Torn between mates

34. Take the break

Lea

We were all together in one of the sitting rooms at Avalon and my sister’s castle. Elric called this meeting for us to talk about and decide what to do about King Alexus. They were afraid he would come for me again. 

My mom didn’t join us, she was still avoiding dad. She knows she has to talk to him, confront him soon or later. But apparently, she prefers to do it later. I understand her, she is emotionally exhausted and besides all of that, there is what happened to Liv and me lately. Mom is focusing on us now, to support us and being the extraordinary mom, she has always been. 

“There is something we can try…” Liv started, with a sly smile. That must be one of her ‘brilliant’ plans. 

“What?” I asked Liv, half curious and half worried.  

She turned to Elric, “Remember when you reached the Goddess to try to disentangle my mate bonds and break only one of them?”

“Of course, Love. The Goddess said vaguely that it isn’t impossible.”

“We could break her bond with Alexus…” Richard muttered as the realization hit him. 

I was quite surprised; I didn’t know it was possible. But the Goddess could do almost everything. She can take what She gives; and as She is the one who creates the bonds in the first place, She could easily take it back. 

“The Goddess would surely agree, he is a freaking rapist,” Liv added. 

“Although, I believe that is only possible to disentangle the bonds once they are solidified, thus after marking and mating,” Elric explained. 

Richard growled and his eyes were shining dangerously, I know how he hated the idea of Alexus getting any close to me, let alone mating and marking me. I squeezed his hand to comfort him and his wolf. I didn’t like the idea either. In fact, it made a panicking shiver snake down my spine. But if it was the only way for me to become one with Valentin and become one with Richard, I would do it.

“When did it happen? When did Elric reach the Goddess?” Avalon asked Liv.

“Very long ago.” She answered vaguely.

“Was it about Laius?” He insisted as he took her face in his hands gently, making her look at him. 

“No…it was about you….” Liv said without flinching, even though I could see she didn’t want to say those words. She doesn’t need even more stress. 

Avalon almost jumped off of the sofa and stood in front of my sister, I could feel the power and rage rolling off of him, my eyes flashed open.

“Why didn’t you tell me before?” he looked Liv dead in the eyes and took her hand in his. I could notice that he was making a great effort to sound as calm as possible.

“Because he only suggested it, and then talked to the Goddess. But I’ve never agreed with it, so it wasn’t important.” She explained. 

I could see that he was a little bit calmer. He cupped her face and stroke it before he turned to Elric. He wasn’t calmer anymore. 

He punched Elric straight in the face as he lashed out, “You tried to take her away from me your f*****g bastard! And you asked Her for help? You asked my…” Avalon stopped speaking abruptly.

Oh, Goddess! Elric stood up, facing Avalon. His normally warm and calm eyes were holding a threat. I gulped hard before I felt Valentin pulling me protectively towards his chest and Richard took a defensive instance in front of me. 

“That was what you earned after the poor way you treated Liv in the beginning!” Elric hissed back. 

Liv stood up, she was about to intervene and probably even jump between the two enraged Kings, when dad held her tightly. 

“Let me go!” she wriggled and struggled to set herself free.

“No, you can’t do it. You could hurt yourself. Don’t be imprudent!” he said firmly, but she didn’t stop struggling. 

“Liv, please… calm down.” I tried to soothe her. I wanted to go closer to her, but my own very protective mates didn’t let me move. 

Elric also punched Avalon, “So long I want to do it!” he muttered. 

Avalon tried to punch him back, but he dodged; he was super-fast. 

“Stop this now!” Liv yelled. 

They both stopped in their track and gazed at Liv; her face and neck were very flushed, and she looked quite edgy. 

“She has already been through too much! Don’t give her more stress. Please.” I added looking at her mates. They turned their eyes to me. 

Elric shook his head, guilt was clear in his facial expression. He took Liv’s hands in his as my father put her down. 

Elric gazed at her with a soft look, “I’m sorry my Love.” 

Avalon came towards her too, rubbing the back of his neck restlessly, “Are you alright baby?” he asked in a soft and tender way. 

Their expression, demeanour, and even their voices changed when they looked and talked to her. They weren’t two madden lions anymore. 

“I will be if you stop this s**t show. I have no room in my mind to deal with your fights now. So, try and be civil. Or at least pretend to be it well.” She scolded them. 

“It won’t happen again baby… at least not anytime soon,” Avalon uttered as he gave Elric a nasty stare. 

Elric ignored Avalon’s unveiled threat. He sat down once again on the couch and placed Liv gently onto his lap, making Avalon sneer and narrow his eyes at him. Liv rolled her eyes exasperated and stretched her hand for Avalon to hold. He did it, taking a seat next to her. 

