By the time I opened my eyes, Mirxalyn was holding my hand, sleeping on the floor, while Fraye was sitting on the couch, staring at me. She looked like the queen of the night as she sipped from her blood wine, and her eyes were deadly cold and bloody.
"Fraye," I called her, and she quickly appeared beside me, looking worried. Then, before she could, I asked, "How long was I out?"
"Normal, but…" Frayed trailed off, trying to figure out how to explain what had happened to me during my sleep.
"But?" I asked softly as I leaned into her touch.
Fraye studied me carefully before sighing, saying, "You had been dreaming, and you almost tore the bed." I frowned, but I let her continue, "You were trying to shift but couldn't, and anger triggered it." She finished, but she lifted my chin, forcing me to meet her deep, bloody, cold eyes before asking, "What did you dream to make you scream in anger?"
I leaned in, pecking her lips before answering, "A memory that doesn't belong to me."
"Memory from whom?" Mirxalyn's stern voice asked as soon as she woke up.
"My mother's," I answered as I let her sit beside me. I snuggled as soon as she did before adding, "I saw who killed them."
"Dark Pirates," she said coldly, as if it were the part of her memory she didn't want to recall.
I shook my head before correcting her. "No, him." They looked seriously at me, and I explained what I meant. "I mean, yes, he's one of the Dark Pirates, but he's a dark and greedy one."
"Sylvas," Mirxalyn mentioned the name with venom and instinctively pulled me closer, protective, so I could feel her body tremble. She was controlling her anger.
"Mirxalyn, calm down." Fraye's calmness snapped Mirxalyn from her anger.
Mirxalyn loosened her arms around me, and then she apologized, "Sorry, that man has done worse in my life. He's an eyesore."
"I could see that now," I agreed nonchalantly as if I'd seen him in person, but that dream was enough to understand someone's character—Sylvas, the ill and greedy Dark Pirate.
"Darling, you sounded grim," Fraye's amused voice asked.
I smirked because after having that dream, I gained a memory, a power, and acknowledgement. "I am, but I'm not going to lose it. Not yet, at least," I said with determination. I was not even surprised at how my steady conviction sounded. I felt much livelier than before, as if I were nearly awakened. Then I stretched, wondering, "And before I meet Mycillas, do I need to make any public appearance or something for being a knight or your queen?"
They looked at each other, Fraye giggled, and Mirxalyn asked, "I thought you didn't want the title?"
"Even if I don't, it runs in my life now because I married you…" I answered, looking lovingly at her before I turned to Fraye, saying, "…and you had your blood in me. So, it makes me what, your blood relative?"
They giggled before Fraye kissed the back of my hand tenderly and said, "Bloodwise, yes. You're a family now."
"Should I wear a crown now?" I wondered.
"In my time, yes, even inside the manor we wear them, but nowadays, I don't think so," Fraye answered first.
"Those who wore their tiaras or crowns now were a sign that they were royalty, while nobles like us could only wear them on special occasions such as weddings, family gatherings, or being invited to the vampire royal palace." Mirxalyn shared her side before adding, "But for those who were in the vampire court, it's mandatory to wear it with the vampire clan emblem."
"So I have a crown or tiara?" I wondered carefully, but my lips curved up.
"You do," Mirxalyn answered when she remembered something and asked, "But since you're crafty, do you want to design it?"
I got excited from that question and asked, "Can I?"
"Yes, but we need three," Mirxalyn replied.
"Wait, Mirxa, you're going to marry me too?" Fraye asked us.
"Sure, why not? Our family allowed marrying a third cousin," Mirxalyn answered, and I nodded, agreeing too. Then she asked teasingly, "Do you want it now?"
"Silly." Fraye blushed as she giggled before demanding, "Propose first, then we'll get married."
"Old hag." Mirxalyn shook her head, giggling, but there was a taint of blush on her cheeks.
"Okay, enough." I stopped them before it shifted badly.
Mirxalyn composed herself before reminding Fraye about their family wedding ritual. "We could marry you through the family ritual, the blood marriage."
Fraye adorably gasped before wondering innocently, "Oh, that disgusting family wedding ritual—is that still applicable nowadays?"
"Hey, don't badmouth it." Mirxalyn laughed before adding, "In our case, it is because it's rare for the family to marry each other."
Seriously, I had no idea what they were talking about because this was the first time I'd heard of such a wedding thing. Then I reacted, eager to know about the old family wedding ritual. "Wait a second, what's blood marriage?"
"It was the old Knightrose family wedding ritual. It was not about exchanging vows, but rather exchanging blood while making love."
"Oh," I reacted flatly before adding honestly, "We've done it."
They laughed at how I sounded, then Mirxalyn reminded us. "Yeah, in the crypt."
"Is that counted?" I wondered innocently, but they kept laughing at me.
Fraye controlled her laughter before teasing me, "Ohh, you sounded like you want me again."
"You could easily turn me on, and I hate that I'm loving it," I replied bluntly, which made them laugh more. I glared at these two beautiful vampires—my mates—when I recalled something, making me gasp. "No way." They both stopped, curious about what I was thinking until I looked at them, saying, "I've kissed Mirxa's corpse before, and now I had sex in the crypt with Fraye. Seriously, do I have a thing with dead things?"
Then they burst into laughter before Fraye agreed, "I think you do, and you love it as I remembered."
I glared, but couldn't comment because what was the use when it happened? I sighed, getting off the bed, but I didn't; rather, I couldn't because they won't let me. They cornered me, pressing me closer to them; clothes were discarded, and that thing led to others.
