Bathtub

Ayla POV

Breakfast was great, there was a wide variety of meats and also chocolate sweets, which can be quite strange for a normal breakfast... But the point is that this must be my new normal, eating a lot of meat. Chocolate is just one of my favorite sweets, and it gives me a lot of energy too.

I laughed quietly, remembering hearing things in the pack about how when a woman is pregnant, she usually has these strange cravings.

Soren and Victor looked at me curiously.

"Nothing, I'm just happy to be here," I answered half-truthfully, not wanting to spoil this moment by thinking about my infertility.

I know the two of them will know it's not just that, but I hope they don't ask me any questions.

"Right." Soren stood up and took my hand. "Victor will move the table and leave the trolley outside..." He brought my hand to his lips. "I'm going to prepare the bath for you and I want you to take as long as you like until you think you're ready to get out."

We started walking towards the bathroom.

"Then you'll find the clothes you need to wear on the counter," Victor spoke behind my back, right next to my ear, making me shiver.

I ran my tongue around my lips, anxious about what was to come. I know how Soren and Strïth behave, and I've only been with Victor once, so I have no idea what's going to happen.

Soren smiled mischievously and moved a little closer, giving me a very light kiss on the left corner of my lips, leaving me with a feeling of wanting more, but he pulled away.

I sighed and started walking alongside him towards the bathroom as I heard the sound of dishes being cleared away. My heart is racing, after all, this is something I want, and I'm sure it will be wonderful.

Soren led me straight to the bathtub, turned on the tap to let it fill, and then turned to me. My eyes didn't leave his as his hands came up to my shoulders, and he ran his index finger along the strap, making a slight up-and-down motion, a very light caress.

"Soren..." I whispered, my voice hoarse.

I could feel my body reacting, my nipples hardening, but my mate just kept smiling.

"That's my name," Soren replied.

He pushed the straps down my shoulders, making them slide slowly off. I open my lips to breathe better because I want to scream for him to take me right here, right now.

"As always, beautiful," Soren whispered.

I put my hands up to grab his blouse, but Soren was quicker and grabbed my wrists.

"Bath... Relax and then we can play." My mate said seriously.

I took a deep breath to control myself, and Soren then helped me into the water and stepped away to get the bath salts.

I closed my eyes, feeling the warm water heat my body and make me relax. I only opened my eyes when I felt Soren come back and start pouring the salts. They smell floral but with a hint of citrus.

"Ayla..." Soren knelt beside the tub and stroked my face lovingly. "You need to relax and rest... I want today to work out, but neither Victor nor I are going to risk your well-being."

I nodded; I knew we'd already discussed this.

"I want you to be sure that you're okay, that you can do this." Soren then placed a light kiss on my forehead. "Enjoy your bath. If you want to take a nap, shake this little bell, and Victor or I will come and get you."

Soren showed me a very small bell, like the ones on cat collars, and then ran his hand lightly over the bubbles that had been created.

"It won't be good if you sleep in the bath. All right?" Soren added.

"I understand, my love. I'll keep an eye on it." I agreed and smiled.

Soren then gave my head one last pat and left the bathroom. I closed my eyes and put my hand on my stomach. Something I hadn't thought about yet was how my being sterile would affect them.

Soren and Victor have known this since the beginning, so much so that my entering Heat was something completely atypical, something to force me to be marked and make Soren stronger. The Necromancers were taking up too much space and I couldn't go on like this.

I smiled tiredly, a little ironically, in a way, the Gods are using me to make things happen according to their commandments... But it's very strange, after all, I've never been that devoted to them, I've never had any reason to be.

There are good and bad things about all this... Good because Soren has been patient and has taught me to be a free person, and bad because I know that in parts, our connection can be considered false. Depending on your point of view. After all, it was the Gods who chose Soren to be my mate.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and gave a startled yelp.

"Hey, it's me." Victor's voice sounded. "You were immersed in thought and your aura is fluctuating..."

My mate explained, I felt him on my back, probably kneeling by the bathtub, and he began to massage my shoulders.

"Do you want to share what it is? It's got you worried." His voice is soft and gentle.

"I'm sorry... I..." I lowered my head.

I felt ashamed, as they had asked me to relax, but my mind had taken me to complicated places.

"My love... Don't apologize." Victor squeezed a muscle that made me groan in pain. "You're too tense, that's not good. I'm here for you... Your worries are mine too."

"I was thinking about how the Gods use us..." I replied and sighed.

"Yes, they do..." Victor laughed quietly. "But They also give us choices. The Moiras let me choose what I wanted. I know the consequences of my actions and that I'll have to deal with them in the future."

I stayed quiet, letting Victor speak, paying attention to his words.

"I could be happy either way... But in my soul, I know that my real happiness lies with you. I would never leave you and Soren behind." Victor slid his hands down a little, continuing the massage. "You did something and the Gods accepted your decision..."

"Split the bond." I said, a little more relieved.

"Exactly... And I chose to accept that and give myself completely to you." Victor moved his hands away, and I quickly felt him start to wash my hair. "So, the Gods have their ways, but that doesn't mean we're free to make our own decisions."

"That's why there's the rejection ritual, isn't it?" I asked, sighing as Victor rubbed my hair.

"That's right! Vampires don't usually have it... In rare cases, it happens among our race, but it's not something futile or common." Victor then poured some water and I closed my eyes.

"Soren explained, because it's very difficult for vampires to find their fated mates, so there's no rejection ritual." I said as soon as the water had drained and I wiped my face.

"Exactly, but it's not impossible to reject another. It can be done, and Soren and I are the ones who can do it. It's part of the powers we've acquired over the years." Victor then stood up.

I was surprised by this revelation.

"If you wanted it, really wanted it and asked for it. Soren would have done the rejection ritual with you... If that had made you happy." Victor revealed.

I turned my head to look at him, completely surprised.

"Soren would give up everything if it made you happy." Victor smiled. "Me too..."

"So if one day I want to run away to the hills and live a simple peasant life, will you run away with me?" I asked, giving an amused laugh.

"Yes, of course. You'll be the most beautiful peasant there is." Victor replied, smiling.

"Thank you." I thanked him.

"Now finish your bath and come find us." Victor said and winked.

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