Bonded

Chapter Sixty Eight

...

India

...

It goes without saying that when I find myself shaken awake that my feelings lend themselves more to panic and fear than anything else... But fortunately, it is simply Jian, with a strange sad smile on his face as he hovers over me, his whisper hoarse as his red-rimmed eyes search my face, "Your husbands are on the other side of the door causing rumors to fly, sweet India."

For a few bleary moments, I forget our woes and I forget exactly why Jian looks as though he's spent the early hours of the dawn crying... Instead, my only focus is discovering how much truth is in his statement and seeing said truth for myself...

Without thinking I make my way to the door in order to catch a glimpse of my Kayva and my Ronin... Only to find myself caught red-handed by two loving sets of eyes that turn to me the moment my hands cause the door to creek open.

The smiles that break out on their faces causes my heart to do flips as I find Kavya fetching me from behind the for sleep clothes and all so that I might be pulled into a dual embrace... His and Ronin's scents blending together to create an aura of safety and peace around me... And for one blissful moment, I find myself deluded enough to imagine a future in which all of us make it past our current predicament and we can eventually greet each other upon waking without them having to come and fetch me from a different set of rooms.

...

Ronin

...

Breathing India in is one of the most satisfying moments we've had all morning, and I know that it's true for more than just myself with how Kavya leans into our shared embrace.

All night we had done our best not to pass back and forth insecurities and what-ifs... But it had been hard. And when the number of windows in India's shared chambers had come up both of us had nearly fainted.

It shouldn't have to be like this...

But suddenly it feels as if everyone around us is an enemy not to be trusted around my spouses, for any number of them could lash out and hurt our trio... And they could do so by weaponizing the most dangerous man in this obsidian tomb.

Just a single whisper that we know something.

Not even that we know that King Ciang is looking for a redhead that is most likely Kavya...

Just that we know literally anything of the King's plan or thoughts of a plan... And hair wouldn't even have to be mentioned.

But... In the night... While we were shaking in our boots ready to defend our little wife...

It occurred to me that that has been the case the entire time any of us have lived here... And that I've seen it happen.

Good men and women were cut down in their prime because of a rumor taken just a bit too seriously by the king and his advisors.

And such is the case for any and all of us as long as we allow a madman to stay in charge.

...

Kavya

...

"G-Good morning!" India squeaks as we smother him, his weight in our arms feeling just perfect to me, "How long have you two been out here?"

Before I can even think of answering him, I watch in awe as India leans closer to Ronin and presses the lightest of kisses to his shoulder before doing the same to me, the light dusting of color that graces his cheeks while a tiny smile appears causes what I almost perceive to be a misstep on my part.

I'm not sure what possessed me to lean forward and capture his lips, but thankfully it's kept short and without stumble thanks to Ronin redirecting our attentions with the low rumble in his throat and heat building from his belly, "We stayed to watch over you last night..."

His words hang heavy in the air as he watches India's sweet tongue dart out and moisten his indulgently soft lips before leaning down to take the briefest taste just as I had done before him...

Only for us all to be caught red-handed when someone clears their throat just behind me and we find ourselves jumping apart to try and create the illusion that we are trying to maintain our wife's modesty during what's left of this courtship despite knowing we may never live long enough to see it through.