Three Queens of Cerberus

Chapter 5

Three Queens of Cerberus

Chapter 5

Ulysses’s POV

“Perhaps… but why would you want to?”, I wake to Tie’s soft deep voice.

“It could be fun.”, Ray answers. I turn over to look at them. Tie’s eyes immediately find mine.

“Good morning, beauty.”, there’s a slight change in him, speaking to me. The way the hardness in his voice and around his eyes soften, when he looks at me, makes me feel special… cherished.

“Good morning. What would be fun?”, I ask, sitting up. My hair is a mess, going every which direction. I drag my fingers through it, trying to tame it some, before I tie it up.

“Do the demon tour… they take you up through the mountains. I’ve heard it is a very spiritual feeling.”

“Spiritual, in what way? I don’t imagine it would be a peaceful experience, Ray.”, I sigh, stretching against the back of the couch. Tie’s scent thickens immediately. The ability to arouse him so easily makes me feel like a Goddess. The thought of him touching me, causes mine to follow.

“It’s not meant to be, Sissy. It is supposed to challenge your mind and body, break you down. Help you achieve enlightenment.”, Ray explains.

I shake my head. “You’ve been broken down enough. If you haven’t achieved enlightenment now, I don’t believe it’s in the cards for you.”

Tie chuckles, standing to open the door. A gorgeous woman enters, long blonde curls, a sweet angelic face. Her skin is creamy and delicate. She smiles happily at me, before looking over at Ray.

“Hello, gorgeous. You lost?”, Ray asks, immediately attracted to the cute reptilian girl.

Tie hisses in warning, baring his fangs. The glow in his eyes, and the stiffening of his body tell me Ray has insulted him… by flirting with her. Even faced with this version of Tie, jealousy lights in the pit of my stomach. “Ray… he doesn’t like you flirting with her.”, I link warning.

“I mean her no harm, Cain. Is she here for you?”, Ray backs down, not wishing to upset Tie.

“This is Melody, Baxter’s mate. Melody, this is Ulysses, and her elder brother, Ray.”, Tie makes introductions while guiding her into the room, closing the door behind her.

I smile, relieved she’s mated to his best friend. “So sweet of you to come by, Melody.”, I stand and offer her my hand.

Her kind bubbly nature reflects in both her movement and her voice, “It’s so nice to meet you. I’m excited to have you here. I just wanted to come and check in, see if you needed anything.”, she accepts my hand, looking from me to Ray. “I run the foundlings’ wing. I didn’t get the chance to meet you yesterday.”

The foundlings’ wing was a very impressive orphanage, but it had such a happy home feel to it. “Your wing is beautiful, you’re doing an amazing job there.”, I compliment. It definitely carries her presence; I can see that now.

Her smile is genuine, “I appreciate that. You’re welcome, anytime. Do come visit, the children enjoy the company. Can I get you anything? Do you need breakfast… or coffee, maybe?”, she offers.

“Coffee would be great.”, I answer, a little uncertainly. Is it even appropriate to have Baxter’s mate go fetch coffee for us?

“I’ll get it, Melody.”, Tie offers his seat to her, waiting for her to take it before stepping out of the room.

Joy and peace seep from Melody’s entire being. I find her presence to be calming. “Bax says you’re taking a guard position?”

“Yes…”, feeling a little awkward, not having the nurturing and domesticated nature she clearly has. “I enjoy training.”, I finish, sounding nowhere near as sophisticated as I’d hoped. I cringe inwardly, that sounded so dumb.

Melody overlooks my social awkwardness with ease, “That’s great! Did Tie show you the training grounds and the warriors’ wing? There are so many great teams and programs running over here. I’m sure you’ll find one that you’ll absolutely love!”

I nod, adjusting in my seat some and hoping to recover from my last statement. “Yes, he gave me a tour when I’d first arrived. I trained with Bax yesterday and got placed with Law and Brinkley’s teams for training.”

“You’ll love them! Law is such a great guy. His mate, Riley, is super sweet too. She comes up with their son after training sometimes. You have to try her macaroons, when she brings them. They’re heavenly.”, Melody gushes over Riley.

“I did see her but haven’t had the chance to meet her yet. Tie brought Ray in right after training.”, I return.

