Intertwined: her three mates

16. Mate Pull

3rd Person POV

After composing herself, Liv goes to see her mother. She comes across her mates, who are waiting for her in the hall.

She rolls her eyes when she sees them.

“Who will you sleep with tonight, Sugar? We decided to let you choose.” Laius utters.

She rolls her eyes again at this comment and snaps back. “If you needy boys need company, you can sleep with each other.”

Laius chuckles. “You are tough, Kitten. If you grace my bed with your presence, we can have a replay of this afternoon.”

“No, thanks. I need some me-time. You clingy boys can keep each other company”. Liv replies.

“That plump little mouth of yours will put you into trouble, soon. Very soon.” Avalon says, narrowing his eyes and Liv shrugs.

“I will be waiting.” She smiles, pretending to look at a non-existent watch on her wrist.

Elric shakes his head and flashes away. Laius winks at Liv and leaves as well. Avalon stares at her.

“What?” she asks. He doesn't answer, just walks away.

Astoria and Nema, who watched the whole scene, approach Liv.

"Why are you so mean to your mates?" Astoria asks her niece.

Liv shrugs, "that’s my jacked-up coping mechanism…"

Astoria sighs. "You need to learn to deal with it."

"And I’m also a bit mad at them. Especially Elric and Avalon," Liv adds.

"What are you doing about it? Sort it out. You can’t run away forever. They are your mates." Astoria argues.

“As YOU know a lot about mates.” Liv snaps, making Astoria look down.

"I’m sorry aunty, I didn’t mean it to sound like that," Liv utters honestly.

"Just watch your mouth, you can’t take back your words."

Astoria leaves. Liv sighs and swallows hard, she’s right. She should be more careful, not having mates was a very sensitive topic for unmated people. But her mouth moved faster than her brain sometimes.

Liv just noticed Nema's presence now, the Nympho was there staring at Liv.

"Hey Nema… sorry, I am feeling a bit, actually, quite overwhelmed. But it's good to see you here." Liv says.

Nema smiles, “Hi Liv, it is good to see you too. I came to check if our little Lea is okay.”

"She was sleeping with my mom, last time I saw her. I am going there to see them now, come with me."

Nema tights her lips in a thin line. “No, I can't risk your mom or anyone near her seeing me, maybe I will be recognized, and she will link me to my lover… you know, this secretive thing."

Liv nods, she knew that it wasn't like Nema was keeping the secret because she wanted to, probably she didn't have a choice either.

“Tell Lea that I was here to see her,” the Nympho asks. Liv nods again and smiles.

Nema looks at her with a serious expression, which Liv hasn't ever seen before. Her Nympho friend was always chill and cheerful, making s****l jokes as one blinked their eyes.

“You know… My Elf said he wanted to mark me and make me his mate. But by doing that, he would sever the bond with his destined mate, whoever it may be. I couldn’t let him do it and give up on the other part of his soul. He says he loves me and that I complete his soul. We have been together for 30 years now. I know he loves me, but I also know that I can’t ever occupy the space in his heart and soul that only his real mate could. I couldn’t give him the real peace and joy. One day he would regret it. The truth is that you can only make through eternity having the other part of your soul, the happiness and love that reflects the Goddess herself, a MATE." Nema says.

It pains me to think about leaving my Argo as well. But I know I would do it if I find my mate. You can’t say no to a mate. It’s stronger than anything. It’s like saying no to a river to flow, the sun to shine, the gravity to make bodies fall, or the life to complete its circles and bring renewal. It would be like to say no to your own nature and everything you are, every magic that exists.” Liv sighs deeply. “Just think about it. I want you to have that happiness Liv, you can have it, don't let it go away... I need to leave before your mom or Lea decide to show up and I get into trouble.” Liv nods again and says goodbye. Then she goes to her mom´s room, Nema´s words made her heart clench and her head hurt. It doesn 't matter how much she wants to avoid it, she had a lot to think about.

~ * ~

Liv enters her mother's room at the castle. Lea is sound asleep, and Mel is awake, sitting on her bed.

"Thank you for everything, sweetie," Mel says, smiling at her daughter.

"Mom, you don't have to say thank you! Come on! I love you both and you are everything to me." Mel smiles again and Liv gives her mom a long hug.

"How are you?" Mel asks, looking into Liv's deep blue eyes.

"Well, I'm still crazily overwhelmed."

"Oh sweetie, your plan to make one of your mates take you and break the bond was very ingenious." Mel chuckles lightly, which makes Liv chuckle with her. “But you couldn't trick such powerful and ancient males.”

"I had to try… and I am quite sure I almost got Laius," Liv says, making her mom shake her head.

