, and as their mothers return to their seats, Caleb's father announces,

"We, the council have witnessed the blood ritual, and deem Davyna Blackmoon as the mate of both Caleb King and Vincent Valdun" I laugh as Caleb picks me up and spins me around.

"It's official!" He puts me down and Vincent approaches me and embraces me lovingly.

"No more hiding, love."l can't help but feel giddy,. This could have gone so much worse, but l am happy how it turned out.

I'm officially recognized as their mate. Well then.

Our celebration is interrupted by Vincent's mother.

"We have some conditions for you three, and Davyna?" I look at her

"Yes?" you are welcome to call me and my husband by our first names now, there isn't a need to be so official around us. I am Celeste, and Vincent's father is Cyrus."

"That goes the same for myself and my husband Davyna." Caleb's mother adds.

"My name is Meira and my husband is Kellan"

"l appreciate you allowing me to address you this way. Thank you Celeste, Cyrus...Meira and Kellan. I can only hope to bring happiness to both your sons and I look forward to getting to know you all a bit more."

I say as I look at all of their faces, seeing smiles and nods of affirmation.

"Likewise, Davyna." Celeste replies to me happily before continuing on with the conditions from the council.

"We would like for you to accept your bonds as soon as possible, but we wish to offer all of you some time away from The Hollow to connect deeper with each other, with no distractions.

Davyna to spend time with the boys at each of their respective

homelands." I look back and forth between Caleb and Vincent, hardly

being able to contain my excitement. I get to spend time with each of them alone? Where they grew up? No way.

We've arranged for a week long period for each of you boys." Meira

states.

"Davyna will go with Vincent first to Avern, the Valdun family lands. Then she will go with Caleb to Midnight Moon's packlands, and once you return in time for the coronation, your status will be revealed to the entire population here."

Cyrus chimes in.

"You will leave tomorrow evening. Take time to prepare for your departure." I nod in acknowledgment and Vincent, Caleb and I are dismissed.

"Not wasting any time l guess." I say as we exit the large chambers.