Bonded

Chapter Twenty Three

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India

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Such tender beautiful words have  never been truer when spoken when the two men who have seen fit to fawn over and court me laid bare their hearts over the course of our lunch... Tears cropping up in even Jian's eyes as the two of us sat and listened to them as they explained their love for one and other... And how so far it has been patient... And calm... And planned... Until they met me...

"So you see... We had decided on waiting to wed until after our duty had been served here... Our eventual severance from the Royal family would be enough for us to buy our own land and build our own home... But..." Kavya is so sweet as he explains the rest of what had been on their minds in regards to me... But it is so very easy for Ronin to take over, the softness of Kavya's tone seeming to carry over into Ronin's voice so easily...

"But... When discussing it while trying to sleep earlier... We see no reason to wed with it being the three of us... You are still new to the palace, and we would not want you to feel as though you needed to shorten your term amongst the scholars just so that you might come away with us to build a home..." His cheeks bear the slightest of smiles... One that warms my heart as Kavya takes over once more...

"We thought... That if you do not object to it... We might wed at the end of this fortnight instead of asking you to do a simpler binding... There is not much of a reason to wait... And as far as doing our duty goes, Cho has always made it clear that every solider shall always have a home amongst his barracks, he would be glad to have us there until your term is over, whether or not we're serving under him or simply his guests." The words turn his voice into the most romantic of whispers that I find myself leaning forward to hear, Jian stopping mid-bite of the cheese he seemed so intent to swallow only moments ago so that he might understand what the darling men across from us are truly saying...

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Kavya

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"Do you really mean it? All of it? But also... Would you really stay in the barracks? If you aren't serving and the three of us are married it should be easy enough to ask for alternate accommodations in the scholar's wing..." India's mind seems to run away with him so easily, and just like every other time I have been able to witness the progression I find myself amazed, and my heart warmed...

The look on his face is so stunning as his questions continue on, India not realizing that in a way... He has answered our suggestion in such a stunningly positive way...

There had been no hesitation whatsoever that would tell us he did not appreciate the thought of wedding us at the end of our fortnight of courtship... In fact he seems rather taken with the idea if the way he dives straight into discussing brands with Jian and what room would be coziest for the three of us to nest in until we are ready to find our own home away from the hustle and bustle of palace life...

The words want so very badly to slip right out of my mouth when India finally pauses and waits for an answer to his many questions... Only to have our Ronin interrupt me with the very thing I was about to say, "Yes, Darling... Of course, we mean it... You are important to us, and your job here is important to you... We shall stay as long as you need or want to, in which rooms, we care not... Just as long as at the end of the day, you come back to the bed we share to tell us of all the things you've learned and discovered... Does that sound acceptable to you?"

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Ronin

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There is no way for me to avoid the color I feel pushing its way into my cheeks... Not when the combination of both India and Kavya seems to bring out such a way with words in me... My nature never having been quite so talkative before... Not that anything I've said thus far has been untrue... Or that I do not have much to say when it is only Kavya and myself...

Just that somehow... When it's the three of us along with our rather terrible chaperone... It feels as though it is easier on me to express myself even though we are out in the open for all to see... It feels safer somehow to make myself heard even though any passerby might hear me and think of how strange I sound... The common draw is not as pronounced as it used to be though it has not completely faded in me as it has in Kavya... I still sound as though I am fresh from the small village we hail from...

When I am around Kavya and it's just the two of us it feels as though we are at home with each other... And I expected it to take longer for some of that feeling to develop between India and I... But it hasn't... Even when my words sound harsh to my own ears compared to the Royals and nobility around us... India still stares at me as though my beast and I had something to do with the placement of the moon and the stars... Kavya's hand finding mine giving me just the tiniest of squeezes to let me know that he sees it and feels it too...

"That sounds like the most wonderful thing I've ever heard! Just... Are... Are you sure about me? Do... Do the two of you... Actually... You both feel the same way about me? You both want to marry me? And you both would not mind staying here until it is time for me to take my leave from the scholars?" India's voice is so very hesitant all of a sudden... So very shy as he asks of his fate... A shyness that had been exhibited yesterday before we had had our small interlude in the hall after walking him back to the chamber he shares with a few of his fellow pupils...

As if we could ever just casually toss him aside...