Gregory turned to face the dark corner, concerned. “Darkness, why did I miss seeing you last time?”
“I was resting so I could do this. It will be the same the next time you grow in power, too, dear one. I was not aware that it would worry you so much.”
“I like seeing my dark heart, so when I went up in power and didn’t see you, I was concerned.”
A soft hiccup and sniffle came from the corner. “Thank you, dear one. I will do my best to not worry you again.”
“Happy tears?” Gregory asked.
“Yes. I cannot begin to explain the depth of my feelings for you.”
“It’s okay, dear one. Do you have news to share with me before Ling joins us?”
“You and your wives with you have gained a single rank. This year, only Clover, Ling, and Roshana gained two. I am going to help them close the gap between you. When the younger ones hit magus, I will then let them begin to catch you, as well.”
“So when it’s needed, we’re all equal?”
“It will be after Krogga when it will become important.”
“Secrets for our safety?”
“Yes, dear one. That is the only reason I keep them from you.”
“I trust you.”
“Thank you. Now, let me bring your wives to you.”
All three were as naked as Gregory when they appeared, sprawled on the bed behind him.
“Darkness, it’s good to see you again. Are you okay?” Yukiko asked.
“I was gathering myself for another push to bring Ling, and will have to do so again for Roshana,” Darkness explained again. “I should have explained it better last time.”
“It’s good to know that even you can make mistakes,” Jenn laughed, slightly relieved.
“I have made a few in my time,” Darkness murmured. “If you are ready, I will bring Ling to you.”
“Go ahead,” Gregory said.
A moment later, the part-lioness eurtik was seated beside Gregory on the edge of the bed, near Darkness. She was as unclothed as the rest of them were, her sleek body on display for them all to see. She blinked for a long moment, then smiled when she met Gregory’s eyes. “I was worried that something might stop me from being here.”
“No worries. Everything’s fine,” Gregory said, leaning in to kiss her lightly.
Ling was surprised, but kissed him back. When he leaned away, she was disappointed until Yukiko pulled her back to kiss her, too. Mindie and Jenn added their own before they sat Ling back up, red in the face and breathing a bit quickly.
“We gave Clover kisses first, so we have to be fair,” Gregory chuckled as he watched her. “Time to focus on resonance.”
“Yes… of course,” Ling said, clearly trying to focus. “Fear was first…” She swallowed as the memory came back to her. “My fear is to be alone… to not be good enough to have you all, or being allowed in, but then pushed out.”
“Just like Clover,” Gregory murmured.
“We were both surprised how similar our fears were. Mine is rooted in the family structure of my pride. For a wife to be kicked out is the worst thing that can happen for them.”
“Once you’re brought in, you’d have to betray the family for that to even be possible,” Yukiko told her. “We know you’d never betray us, which is why you’re here now.”
“Thank you, Yuki…” Ling said softly. “I’ll continue to work on my fear.”
Mindie rubbed her back. “We understand. Go ahead.”
“My weakness,” Ling whispered, “is that I have a hard time accepting emotions. Clover broke that down first with me. I couldn’t not care for her with her outgoing way. She’s my opposite in so many ways. I was called many unkind things growing up because I didn’t react emotionally like others around me. It’s what got me my scar.”
Gregory had wondered about the long scar down her back, but hadn’t asked her before. “What happened?”
“Just before age day, one of my tormentors decided to see if I would react to being injured,” Ling said. “He cut me in the market. His family paid the fine; they had the money, as they were a well-known carpenter family. My tears made him smile… I remember the look of triumph on his face as I cried before the guards took him away.”
“We’ll talk about it again later,” Yukiko said gently, lightly tracing Ling’s scar. “This doesn’t define you to us.”
Ling shivered at the soft, loving touch. “Thank you. My strength is that I’m not as emotional as others. I almost always stop and evaluate things before acting. It can hinder me, but it’s helped me more often than not, even if that strength almost cost me this chance.”
