Chapter Text
Selena Dragonknight closed the historic tome with a snap. That was enough revision for her free day. She was certainly not going to spend the whole of her free day with a nose in her books. She got enough flack from everyone about how fast the books flew off her set reading list for her tutoring sessions as it was. She certainly did not need them noticing she was adding in extra books to her line-up. Selena put the book aside deciding she was going to have an easy morning.
She rose from her bed and crossed to look out her window over the settlement around them. Stelliante was a relatively small planetoid in the realms featuring only one major continent. It was skewed on its orbit meaning the northern part of the continent was perpetually tropical. This was the part of the planetoid owned by the Fae.
King Ondine and his Fae had settled this planetoid first when the most intelligent species on it was the Native Dragons. The Fae had tried to live the entire length of the continent but the lower hemisphere was far colder and the evergreen mountainous forest had not suited them. He had been more then pleased to sell of the lands to Selena’s great grandfather when the Dragonknight clan had first left Neverah in search of a new home.
Selena smiled down as the sunrise brought people from their homes to start their days. She saw the pairs and triplets leaving their Tudor styled homes. The Dragonknight clan could not boast many full circles it was mainly comprised of pairs and triplets of Dragels. The clan was also a military clan so most everyone was a warrior. The lack of circles had led to a community development of the clan. Selena could not throw a stick without hitting someone who was effectively her pseudo aunt, uncle, or grandparent and they never let her forget it.
She moved away from the window and washed off her pale blue skin which was almost white depending on what lighting she was in. She used lavender soap and a washing basin of fresh water to ensure she was clean. She then felt her silvery flows of hair and they were clean enough but she promised herself she would take a trip to the communal bath houses the next morning to wash. She then sat in front her mirror and for once indulged herself in selfcare moisturizing her skin as best she could without water.
Selena was by heritage consider a merrow, but not a typical merrow for certain. Her subset was known as Glacien Merrows. Glacien Merrows were descendants coming from the heavy crossbreeding between the Merrows and the Storm elements. Given that Merrows are so prickly about other elements crossover mates may happen but don’t generally repeat. However, this crossover had happened with a significant population over several generations leading to the dynamic changes in their magic and physical appearance.
Glacien Merrows in Neverah had been considered a part of the Merrows as a whole by the King but friction with the normal Merrows and more than a little discrimination eventually led to the Glacien Merrows leaving Neverah to settle in another off-world realm.
Selena did not have any contact with other Glacien merrows, so she only knew about her personal constitution. Selena was more tolerable of land than typical Merrow kin, but she still lived for water. She had to either bathe in the bathhouses every other day or she had to take the time to go downriver for a couple of hours to swim at the coast to keep herself from developing a wicked temper.
That was another difference between Merrows and Glaciens. Most Merrows would be a take on forms of Sea Dragons and Wyrms in their transformed state. They have long serpentine bodies that twist and curve in the air sure but were best adapted for life in the water. Herod had always called Selena more of an Amphithere dragon. She had the long serpentine body with silver and glacier blue scales but she also had great wings.
Selena checked her fluted ears and the delicate fins that ran down her arms and legs for injuries. This was a habit for her. Selena trained in the same combat styles as the rest of the clan she did not want anyone to treat he like a special case or coddle her just because her body was different. Her uniform protects her fairly well but she liked to be thorough.
Selena was only thirty-eight years old but she was more than just a student warrior. She was a sworn Dragonknight. That was to say she had a sworn her oath of fealty to Lady Amaranth to serve he as a warrior of the Dragonknight Military Clan.
At last count the number of Dragonknights had grown to near three thousand strong. That was only counting the sworn warriors. You could easily triple if not quadruple that count by including the children and Shield Bearers. Shield Bearers was the common name for the non-warrior family members in the families that made up the rest of their clan.
Selena was also a Dragonknight in name although she at times did not feel she was up to that particular aspect of her life. Selena was the magically adopted daughter of the current clan Chieftain, Lady Amaranth Dragonknight. Lady Amaranth was the only child of Benedict Dragonknight who in turn had been the only son of Morpheus Dragonknight who had first settled their clan on this planetoid.
Lady Amaranth was an alpha and while she had years ago mated a submissive. Fate had taken him from her long before they could have any children of their own. Amaranth had been content for a good portion of her life being Mother to the Clan. She helped to raise all the children in the clan living the ideal that it takes a village to raise a child. Because of that it had always struck Selena as odd that Amaranth waited until she had left her midlife behind her for the life of an elder Dragel before she decided she needed a child of her own.
