Three Queens of Cerberus

Chapter 4

Three Queens of Cerberus

Chapter 4

Tie’s POV

I had to push her, but she finished her lunch. I wasn’t so successful at dinner. She hardly ate at all.

“She probably hasn’t been fed regularly, Tie. It’s going to take her a little time to get back into eating enough. Forcing her to eat more than she can handle is going to make her sick.”, Luka links as I have her food taken back downstairs.

“Not eating will make her sick too. She’s eating enough to sustain a pixie, not a were-creature.”, I return irritably.

“You’re fixating. You’ve looked her over yourself; she could stand to gain a few pounds, but she’s healthy. Be patient with her, she’ll eat more as she settles and gets comfortable.”, Baxter adds.

“Has the brother woken yet?”, Luka redirects the conversation.

“He opened his eyes, and looked at her for a second, a little while ago. I let Doc and his nurses leave. There’s no need for staff on the floor, if both she and I are up here with him.”, I answer, returning to the room.

“Let us know if you need anything.”, Luka says before closing the link he’d forced open.

I push the other chairs out of the room, leaving one for myself, before conjuring a plush sofa, pillows, and a warm soft blanket for Ulysses. She’s in the shower. I conjured everything she’d need; Doc had toothpaste and soaps brought in before he left. I hear the water shutting off in the attached bathroom. It doesn’t take her long to dress and come back out.

She smiles, seeing the sofa. “You’re too kind, Tie. I appreciate you very much.”

“Get some rest, beauty. I’ll watch over him.”, I assure her.

“You’re not tired?”, she sits on the sofa, folding her long legs up under her, and pulling the blanket across her lap.

“Reptilian sleep regularly because we enjoy it; we don’t need it like other creatures of power. We can go weeks without and be just fine.”

“You’ll wake me if he’s looking for me?”, she asks.

“Of course, beauty.”

I watch her lay down, holding her pillow and pulling the blanket up over herself. It doesn’t take long for her breath to even out as she falls asleep. Her sweet scent, soft breathing, and calm heart rate are all I need to remain content sitting here. I focus on it while I scroll aimlessly through shifter news on my conjured tablet.

“The beast within will know when it’s time. You’ll be called to her in the night; don’t hesitate in responding to the restlessness of the beast. If you do, you won’t reach her before they do.”, the little dragonian mate's words repeat in my mind. Four years ago, near this exact time, the seer told me I’d find my mate, that she needed me, and a hoard was chasing her. She’d die if I weren’t there in time. Since that day, anytime I’ve felt restless, I’ve shifted and let instinct carry me wherever it may. Seeing her in the water, hearing her story… I know it's her. The hoard was after her; and because of her warning, I was not too late.

“She’s asleep?”, I hear Reynaldo ask quietly, some time later.

I look up at him, “Yes. She said to wake her if you need her.”

“No. Let her sleep.”, he shakes his head. I wave the tablet away and stand, walking over to him.

“I’m going to look into you. It won’t hurt, I’m told it’s pleasant.”, I tell him before placing my hand against his head and chest, projecting my power into him to see.

“It is pleasant.”, he sighs as I release him.

“You’re doing better. Still have a long way to go, but I don’t think you’re dying anymore. Do you feel strong enough to shower?”, I ask him, keeping my voice low so I don’t wake Ulysses.

“I’d like to, but I’m not sure I can.”, he answers.

“I’ll get you there and help you, if you feel you aren’t going to pass out on me.”, I offer.

He nods, “I can stay awake.” I drop the side rail of his bed and pull his blankets back, before helping him sit up. We pause and let him catch his breath again.

I wrap my arm around his back, lifting him up onto his feet. I’m not going to offer to carry him, he’s too proud for that. I do keep his weight against me so he’s hardly having to use any effort; conjuring a chair for him in the shower and helping him get seated. I untie the back of the gown Doc had him put in, and let him take it off himself, while I close the door.

I adjust the water temperature and hand him the sprayer. He washes himself for the most part. I help with his legs, back, and hair. He’s not steady enough to shave and agrees with me doing it. We get his facial hair taken care of and he gives me an image in my mind of what his hair usually looks like. I conjure what I need to cut his hair back to the tousled chin length locks and shaved sides he prefers.

“I’m going to attempt this, but you may end up botched. I am no expert with hair.”

“I’ll survive it, I’m certain.”, Reynaldo replies.

I conjure plastic under him so cleaning up the hair takes no effort later. He still looks sick and frail, but he smells much better. Less like he’s been chained in a cell for months.