Melody’s eyes widen, before looking over at Ray. “Oh, I apologize. How rude of me. Bax told me what happened. Are you feeling well?”, she asks.

“Much better than I did. I appreciate your concern.”, Ray isn’t sure how to speak to her yet. He doesn’t want to upset Tie, nor Bax by mishandling even a conversation with her.

“You look well, good coloring. Perhaps they’ll let you outside today. Do you want to go out?”, Melody offers.

“I’d love to, but I’m not sure Doc will allow that right now.”, Ray answers.

Tie re-enters, passing Melody and I coffee first, then offering the third to Ray. “Tie, can we take Ray outside for some sun? I think it would do wonders for him.”, Melody asks.

Tie looks from her to Ray, “I don’t know about that, just yet. He’s pretty sick, Melody.”, I can tell he hates denying her. She knows it too; I feel that in her.

“Please? I can grab a wheelchair… we can just go out to the courtyard. There’s plenty of sun and fresh air there. Surely, sitting in a chair for a little while won’t hurt. Do you think you can sit up comfortably for a while, Ray?”, she asks him instead.

“Yes, I can sit up.”, Ray confirms. Tie sighs, raising a brow at Melody.

Just when I think he’s going to deny her again, he speaks, “Get the chair, Mel.”

She hops out of her seat and goes to the closet, pulling out a wheelchair, and unfolding it. In no time at all, Tie has helped Ray transfer to the chair; and Melody has him cruising down the hall to the elevator. Tie and I follow just behind.

“And where do you think you’re going with my patient, little miss.”, Doc calls out to Melody, coming up the hall toward us.

“Just outside for fresh air, Doc. Tie will stay with us.”, Melody volunteers. Tie smirks, giving her a face that clearly says he never agreed to that, but he doesn’t correct her.

Doc looks over Ray, and lifts a brow at Melody, “He’s quite unwell. You be mindful of that.”

“We aren’t going to train. Doc. Just sitting lazily in the courtyard. I swear it.”, she assures him.

Doc purses his lips, “And should Tie be called away, Melody?”

“Bax or Luka will sit with us, or escort us back up.”, Melody answers readily.

Doc looks up at Tie, “You’re all on board with this plan?”

Melody smiles up at Tie, waiting for him to agree to what she’s decided. Tie bows his head slightly, “It would appear so.”

“Very well.”, Doc concedes, patting Ray’s shoulder and stepping out of Melody’s way. I smile at her triumphant grin as she hurries us away, ‘before he changes his mind’, but I’m not so certain she’s concerned with that. Melody seems to be able to have them do as she wishes.

Tie places his hand against my lower back, guiding me into the elevator ahead of him. He holds the door, looking over Ray, “You still feel well enough for this?”

Ray looks a little paler than he had, but he nods. “I think I’m alright to just sit.”

Tie releases the door, allowing it to close, before pressing the button. The ride down is short, but it nauseates Ray. Tie conjures him a small bucket, asking again of he’s certain he wants to do this. Ray confirms that he is okay still. His heart rate has picked up some, the trip clearly stresses him. Ray really wants to go outside though; I can see the determination in his face.

Tie holds the door, allowing Melody and I to pass him. He follows us down the marble hallway. “Courtier is just through here. He’s a large snake, he won’t hurt anyone. Don’t let him startle you.”, Melody warns, bringing to mind what Luka had said to Tie about Courtier being a d**k. Courtier is a snake?

I feel him as we near the back double doors. He doesn’t seem like anything other than a snake, until I press at him some. A link opens, and he lifts his head, staring directly at me.

“Well, hello, little temptress.”, he speaks to me. Tie’s yellow eyes glow as he focuses on Courtier, I feel him force the link open to himself.

“No harm, Cain; don’t get testy. Just talking to this stunning creature.”, Courtier assures, his eyes never leaving me. His compliment feels dangerous. I could easily handle a snake, but he doesn’t feel like that is all he is. It’s very odd.

“Don’t.”, Tie speaks aloud, forcing the link closed; the warning in his voice is chilling; seeming more and more like the man father had told so many stories of. .

“I thought she’d said he’s harmless.”, I speak quietly to Tie, still following Melody out the double doors.

“He won’t hurt you, but don’t speak to him. How did you open that link?”, Tie pauses, tilting my head up to him. His irritation doesn’t mirror in his sun-like eyes, and his voice softens once more.

