CHAPTER NINE: REVELATION 2
1645 Words
“Yeah, after Wendy said she was your wife, I was mad that you intended to toy with me.”
Her voice was quiet, but the hurt underneath was sharp. She wasn’t looking at him. Her fingers twisted in the blanket on his lap.
Reynard’s chest tightened. “I would never even dream or think of toying with you, princess.” He cradled her soft black hair, letting the strands slip through his fingers. She nestled in his arms, but her shoulders stayed tense.
“Well, at that time I was angry, so I left the mansion. But I was kidn*pped a few miles from the mansion and taken to an abandoned warehouse. It smelled like rust and old blood. I wasn’t the only one there. There were two other ladies — Daisy, a human-demon, and a thousand-year-old Kitsune who calls herself Violet.”
Reynard’s arms tightened. He remembered that night. The missing report. The trail that went cold.
“Justin had his own plan. He wanted to create a powerful weapon against the king of all supernaturals. So he used an ancient spell. A binding, blood-and-bone kind of spell. He commanded the souls of Daisy and Violet into my body. Forced them in.”
She paused and swallowed as Reynard felt her shudder.
“But things didn’t work out at first. Unknown to us all, bombs had been buried all around the warehouse. Justin was paranoid. If the ritual failed, no one would live.” Her breath hitched. “When it blew up, the panic made our souls merge faster. Fear. Pain. Desperation. It fused us. Three souls, one body, one heartbeat.”
“I couldn’t control two powerful souls that didn’t work together,” she admitted. “Daisy is fire. Reckless, loud. Violet is ice. Ancient, patient. And me… I was just human. Weak. So I became the mediator. For that period I let Daisy take over, since I was too weak. And Violet… Kitsune don’t share bodies. She could’ve destroyed us. But she didn’t.”
She sighed and looked up. Reynard stared like he was memorizing every line.
“What?” she asked.
“You look beautiful,” he said, rough. “Just hope I’m not dreaming. Who would’ve thought you’d want me to hold you after everything? After I failed you?”
“I guess faith did,” she replied, smiling small. “I need your help, Reynard. I didn’t know how to find you, but Daisy did. She met your mom. That hypocrite knows how to behave cute when she wants something.”
“My mother?”
“Belle. Daisy charmed her. She pretended to be hurt, fully aware about her identity. Belle rescued her, fed her and taught her to braid hair.”
“But how come we didn’t smell your different scents?” Reynard frowned.
“You can’t. You only smell my scent because they’re fused in my body. If it were my soul and Daisy’s in Violet’s body, I’d have perished. My body was the anchor. Vice versa would’ve killed me.” She shifted
“Why didn’t you recognize me?” she asked, vulnerable now.
“I couldn’t when it was only Daisy’s face. The eyes were wrong. The scent was yours. Only the bond was there. That pull in my chest.” He touched her cheek. “But if you were different persons before, how come I now have three mates?”
‘Like, men,’ Rex yawned in Reynard’s head. Triple the trouble. Triple to protect.
“For that, I don’t know, Rey,” she said, the nickname slipping out.
Reynard went still. “What do you call me?”
“Rey.” Her cheeks heated.
“I love how it sounds from your lips, princess.”
“Or you just love her lips,” Daisy resurfaced with a smirk, eyes flashing red. She leaned forward.
“Shut up, Daisy,” Reynard stood, putting distance between them.
The door opened. Derrick entered. “Alpha, bad news.” He saw Daisy sit up, chin lifted. He cleared his throat, waiting for her to leave. She didn’t.
“Speak, Derrick.” Reynard’s voice was ice.
“Alpha, she…” Derrick hesitated.
“Continue.” Reynard went cold.
“Yes, the hellhounds have joined forces with the vampires.”
Reynard sat down slowly. “Not surprising. With what happened last, I didn’t expect him to lie low.”
“What to do now, Alpha?”
“Prepare a meeting. All Alphas. Tonight. No excuses.”
“Yes Alpha.” He left.
