Chapter 3 - Lilas

I finally finish my book and return it to its set place before heading out to find Kor and Bel. The last time I saw them was this morning in the large downstairs room where I had woken up next to Bel against Kor's dragon form, the last place I had remembered being was in the library, so I had likely fallen asleep reading and one of them had brought me to bed later, likely Bel judging by our positions. After waking up I had headed upstairs to put on some clean clothes before returning to the library to finish my latest book.

As different as the three of us are we respect or have at least learnt to live with our differences so they knew by now that if they couldn't find me then I'm more than likely in my library. It still annoys them though if I miss meals or ignore them for too long because of reading or studying and will try to distract me for as long as possible. Kor had tried once to ban me from the library but quickly learnt that was a very bad idea which has never been repeated.

My search for my mates starts as usual in our shared bedroom located just down the hall from my library. We do all have our own bedrooms for personal use but preferred to stay together, technically the library started out as my room but was quickly so overrun by books that library is the better description. Entering the bedroom, I'm not surprised to find Kor and Bel kissing on the bed, Kor has Bel pinned to the mattress and is clearly in charge of the kiss as usual.

Being a dragon Kor had very dominant instincts especially around the two of us, while he does collect traditional treasure he still considers Bel and I to be his most important treasures. It's sweet to the two of us but is very dangerous for anyone who hurts us, the last time it happened an arrogant young human man had tripped me up and Kor's response was to break the leg he used to trip me. At least most of the time his protective instincts come out in who's in charge while kissing or in bed which neither of us mind.

"I see you two are having fun." I say sitting at the top of the bed near their heads. They break apart Bel with a massive grin on his face while Kor has his normal non-expression on but having known him for so long I can tell that he's just as happy. Kor rolls off Bel onto his side leaving Bel in the middle of us.

"Finished your book then Li my love. Please say we get your attention now." Bel asks pulling my hand onto his head wanting me to stroke his hair which I complied with.

"Yes all finished. And you can always have my attention, just ask." I gently scratch at his scalp getting a gentle purr from him. Bel loves physical affection the most out of all of us something that I struggle with so something simple like this works for both of us.

"I know but you were really enjoying it. Kor kept me really occupied so you could finish anyway." A cheeky smirk covered Bel's face meaning that they had spent the morning having sex, perhaps Bel's favourite activity which Kor is more than happy to indulge him in. "It's been a lot of fun; we should have a morning like this again soon. Next time all three of us spending all morning together just enjoying each other. Maybe even all day, you know like we've done before?" His cheeky smirk seemed to grow as he no doubt remembered the times we've spent all day in bed and the non-stop sex. Kor let out a grunt of agreement all for the idea of a morning or day having sex, it always appealed to his instincts as a way to reaffirm our bond and his claim on us.

"Yes, sometime soon I only have one new book left that I urgently want to read. Thank you both for understanding, I love you." I lean over kissing first Bel then lean across to kiss Kor. Their acceptance of my desire to read and gain knowledge, that can often overcome everything even intimacy with them at times, it never fails to make me fall more in love with them which doesn't seem possible, but it somehow happens every time.

We cuddle for a bit longer before getting up in search of food, for me and Kor at least while Bel sips on some donated blood. Sitting down we eat in a comfortable silence that is suddenly broken by a loud beeping tone echoing through the castle. We all freeze never thinking that we would be hearing that alarm, the one set upon the necklace containing the last Stone that matched ours.

Rushing upstairs Kor manages to track down the crystal that I had linked in the spell to the necklace, we had given the necklace to the temple a thousand years ago so had lost track of the crystal over the years but with his enhanced senses it doesn't take Kor long to find the crystal and shut down the alarm. We had searched for centuries after finding Bel for our final mate before losing hope and giving the necklace to the temple for safekeeping, leaving instructions for them to follow along with the spell I cast which would not only alert us but also compel whoever chose the Stone to wait for us, using Kor's very commanding voice.

"Shouldn't we have heard from the temple?" asks Bel, it was part of our instructions when we gave them the Stone that if it was ever claimed they should alert us immediately even though the spell would already have done so. Kor nods even with his enhanced senses it has taken us enough time to find the crystal that we should have received a message from the temple by now.

"Something must have gone wrong. We would have heard if everything was fine." I add my mind already filling with possibilities from the Stone having been damaged to our mate having run away despite the spell.

Sharing a look and without needing another word, we rush outside so that Kor can shift to his dragon form for a quick flight to Bellit which at Kor's top speed would only be a few hours at most. Bel helps me up onto Kor's back before climbing up behind me taking hold of my waist, his vampire strength keeping us anchored onto Kor as he takes off into the sky at top speed. We have flown on Kor before but never as fast as this, nothing had ever been as urgent as the discovery of our final mate.

