Chapter 19

Chapter 19
“What does that mean?”
Kalani grinned at him. “It means that we have been sitting here waiting for you for three days, and in that envelope sitting in front of Sasha is the only help we will be giving you.”
“These are our mates, Aunt Sasha and Aunt Kalani. Don’t you want us to find them?”
Sasha yawned. “I do, and I know you will, but I’m tired, Merlot. The trio was not meant to rule for a long time. I have no idea how your grandfather ruled for a thousand years. We are supposed to pass it on within 50 years. Our power diminishes slowly over time as our heirs age. Only our mates stay as powerful as they are because their power was earned without the trio.”
“What are you saying?”
“My siblings and I have all discussed giving up our roles. We are ready to relax with our mates. We have never had that time to just exist with our other halves. It’ll be nice to finally learn what Aiden’s favorite color and animal are.”
Merlot stared at her. “You don’t know what Uncle’s favorite color is?”
“I do, but that’s not the point. We want to see the world. We want to discover each other. We want to fly with no worries. Keeping the world from imploding is difficult.”
Merlot nodded in understanding. “You guys deserve that. If you’re going to pass being the trio on, we are asking the wrong people for help then.”
Sasha smiled as she touched the side of her nose. “Bingo.”
Margo eyed the envelope in front of Sasha. “What’s in there?”
Sasha picked it up, running her fingers over all of the edges before tapping it on the table. “This, m’dear, is where you will find Rika.” Merlot reached for it, and Sasha laid it flat on the table with her hand covering it. “And Keith’s second mate.”
“Excuse me?”
“We are not sure why he was chosen to have these specific four mates, but the Goddess has chosen him. There must be something more to Keith than any of us know. We will be happy to find out. Do let us know when you find out.”
Merlot nodded as he took the envelope from her. “Out of curiosity, do you know where the others are?”
“No. After Jay was here looking for Rika, we did a location spell, and the spell triggered a vision. We all love Rika, so it was easy to zero in on her using the toothbrush she has here,” Sasha said.
“A word of caution, Merlot; when you get Rika back, she has already been injected, as has the girl she’s with.”
Merlot glanced down at the tendrils that ran up his arm, connecting him to Margo, before meeting Kalani’s eyes. “Jay has loved her forever, Aunt Kalani. It won’t matter what she is now. It won’t matter what any of them are, as long as they’re alive.”
“I know, because all of you are great kids. Emily and Rose already know that they are helping you. Good luck, Merlot. I hope you find them all quickly,” Sasha said as she and Kalani got up to hug Margo. “Welcome to the family. You are absolutely stunning.”
“Thank you,” she whispered shyly, hiding her face in Merlot’s shoulder.
“When this is all over, we look forward to getting to know you.”
Margo beamed. “Me, too.”
“Emily is already waiting for you at Locust. Goddess speed.”
Merlot handed Margo the envelope before scooping her up. She instantly nuzzled into his chest, making his Aunts both go, “Awwwww.” He rolled his eyes as he opened a portal back to Locust, while he ordered his siblings to all come to Locust, too. As soon as he walked through, his wings came out to wrap around Margo to protect her from the bursts of fire flying around. He quickly carried her up to the porch, where Emily stood, before turning back to watch Rose’s and Aiden’s dragons walk around an iridescent snow white dragon.
“How’d Jackie’s first shift go?” he asked.
Emily leaned against the railing, watching the siblings continue to nuzzle into Jackie’s dragon. “Aiden Junior definitely has his mother’s power.”
“Uncle Aiden isn’t exactly weak.”
She turned to glare at him. “You mean like my father? The beta?”
Merlot rolled his eyes. “Do I need to remind you that my grandmother was an omega? You’re always so ready to think we’re talking down on you. Aunt Kalani isn’t weak. She is just the softer of the trio, just like you. Rose is ruthless, and Lukas Junior is even more ruthless. Your family line in the trio is meant to have a heart, more so than the other two. Your mother wants to move on from being the Secunda Regina. She deserves that. They all do. We are on your side, Em. When all of this is said and done and you’re taking over the title, we will all support you. We are family, and we see your potential, even when you don’t. And when you find your mate-”
She stiffened. “I don’t want a mate. The whole thing is so archaic.”
Merlot watched her rush into the castle, not saying anything. Margo leaned against him again, playing with his sleeve.
“Why doesn’t she want this?” She asked softly.