“What is it, Reynard?” Dandelion asked, eyes flickering gold to red.
“It was a feud between an Alpha whose mate was sucked dry by a vamp. Stupid. Preventable. Now it’s becoming war. I feel it’s a conspiracy. Lucian’s fingerprints are all over it.”
“So what do we do? Have you tried talking things out?”
“Talking? Nah. I wouldn’t if you were sucked dry.” He shuddered. “No, he can’t bear to lose you again. Stay with me. Live in my room. Where no one can touch you.”
The door opened again. Belle entered, humming, then stopped. As Dandelion’s face turned to Daisy’s, Belle smiled.
“Mom!” Daisy said, too bright.
“Oh, it’s you, my baby girl. Did I interrupt something?” Belle blushed, looking at Reynard whose cheeks went red.
“Mom, we should tell her.” Reynard took Daisy’s hand.
“About what?” Daisy asked, eyes dancing.
“About you being my mate.”
“What?” Belle gasped, hand to her mouth. She looked between them.
“Yes, Mom,” Daisy held Belle’s hand. “I haven’t been truthful"
" I knew you were hiding something. At times your mind is like a brick wall. But I didn’t read it. Because you’re my mom now too.”
“Yes, Mom, Reynard and I… we’ve been together before. I was his mate he lost... I am his mate. It’s just there’s three of us.”
Belle was confused, likewise Bella her wolf.
‘Something juicy coming,’ Bella howled.
‘Hush,’ Belle scolded, eyes bright.
“Three of you? How?” Belle sat down hard.
“You should sit, Mom,” Daisy led her to a chair as Reynard sat on his office table, arms crossed.
“Mom, I’m three persons in one body. The real owner is Dandelion.”
Air shimmered. Dandelion surfaced, eyes soft brown.
Belle gasped: “Magnificent.”
“Hi, Mom, I’m Dandelion, Reynard’s mate who died three years ago.”
Belle hugged her. “Nice to meet you, dear. I never met you when the incident happened. I’ll try make it up to you. .”
" There's no need mother..."
“She called me mother, son,” Belle smiled as Daisy reappeared.
“And the last but certainly not—”
“Hi, Mom, Violet,” the Kitsune cut in, silver hair cascading though the body was the same.
Belle smiled, delighted: “Wow, dear, you’re beautiful. All of you.”
“Of course, Mom. But how can I compare to thy beauty!” Violet sat beside Belle, tucking hair behind her ear. Daisy rolled her eyes.
“Hmph, smooth talker,” Daisy muttered.
Violet reappeared. “Don’t mind her, Mom. I’ve wanted to meet you but Daisy wouldn’t let me. She’s territorial. I watched you teach Daisy to cook. Why don’t you teach me? I’ve lived a thousand years and never made bread.”
“Alright, dear,” Belle said, reaching for her hand.
Daisy reappeared. “Mom knows cooking isn’t my favorite. Fire and kitchens don’t mix.”
Then Dandelion took over. “Mom, I’m a triad. Human, cambion, kitsune.”
“What’s a cambion?” Belle frowned.
“Half human, half demon. Daisy’s father was a demon lord. That’s why she’s… intense.”
“And how are you working on this?” Belle asked, practical.
“Bad, Mom. Daisy and Violet never agree. Daisy wants to fight. Violet wants to observe fifty years. It’s surprising Violet’s excited to meet you. No one moves her, not even a mate,” she glanced at Reynard and giggled.
“Mom, it’s time for you to go,” Reynard interrupted, softer now.
“Come on, son, I just met your mate,” Belle protested.
“You’ve been with her longer than I have. And where’s father?”
“In his room as usual,” Belle rolled her eyes. “Brooding. Plotting. Dramatic.”
“Okay, you guys chat. But when I get back, Mom, you’re leaving my mate. You have yours,” he walked out as the women laughed.
Belle turned to them. “Alright, girls. First lesson: how to make the bread my son loves. Then you tell me everything. I want to know my daughters-in-law.”
And for the first time in three years, the triad felt like family.
- Writer