Just a few hours later Kor lands in courtyard in front of the temple at Bellit giving Bel and I time to climb off his back before shifting to human form. Together we walk to the doors where a trembling Caretaker steps forward to greet us, so they knew were aware we were coming and judging by this young elf's fear of us something has gone wrong.

"It seems our mate has been found. Is that true, Caretaker?" I ask already knowing the answer but wanting his confirmation and to hopefully gain some insight into what has happened today. On either side of me I could feel the anger radiating from my mates, they had always been quick to anger and rarely find a reason to hold back.

"Y-yes, m-my L-lords." The Caretaker stutters out, clearly a young elf new to this position who never should have been sent out to greet us, "S-she is inside. P-please f-follow m-me." We begin following him inside the temple, so our final mate is female and has probably just come of age attending her first ceremony. That had been one of our instructions to the temple, that anyone coming of age must have their first ceremony in this temple all in the hopes of finding our mate which has finally paid off.

We have visited the temple over the years checking on the necklace, so we know the layout of the temple very well and we are being led to the Head Caretaker's office. Perhaps we have been overly paranoid, and nothing is wrong with our mate, and she is waiting for us in the office. This route to the office takes us past the room where they had been displaying the necklace since we gave it to them. Looking into the room I'm shocked to see a tiny human girl lying unconscious on the floor near the empty stand the necklace is usually on, instead it is being held tightly in the hand of the girl. Our mate.

All three of us stop, our rage building to unimaginable heights, Kor steps ahead more scales appearing on his skin than usual a sure sign of him losing control. "Why?" he asks his voice deep and dangerous causing the Caretaker to turn around immediately and bump into Kor who is glaring at him, the only one available to point our anger towards.

"W-why w-what?"

"He means why is our fragile little human mate unconscious on the floor rather than conscious and comfortable?" Bel moves forward to Kor's side grinning at the Caretaker in the way he usually plays with his food. Despite drinking donated blood most of the time Bel does get the urge to hunt every so often and will hunt down murderers and other criminals, tormenting them before finally draining them dry.

"I'm s-so s-sorry, my L-lords." The young Caretaker bows to us as though that will help when the offence to our mate is this serious, "We have been careless with your mate. Please forgive me!" So, it seems this Caretaker is directly involved in this treatment of our long-awaited mate. There will be no forgiveness for any of them, but revenge can wait.

"Kor, Bel let's not ruin today with bloodshed. It'll scare our little mate; we should take her home where we can for her properly." I speak up reminding them that the care of this tiny human is more important right now than tearing apart this temple or the Caretaker.

"Very well, my love." Bel pouts but takes Kor's arm to get him into the room where they begin bickering. "I'll carry her out."

"No." Kor didn't bother with more words, he never did if one will do.

"I promise never to try cooking ever again. Please let me carry her." He tries to bargain even though he is already banned after nearly burning down the entire castle last time he tried.

"No, already banned."

"You can't Kor, you've got to fly back." Bel is making sense for once.

"…No." Despite Bel being right for once Kor is not giving in at all. On and on they go like little children arguing over a toy rather creatures both over a thousand years old.

Needing to go and end my mate's argument before it escalates to one of them sulking over a simple matter for month, or a year if Bel loses, I turn to the Caretaker for the last time. "Be grateful we have waited over a thousand years for this day otherwise I would have let Kor rip your head off. And that would have been mercy compared to letting Bel play with you. You should probably still move far away from here; we have very long memories, and my mates get bored very easily. Who knows if they may decide to make a gift of you to our little mate in the future?" Having set up what could be a fun game later for my mates if needed I head inside to end the argument.

"We need to be going soon. Kor you can carry her out but give her to Bel when we get outside, he's right after all you need to shift and then you will be carrying all of us." Apparently happy with my solution Kor bends down and picks her up allowing us to get our first proper look at our final mate. It is clear she is human, not that it matters she will share our lifespan now. She has red hair which is very rare in this country, pale skin and a delicate face. Secure in Kor's arms we head outside ready to return home.

As we head out I notice Kor frowning and deeply bothered by something. "What's wrong?" I ask, surely nothing else could go wrong today.

"Too light." He grunts, looking beyond how beautiful our little mate is she's clearly malnourished and dressed in old threadbare clothes. No doubt Kor is already planning on lots of hunting and meals to get her to gain weight, his instincts driving him to provide for her.

"It'll be okay. She has us now." Bel adds being serious which is unusual for him, but he has always been serious about how he feels about his mates. I nod, yes everything will be fine now that we have each other.