I don't remember the details of how they ended up submitting to my command, but I felt more deeply connected to them. But I was more surprised when I found myself hot while they were entangled with me, naked and sleeping on both my sides.
"Damn, am I in heat?" I wondered softly as I carefully pulled away from their arms.
But Mirxalyn was the first one who stirred and asked sleepily, "Baby, are you still on?"
Before I could even respond, Fraye's amused but sleepy voice asked, "How much stamina did you have?"
"I don't know," I replied honestly before sharing my guess, "Maybe because I had a lot of restraint, and now, it snapped…"
"Or it had something to do with your Spirit Wolf's awakening." Fraye yawned as she added another guess.
And that clicked more than I guessed. "Oh, that could be it."
Fraye lay down again, waving her hand dismissively, saying, "Then have it your way, darling, but I'm sleeping."
"Fraye," Mirxalyn said, shaking her head.
"What? I'm intersex." Frayed defended, yawning again before teasingly adding, "She could ride on it, and maybe I'll have wet dreams."
"Stupid, old hag." My wife chuckled.
"Baby, a blunt hag," I corrected teasingly, making Fraye sit up, pulling me into her lap.
"What did you call me, Darling?" Her voice dropped low when she asked, and her eyes were filled with desire.
I shivered at how she looked at me; I felt seen and loved. But I teasingly repeated, "Blunt hag?"
"Then I'm going to break you," she replied, and was about to push me on the bed, but I didn't let her.
I don't know what came to me, but I like how she looks beneath me. "Nope." My hand was on her neck while my other hand was on the side of her head before I commanded, "Lie down and stay put." I was about to move my body against her when something flicked in my mind, and I trailed off, "I…"
"BERNILA!" They both screamed as my body trembled.
Mirxalyn's worried voice echoed faintly in my ears. "Breathe, baby."
"Them…its…" I tried to say something, but my chest was tightening, and my breathing was shallow. I'm having a panic attack. Then I gritted my teeth, trying to control my breathing, saying, "Why now?!"
"Get her meds," Fraye commanded in worry. Mirxalyn rushed to the bathroom, where I usually kept my meds. Fraye's calm voice caught my attention as she said, "Darling, look at me. I'm here. We're here. Feel us, not them. Can you do that?"
She put my hand on her chest while Mirxalyn took the other, and then I stuttered, "I-I'll try."
"That's our girl," she cheered, and when my breathing was coming back, I drank my meds that Mirxalyn had prepared before I heard Fraye's teasing, "Breathe for us, or we won't be able to conceive babies if you collapse." I smacked her chest, controlling my breathing, but she chuckled and continued, "What did I say? You're still on top of me and inside you so…"
I covered her blunt mouth because she was too embarrassed. Despite my blush, I managed to refute her. "Even I want to get off; it's locked. So, shut the fuck up before I cut it myself."
"Oh, you won't dare," she said firmly, but looked horrified at me.
"Trust me, I would," I replied with remorse.
"Want my help?" Mirxalyn asked as she made me look at her.
I softened quickly and answered. "Please, before my rage snaps and cuts hers."
"Great, let me enjoy the show." Fraye's teasing voice faded in the background when Mirxalyn's lips captured mine.
We kissed like it was our first kiss, breathless and claiming, and subconsciously, my body moved against Fraye's. Fraye held my waist in position, supporting me until Mirxalyn went behind, tracing all my tattoos with tender kisses and her mark over my neck.
Their hands caressed mine until I heard Fraye's voice. "Darling, come here. Let me kiss you, too."
And I did; I kissed her with the same roughness and desire they were both giving me. As we made love, we all heard binding chains locking into place, and their marks began to bleed. It was flowing naturally, and they licked and sucked them as they whispered their love and affection for me.
But there was something else in this session, and then we collapsed on the bed.
Mirxalyn was lying on my chest while I lay on Fraye's arms. Fraye was caressing my hair before asking, "Are you okay now?"
"Yeah, better," I responded as I lazily played on Mirxalyn's fingers. "Is that the family ritual? I hope it is because it would be strange if I were the only one who heard and felt the chains wrapping around my entire being, where I could feel you both."
"Yes, it was the family ritual," my wife answered.
Fraye giggled, kissing my temple before saying, "Told you it's disgusting."
"Well, you're vampires; you needed blood," I said, chuckling.
"Rest, you lost a lot of blood," Mirxalyn reminded me as soon as she got up from my side. She kissed my lips before my forehead. "Rest; I'll be going to work."
"Can't you stay?" I asked carefully, but didn't move from my spot. I watched her put on some clothes.
"I have to prepare things for your meeting with Mycillas, but I'll join you for breakfast," she answered before walking back to my side.
"You have to tell me what it is about," I demanded. She smiled softly and kissed my head.
"I'll ask her first before I can tell you if I'm allowed," she said before standing up.
"Fine. Be careful," I told her, and she nodded.
"You two," she said and kissed our lips before leaving us in the room.
The master bedroom felt quiet but warm. I snuggled into Fraye's arms, yawning.
"You know, she had changed," Fraye started as she sat up and towered over me. She positioned herself, and I knew already what she wanted since my body was already responding. Then she continued talking about our wife, Mirxalyn: "She was showing her feelings now, but was still a workaholic."
I chuckled because it was true. "Well, she's a queen, and we have to help her." My voice became hoarse again as we did it for another round before I whispered. "Night, honey."