Not long after Amaranth made that decision a Glacien Merrow colony on a neighbouring planetoid system fell under attack and her Dragonknights provided aid to them. Impulsively Amaranth had claimed this waif of a child barely three years old. Selena had been orphaned in the attack and with an uncertain future ahead of her. The Glacien Merrows as whole had been in a bad way so they had not even considered arguing, when Amaranth suggested she would adopt Selena. One less orphan they had to manage.
Selena chuckled to herself. She often wondered if her mother ever regrated that impulse. Especially when they were at odds with each other like they had been recently. Selena had so many things against her. She was the only Glacien Merrow in the clan and in the minority certainly as the number of merrows were thin within the clan on the whole. She was also a submissive. She had to work three times as hard as any other rank to earn her position in the clan. Further she was as she had said only thirty-eight years old. She was still a child in terms of Dragel life with a mother in her elder years.
Selena frowned at her reflection trying to see what her mother and rest of the elder council were seeing. Was she really the best person to be named Clan Heiress? Being Amaranth’s adopted daughter surely did not make up for all her flaws.
Selena sighed as she picked up a brush and smoothed it through her silver hair. Her aqua highlights were dull today the grim from her excessive training and fighting she had been doing this past week. Selena winced at the clock she had been dallying to long in thought here. Usually was up and ready for her day within a quarter of an hour so she was beginning to twitch over how much time she was wasting. She then split it up her hair and formed two tight braids on either side of her head that joined at the base of her skull and continued down to just brush her shoulder blades.
She had just finished her hair and was contemplating whether to do anything else to herself when there was a knock at her door. She pulled her robe up onto her shoulders more and called out, “Yes?”
The door slipped open and Hughes smiled at her. He was one of the Elders of the clan, and though he no longer actively fought for them, he was certainly a master strategist. He was also, even if it was unofficial, mated to her mother. When Amaranth’s submissive had died she had sworn, she would never bond again. Herod, a Beta and his mate Hughes who was an Advisor had over the years been taken as her mates none-the-less. Nothing as formal as a bond between them was needed when they spent almost every night in her bed. Further the pair were the only two in the whole of the clan who could get Amaranth to change her stubborn mind when she was stuck in Alpha mode. Because Hughes lived with them it wasn’t uncommon for him to come visit Selena in her room.
He came forward and affectionally brushed his finger along her braids. “Very pretty, but I hope you know better than to wear it like that in a fight.”
Selena winced at the thought, “Ow, not a chance of that.”
He smiled and placed his hands on either of her shoulders as he leaned down next to her ear. He nuzzled her cheek before he smirked at her in the reflection of the mirror, “Our Lady wishes to see you.”
Selena tensed in rebellion and Hughes pressed his thumbs into her neck to work some of the tension out and keep her calm. Selena wilted but whined, “Do I have to go?”
Hughes chuckled as he ran his fingers through his salt and pepper hair. “You could avoid her, again. As you have been doing all week, I am sure. However, when our Lady asks me after you, I will be informing her that I told you she wished to see you.”
Selena rubbed her face and growled under her breath. Hughes turned her from the mirror so he could look down into her eyes. His teal eyes were full of concern for her, “Selena, how long do you think she will indulge this rebellious game of yours? If you keep it up, she will send Herod instead of me. You know you cannot refuse your mentor’s command if he chooses to give it.”
Selena winced. Yes, Herod being essentially one of her fathers could be ignored. However, he was also her Oret. She had to listen to him in that capacity. Hughes was right. She was just being wilfully stubborn at this point. She had put this discussion off for a full week and it was time to face it.
Selena stood up and nodded, “Alright, I will get dressed and go see her, Dad.”
Hughes kissed her temple, “Wise choice, Dragonheart. We will make a clan chieftain of you yet.” Selena hissed at that comment and Hughes openly laughed at her expression. Selena scowled after him and flicked a hair pin at him. He ducked as the thin metal spike flew over him and imbedded itself into the doorframe.
He stood up and examined it. “I had not considered that a weapon. I will have to update my threat assessment for young ladies in formal attire.”
