“I love you, too. I really didn’t want to leave you, but I couldn’t bear to stay here any longer without being with you all the time, not just sometimes,” said Andorra.
“Will you be our mate? There’s no divorce in shape-shifter law. Mates are for life. We promise to love and cherish you and always to care for you,” said Kingston.
“We’ll still play dungeon games?” asked Andorra. Suddenly she didn’t want to give up everything. A lot of what they’d done together had been very good indeed, and she’d found the silence and solitude quite important in sorting out her own thoughts and wishes.
“Of course. But only ever with your consent.”
“I agree to mate you. I love you both.” And for the first time, she took the initiative and hugged and kissed them both. Four strong arms wrapped around her pulling her against two hard bodies. This was where she belonged. This was her home.
* * * *
Raleigh held his breath. He and Kingston had spent several hours setting this scene for their mating, and he was desperate for it to be a success. Raleigh knew no one would ever be as precious to him as Andorra, and the fact she’d agreed to mate them was almost a miracle after the way Kingston—they’d both—treated her.
Kingston checked the blindfold over Andorra’s eyes was tight, then unlocked the door of his apartment. Raleigh led her inside and closed the door. No lights were on but he had no trouble seeing ahead of them and stood Andorra in the right place.
“Wait here until I tell you to take the blindfold off,” ordered Kingston.
Raleigh let go of her and they both quickly did what needed to be done in the hallway, their one last-minute task.
Then they stood one each side of the open bedroom door.
“Take off the blindfold now,” said Kingston.
Raleigh held his breath as she pulled it off her head and stood blinking in the light of the dozens of tea candles he and Kingston had used to line the sides of the hallway. In the center of the corridor was a path of flower petals leading to them.
Once they knew she could see, they both stepped back out of the bedroom doorway and revealed the end of the flower petal trail. It went all the way to the bed, which was covered in rose petals and lined by more tea candles.
“Come and join us, to be our mate,” Raleigh and Kingston said together.
Andorra ran to them and threw herself into their arms. “It’s so beautiful. Thank you. Oh, I do love you both so much.”
“I will always love you, Andorra,” said Kingston.
“I love you with all my heart,” added Raleigh and they led her to the bed.
THE END