Still exhausted from the night before, I nodded off in Ian’s arms. I was fast asleep when I felt something shift but couldn’t bother myself enough to wake. The men’s energies were calm, so I wasn’t worried. When I woke, I was no longer on Ian’s horse. Clay smiled at me, his jade eyes bright in the approaching twilight.
“Ian couldn’t hold on to you with one arm while you slept,” Clay explained when I furrowed my brow. “I offered to take you.” I smiled and hoped I hadn't hurt Ian. He was laughing and joking with Mason and the Accleshian, seeming none the worse for wear.
I stretched as best I could on the back of the horse and looked around. Fields still surrounded us, but trees loomed in the distance. The land had more hills than before, and the dirt track we followed was deeply rutted and overused. Sheep occupied a neighboring pasture, and they bleated as we passed. I had never seen a sheep before, and I stared with wide eyes.
“The Accleshian knows of a place we can stay the night with an actual bed,” Clay continued. “We’re almost there.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. I wouldn’t have complained if we were forced to spend the night on the ground, but a bed sounded nice. I groaned as I shifted on the saddle. Clay transferred the reins to one hand and kneaded my hip with his free hand. He leaned closer, his lips brushing my ear. “I can rub your muscles tonight if you’d like.”
A shiver of desire pulsed through me. Imagining Clay’s strong, capable hands kneading my muscles sent fire through my veins. I nodded, swallowing past a suddenly dry throat. “I’d like that,” I murmured. I didn’t know what else the trip held. If we were going to be roughing it, it might be easier to complete the bond with Clay when we had a bed available. The thought sent my pulse hammering. I looked around for a house.
“How much longer?” I called out to Mason. Clay laughed, his chest vibrating against my back.
Mason reined his horse and waited until we came alongside him. “Just over that hill, Drummond said.” He raised an eyebrow at me. “Any reason why?’
I smirked, knowing he could sense my desire. They all could to a point, but Mason was the one most in tune with me at the moment. “I’m hungry,” I responded with a smile. Mason shared a grin with Clay.
“We’ll make sure you get fed,” he said, his voice silky smooth. Every hair rose on my body, and I clenched my thighs as tightly as I could around the saddle. That was when I realized I had another, more immediate need.
“I also have to pee,” I complained. Now that it had risen to my attention, I didn’t know how much longer I could wait.
”Do you need to use the ditch or can we make it to our destination?”
I studied the nature surrounding us. Little creatures like rabbits and squirrels occupied the woods and grasses to the sides of the road. There might also be snakes and spiders, and the thought of baring my ass to them wasn’t pleasant. “I’ll wait.”
My wait wasn't long. We crested the rise and looked down upon a cluster of buildings that signified a prosperous homestead. Three stocky horses grazed in a field next to a large building, and a cow mooed nearby. Two children playing in the front yard before a large, well-maintained house saw us and immediately shouted a warning. The men sat straighter in their saddles, their energies cautious and wary, but the Accleshian didn’t seem concerned.
Three men stood in the yard by the time we approached. Two of them might have been brothers, as they shared the same dark hair, but the other was blonde. It was strange to see men dressed in the drab brown and grays of Houseless citizens. I looked around but didn’t see any women. The two children, one blonde and one dark-haired, watched with fascination from the porch. A curtain twitched in a window of the house, but no one else exited the building. It was a peaceful space, and I immediately felt safe. Information filtered into my awareness as we neared the waiting men. I was so shocked; I could only stare with wide eyes.
“Good day, travelers,” the blonde greeted, his voice cautious. He was a stocky man, well-muscled and darkly tanned. It was apparent he spent most of his days out-of-doors. His eyes and those of his companions tracked everything about us, from the colors of our tunics to the Accleshian’s large form. Seeing the last, one of the dark-haired men squinted.
“Drummond, is that you?” The man asked, a country lilt tipping his voice.