Selena snorted at that comment because she knew Hughes was only teasing her. He was too much of as strategist not to mark hairpins and pretty bobbles women wear as potential weapons. He pulled the pin from the wall and left it on the sideboard next to the door.
Selena noted he tilted, his head in deference to her as he moved out of the room. Selena bit back another growl at that. She was not their Clan Heiress yet. She still maintained in her mind that she was far from the best choice for this position. Despite all of her objections, the clan was still putting her through the Heir Trials at her mother’s insistence.
Ignoring her mother this past week had been a petty way of showing her displeasure over the situation. Selena moved over to her to her closet. A meeting with Lady Amaranth, no matter how short in duration was a formal situation so she pulled out her clan uniform. The first layer was fitted almost skin tight black trousers and a high-necked shirt. It did not look like much but they were made from spun acromantula silk, so they were both weather and cut resistant. It provided full protection on all but their face, hands, and feet.
She pulled on her black tunic next. It was made from the same material but was meant to denote rank and element. The Dragonknights clan crest was embroidered over her left breast and swirling out from behind it as a pattern of snowflakes and frost. She played nervously with the new copper coloured trim around on her collar. Only last week it had been navy in colour.
When she had won the proving trial fight against Jada, one of the top ranked copper warriors all her navy trimmed tunics had been replaced with copper ones denoting she had advance up in rank.
She sighed, shaking her head. She would be discussing all this with Lady Amaranth so she did not want dwell on it more. She pulled her black and silver dragon hide robes about her body and fastened all the clasps to secure it in place at her waist. In real combat the tunic and robes would obviously be replaced for armour, but the uniform itself was built from enough protective materials they used them for general training and sparing.
Lastly, Selena pulled on her dragon hide boots and picked up her trident from beside the door before she left her bedroom. Selena exchanged pleasant greetings with anyone she passed as she made the way down to Amaranth’s office on the ground floor. The four of them live on the upper floors of the three-story manor that served as the heart of the clan.
The first floor was all administrative housing the many war rooms and offices needed to keep such a large clan functional and managed their many contracts. The second floor was a mix between a research level and Amaranth’s Living quarters. Selena had the third floor to herself which she was sure was by design. Her mother wanted her to make it appropriate home for her Mated Circle in time.
She then placed her trident into the charmed stand beside the door. They used to just have a regular non-charmed weapons rack but someone, cough Little Milo cough, had taken to running of with people’s weapons while they were in meeting. The little boy just wanted attention so no one was mad at him, but concern he would hurt himself with the weapons had led to them charming the stand so only the person who put the weapon in it could take it out.
Selena cautiously slid into the office without knocking and looked around. Oh well, it was worth a shot. There was no chance of saying she came by and no one was there, because her Mother was behind her desk reading a report. Selena straightened up and crossed the room to sit in one of the chairs in front of the desk.
Lady Amaranth was certainly not as old as Hughes but she was not a young warrior anymore. She had taken some serious injuries during their last major engagement which had caused the talk of her stepping back to allow one of the younger warriors the chance to lead. Selena looked her over with concern. Amaranth’s long raven locks were streaked with grey but her body was still strong. Selena had not been old enough to remember her birth parents when Amaranth had taken her in so Amaranth, Hughes and Herod were her parents.
Selena looked away when Lady Amaranth moved to dip her pen in more ink. She did not look up from her work but she smiled, “You have been avoiding me all week, Selena.”
“I am sorry, My Lady,” Amaranth looked up at that and raise an eyebrow at her. She held Selena’s gaze until she squirmed, “Sorry, Mum.”
Amaranth sighed, “I do not understand this sudden rebellious streak you have, Selena.”
“I am not being disrespectful though.”
“I could argue that you are being highly disrespectful, my daughter. I found you when you were toddling about, I raised you into the young woman you are. I thought I had earned the right to be called Mum by you. I thought you love me.”
“I do, Mum! Love has nothing to do with this!” Selena argued.
“Then what is it? Why do you feel the need to pull back from me, simply because you don’t agree with two of my recent decisions?”
Selena blushed and she knew her pale blue white skin would have turned lilac giving her away. “It is … How can you name me your heir?! I may be your daughter but I am only thirty-eight! The Dragonknights are full of warriors who are more experienced than I am. There are those who are better than me!”
“Better? Since I named you Heir Apparent, you have been going through the proving fights working your way up through the best fighters at each of the ranks. Your new tunic is proof of that you are more than capable. You have not lost one fight, Selena, not one. Do not insult our brothers and sisters by saying they let you win.”
