Requital

CHAPTER 14

Deianira

"LEAVE NOW" I shoot up out from under the blankets with Leith. He shoots up right along with me. "What is it?" "I don't know, somethings not right. Lei I think its time we started this big adventure across the kingdoms. Somethings coming for us I can feel it.." "We will leave right away, gather your things." He must feel my fear and anxiety through the bond. We make quick work of gathering our supplies he got the day before and he bundles me up in the warm clothes I have. Once he's satisfied I'm nice and warm he rubs my stomach, my heart melts for this mer all over again. He dives into the water straight after. He swims to the edge and reaches for my hand. I take it and then we are off....

Swimming with Leith is like no experience I've ever had. Being able to breathe underwater is unreal to me at least. His magic is even keeping me warm. I know we are still in the martimus kingdom by the lack of water creatures and the ice above our heads. How Leith can hold me tight against him and swim as fast as the gods is beyond me. I actually dose off again before we are officially out of martimus and in somewhere else. "We have now reached Therian." He swims to the surface until we poke our heads through and look around. It's unreal, so charming. We had trees and forest back in martimus but none like this. It's warm here. The trees are full of life. Some blooming pretty flowers and plump ripe fruit. Its a lot warmer here which makes me regret my outfit choices. "I brought you a change of clothes to fit this kingdoms climates " He says. "Thank you" I say and take a moment to examine what he's given me. The clothes are a simple pants and shirt combo with tan colored pants and a peach colored shirt. I slip into my new clothes as fast as I can eager to explore these new lands and slip my boots back on. Even though its warm for fur lined boots my father gifted me these my last birthday I will never part with them. We both start through the woods, me at a quicker pace. "Slow down love we don't know who or what is out here. If they mean us harm or will help us on our way." He's right, I slow in step beside him and let him lead because well I'm already lost. "Do you know where we need to go to reach our next destination?" "Yes if everything is as it was before, I used to make this journey often before.." "I get it. You don't have to talk about it." He smiles down at me as if I hung the moon. "Thank you for understanding, one day I promise ill tell you everything just not today. Not with everything going on." I kiss his lips in answer, grab his hand and continue to follow him to where we need to go. Eventually we come upon a clearing of the greenest grass and the wildest growing flowers. Rare shades of blues and reds. I bend down to pluck a flower when we both hear a twig snap. Leith immediately shields me with his body and we both look around. To our left we see the largest wolf I've ever seen in my life on his hind legs. He's stunning, golden fur with one white patch on his left eye one black on his right. "Who passes through my kingdom?" He says "I Leith of the mer and my mate Deianira, we just need to get to Audaqior we mean no harm." The wolf sniffs the air and locks his ocean blue eyes upon me. Suddenly he's on all fours and barreling towards me. He knocks Leith away as if it was nothing and puts his snout on my neck and inhales. "MATE" He says, now this knocks me to the ground right along with Leith. This can't be possible? How two I can believe but three? What's up with me? Do the gods believe I need protecting? I've only actually heard stories of multiple mates as such and they only involved gods. I'm not a god at least I think I'm not? "You are mistaken alpha she is my mate. She bares my mark, our scents are intertwined. We are one now please step away from her." He growls then , "Ill do no such thing mate tell him you feel it too." I look to Leith with fear in my eyes, I nod. "It's okay Deianira we will figure this out, everything is okay between us and always will be. Never fear of that." He must read my thoughts through the bond. He sends his devotion and reassurance through to me. "Deianira" the wolf says, "What an enchanting name you have beautiful mate, I am Lorcan." Lorcan, it suits him. "Come you must already be tired from your journey. I will give you shelter for the night and a warm meal." I look to Leith, he shrugs and walks up to me to take my hand again. We both turn to look at the wolf again but in the wolfs place is a man. A very alluring man. One with long blonde curly locks, a pack of wolves is tattooed on his chest, and oh yes once again one of my mates is standing in front of me very naked and by the looks of it very happy.. I blush and go into a coughing fit. He chuckles "sorry you just smell so good, like sugar and vanilla I just wanna eat you up." "Big bad wolf huh" I say flustered. He just chuckles once more and motions for us to follow him. Once out of the clearing we travel through woods once more before we stop upon a wall of moss. "Welcome mate and bond brother to kingdom Therian." He moves the moss aside for us to see and when we do I gasp. Big beautiful cabins built with the finest wood, creatures of all kind, from rabbits to bears and even feline types. All conversing with one another, families, children, even guards posted around the big moss walls. "Come follow me to my home where I can take care of you both." His home is just as enchanting as the rest of his kingdom. Antique furniture, a massive makeshift bed, and this aroma of food that has my mouth watering. Ever since I found out I was pregnant my apatite has changed tremendously. My stomach chooses this moment to growl and this makes Lorcan laugh once more. "Come mate, let me feed you please." He takes my hand and I follow him to the table. Seeing the spread of different dishes and pastries over the massive table has me wanting to do a happy dance I'm starved. Lorcan pulls out a seat for me by his side at the head of the table. I nod my head in thanks and look to Leith who chose the seat beside me. "Leith I don't understand why this is happening but I swear to you nothing has changed. You are mine and I am yours. If the gods gave me a thousand mates nothing could compare to what we have. Please believe me." I plead, "Love its okay do not worry. Any mate the gods do give you I will always welcome them into our family. They will be family forevermore. Well besides Tarkik." "Who's this Tarkik?" Lorcan says and Leith curses under his breath, he apologizes with his eyes. I nod and smile. "Tarkik was my first mate, he rejected me and killed my father.." I say this as if it didn't happen yesterday. There is a hollowness to my words. Inside I'm still bleeding. "Want me to eat him for you?" He says and I laugh. He's a jokester and I love it. "No he's actually the reason why we are on this quest. His bloodline was cursed once upon ago. He has a mate eating demon inside him who upon sucking my soul out will reach ultimate power and reek havoc." Stunned silence, both from Leith and Lorcan. The former for my forwardness and lack of emotion for the situation and the later for the situation in itself. "Is he whos pup you carry inside you?" "How do you.." "I can hear the little ones heartbeat, strong and healthy." He gives me a genuine smile, I cradle my stomach once more. "Doesn't matter who fathered the child its mine." Leith says. "Now its also mine." Lorcan says and my eyes snap to his. "Your serious?" I say "You only know my name and that's all, how could you possibly say that?" "It matters not what I know and do not know the gods gifted me with a mate, a brother, and a baby. I will not take this blessing for granted. You both will not be doing this alone anymore either. I will accompany you on your quest if you will have me. If not ill follow at a safe distance." This shifter he's serious. I didn't think my heart could start to repair after what I've endured. This merman and this shifter are starting to fill some of the cracks. "I would actually love if you would come with us. I would also love to get to know you." He grins the brightest grin, "It's settled then I will accompany you. I do have to get everything in order with my kingdom and assign someone to be in charge while I'm gone. We will need to stay a few days here if that's alright?" Staying shouldn't hurt anything so I nod my head. "That is fine. Where will Leith and I sleep, after this delicious meal I'm feeling quite tired?" "I have a few rooms take your pick. You both can even sleep with me." He gives me a wink and I mutter a goodnight and my thanks. Once again my face turns crimson. I stand and Leith follows, we pick a room for and settle down for the night. It takes me no time to fall into a deep slumber. Having both these men help and accompany me in bringing down atahsaia means more then I could ever say. I'm more confident in bringing down my fathers murderer. Maybe I could save Tarkik too?