Ulysses’s POV

“Looks like I’ve narrowly escaped being beheaded. That whole side is crooked.”, I hear Reynaldo’s voice and Tie’s soft chuckle as I open my eyes. I don’t see Reynaldo in his bed, it’s completely stripped. I sit up, listening for him.

“It’s your head that’s crooked.”, Tie teases back.

Reynaldo’s laugh makes me smile, “Right, of course. My head, I'd never noticed before.”

“Listen… I’m a warrior, not a barber. I’d warned you to expect a botched job. I take no fault in this.”, Tie defends before falling silent for a moment. “There. Like that?”, he questions.

“Yea, that’s perfect.” I see the bathroom light under the closed door.

“Good, stay here, brush your teeth. I’ll fix your bed. Don’t try to stand without me.”, Tie instructs.

“I’m honored to have the great Tiberius Cain making my bed and washing my balls.”, Reynaldo feigns superiority to mask his embarrassment of needing Tie’s help.

Tie snorts before replying flirtatiously, “You'd like that, wouldn’t you?”, as he quietly opens the door. His eyes fall on me. “Now you’ve done it. She’s awake.”, he calls back into the bathroom as he conjures sheets, pillows, and blankets on Reynaldo’s bed.

Reynaldo gives me a partial smile as he brushes his teeth. He looks more like himself with the beard gone and his hair cut. He’s still so fragile, it’s visible even in the t-shirt and joggers Tie has conjured for him. He sits on a stool pulled up to the sink so he doesn’t have to remain standing.

“You look good.”, I’m just so relieved to see him awake and talking; after believing he was dead, then having him before me dying.

He spits into the sink, “You’re being kind, but I appreciate it.”, he answers before continuing to brush.

He’s rinsing his toothbrush when Tie returns to him. “Ready?”

Reynaldo nods and puts his arm over Tie’s shoulder as Tie leans and wraps his arm around his back, pulling him up to stand and waving the stool away. Tie moves slowly, being patient with him, and letting him have some control, though he’s practically carrying Reynaldo.

He helps him into the bed and pulls the blankets up to his hips before pulling the side rail back up. “Do you think you can eat?”, he asks, leaning against the side rail.

“Yes. I’m starving.”, Reynaldo answers with a nod.

“Good. I’ll grab something for you. Ulysses can watch over you until I return.”, he looks up at me, “You’ll eat with him?”

Tie doesn’t like that I didn’t eat dinner. I’m still not really hungry, but I’ll eat to please him. “I’ll eat with him, yes.”

Tie smiles, “Very well. I’ll be back in a little while.” He turns and leaves, closing the door behind him.

“I like him. He’s not the harsh and uptight man I’d pictured in Pa’s stories.”, Reynaldo says as I take Tie’s chair and move it closer to the bed.

“No, but I imagine their relationship was much different. They were gauging each other and fighting over territory. Tie is probably very intimidating when he chooses.”

“No doubt. He’s powerful, I can feel it from across the room.”, Reynaldo agrees.

“How do you feel?”

“Like it’s not real. I’ll wake up any time now, chained in that cell.”, he sighs.

I shake my head, “It’s real, Ray. You’ll never be there again. I’m sorry I left you.”

He frowns at me, “No. Don’t be sorry. We would’ve both died there had you not left me, Sissy. I didn’t want to kill myself; I did that because I knew you’d be shifting and I was trying to draw their attention away from you. I would go back there now, if it meant you wouldn’t have to. The lie, it worked? They believed you were fifteen?”

“They believed I was fifteen, but it only prevented them from injecting me with serum. I was still Elder Louise’s familiar until I was able to shift. The creatures here believe I’m twenty-four.”, I confess.

“It was wise to say you’re older when you were alone. Lycan wouldn’t view you as fully matured and it would affect your ability to work and move freely in the neutral zones. I’ll not correct it, you’re still my baby sister.” Reynaldo is thirty-nine, making myself six years older didn’t change our dynamic. “I’m sorry, Sissy. I really thought you being that young would spare you.”

“It’s over now.”

“You’ve lost weight, they weren’t feeding you?”, he studies me.

“Limited amounts, but enough to get by. Tie presses hard for me to eat here.”

“He would, he thinks you’ve been of shifting age for six years. You should’ve already developed a larger appetite. Most likely believing your lack of hunger is due to being starved, rather than being newly shifted. It will come, try to eat a little more. You need it.”, Reynaldo coaches.

I nod, “I will try, I’m just not hungry, Ray.”

“Where are you staying?”

“Tie conjured a cabin for me by the river, next to his. You’ll come to be with me when you’re well enough to leave here?”

“Of course. I’d never leave you, Sissy. Come here.”

