Rendezvous
Alaceandra
“Um, hi,” I say awkwardly. “Where’s Sylvie?”
Sam focuses briefly and then calls out. “Alaceandra is here.”
Some rustling sounds from the direction of Sylvie’s room and then she appears with a smile. “How are you today, Alaceandra! I hope you’re hungry!” She pats my cheek and walks around thekitchen before setting a bowl of fruit and a plate of meats down for myself, Sorin and Sam.
I smile at her and sit down across from the prince, looking at Sorin and Sam’s plates curiously. “Have you both not eaten yet?”
They do not answer me, instead they take their seats on either side of me. My heart races as the tension in the room grows and I scrunch my brows up in confusion at their odd behavior.Something must be going on.“I am off to bed!” Sylvie throws over her shoulder before she bustles back down the hall and into her room. The soft lock clicking behind her. The cloying anticipation of the room only grows at her departure. Sam closes his eyes briefly and I realize he is putting up a sound barrier.But for what?
“No not yet.” Sorin finally answers, his disposition unusually sunny.
“Why is that?” Pretending to keep calm I start to eat, purposefully avoiding the heat of each of their stares. They allow me to eat a couple bites before the prince breaks the silence.
“We have all decided we will pursue you and will let you decide if you would like all, one, or none of us,” the prince says calmly.
I choke on a piece of salted meat. Sorin rubs my back as I cough.
“Um what?” My voice is raspy.
The prince chuckles. “Is that not what you wanted, Little Dove? A chance to have all your men?”
I shoot him a wild look. “Wha-what?”I guess Sorin was serious about talking to them.
“Let her process, asshole,” Sam mutters.
I must be going insane right now. I honestly was not sure if they would agree. Am I seeing things? Hearing things?
Sorin takes in my frazzled state and gets up from his chair. Spinning mine to face him. He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. Lowering his voice he whispers, “We do not have to dothis if you do not want to. But we have all agreed we would be open to this if you were. Are you?” A brief look of vulnerability washes over his features.
A million thoughts race through my head at once.This is absolute insanity. I know Sorin said kingdoms have had many rulers in the past, but the current people would never allow this! Further, do they even all want to be with me so much they would face those people who would stand against us? Whose idea was this anyway?I stare into Sorin’s eyes. They sparkle with hope, a dash of fear, and more than a little bit of heat plays through them and my stomach flips with trepidation.Am I open to this?I look at the prince, Sam and Sorin, their gazes meeting mine expectantly.If they are then…Something inside me gives a lurch, screaming at me.Yep. Yes. Yeah. I am.I look through my eyelashes and give Sorin a nod.
“We need to hear you say it,” Sam growls.He growls at me!His voice causes a shiver to rush through my body and I dart my eyes away only to meet the prince’s smirk.What am I agreeing to? Three is so many men, so many—
A blush creeps over my face. “Yes, but—”
“But what, my sweet Firefly?” Sorin cradles my cheek with his palm.
Cocks. So many cocks. I am still a virgin for Ptheryeth’s sake. What am I to do with so many? I bite the inside of my cheek. “I need to know what this means. What does this pursual entail?”
“What do you want it to entail?” Sorin’s voice is husky with desire. I do not know whether I am about to panic, crawl into the ground and die, or ask each man to take his clothing off one by one right in this kitchen.
“Whatever you are comfortable with, Alaceandra," the prince cuts in. "I will not withhold you from these men as there is a certain… power in your association with them, but be warned once certain steps are taken, they cannot be withdrawn.” I glanceover to the prince who is gazing at me steadily, his face a blank mask.Really? I thought we were done with the stupid riddles!
“Okaaaay.”What a mood killer.I draw out the word, then look down at my hands, insecurities creeping in. “And you all truly want this?” I peek over at Sam who has been decidedly silent.
“It is what we have agreed,” he says, meeting my gaze.
That is not exactly a yes…but I nod anyway. “Okay then, I would… um… like to try this,” I wave my hand across the room shyly, “then.”
Sam nods, striding across the room he picks up his plate. Brushing a lock of hair behind my shoulder he whispers in my ear. “See you soon, Alaceandra.” Then he walks out.Umm... okay.
Sorin recaptures my attention with a hand on my chin. “Good.” He presses a gentle kiss on my forehead and stands. “Eat your breakfast, Firefly.” Making his way back to his chair he sits, picks up his fork and starts eating.
My eyes dart back over to the prince whose eyes are on me, assessing. My brows knit.What a weird morning…Clearing my throat I continue to pick at my breakfast, trying to ignore the prince’s gaze on me, when I remember Baldar’s instructions from this morning.But how to bring it up...