I’m not entirely sure. I just looked at him and felt it there. “I don’t know.”, I answer honestly.

Tie’s POV

She isn’t lying to me, she doesn’t know how she’s able to link Courtier, but she shouldn’t be able to. Only dragonian and reptilian can force links, she’s neither.

“Ulysses can link Courtier.”, I link Luka, stroking her jaw before releasing her, and following outside.

“That’s interesting. Advise she not… I’ll have a talk with him.”, Luka comments. I feel the link open between Luka, Courtier, and I.

“She is Tie’s, father. Tread lightly, as to not offend.”, Luka warns.

“No harm done. She’s just curious. A powerful beauty, Cain. You’ve been blessed, indeed.”, his compliment only grates on my nerves.

“How did she open the link to you?”, Luka questions.

“Her father was a Grand Elder. As am I, even if I don’t carry my power now. Perhaps, as hybrid, she’s able to open links to her kind; not separating her were-blood, from vampirism.”, Courtier offers an explanation. Vampire do not use links, but that’s not to say they’re entirely incapable. Some, much higher and more powerful elders, can open links to each other; Courtier being one, when he held his power.

“Very well. Mind your tongue, should she choose to allow you to speak.”, Luka warns again.

“I will treat her with the same respect I do Melody, Cain.”, Courtier assures, but he has said wildly inappropriate things to Melody in the past.

I watch Ulysses take a seat beside where Melody has parked Ray. He’s pale but has found his peace in the sun. As exhausted as this trip has made him, the benefits are clear to be seen.

Ray looks around, seeing the edge of the training ground from here. The stone staircase leads down to the river. You can hear the water, but it’s just out of sight. Due to Riley’s continuous care, birds chirp and sing; flying between the feed boxes outside the foundlings’ wing, and her cabin.

“Sit, Tie.”, Melody pats the seat beside her, having never liked us hovering around.

I take the seat, a small concession to please her. It’s gone in an instant, but I see the jealousy cross Ulysses’s face. I didn’t choose Melody over her; Mel is on the bench. Ulysses is in a single seat.

“Melody is marked and fully mated to my brother, beauty. I don’t want her in that way, and she’s incapable of wanting me.”, I link her, watching the blush creep over her face.

“I didn’t say anything.”, she deflects.

“You didn’t have to. I meant what I said before, I want you. There’s no other to be concerned over, least of all Melody.”, I assure her. I may not have had any serious relationships in my life, but I know jealousy is not something I want to inspire in my mate; as good as it may feel to have that evidence that she wants me, the way I do her.

She gives me a small shy smile, before focusing her attention back on Ray. He’s healing slowly, his body having to fight off sepsis and heal itself is taxing. He should be well enough to leave the medical wing tomorrow; possibly start training a day or two following that. He’ll bounce back quickly, once he’s able to train.

“Are you joining Law and Brinkley’s teams, or just training with them?”, Melody asks. Neither Luka, nor Bax, has confirmed her joining a team with me. If she’s to join any, it will be mine.

“Just training, for now. Bax said joining teams may be possible later. Law and Brinkley are both advanced teams, I don’t know that I’m ready for that yet.”, Ulysses answers, self doubt lingering in her words.

“I need another guard on escort. We have trucks moving in and out, teens going to and from schools. Would you be interested?”, Melody offers, glancing at me. I’d be more comfortable having her within the manor, but it’s fairly safe on escort. They’re the second defense there, perimeter guards keep it secure. I bow my head slightly, confirming I’m okay with her offer.

Ulysses also glances toward me, following Melody’s. “I’d love to check it out and see.”

Melody smiles happily, “Great! As soon as you’re ready to start, Tie can bring you up to my office. We’ll get you scanned in, and I’ll show you around.”

“I think he’s had enough, beauty.”, I don’t want to interrupt them, but Ray isn’t looking so good. He’s sweating profusely, even in the cool wind.

Ulysses nods, wiping her brother’s face. He tries to tell her that he is fine, but she insists, pushing him back toward the manor.

“You’re not well, Ray. Pushing yourself is only going to slow your healing and make your stay in the medical wing longer.”, Melody enforces Ulysses’s words. “It will all still be there in a day or two, take your time.”