“Aye,” the big man boomed. He slid off his horse and clasped hands with the one who greeted him.
“These are city folk,” the man said, leaning closer to him. “Why did you bring them here?” Anger hardened his voice, and my men stiffened in alarm. I shook off my shock, preparing to defuse the situation before it started.
“We mean you no trouble,” I said. Eyes moved to me, assessing, noting how Clay held me and the angle of his feet at the horse’s sides. “My bondmates and I, along with Chancellor Drummond, are simply seeking a place to sleep for the night.” Sometime over the last few days, I had adopted the Accleshian way of describing my Soul Matches. I liked the sound and simplicity of it. We might have been Soul Matched before we bonded, but now we were well and truly mated.
“Bondmates?” The voice was feminine, and my gaze moved toward the shadow of the porch where the men’s wife stood. She approached us, a pretty, dark-haired woman about ten years older than me. The men’s faces softened as she came closer, though I could tell they would protect her in a moment if need be. She studied me and counted my men in her mind. Her curtsey was elegant despite her homespun clothes and skin smudged with dirt. “My Queen.”
The farmers and my mates sucked in their breaths in surprise. The blonde man looked closer at me, and then at my men around me, before bowing low. The two dark-haired men followed suit, though they were still gawking in surprise. Drummond laughed loudly, and the young boys on the porch giggled at the sound.
“What is happening here?” Mason asked, his voice steady.
“You’ll find that rural Megreria is very different from the capital. This is your first lesson,” Drummond said with laughter in his voice.
My bladder urged me again. “Can we have that lesson after I pee, maybe?” I asked, and the farmers finally relaxed. The woman smiled.
“Come, Your Majesty, I will show you to the privy.”
“Please, it’s just Kiarra. I haven’t been crowned yet.”
The woman shook her head. “In our eyes, a crown means nothing. The true heir will finally sit the throne, and we don’t require a coronation to address you by your rightful title.” I slipped off the horse, wincing as my muscles protested. I hobbled, nearly bowlegged, towards the woman. My men made a move to follow, but I held up a hand.
“I’m safe. See to the horses or something. I’ll be right back.”
The woman laughed as she led me around the building. “My name is Alyson.” I shook her hand as if we were farming neighbors. She didn’t say anything else until after I had made use of the rustic building. When I emerged, her children clung to her skirts. They had wide eyes that looked exactly like hers. They were both boys; the significance of that didn’t escape me.
“Come inside,” Alyson directed as we rounded the building again. My men had dismounted; they removed saddles and tack and released the horses into a fenced-off paddock. The beasts immediately set their muzzles to the ground. Clay watched, his face slightly downturned as he stood off to the side with his crutches. I sensed his mood. He couldn't help with many tasks out here, and it bothered him. I approached him, kissing him on the cheek.
“Come inside with me, Clay. Maybe you can help with preparing the meal.” I glanced at Alyson, and she understood me immediately.
“Aye, I might have some vegetables that need to be chopped now that we have extra mouths to feed.”
Clay followed us, the boys running around the yard as Alyson’s men acquainted themselves with mine. The table was large. It would be a tight fit, but we might all be able to sit around it. I hoped my men had thought to bring some coins because I didn’t want to accept her hospitality without reimbursement. We were a
large group, and the men ate a lot. Clay washed his hands and began chopping carrots. I assisted by slicing potatoes, alternately stretching and moaning as my muscles protested being wrapped around a huge beast. Alyson smirked at me.
“I have some muscle cream that might help with that. I’m certain one of your men could apply it before bed.” Clay and I shared a look. His gaze was dark with promise.
I smiled shyly. “That would be wonderful. I have so many questions to ask, but I feel like I should wait until everyone is here so they can understand as well.”
Alyson nodded and talked about the farm while we waited - what they grew, what animals they tended, and how much she paid the city in food and coin. Clay was particularly interested in that and asked numerous questions. At one point, she suggested he speak to one of her men, Edward, as he handled the accounts.