"I am certain that the King of Hell is not someone very easy to trick. He is mischievous and is known to be the Master of deceit and duplicity."

Liv sighs, maybe she should be afraid of her mates. They were indeed powerful beings, older than she could imagine and they would have plenty of secrets. Probably quite obnoxious ones. Mel's words bring her back from her contemplative state.

"Honey, do you feel the pull towards your mates?" Mel asks.

"A bit," Liv replied.

"It hasn't grown since your birthday?"

"Not much. Why?" Liv asks.

Mel sighs. “It should have grown.”

"But mom, we haven't mated and marked."

"I know sweetie, but the bond should solidify, and the pull should get stronger."

"Well, it is not happening. Maybe the Goddess realized her mistake and it won't go forward." Liv says with a mischievous smile. Well, one can always hope.

"Is that what you really want?" Mel asks.

Liv sighs deeply. Is it? she wonders.

"If you don't allow it, it won't grow. If you don't open yourself to it, you will never love," Mel utters.

"And I will also never break my heart so completely that I will be half-dead inside," Liv says, looking down.

Mel knows what she is talking about. “Honey, I… I am not that broken. I am not dead inside. It is not easy for me and I know you are not blind, and you are aware of how hard it is. I know you have seen me crying and maybe you think I am miserable… But I can assure you, even with the pain, it is worth it. If I could go back in time, I wouldn't do it differently. I would choose to be with him, I would choose to have you and your sister. I know my situation is not perfect, but I am happy, Liv.

"But you shouldn't be, Mum. You shouldn't accept it," Liv says, shaking her head.

"He doesn't do it out of cruelty, he is not pranking me. I know he has his reasons."

"You don't even know what his reasons are. Maybe it is something dumb," Liv utters

Mel chuckles, “I know he loves me and that he wants to be with me, in the way he can. But he does want it, Liv.”

Liv sighs and shakes her head as she looks away.

“Honey, just stop being afraid and close yourself in a cocoon. You will hurt yourself, that is for sure. But you will be happy too if you are brave enough to take a chance. I know that 3 mates, 3 kings are more than a lot. But I don't believe the Goddess makes mistakes, Liv. Don't throw this gift away out of fear. Don't be afraid that what happened - what is happening - to me will happen to you. You will have your own story to live, your own issues to overcome,” Mel says.

Mel hugs her, Liv wraps her arms around her mom and puts her head on her shoulder, letting out sobs and tears. Mel caresses her hair gently trying to soothe her. Mel knew her daughter was through a lot and having a hard time coping with this whole situation. Liv rarely cried, she always put on a tough face and used sarcasm or inappropriate jokes as a way to cover her emotions and don't show vulnerability. But even though she was tough, she was just a teenage witch.

~ * ~

Liv

I came back to my room to be alone with my thoughts. I have a lot to think about, so I lay down on my back, look at my plain ceiling and do it. I can’t do my normal k******e-impulsive thing, not about that. I so need to think about it carefully. Doesn't matter how many people or good advice I’ve listened to. I should first listen to what I want. Well, what is it?

I could fight the Fates, challenge the bond and what they have written for me to do. I am not the kind of girl that plays the role that she was told to, not even when the costume fits so well. But do I want to challenge it?

Only the force of the desire can change the course of the stars, but where is my desire directed to?

Even a Nympho, a NYMPHO gave me love advice. I must be indeed lost. Not that her advice was bad, it was quite good. But Nymphos are not really known to do this love thingy. They're actually known for doing it like bunnies with no love or strings attached. Well, probably with some ropes and chains involved, for what she said, without anyone asking. Nema doesn't know what oversharing means. Nema is very intense about s*x, which makes sense, since Nymphos take their life energy out of s*x, s*x is for them more or less like blood is for vampires.

Goddess, that is such a definitive choice to make! If we mark and mate it is forever. There is no going back.

Do I want them? Do I really want them or is it the pull singing like a siren in my mind and taking control of my thoughts and feelings? I don't want to be blind by a bond and just be with someone or lots of them because a magical connection makes me. I want to have a choice, be free.

With no destiny to set me on a path, I would be free to make my own poor choices. Which could only be the best ones.

But I can't choose or be free if I am afraid, and I am tired of being afraid.

They waited long for a mate, but I have never asked for even one to begin with. It does not feel fair. Well, maybe this fair thing rarely happens.

Maybe I only will be able to know if I want them or if it's just the pull dazzle if I take the next step.

I sigh, turn and toss in my bed waiting for sleep to come. It was a long day, and I don't really believe things are getting easier from now on. Probably easy won't be my reality for a very long time. Tomorrow I will talk to them. No, the day after tomorrow, yeah, it's better. I need to catch up with my sleep and have some chilling time before.