Merlot sighed. “6 years ago, she found her fated mate. They marked and mated with each other after dating for 6 months. She had fallen so deeply in love with him. One day, Emily was flying when he cheated on her. The pain took her down, and she fell into a lake. She almost drowned. When she finally made it back to the castle, he was screwing a maid on their bed. Needless to say, Leeki tore them both apart. She’s hated the thought of mates since.”
“Who’s Leeki?”
“Her dragon.”
“Well, he was a dick.”
He looked down at her in shock. “Did you just say dick?”
“I did! She’s so nice. How could anyone not want to be with her?”
“He told her that she was not strong enough. That her mother was the least trioish of the trio, and her father was just a lowly Beta.”
“See? He’s a dick!”
He chuckled as he lifted her up for a quick kiss. “That he is, baby.”
“Merlot! What did Aunt Sasha say?”
“That she is not helping us, but Rose and Emily will.”
Jay’s hands clenched at his side. “SHE OWES US! SHE’S FAMILY!”
Merlot raised his eyebrows at his brother. “1: She is not at our mercy. 2: She is family, yes, but she wants Rose to handle this because she wants to step down. 3: You’re lucky that we all know Rika is your mate and adore her. She told us that the Rika we get back won’t be the same. She has been injected.”
“I don’t care. I just want her back.”
“I know. We will have a meeting as soon as Keith gets here.”
“I’m not waiting,” he growled, making Margo quiver in his arms.
“Yes, you are, and if you keep frightening my mate, you won’t live to see yours.”
Jay took a step toward him. “If you taking your time ends up costing me my mate, yours will lose hers.”
“Rika is with Keith’s mate, Jay. Shouldn’t he be there when we go?”
“He has his mate.”
“He has more. Aunt Sasha said so.”
“Whatever,” he grumbled as he went back inside.
Merlot turned his attention back to where Rose was holding a trembling Jackie in her arms while Aiden Jr. circled them, protecting them from any potential threat that might possibly wish to cause his women harm. As Rose guided Jackie up the stairs, Aiden trailed behind them proudly, pausing when she did next to Merlot. She reached out to take Margo’s hand, smiling warmly at her.
“Hi. I’m Jackie. You must be Margo.” Margo nodded. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you.”
“I heard we need to have a meeting,” Rose said.
“Yeah. Heads up, Emily is upset.”
“I heard. If he wasn’t already dead, I’d kill him myself.”
“Let’s go. Keith and Gary just arrived. Let’s go break this news to them.”
They all walked in, and Merlot carefully put Margo down. He took the envelope from her before holding it out to Jay, who immediately tried to yank it away. Merlot held onto it as he turned to look at Keith and the short woman he held tightly against his side.
“Your second mate is with Rika, brother.”
His eyes widened. “What? I have two mates?!”
Merlot sighed. “Actually, Aunt Sasha says you have four.”
Keith looked down at Gary. “Are you sure? Gary is perfect.”
“We’ll see, but Aunt Sasha is never wrong.”
He let the envelope go so Jay could open it. He quickly read it silently before holding it up for the rest of the siblings to read it. Rika and Kennedy, Constellation Coven.
“Mate,” Keith growled, moving forward to grab the paper from Jay.
Merlot sighed. “Guess we’ll be heading to Constellation.”
Mayra stepped forward. “Actually, we need to go to Black Diamond Pack first. There are triplets there.”
Keith growled loudly. “No! We’re going to Constellation.”
Jay sighed. “Constellation won’t kill them. Black Diamond is known for using their prisoners as pack breeders. We should go rescue those ones first.”
“HOW CAN YOU BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE YOUR MATE FOR ANOTHER’S?”
Jay bared his teeth at Keith. “I’m not sacrificing anybody. I know what my mate is capable of. She will keep both her and Kennedy alive until we get there.”
Suddenly, the sound of heavy rain on the roof drew their attention.
“What the fuck? There was no rain in the air.”
“I-it’s me,” Gary whispered.
Keith spun back to her to see the tears pouring down her face. He wiped them away as he asked, “What’s wrong, baby?”
“Please don’t fight. This isn’t worth it. I knew you had more than one mate before I came. Now, you have more. I know you will take care of them, too. Please, don’t be angry. We will find her.”
He cupped her face, using his thumb to wipe her tears away.
“Why do you say this is your fault?”
She wrapped her fingers around his wrist. “Because after they injected me, I started being able to control water. That’s how Easel and I got away. I accidentally flooded the facility.”
Rose cleared her throat. “Okay, I feel like I’m going to be saying this a lot, but here it goes again. What in the Hell are you?”