“Because you were still struggling to accept what you wanted,” Yukiko murmured, leaning in to kiss Ling’s back. “We’re happy that you did.”
“Very happy,” Mindie added a kiss of her own to Ling’s back.
“Ecstatically happy,” Jenn smiled from behind Gregory.
“They’re right,” Gregory whispered, taking Ling’s hand in his. “Maybe it’s a strength that hinders you sometimes, but your nature is something we cherish.”
Ling closed her eyes, her hand squeezing his tightly. Their love and faith in her eased the worry in her heart.
“One more,” Jenn whispered.
Ling’s face began to burn. She’d been surprised about her desire, and a little fear crept up that they’d laugh at her. “Yes… desires…”
Gregory squeezed her hand. “You can do it, Ling.”
“It’s silly,” Ling snorted softly. Blinking slowly, she met his eyes. “My desires are what we did in Buldoun before we separated.”
That had everyone thinking of different things, but Gregory remembered biting her ears to claim her as his.
“I don’t mind nipping your ears. I… uh… I kind of liked it,” he admitted awkwardly.
Ling grinned, surprised at how much joy shot through her at those words. “I’ll ask you often, but that isn’t my desire.”
“What is it?” Jenn snickered.
“The group cuddle when we slept. My mother called them ‘cuddle puddles,’ and I want them all the time. Not sexually… just the love, warmth, and closeness of us all sleeping beside each other.”
“That was lovely, even when you and Clover were inverted next to Gregory,” Yukiko snickered.
Ling chuckled as she recalled that moment. “We’ve come to accept that we can just hold each other near him and be happy. But that’s my desire… for all of us to sleep in a puddle.”
“I would love that,” Gregory said. “Every chance we get, I’ll try to make that happen.”
“Thank you… my heart.”
Gregory leaned in, but he didn’t kiss her. Instead, he pulled her head gently to the side, then nipped her ear. Ling mewled softly, her heart speeding up over him claiming her again. When he bit her other ear, too, she clung to him.
“Thank you, dear one,” Ling murmured just before she vanished.
“She’s adorable,” Yukiko smiled. “You did the right thing to bite her ears again. I won’t make them wait long in Krogga. I’ll only ask them to have a tea ceremony with us to finalize it.”
“I approve,” Jenn said quickly.
“As do I,” Mindie added.
“Say your goodbyes,” Darkness whispered. “It is time.”
The four lovers kissed, murmuring soft words of love before the women vanished.
“Will you be okay, dear one?” Gregory asked.
“I will be. You will see Roshana before you march to the tournament. I wanted to tell you before we parted that the bracelets were a good idea.”
“Oh? What birthstone is yours? I’ll have it added. You’re as much a wife as the others.”
There was a pause before Darkness sighed. “There is no stone for me, dear one.”
“What?”
“It will become clear in time,” Darkness murmured. “Just let it be for now.”
Gregory bowed his head. “As you wish, my heart. But before we go—”
Darkness caught him in strands of her namesake when he flung himself at her. She was glad he always tried; his deep love for her helped her keep going. It’d been ages, but it was in these last few years that the weight of all that time was finally starting to crash down on her.
“Sleep well, my heart,” Darkness murmured, banishing the shadows as he faded away.
She glanced down at her arm where a copy of the bracelet encircled her wrist. It was a new piece for her, but she loved what it signified for the family. She touched the mythrum that held the stones in place, and a small smile crossed her face.
“Would he accept it if I said I was the mythrum?” With a chuckle, she kissed the bracelet. “Maybe I will ask him to let me represent that in the future.”
Looking at the empty room, she knew it represented what had come before. Now, the bracelet represented what the present was. The slow change of what was to what is helped her push back the weight she’d felt earlier.
“A few more years… give me the strength to endure, my love. Then, I can at least touch you here in our connected space,” Darkness murmured before she vanished.
Once she was gone, the room slowly faded back into the nothingness it was created from.
