When we walk in, Sebastian is carrying a clean and changed Allura out of the room. She looks like an entirely different person now, beautiful and confident, though in desperate need of rest and food. Emrick immediately picks up Bella and walks into the bathroom next, all of us following quickly like she’s a magnet, drawing us to her.
Seeing our strong mate so helpless is unnerving. She’s always been so fierce and motivated that it doesn't feel right. But I’m so fucking proud of her for surviving all she did.
“Has she woken up at all?” Gerwyn asks, concern in his tone. Emrick shakes his head no and holds her a bit tighter than before. Maddox has the water running while Gerwyn finds some soaps and a towel. I help undress Bella as Emrick holds her. I know he won’t even consider letting her go. We all gasp at the bruising that lines her torso, arms, and legs. The king didn’t hold back on her at all, his own flesh and blood.
“He was ruthless with that chair. It was the worst thing I have ever had to witness. I tried everything to break out of that spell to save her, but it was useless. I just had to watch him try to kill her. She was so strong though, fire in her eyes as she took it until she could finally fight back. Our girl is a warrior," Gerwyn whispers in the most haunting voice I’ve ever heard. Maddox squeezes his shoulder to comfort him and I step up to his side, shoulder to shoulder so he doesn’t have to relive that alone. I can’t imagine having to watch that scene unfold.
Knowing words are useless, I turn my attention back to getting her clean. No one will feel better until she looks like herself again.
“I can get in the bath with her, so you can wash her without having to worry about her slipping in?” I offer. Emrick eyes me for a second before he nods in agreement. I roll my eyes at his papa bear demeanor. I’m just as concerned as the rest of us. Just because I try to keep the mood light doesn’t mean I take her safety any less seriously.
With a smirk, I strip off my clothes, making sure to wiggle my bare ass at the others before sinking into the amazingly warm water. The others groan at my antics but it’s not the
first time they’ve seen my ass.
“Something isn’t right in that head of yours, brother," Maddox chuckles. Emrick hands Bella over and delicately adjusts her in my arms. He washes off the blood while growling the entire time. It’s a low rumble in his throat that I don’t even think he realizes he’s doing. But each of our faces are murderous at the sight.
On top of the dried blood, she’s filthy thanks to her time in the dungeon. I shift her so Emrick can wash her hair and we can get out of this filthy water. After her body is properly clean, the bruising doesn't look quite as bad.
Maddox reaches in and activates the panel, draining the water and refilling the tub with fresh water. We rinse her off before Emrick pulls her out of the tub for Maddox to dry her, all of us working in tandem. I take advantage of the fresh water and wash myself, relishing the feeling of being clean again. I’d love to soak, but we don’t have time to linger, we have to talk about this mindfuck we’ve walked into.
After everyone is clean and fed, we gather around the tables in the common room. Gerwyn has parchment waiting and Jacob is sitting with his pencil in hand.
“First let’s make sure we have introductions. Sebastian is Bella’s father. This is Andras and Jacob, I believe you know Bowen, Emrick, Gerwyn, and myself. Allura is her mother, she is resting too," Maddox points out each of us in turn.
“Now let me understand this. My daughter has four mates?” Sebastian’s voice is curious and a bit incredulous. I can tell from the way he eyes us that he’s been rolling this one around his head for a bit now. “From my understanding it happened quickly, and you were strangers. Explain," he demands. I hold back laughter, because that wouldn’t help any of us. It’s just funny how quickly his fatherly instincts kicked in. Even funnier that he looks the same age as us.
“Spirits of Faerie," Emrick grunts out. Always so eloquent. With that I lose my battle with trying to not crack up, a bark of laughter escaping.
Gerwyn shoots me a look before stepping in. “It did happen suddenly. We considered ourselves brothers, forged out of necessity when we fled the realm. We knew we would be best to protect the new queen, so we volunteered when she asked. We had all aspects of a perfect guard. A warrior, a strategist, a leader, and knowledge. We took to Queen Arabella immediately. It was unlike anything I had ever felt. Not only did she catch our eye with her beauty, her personality drew us in even more. She knew nothing of Faerie yet here she was, sacrificing her own life for the good of the land. That kind of pure heartedness is hard to come by. But as soon as we were close to her, it was more than all of that, it was a compulsion.”