Finally, the horses were cared for, and the men were washed. They all came inside, mine giving me a kiss on the cheek or lips before finding a seat. Drummond stood, accompanied by the two dark-haired men, Edward and Clyde. Anders was the blonde.
I took a deep breath after stew and bread had been placed on the table before us. “So, how many families in the countryside have arrangements such as yours?” I asked the homeowners.
Alyson dished a bowl of soup for her children. They sat on the floor in front of the fire and stared curiously at each of us, barely speaking. “I can’t give you a definitive answer as I only know the people we trade with. Their homes are not far away. We haven’t traveled beyond the Midwood.” She referred to the thick forest which occupied the center of the country. “But on this side of the country, about half the women mate more than one. We keep it hidden from the city dwellers. During King Caden’s reign, no one has suffered; but in his father’s time, several families were hung or executed.”
“Hung because they possessed more than one Soul Match?”
“Aye,” Anders said solemnly. Tears rose unbidden in my eyes.
“That’s horrible,” I breathed. Reed’s hand tightened on my thigh, and Seb slung his arm over my shoulder from the other side. I sank into both of them, letting their touch comfort me. The bond vibrated with my matches’ combined emotions, surprise and anger the most dominant.
“It is,” Alyson agreed. “Now you know why we are careful who we tell. In places closer to the city, families live together so the ratio is more balanced. It staves off some suspicions. Almost all country folk hold with the old ways, though, and pass down legends. Not all of us are destined for more than one bondmate or Soul Match, but we share the stories nonetheless.”
I sat forward with wide eyes, trying to push aside the anger and fear from learning about the horrors that former rulers had sanctioned. “What are the old ways?”
“That some women have more than one partner. We are told of Queen Mellisande and our origins from Baldony. We know that the land wouldn’t survive if we all gave in to the Caden’s way of life. Our Kingdom is prosperous because we honor the old ways. Those that believe or follow Caden’s decrees and deny their matches typically have fallow fields or sick livestock. Granted, not every woman is destined for more than one partner, but those who are embrace their destiny or face a hard life. We believe it is the Fates’ justice. And we all know about you, the Queen with five bondmates. The stories say you will restore our way of life to normalcy, stop the persecution, and bring the magic back.”
My spine hit the back of the seat hard, pressing against the rungs of the wooden chair. My thoughts churned. I was a legend, which didn’t sit well with me. It was frightening, overwhelming, and placed far too much expectation upon me. “I don’t understand,” I said. “I don’t understand so many things, but one thing in particular bothers me. If the old ways, as you call them, have been kept throughout most of Megreria, why is it so important that I connect with my bondmates? Why doesn’t the magic respond to your unions? Why must it be mine that awakens the magic?”
“You have royal blood, for one,” Anders replied. “You are the true heir of Mellisande. And only the rightful Queen has five mates. It is the way it has always been, even in Acclesh.” He glanced at Drummond. The big man nodded in agreement. “It is you who will end the Caden’s reign once and for all, atoning for a portion of the crimes they have committed against the Kingdom. Your rule will pave the way for our sons and daughters to love and live freely.”
While in Treleaven, it was easy to live in a bubble. Every aspect of life was ordered, set, and destined. Now, I saw how stifling that was. We had pushed down our creativity, our passions, and our love; and we had suffered for it. The expectations were daunting. There was so much we needed to change, and I could do nothing while Everett and his corrupt ally occupied the palace. As long as he ruled, more innocents would die simply because they loved who their souls led them to love.
Chapter 6
Clay
Being on the road wasn’t difficult for Clay. He liked riding. Having the horse walk for him made him feel more whole. When it was time to dismount, however, he couldn’t aid the others with the beasts' care. Kiarra and Alyson had helped him find something to do, and he appreciated that Kiarra always seemed to know what he needed.
