Bonded to Her Triple Alphas

95

Kaya’s POV.

The cold air fans onto my skin, seeping chills that would have my body shaking any other day, but lost deep into my thoughts, my senses aren’t very caring about my body.

Disregarding the harsh weather, I remain on the balcony, staring ahead into the forest. Because of the absence of the moon in the sky and no light to reflect any radiating rays, it looks like a block of wall.

Ever since I heard about the triplets dying on their thirtieth birthday, I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy today. There’s something about the feeling that has arisen since that time. It’s now deep into the night, and I just had to distance myself so I could attempt to cleanse my thoughts.

I’m troubled. Honestly, a few months ago, I would have been happy. Hell, I even recall some times when I wished that the triplets never came back; that was the darkest time in my life when I wished them death. Now that I feel like that prayer is being answered, I’m worried why nature keeps punishing me, or better yet, giving me hard tasks.

When I needed such a thing, it wasn’t granted, but now that I don’t need it, the story is different. I may not have accepted their proposal, but I don’t want the triplets gone.

My mind is in a different dimension, because I don’t know when three new presences join me until I feel a warmness when Kyle touches me. Calling my attention, I fake a smile at him while he covers me with his cape.

There’s silence in the air, only the heavy breeze howling in the distance and the sound of crickets, too. And of course, my less sensitive hearing can still pick up on the sound of the music in the ballroom.

“We couldn’t find you at the ballroom, so we thought you’d be here.”

For a moment, I look behind me through the corner of my eyes, and my lips curve downward at the memory. I remember when I used to sleep on a mat in this room while the triplets would sleep on the bed.

“My arms, shoulders, and ribs would hurt so much in the morning. I remember when I used to sleep on the floor.” I emphasize, and the brothers get closer to me. My body is suddenly enwrapped in warmth, and I find it rejuvenating to stop the churning in my stomach. It’s such a downcast of my emotions.

“During those periods, I would have been so happy if I were to know what I knew today.” I shift my face to look into Kieran’s eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why?”

There is a frown creasing on his features for a second before he realizes what I mean, and he can’t close his lips any longer. “You know. Did Chester tell you?”

I scoff, now thinking back to Chester. My brain suddenly remembers the things he did tell me when we first met under the fountain the other night. I am just noticing the meaning behind his words and explanation, then. He was passing a message to me to help me realize the pain behind the triplets’ actions. He wanted me not to judge through my own pain but to really see that they were also in pain, and that’s why they were inflicting it on me. And that was all caused by the training given to them by Jared.

I fear that even after his death, even after all of his confessions, he still found a way to continuously taunt the triplets.

“No, he did not, but he may have done so a long time ago. I remember his words. I remember his clarification. He wanted me to see the pain you have all faced. He wanted me to know that every monster was once a young, bright, and peaceful kid. I see that now. I see the love snatched from you. I see the torture you had to pass through before you were broken into darkness and butchered of all kindness. I see what the curse means now. I overheard. I realize better now.”

I’m standing before the triplets, having turned so that my behind is against the rail of the balcony while my hands cup their faces.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” My face is squeezed, and my throat finds it hard to swallow the lump that has formed there. A feeling of some sort streams down my blood-a sensation of sobriety-and I can’t shake it off.

There’s no way I can define the way I feel, but I can tell my heart breaks each time I think of having to lose the triplets after their redemption.

“Because you must love us yourself. We will never force you to have an affection for us, not now, not after all we’ve made you go through because of the fact that we once lost our minds. You are too pure for us to stain you once again. Kaya, we…” I stop them from trying to explain their part, and I sniffle.

“There must be a solution, isn’t there?”

The brothers share a common look before they settle their eyes on me. The way Kade begins tells me that he is unsure of what he is saying. “After Jared’s death, we found out his hideout. In one of the books found in there, we saw something, but there’s no way to know if it would work.”

“Tell me.” The urgency in my voice is shamelessly evident. I don’t want them dead. I won’t limit my happiness anymore. I won’t allow myself to fall back into the darkness.

I could have left, but I stayed here. Why?

That is a question I should have asked myself for a while now.

Kade releases a heavy sigh: “We need a heart of purity, one so at a clean slate, when she agrees to accept the mate bond, we may be free from the effect of the curse.”

Kieran grabs my hands and makes me look into his grey eyes, giving off the vibe of a light brown mixed tea. A smile that wasn’t prepared rims atop my lips. “The first time we met you, we were so shocked at how you altered the curse. We had forgotten how it used to be, being free and being ourselves, but you reminded me of my sense of taste. For Kyle, you reminded him of his sense of smell. And Kade, you gave him back the beauty of colours. He saw you for your beauty, while I saw you for your sweetness, and Kyle,” Kieran’s eyes shift to Kyle.

“I may have seen an edible lady ripe for dicking.” And now it is time for him to joke-plus-flirt again?

I shake my head, inclusive of Kieran and Kade, as Kieran continues, “he saw you for your enticing essence. We saw you, Kaya. We have never faced such an existence before. We knew how much you affected us, but a being like us doesn’t deserve you, so we misused you.”

I point my finger at Kieran before I correct him. “No, you’re wrong. A being like you has dealt with so much. You’re fine inside, rough outside. You just needed time to peel off the rotten part, which you did.”

“Thank you.” They say in unison before then, Kade suggests. “We should get back to feasting. Our subjects are expecting us. We don’t want them searching the whole kingdom now, do we?” I laugh after he finishes.

As they are about to urge me to follow them, I halt, calling back their attention. “I will find a way to reverse the spell. I will not allow your death, but first, there’s something I must do.” For a long time, I have been blessed to have my body, my soul, and my mind come to the same decision. I have never wanted something this much before. Well, maybe, but well, any other thing doesn’t matter right now. “I accept your proposals.”

It takes a while for the triplets to find their balance, lost in astonishment, before they scoff and wrap me in their arms. My smile flashes so brightly, and I close my eyes.

“Aren’t you forgetting something? My ring.”

“Oh, yes.” Kade beats himself.

Kyle huffs, “I did say I should be the one to do the proposal. Kade is a nerd,” and I laugh.

The brothers go down on one knee; Kade brings out the ring one more time, and at this moment, I am nodding my head as I spread my left hand out.

“Will you marry us, Kaya?”

“That sounds so painfully plain. I think I’d have loved Kyle to say the words, but yes. Yes!” I scream the last word, and Kade fixes the royal ring into my finger.