Selena shook her head still blushing, “No, you are right. I know they all fought hard and I had to work for each of those wins.”
“So, all that is left is for you to face Herod and you will have beaten even a senior rank fighter. They will not question you then.”
“That is if I win, but even if I do. Why should they follow me? Herod, Hughes, Brinson they have been your senior fighters for a century. Why would they accept me?”
“For the same reason I have to step back, my daughter. None of us are as young as we used to be. Herod is one of the youngest warriors in the gold rank and he is only a decade younger than me. If I am losing step then soon, he and the others will too. We have put it off for too long and need to promote from within. With you as Heiress the clan will be assured of having a leader for centuries more. Just as they had with me when I became Chieftain.”
“But they had that with you because your father died unexpectedly when you were so very young.”
“That is true. And I don’t have any intention dying any time soon, Selena, My Love. However, we as a clan must plan these things in case the unthinkable does happen.” Selena shook her head she did not want to accept this. “Selena, listen to me, none of us will expect you to take over tomorrow. And Hughes and I will still be here to navigate the political and legal aspects of what we do. The Elder council will still be available to you to for planning and strategizing. It will fall to you to form your own War Council made up of the warriors you choose as your Lieutenants, but the rest of us are not abandoning you.”
“I don’t know how to lead. I don’t.”
“I can still keep up in the field at the moment, Selena, so I will be with you teaching you. But whether I admit it or not I am getting old. Very soon I won’t be able to fight. I will never want to become a liability to our clan. They will need someone young to lead them and that is you, My Love.”
Selena growled, “But why me? I am not even clan by blood. I am nothing but the stray you found and took in.”
“Selena you are the single most powerful warrior we have.” Selena noticed her mother pause as if she was unsure how to continue. Eventually she said, “You are a Master of three elements and are already on your way to a fourth. How many warriors do we have who have can manipulate more than one element? Only you.” Again Amaranth pause unsure what to say which was so unlike her. Selena bit her lip in worry. Amaranth sighed, “Beside that ability, you have a working knowledge of the other element too so can easily partner with anyone in the field.”
Selena shifted as she sank back in her chair. While the clan viewed her magic as a blessing Selena feared it to a degree. No one she had ever known could switch between elements powers the way she could. And her power levels hand not settled they were still growing. She feared she would lose control over them. She looked down at her hands which were folded tightly in her lap. There was a layer of crystallization of ice on her skin because her magic was reacting to her unease.
Amaranth stood up and came around her desk. She knelt in front of her. “I know I am at risk of pushing you too fast here, Selena.” She reached forward and lifted Selena’s hands. Amaranth ignored the iciness there so she could brush off the forming crystals. “This is why I have chosen to send you to The Hunt. You cannot get away with a pairing or even a triad relationship. Unlike the rest of the clan your magic demands a full mated circle.”
Selena drew a shaking breath. She knew this. She could feel that one or two mates would not be able to balance her powers. “I know that. I do but I …”
Amaranth nodded sadly, “Amritsar and Markarth instinctually know they are not enough for you. They may be Gheyos but they are not stupid. Instinctively they know you will need other dominants and that is why even though you have had this relationship with them for years neither one has ever dared to put their mating mark on you. Gheyos are most often one of the last ranks to join a circle. They balance it out and tying the whole thing together.” Amaranth cupped Selena’s cheek. “Have you spoken with them about The Hunt?”
Selena shook her head so Amaranth stood up and motioned her to the door. “Then I suggest you do. I will send word out so they will be released from patrol duty.”
“Great. Put them in a bad mood already before I can even speak with them.” Selena huffed as she stood.
“They will curve their tongue or they will answer to me. You are my daughter and I will not abide anyone taking their anger out on you. You have no more control over this situation then they do.” Selena inwardly shook her head but she was not about to tell her mother that tell a Gheyo not to be angry was like talking to a brick wall. She instead simply bid her goodbye and walked out the door.
Despite her tenuous mood she had to chuckle when she stepped outside the office. Milo, the little hellion, was only four years old and very gangly. He had climbed up on the box and was pulling with all his might on the shaft of her trident attempting to get it out of the stand. Selena swooped in and picked the little boy up.
“Ahh, Selena! Nooooo!”