I climb into the bed beside him, laying against his shoulder. “I missed you.”, I whisper, also praying I don’t wake to find he’d actually died there.

He wipes the tears away and runs his fingers through my hair, “I missed you too.” The age difference between Reynaldo and I always made him more like a father than a brother. Having him back feels like a piece of me returned.

His sweet citrus lime scent, that I’ve always found to be calming, fills my lungs. It’s stronger now with my enhanced senses.

Tie’s POV

I reenter Reynaldo’s room, finding Ulysses sleeping in his bed against his chest. It makes me a little jealous, but he’s her brother. The masculine version of her; same eyes, same hair, same facial structures, similar scents.

“She’s exhausted.”, he tells me as I conjure a table to set their food on.

“She is not eating well. Getting her to eat, more than once a day, is work. If I’m able to, the second meal is hardly anything at all.”, perhaps he can get her to eat.

“They weren’t feeding her very often. Her appetite will pick back up once her body gets used to eating again.”, he assures me. At fifteen years her senior, he would know her habits. He doesn’t seem concerned with her disinterest in eating.

I put a straw in his drink and set his food out, angling the table for him to reach it. “Now that you’re not dead. I need to talk to you about something.”, I pull the chair back away from his bed and sit. He takes a drink before eating fries slowly.

“Go ahead.”, he prompts when I don’t immediately continue.

“Ulysses is mine.” He tilts his head and furrows his brows, studying me closely.

“Your what? Your mate?”, he questions.

“Yes.”

He raises a brow, “You’re sure?”

“I’m fairly certain. At my age, I recognize what is attraction. This is much more.”, I answer.

“What is your age exactly?”, he teases like a pixie father. I chuckle at him, he knows immortals don’t find their mates for centuries. As a hybrid, he’s also immortal.

“I’m younger than your father.”, I return. He chuckles at me.

“Ulysses will make her own decision. I’ll not interfere. Just don’t hurt her, Cain.”, he warns, taking a bite of his burger.

“I won’t hurt her. I don’t wish to tell her yet but didn’t want you believing I was chasing your little sister carelessly.” The last thing I want is her brother pushing her away from me, believing I’d never be able to commit to her.

He nods, “I appreciate that. I’d have been angry. If you’re not telling her, I won’t either. I’d advise you do tell her. There may be things she’d be more comfortable sharing with you, if she knew you were hers.” I assume he means about being kept in the coven and Elder Louise. She’ll come around to talking to me about it, when she’s ready. If not, it isn’t difficult to imagine what familiars go through. That’s been common practice since before I was even born.

“Anything else, before I wake her?”, Reynaldo asks.

“No. She needs to eat.”

He strokes her shoulder gently, “Sissy… sissy.”

“Sissy?”, a rather childish name for a grown man to call his little sister. He grins, “She couldn’t say her own name when she was little. She would introduce herself as ‘Sissy’ and it stuck.” He squeezes her arm, “Sissy, wake up, sweetheart.”, she turns her head into his shoulder, groaning at him. “Go away.”

He chuckles, “You need to eat. You said you’d eat with me.” She glares up at him and he smirks. “Come on. Sit up, lazy bones.” She complies, turning and sitting up. He grabs the other bag and sets it in her lap. “Don’t make yourself sick, but eat as much as you can.”, he instructs.

She picks at it some, taking a few bites of the burger and a couple fries; refusing any more. It bothers me, but Reynaldo doesn’t press her. I won’t either, he’s probably right, and Luka said the same. She’ll eat when her appetite returns.

She climbs out of the bed, “You eat. I’m tired, Ray.”

“Go to sleep. I’m not going anywhere.”, he encourages her to rest. She curls up on the sofa, holding her pillow to her and going back to sleep. She has no appetite, but she sleeps well. I haven’t seen any indication of nightmares or insomnia, which would both be expected after being a familiar.

“You came and got me for her?”, he asks, continuing to eat.

“Yes and no. You being given my namesake allows me the right to claim you. I hadn’t intended to return for you, she believed you were dead. Then she said you’d hung yourself. It is very unlikely that would kill you. You did almost die, but that was from blood loss, infection, malnutrition, and the serum being injected into what little blood you had.”

“What did Doctor Halbert give me? I didn’t know I could even feel my innards so well. My whole body burned and ached, worse than my first shift.”, he sits up some, moving the food she laid in his lap. Having finished his food, he begins eating the rest of Ulysses’s. Being starved did not affect his appetite, he’s eating well.

