Chapter 172 Chapter 171

Chapter 172 Chapter 171
Aloria.

I nod, walking towards him before sinking into the space next to him, reaching for a slice of bread and cheese. He helps me pour out a glass of fruit wine. We sit quietly for a moment, the crackle of the fireplace the only thing filling the silence.

Finally, Kairos breaks it. He clears his throat, keeping his gaze pinned on me as he starts to speak.

"You know what the marking night entails, right?"

My heart skips a beat at those words. I give a slow nod, my hands tightening around the glass of wine I have with me.

"Yes, I do." Then, with a sad smile as memories surface, I add, "I've done it enough times to know how it plays out."

Kairos' brows furrow at my statement. Beside me, Draven stiffens.

"What do you mean?" Kairos asks.

"With Zevran..." I say with a sigh. His expression darkens as realization dawns on him. "We tried the marking night so many times, but the mark never held."

"Oh..." Draven groans, his voice trailing off.

Still reminiscing, I continue.

"It didn't matter how many times he marked me, the bond never snapped into place. Instead of letting me go, he just became more obsessed with bonding me to him... hence the torture methods."

I let out a sigh, shaking my head as if it could somehow dislodge the memories.

"Though, thinking about it in hindsight, I see why. My succubus nature must have played a part in it, even if I hadn't realized it back then."

A heavy silence settles over the room afterward. I take another swallow of my wine, using the action to ground myself in this room, with the alphas.

Eventually, they both shift. Kairos holds my gaze while Draven wraps his hands around my shoulders.

"Well, that won't be happening with us. The mark will hold."

"Okay..." I say, nodding.

"Well, we were going to explain it to you, but it looks like you already have an idea about it," Draven says, a wry smile on his face.

I give them a bashful smile.

"Still, explain. I would like to know what the marking night would look like from your point of view."

At my suggestion, the atmosphere in the room shifts. The alphas seem to lean even closer, their gazes fixed on me.

"Just like we mentioned earlier, we'll be in rut during that night... so it might get rather... rough. But aside from that, we'll also be taking you at the same time..."

"...and going into a half-shift to mark and knot with you," Draven finishes.

My eyes are as huge as saucers when they finally finish their explanation.

"W-what?!" I stammer, still in disbelief.

"Yes..." Kairos confirms with a nod.

I turn to Draven instantly, who immediately raises his hand, reaching for me.

"Trust me, I know it all sounds overwhelming, but it's something you'll come to love. You might even get obsessed with it. It's the only way we've found to help quell the rut quickly. Otherwise, it might go on for the entire night and even into the morning, depending on how severe it gets."

"Besides... you'll be marking us too. It's not a one-sided thing," Kairos says, his voice calm, but his gaze carries an intensity that wasn't there before. "With the knot, we'll have to stay with you for a while, so we might have to lie tangled up together."

I take in a deep, shuddering breath, trying to steady my already frazzled nerves.

"What you just said indeed does sound nerve-wracking, but because it's with the both of you, I'm also feeling excited."

With a tiny, bashful smile, I look away from them, playing with my fingers.

"I can't wait," I whisper.

"Good," Kairos says, wearing a knowing smile on his face. "We knew you wouldn't..." he growls, his deep voice sending tremors down my spine.

I swallow tightly, feeling my heart rattle against my ribcage.

Draven's expression turns tender as he nudges me again.

"That's enough conversation for the day. We've had a long one. You should go get some rest. You'll need it more than you realize," he murmurs, the subtext beneath those words causing my cheeks to burn even hotter.

I press my thighs together but don't stand up just yet.

"What about you? Don't you need to get some rest too? We all had a long day."

"Don't worry about us. We'll join you soon. We just want to stay up and talk some more. Come on, get to bed."

I nod, rise to my feet, and finally make my way into the bedroom.

The bed sits at the center of the room, huge and fitted with smooth silk, looking soft and inviting. A yawn slips from my mouth, the exhaustion of the day finally weighing me down.

I drag my tired legs to the bed, slip under the covers, and rest against the pillows, gazing at the ceiling for a bit while my eyes grow heavy.

Letting out another heavy yawn, I turn onto my side, getting ready to sleep.

Just as I'm about to drift off, I hear the alphas come into the room, both of them joining me in bed. I snuggle closer to them, feeling my heart rate settle, a strange sense of peace washing over me as their heat and scent surround me.

Closing my eyes, I drift into a much-needed sleep.
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The entirety of the next day is spent deepening our relationship. We all sleep in, waking only when the sun is high in the sky, shining brightly into the room. When we finally step out of bed, it's to have a quick breakfast and then go for a walk in the forest.

The surrounding trees, moss, and ferns are such an interesting sight, a strong contrast to the polished opulence of the manor. The smell of the forest is just as invigorating, and I find myself lingering, wanting to spend more time outside.

When we finally return to the cottage, we cook together, laugh, and tell each other stories. In that small, intimate space, if only for a few hours, we are able to shed the masks we wear every day to survive the world and just be. It easily becomes one of the most special times of my life.

For a moment, I wish this day could last forever.