“Little troublemaker,” She tickled his ribs making him squeal.
“Milo Jasper, what have I told you about touching weapons without permission?”
Selena smiled over her shoulder at Kara, Milo’s Mother. The Shield Bearer was glaring at her son. “It is fine Kara. He did no harm.”
Kara sighed, “I know and I know polearms are relatively safe for him to mess with. But if he goes for them, then he will go after a swords too. Then I will have a fingerless son.” She came over and took Milo from Selena.
Selena ran her fingers through Milo’s honey coloured hair straightening it some. “Better.”
“Just you wait, Selena love, soon enough you will have a circle and your own sons to wrangle.”
“Hold your tongue, Kara. I am being force into the Hunt his time, but that does not mean I have to become a mother so soon. I am not ready for that.”
“You say that now, but I was just like you once upon a time. You are a submissive, Selena. You will want this for yourself sooner than you think.” Selena knew Kara was probably right and the clan would love for her to mate and have children they could spoil.
Being a military clan, the number of births was quite drastically reduced among their member. The timing had to be right within a family and then they had to make the appropriate arrangements for leave time. Then there were some cases where their warriors just plain refused to leave the field at all. All these things had cumulated in years where not even a single child was born into the clan.
Milo was the youngest child in the main settlement of the clan and one of only a dozen children still under the age of inheritance. There were another fifteen Dragel between the ages of sixteen and her age a thirty-eight. It was just another factor that led the clan collectively raising of their young. Selena promised to spend some time playing with Milo soon before she left her home.
Selena turned from the building looking around at main settlement. This mountainous terrain, the Waterfall and river to the east and the ever-present evergreen forest around them had limited the expansion to pretty much what they had now even in her grandfather’s time. Without major deforestation this settlement could not expand so over the centuries the clan established two splinter settlements one along the Eastern coast and one in the Western Plains.
Sure, Selena could move to the Easter coastal settlement and be on the water every day but this was her home. She had grown up in the main settlement and she knew she would raise her family here eventually.
Selena travelled across the city to the apartment that her pair of Gheyos shared. It was small and cramped but it was overlooking the waterfall that ran beside their city. Because of that Selena loved it. She moved one of the sturdy chairs over to the window and watched as the wind made the water dance on its way down the cliff side. That was where she was when Amritsar and Markarth arrived mid-afternoon.
Selena winced as Markarth slammed the door. His auburn hair was sparking but not on fire yet. His hazel eyes were practically glowing with his anger as he hissed, “Where does Garr get off sending us home without cause.
Selena cleared her throat and the small smile Amritsar gave her confirmed he had already sensed her presence. “Garr sent you home at Lady Amaranth’s request. She wants us to talk.”
Amritsar nodded but Markarth hissed, “What could I possibly have to say to -”
Amritsar slapped his hand over Markarth’s mouth, “You finish that sentence and I will never forgive you. If you cannot speak to Selena civilly, then leave this apartment now.”
Markarth’s eyes flashed and his fiery hair did catch fire as he pried Amritsar’s hand from his mouth. He shoved past him and back out the door. Amritsar caught the door before it could slam again.
“Forgive him, Selena he is taking this hard.”
“Aren’t we all,” Selena whimpered as she hugged herself.
Amritsar crossed to her and pulled her into his arms. She sighed she breathed in his tangy citrus smell of the soap he used. She reached up tangling one of her hands in his black hair watching his sliver highlight sparkly in the low light of the apartment. His violet eyes assessed her with concern. He ran his strong hand up and down her back once before he noted how tense she was. He then turned her gently with tsking sound.
“Brace your arms on the wall, Love. You can’t go into your fight with Herod tomorrow with all this tension in you or you could be seriously hurt.”
Selena did what he asked her, and moaned softly as he began to massage her muscles. After a few minutes she asked, “Should you still be calling me “Love” still, all things considered?”
Amritsar squeezed tightly making her hiss. When he did let go of that spot, he nuzzled it to relieve the sting. “You need to go to Nevarah to hunt. That is a fact, Love. And I will let you go, but I will not pretend I don’t love you. I want to be your Gheyo King just as badly as Markarth wants to be your Queen. However, I will not hold you back. If you find Gheyos in Neverah that are better suited to you then I will accept it.”
They fell silent as he continued to work the tension from her. When he finished, he led he to their sofa and she settled onto his lap. Selena settled her head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. “I am scared to go.”