She sighed deeply and gave me a look, ‘as to say how hard it is to have mateS’. I nodded at her, finishing our silent conversation. 

Richard cleared his throat, attracting everyone’s attention, “I’ll try and reach to the Goddess.”

“Liv, have you thought about your bond with Laius...” my father started asking.

“What? No! NEVER!” Liv stated decisively, not even letting him finish his sentence. 

“But sweetheart, you are suffering from the separation…” my dad tried to reason. 

“It doesn’t matter! NO!” my sister repeated with even more determination. 

I know she loves him too much; she could even choose to be separated from him because of the circumstances. But she would rather suffer all the pain and misery than break her bond with him. Liv knows how much he needs this bond to not be devoured by his inner darkness and emptiness. And I know she won’t admit it right now, but she also needs him and their connection.

Probably my mates also need to solidify our bonds to ease and shrink their own inner sorrow, apathy, and violence; as all the supernatural beings, especially the old and powerful ones do. I couldn’t make them wait much longer. 

The mate bond is the only antidote against the death, darkness, and despair that grow on supernatural beings after a very long life. Not having a mate for too long or breaking the bond could turn one mad, as it even started happening with Avalon. We need the other half of our souls, or HALVES, to go through eternity. 

Sometimes I wonder if Liv and I have more than one mate because we are hybrids. We have never heard about someone having more than one mate, even finding this ONE mate was most of the times ‘Mission Impossible,’ and we also haven’t ever heard about Hybrids. My sister and I were the only ones, or the first ones, since the baby (or babies) she is carrying will be hybrid too, and maybe even tribrid. 

Hopefully, we will have more than one little hybrid around in the next few months. 

“Her bond with Laius is too strong. Even if the Goddess agreed on breaking it, my Liv would likely not survive.” Elric said in an uneasy and sorrowful way as if only saying those words pained him. I’m sure it did. Avalon growled at it too, he would have made a good wolf. 

“If the bond is broken or even worse if anything happens to Liv, I’m quite sure Laius would destroy the 6 Realms. She is the only thing that keeps him from being a merciless monster.” Valentin added. 

I swallowed hard at it, luckily, I was only familiar with his soft side. I was one of the only people who could see it, tho. Perks of being the little sister of his beloved Queen. I also know that even when he did what he did, he didn’t mean me any harm. He is only an impulsive wracking ball, which can be very dangerous for the people around him. 

“If anything happens to her, I would myself help him to obliterate everything,” Avalon said edgily. 

I knew he would do it; he was also far from the best version of himself without my sister. They need and love her so much. It’s not like in my case, my mates were doing fine without me, Valentin even had some kind of Queen. I heard that Richard was quite aloof, but he wasn’t miserable without me, not that I know about it.

“But nothing will happen to her. Ever.” Elric guaranteed, caressing her hair and looking at her.

I followed his eyes and realised she was asleep. 

I heard that some pregnant females were always tired and could fall asleep anywhere / in any situation; especially if they are under a lot of stress. It’s like a body mechanism to calm them down. That is why my talkative sister was so silent, she was dreaming. 

I don’t know for sure if I’m relieved by the fact that my bond with Alexus could be broken or not. My rational side says that it would be the solution, but something inside me hesitates (maybe it’s the bond speaking). However, I should break the bond, if I have a chance. 

That would be the best for everyone. Even for King Alexus, it is crystal clear that he doesn’t want a mate, that he doesn’t want me at all. He thinks that I am pathetic and weak. 

But I know I’m not. 

~ * ~

Laius 

What if Sugar is carrying my child? Besides staying away from my everything, I’ll be away from my baby. 

I can’t do it. I can’t be like my parents. Like my father, who always ignored, neglected, and then abandoned me. 

My father. He left me to rule this Realm by myself when I was only 14. The single thing that mattered for him, for them, was to have an heir to occupy his throne in Hell. This way, he could join his beloved in the Olympus and didn’t have to spend half of the year apart from her anymore. Not that he or she cared about me before they left when they were in hell.

I must be a much better father than that.

I have to be a great father for her child, our child. But I’ve already failed them. 

I burned another field and watch as hellfire consumes the dry plants of Tartarus, leaving everything bare and bleak. How could be life here without her? When she is the only thing that makes me, and this Realm feel alive? When she’s everything. 

I have to burn more. I have to burn it all.

And Lelea… I hope she forgives me too. I was an i***t! 

“Laius.” I hear Lucius's dry voice and turn to look at him. “Come, sit, I’ve brought whiskey. As you used to say is better to be miserable when you aren’t sober.” 

I take one of the bottles of the best Hell whiskey from his hand and start to gulp it, as I sit down on the ground beside him. 

He doesn’t say anything. He knows I don’t want to talk.