“Slow down, you’ll make yourself sick. There’s no food shortage here.”, I warn before answering. “He gave you four bags of Ulysses’s blood, the last had a small amount of mine. The acidity of my blood shocked your organs back into functioning enough to allow hers to begin healing you.”

“Goddess, how the hell do you survive that? Your blood is painful as hell.”, he drinks the rest of his drink.

“It’s my blood. Do you need some water?”, he still has quite a bit of food to finish.

“I’d appreciate that, yes.” I step out of the room and grab a couple bottles of water from the cabinet. Bringing them back in, setting one on the table within his reach, and uncapping the other. I don’t know whether he has the strength to break the seal.

“When can I get out of here, Cain?”, he asks after taking a drink.

“You should have enough strength to start trying to walk around late tomorrow. We’ll get you in training to rebuild your muscle strength. Do you want your own cabin near Ulysses, or do you wish to stay with her?”, I don’t mind him wanting to live with his sister, if it makes them both comfortable. Forcing a separation might make her just run with him.

“I’ll stay with her.”

“Very well. Finish eating and get some rest, Reynaldo. You’ll heal faster.”

“Louise-Borne, what’s left of them?”, he finishes the first bottle of water.

I uncap the second, “Ulysses killed Grand Elder Louise. The others remain, for now.”, I bite back my annoyance. You’ll remember my generosity, Cain. That almost had me turning around to finish them.

“You’re going back to kill them?”

“In a week’s time.”

“I want to go with you. She was mine first.”

“If you’re strong enough. I’ll not wait longer than a week.”

“I’ll just watch, if I’m not strong enough to fight.” I see the fire in him now. He deserves to witness their destruction, he’s earned that.

“Very well, Reynaldo. I will bring you with me.”

Luka’s POV

“We could just send teams to wipe out the hoards… skip the whole disperse and relocate business.”, Baxter suggests, sounding just like Tie.

“Easy is rarely right. We can’t just kill the victims of the hybrids, Bax.”, I rub my temples.

“Can we pay Dunkan-Alnwick to handle it? They’re more than capable, and Lyle could easily keep that under control.”

“Nora said they can, but not for another month. Silas and Ambrosia are expecting their first, a daughter of Dunkan. Neither Silas nor Elazar will leave Ambrosia’s side, at the moment.”, that was my first plan. Their inability is what had me contact Louise-Borne to begin with.”

“So, talk to Tie. If he’s agreeable, spare Jensen-Klarevol under the condition that they handle the hoards.”, Bax tosses another idea out there. Few covens are large enough to take on hoards this size. Jensen-Klarevol certainly is, but none of us are buying that they were unaware.

I open a group link between the three of us. Tie is still upstairs with Ulysses and Reynaldo. “What are the odds of you letting Jensen-Klarevol survive?”

“Slim. Why?”, he returns. Bax leans back in his chair. Even if it was his idea, he’s not going to push against Tie at all. Tie has upheld his oath, risked his own life, and fought with all he is for Melody. I have, as well, but I’m the odd man out here. The only one without his mate now. Bax perceives any push back over Tie’s mate to be an insult to our brotherhood.

“Depending on their affiliation, I was considering offering them an out. With your approval, they handle the hoards in exchange for their lives.”, I answer honestly.

“I’ll discuss it with my mate and Reynaldo. Find out what their affiliation was first.”, Tie answers more agreeably than I had expected.

I grin at Bax, “You handle that now. Get your team, interrogate them and swear them to silence.”

Bax bows his head slightly and stands, summoning his team.

Goddess, if you could help me out a little… I’m fighting a war that was never my own, in the name of your people. You could give me a break, every now and then, yes? I say a quick prayer, in hopes that if Jensen-Klarevol is too entangled in Louise-Bourne’s actions, she opens another door for me. I may be one of her more… anti-heroes, but her heroes are not capable of what we are. Battles with the wicked are not won in the light.

Melody skips happily into the study, kissing Baxter’s jaw before taking his seat across from me. I know she’s up to something, but her cheery nature always makes me smile. He smirks at me before leaving the study.

“What are you up to, little one?”

“I want to meet Tie’s mate.”, she answers excitedly. “You’re going to take me.”

“Oh, am I?”, I chuckle at her.

“Yes, where is she?”, Melody confirms her plans for me this morning.

“She doesn’t know she’s his yet. I’d appreciate it staying that way, at least for a week. Upstairs, in the medical wing with her brother and Tie. You don’t need me to take you, little one. Just go up there.”

She hops up out of the chair, smiling as she heads to find her new friend. She’s waited a long time for one of us to find our mate. She missed her yesterday. Melody doesn’t train, and they were in the mansion only briefly when he gave her a tour the day before.