“Of course you are, Neverah is a massive realm when compared to our tiny planetoid. However, LaMere and Warren are the best choice to escort you. It has only been fifty years since Warren went to The Hunt in Neverah himself and mated to LaMere. LaMere himself was born in Neverah so he is very familiar with the place.” He raised himself up without displacing her too much and summoned something to his hand. “LaMere helped me with this.”
“What is it?”
“A favour, it is the Neverah way of expressing your interest in someone. This is mine to you, but as I said, you owe me nothing. I will still have Markarth, flames and all in the end. That is what it means to be soulbound mates.”
Selena carefully opened the favour and wound the silver ribbon around her hand as she did so. She broke the seal on the teal envelope. Inside was a picture and a catalogue of Amritsar’s features like height element wingspan and such.
“This is the typical format for a favour. And, it will work so that if you want to show your new mates what we look like, since we will not be there with you. This however is for you.”
He pointed to a letter section. It echoed his earlier comments about loving her and wanting her happiness most of all. He ended it by saying she was his Heiress and he would always be her loyal Knight. If nothing else he hoped to still be her friend in the end.
Selena blushed, “I haven’t beaten Herod yet I am not the Heiress.”
“Love, everyone knows you will win. It is only you who doubts it. Tomorrow, I will be the one cheering the loudest when they place that tiara on your head and Our Lady officially names you, her heir.”
Selena did not want to let her doubts reign free so she changed the subject and they talked freely. For a short time, it was as if the announcement had never been made and they were able to just be. Free of the outside world and its expectations.
----
A few hours later the apartment door opened and closed quietly. Selena could tell it was Markarth returning from the way Amritsar’s jaw clenched against the side of her head. She kissed his throat and the closed her eyes waiting Markarth to speak.
She felt his heat immediately as he approached. Amritsar was a picture of contrasts being a storm elemental. His lightning was fiery but the wind and rain of the storm inside him cooled that heat so he was fairly steady in body temperature. Markarth on the other had was hot and would go to molten depending on his lovely temper. Currently he was hot, but it was not the burning inferno he became had been earlier. He slipped onto the couch next to them and pulled her leg over his lap. He the gentle took one of her hands and traced his thumb over her knuckles.
“I am sorry,” he whispered with a hoarse voice. Selena opened her eye and saw his eyes were red and there was faint evidence still on his face indicating he had been crying. He kept his face down but spoke, “Yes, I knew this was a possibility from the start of our relationship, but I honestly pushed it away in my mind. I never though you would actually go to Neverah. I … I am a very possessive man and I don’t know if I can be like Amritsar. I don’t know that I can give you up and just be your friend, if you find other Gheyos for your circle. I ...”
Selena shook her head, “If you couldn’t live with it, I would not force it upon you Markarth. I love you too much for that.” She sighed as she sagged further. “I hate this. I don’t want to go. What can I possible find there that I don’t already have?” She was pouting by the end of that statement.
Markarth smiled at that as he rubbed her leg affectionately, but Amritsar seemed to genuinely consider it. “Well maybe you will find some other Musicians.”
Selena blinked at that. It was a surprising thought and not an unwelcome one. Music was a passion she was very alone in having. Sure, the clan loved to dance and enjoyed a good party but there were not many who enjoyed making music themselves. Selena could on occasion coheres some of her fellows into playing with her, but it would be nice to have someone to perform with and sing with purely for the love of music.
She huffed, “Okay name another reason to go.”
Markarth poked her thigh, “A pareya, there aren’t any unmated ones here. We breed mostly Alphas, Betas, and Gheyo besides the occasional submissive. If you intend to go out into the field, you will need a nice docile Pareya or two in order to care for you children while you are away.”
She lifted her leg and brought her ankle down in an obvious direction, but the Fire Gheyo easily caught it and he pulled it up to his mouth so he could bite it. Selena hissed against the sting but as always Markarth was careful not to break the skin with his nips.
Amritsar pinched his ear, “stop that Markarth. If we are going to do anything like that then we need to eat first and then turn in. Selena needs enough sleep tonight to be ready for the challenge, so we can’t keep her up late.”
Selena blushed as Markarth growled possessively. She could not deny she had always felt at home being owned by both of them. She did not say it aloud but silently she prayer that things would work out do that she could keep them in the end.