“One we couldn’t ignore. She felt like part of us before we even knew her past,” I agree. My voice is so serious that Gerwyn raises an eyebrow at my tone.
“We talked amongst ourselves about it at one point. We all felt it, but we figured we would get to know her, let her get to know us, then she could choose and we would respect her and the others enough to accept it," Maddox adds. It’s a nice touch, I don’t want him thinking we forced anything.
“How silly we were to think that we had any say in the trajectory of our lives,” I joke. The others chuckle, breaking the levity a bit. Even Sebastian relaxed.
“As soon as we entered the castle in Spring, the Spirits of Faerie lifted her into the air and she disappeared. You can ask her for more detail because we weren’t there in the Spirit realm with her. But they essentially told her she would have to find four powerful stones, cleanse them, put them in the crown, and when it was finished she would be bonded to four kings, one from each court," Maddox summarized. “At this point we all thought that Allwyn would be chosen, but then he betrayed her. He was plotting to kill her, and she found out. So, we became her protectors in his stead.”
“We already were,” Emrick added. Short, sweet, and to the point.
“She already used her magic and thought she found the first stone, so we traveled to a well she’d gone by on our way to the castle. She’s headstrong. She climbed down while we were deciding who would go in her stead. I hurried after her and the rope snapped, trapping us down there. The others went ahead, and Bella and I searched for the stone. She found it, cleansed it, and put it into the crown. It fused to the crown as soon as it touched it and bonded us together. The Spirits said the realm chose for her, seeing a bond already forming within us. My magic bonded with hers, giving her the ability to hold Spring’s magic. We all agreed to be there when she found the others, if she wanted us. She agreed, and here we are searching for the Winter stone of power. We just hit a few snags in the plan," I add humorously. Jacob stands and clears his throat. I notice that he has Bella’s pet mouse on his shoulder. Dormy stands at attention, mimicking Jacob’s stance.
“I am Jacob, Bella’s best friend and her only family for the last few years. I know you don’t know her well, but she is as head strong as they come. She just became a fae Queen, so the idea of the Spirits bonding her didn’t seem too crazy. She told me that she was more upset that she was taking away their choices. Bella has a kind heart like that. She chose them as much as the Spirits did, I think they just finalized the decision for her. She felt the connection too. She isn’t upset, she’s happy. These four make her happier than I have ever seen her. She always pushed away men, claiming it just didn’t feel right. I always thought she was just being picky, but maybe there was more to it than we thought," he finishes speaking and Dormouse punctuates his words with a squeak of agreement.
Sebastian, who was quiet this entire time, looks deep in thought and slightly shocked. I think he was ready for a fight, defending his daughter’s honor. But deep down I think he’s having trouble accepting that she’s now a grown woman who makes her own decisions.
“I can speak for myself, father. I am happy and it does feel right. The decision was made. They are wonderful," Bella says as she walks into the room, looking beautiful and fierce. “I have Emrick, who is my rock. He’s gentle and nurturing, but fiercely protective. I have Maddox, who always makes sure we are all staying focused and following the right path. He is incredibly sweet and caring. I have Gerwyn, who is so smart and kind, but underneath has intense control and a demanding, wonderful nature. He makes me want to give him the best side of myself. It’s nice to hand over control when I’m feeling overwhelmed. And Bowen, my first king, he is attentive and mischievous. He brings out a playful side and keeps us all from giving into anger or sadness. They all complete me in the best ways.” She kisses us each in greeting as she speaks like she knows we’ve barely been holding it together without her.
“I guess I need to realize I no longer have a baby, I have an adult," her father says with so much sorrow in his voice.
“It’s a new world. Now you will get to see your amazing daughter bring about change that this realm desperately needs. You also have the freedom to love Allura in a way you never could before. It’s a second chance at a better life and everything you worked for," I reassure him. He smiles at Bella and nods.
“You’re right," he says simply, standing and pulling Bella into his arms. She melts into the hug, closing her eyes tight and soaking in her first hug from her father. And from the sound of it, the first parental hug she’s ever gotten.
“I’m so proud of who you are, my daughter," he says, his voice thick with tears now. She mumbles something we can’t hear, but his smile says it all.
After a few beats, Dormouse starts squeaking incessantly again, officially ending the sappy moment.