Looking at her now, burdened by the many pressures expected of a Queen, he wished he could soothe her hurts as she did his. All her matches would assist her, but the necessary reform would require hard work. Her beauty was incomparable, even though she was road-weary, sore, and tired. Every time he looked at her, his heart fluttered with appreciation and wonder. He endeavored to be good enough for her.
They finished eating, and Alyson saw to their accommodations. “Do you want one room?” she asked as if it were natural and expected for six adults to sleep together.
The men stayed quiet, leaving the decision up to Kiarra. “I think Clay offered to give me a massage,” she murmured, her cheeks reddening. She looked at him from under dark lashes and his heart beat faster, his body responding immediately. He had been burning for her since he met her; their first interaction had not been enough to fulfill the need of his soul or body.
Alyson studied their faces and drew in her breath sharply. “You haven’t had time to properly finish the bond, have you?”
“It was a mad race to get out of Treleaven before Everett and his Sorcerer found us,” Mason said. “And we haven’t had much time together otherwise.” They had told the farmers of Everett and his powerful friend and of the royal family's murder. A pall of despair settled over them. Anders intended to ride to the nearby farmsteads as soon as possible. The rural citizens utilized an information distribution system for instances like this.
Kiarra glanced at Alyson, her cheeks still pink. “We didn’t quite know what was required of us,” she admitted.
Alyson laughed, not in the least embarrassed. “The fever caught you unawares? I am sorry about that. Our mothers tell us what to expect, and I wager you were not prepared at all.”
“We were not,” Kiarra confirmed. “We thought it was a spell. Are you saying that all women experience the fever?”
Alyson and her men nodded. “Yes. It is similar to a spell, but it’s not specific only to you. However, the fever is stronger the more bondmates you have and the shorter the time frame in which you meet them. I imagine it was not pleasant for you. Also, the longer you go without completing the bonds, the more it could unbalance the entire relationship.”
Kiarra squirmed. “Yes, we're beginning to experience that discomfort.”
“Well, please, take all the time you need. I’ll get that salve and show you to a room.” Alyson rose, and her men helped her tidy the kitchen. Clay admired the way they worked together. It was clear the men were only friends, but they gravitated around their woman like planets around their star. Their love and devotion was readily apparent. The adults treated the children as if they belonged to all of them, using different variations for the endearment of father for each of the men, although the blonde was clearly Anders’ son. Clay’s chest tightened in respon
se. He imagined a child born from Kiarra would be beautiful, healthy, and intelligent, no matter who the biological father was.
Kiarra addressed her other matches. “I don’t want to sleep too far from you,” she said softly. It felt strange discussing their love life in the kitchen of strangers, and Kiarra was slightly uncomfortable. Clay admired her need to explain her heart, though. The clear communication made their complicated relationship manageable.
Ian raised her hand and kissed it lightly, his eyes on her face. “We can join you after you’ve had some alone time.” Kiarra glanced at Clay, and he smiled in response. He would do anything for her; but more than that, it didn’t bother him. He enjoyed it when they were all together. She nodded at his acceptance.
“That would be nice,” she said.
Alyson returned with a tub of salve, and Mason stepped outside to grab their bags. The farm woman glanced at Clay’s crutches. “All the bedrooms are on the top floor. Can you manage?”
Clay nodded. Their progress was slow, but they made it up the stairs and to a large room at one end of the house. “Your house is beautiful,” Kiarra gushed, and Alyson smiled proudly.
“Thank you. We are blessed by our bond. My father built this house, and Edward added rooms when our family grew. He is my Planner and my Merchant. We have more space than we need, but we often entertain.” She opened the door to a large chamber. It looked like another mattress had been recently added, as one was on the floor and another on the double frame. “Your other men can join you when you want. The kids are on the other side of the house, so no worries about that.” She winked, laughed at Kiarra’s red face, and shut the door.
Harmony of Their Souls Page 4
