Chapter 9
I woke up slowly and blissfully. I had slept so well. It took me a moment to remember where I was. Warmth spread through me as the heat of my mates seeped into me from their bodies, nestled close to mine. This was paradise, and what I hadn’t known I had been missing while I was with The Hunt.
A frown marred my brow at that thought. Why hadn’t I missed them more? When Cernunnos first took me, I was desperate to get away and back to my men, but that seemed to fade into the background, and didn’t seem to be quite as important as it should have been.
“Dianthe,” Robin groaned softly. “I can feel your thoughts in my dreams. What’s wrong, my princess?”
What was wrong? So many things came rushing through my mind. All the things I did––Oh my God! I sat straight up in bed. I had sex with Cernunnos and Brónach. What was wrong with me? I began to panic. I cheated on my mates. Oh my God, I was a horrible person. What had I done?
“Dianthe!” Robin cupped my face, but I barely felt it. “Dia, my heart, calm down. You are hyperventilating, you need to breathe easy, or you will faint. Nothing can be as bad as what you are feeling. Talk to us, and tell us your fears.”
“Talk to us, babe,” Daniel kissed my forehead, and Kale began to rub circles into my lower back in an attempt to ease the tension.
“I did horrible things,” I whispered.
“It couldn’t have been that bad,” Daniel laughed.
“Don’t worry, Dia,” Kale crooned. “There’s nothing you could do, that would make us think badly of you.”
“That’s not true,” I whispered brokenly.
“Tell us, and let us be the judge of that,” Robin spoke quietly.
I looked at all three of them, taking in their expressions of concern and worry. The love and understanding on their faces, and I knew I had to tell them. I couldn’t keep it my dirty little secret.
“I cheated on you.”
All three of them stiffened, but it was Kale that spoke in a very still voice.
“Explain how you cheated on us. We know about Cernunnos.”
I began to cry. I didn’t deserve anything but their disgust, but they were still willing to listen to my story, so I told them.
I told them everything. From the moment that I woke up in the Wild Wood, to how I felt distanced from them, to how Cernunnos took over my whole worldview, to the club and Brónach, and even when Cernunnos died in my arms. All of it, up until this moment, came pouring out. It took hours, and they sat there, silently listening, touching me, hugging me, and giving comfort when parts of it became too much.
Once it was over, I felt empty. Everything was laid out before them now. They knew about everything that I had done. All my secrets, and now they had to make the choice to do what they felt was right.
“Is that everything, Dia?”
“Yeah, Daniel––that’s everything. I’m so sorry.”
“No, my heart, there is nothing to be sorry for. You were under the influence of The Hunt, and even though you are bound to us, The Hunt is an ancient and powerful force. Once it has taken someone, they belong to The Hunt, until released.”
Kale grasped my chin and turned me to face him.
“Do you still want to be with your friend in that way?”
“No! Not at all. I love Brónach, but she is just my friend, a sister of sorts. I don’t know why we did that, it just seemed right at the time.”
“Then it’s over, Dia. Let it stay in the past. What happened in The Hunt, will stay there, and we understand why it happened, even if we are not the most pleased with it.”
“Hey, a little bit of girl on girl is always hot, babe. It’s just not cool to do it without us,” Daniel joked.
A look from Kale, and his chuckle died.
“Alright, I get it, man––that was in poor taste.”
“Very,” added Robin.
“So where do we go from here,” I asked.
Robin answered. “We move forward, Dia. We move forward. We have all made mistakes. You didn’t have full clarity while with The Hunt, and we all know you are remorseful for your actions. We forgive you.”
I released a breath I didn’t even know I was holding.
“However, this does not set a precedence. None of us would be so forgiving in the future. At this moment, you have three mates here, and one lost to his cycle. If you ever find another, please talk to us first. We understand it is your destiny to love more than one. You need it to help control the power that lives within you. But, for us––please, I beg of you, talk to us first. Share each step with us. We need to be part of all the stages of this relationship.”
“I––” I paused. “I can do that.”
“That’s all we ask.” Kale kissed me.
“We love you, Dia,” Daniel added. Then they proceeded to show me just how much. It was several hours later, before we left our rooms.
For the first time in a long time, I felt that things were going to be all right.
I had hope.