10

Arion POV

Hope led us to our new room and said goodbye to us at the door. I felt at a loss with having to let go of her hand but I also knew I had to so that Alette and I could speak about what we are will to tell Alaric. I know we wouldn't be keeping anything from Hope. Alette and I will tell her everything she is my mate after all. 

Alette turns around after we enter our room and we begin our silent conversation to avoid eavesdroppers.

"Arion we need to figure out what all we are willing to share with everyone but Hope. She is family and I know you don't want to keep anything from her. However I don't trust anyone else with all of our information just yet." 

"Your right Alette. I think we can tell Alaric and the rest of the school that we are part Dryad and Phoenix but keep the rest to ourselves and Hope."

Alette nodded at that and our silent conversation ended. With a slight sigh Alette said, "I don't like how devoid of nature this room is. Will you help me with some remodeling brother?" I laughed and said, "Of course I will sister. What do you want to do with our new room?" 

Alette waved her had and a living plant wall grew between the two beds that were already placed in the room. Getting the idea of what she was imagining I moved my bed around so the head of the bed was against the new plant wall and begun to weave my own magic. I lined the walls with tree bark and raised the bed on a wooden platform. The colors I used were earthy greens and browns. Ivies trailed across the walls and ceiling, while the bedding is a deep forest green color.

Alette's side had the walls covered in plants and flowers with a fresh and bright feel. The live plant wall created a cozy reading nook perfect for her to relax, with soft shapes and a canopy overhead. The bed which has a sage green comforter on it with so many pillows I didn't even think she would fit on the bed anymore. 

With the redesign done I looked to my sister and smiled. I was happy with our new room and I could tell that she was as well. Alette just smiled and said, "We should ask Hope to paint us a picture or two to put up in here." I smiled at how sweet my sister was and laughed at her but said, "I think that is a wonderful idea Lette."

Hope POV

I had just left the twins at there door when MG showed up at my room and told me that Alaric wanted me to keep an ear out for anything the twins might say. He wanted to know anything that could be important information. I scoffed at the message I trust Alaric but he just has a way of getting under my skin sometimes especially when it comes to the people that I trust or love.

Take my Dad for example he always tells me that I don't have to be just like my father. I know my Dad had issues, you don't grow up with a family like ours and not come out with some issues. However, he changed when he had me and Alaric never took the chance to trust and learn about my Dad after he changed. He was a good Dad so I don't appreciate all the mean comments about him. 

I will not be Alaric's little spy I'm already his soldier I wont spy on my new friends for him. I like Alette and Arion I feel like I can trust them. I just hope that they won't ever lie to me that would break me. Emma was encouraging me to make a friend so I am hoping that Arion and Alette can be my new friends. I need something good in my life especially after Landon just left. 

At this point my inner monologue had gone on for about twenty minutes or so when I heard noise coming from Arion and Alette's room. It was like the walls were moving or growing. After about another fifteen minutes the noises stopped and I heard Alette say something about me painting some pictures for them to put up in their room and Arion just laughed and agreed with her. The thought of making something for my new friends made me happy so I decided to set up my paints and get to work with having to be asked formally. After getting everything set up I realized I should get a look at their room so I could paint something that would match it. With that thought I was up and out the door.

I knocked on their door and Alette answered with a smile. I gasped at the sight of their room it was so pretty, it was like nature itself grew the furniture, and the walls were alive with plants. It was gorgeous there was even a cozy reading nook, I knew what to paint in the next moment Alette pulled me into the room.

Arion grabbed my free hand and they both pulled me to sit in the reading nook. Alette looked me in the eyes and said, "We know Alaric wants to know about us." I began to panic thoughts of them being mad at me, leaving me, hating me, all running though my head. Before I could truly panic though Arion pulled me into a hug it was a strong hug but also gentle.

He kissed the top of my head and said, "Calm, it's ok we aren't mad with you. We want to tell you about us but only you. You can share what we have agreed upon with the others, but we would appreciate it if you didn't share everything we tell you with the others. We trust you Hope the others not so much just yet, our trust in them will take time but we have a bond with you already so we are trusting you with all our information."

Arion POV

I felt Hope relax in my arms slightly and sighed as I thought, 'she must be so afraid of being abandoned.' Alette took a breath and said, "So you know we are part dryad and phoenix but what we haven't told anyone else is that our mother was a phoenix, dark fae hybrid so I guess you could say that we are tribrid's like you but just different species."

Hope was frozen in shock for a few seconds and said, "So what your saying is that you are like me but also different in a way." 

I looked down at Hope still wrapped in my arms and said, "Yes, we know what it's like to be different. It wasn't easy for us growing up, not to mention the whole stuck as trees thing to keep us safe from the big bad muck man." 

Hope looked up at me from where I had pulled her into my arms and smiled sadly at me. My heart almost broke seeing her sad smile. We sat there for awhile answering her questions about our past and what being stuck as a tree was like. Hope asked us questions from the mundane like favorite color, music, movies and food to the more complicated about our family and how we coped without our parents around. Finally after about two hours she said, "Now that I know more about you two, would you mind telling me more about your powers?"

Alette and I smiled at her and said, "We don't mind." In sink of course, this caused a round of giggles from the girls. I just smiled at them knowing that they were both happy in the moment and that's all I will ever want for them, to be happy and safe. 

I opened my arms to release Hope so I could face her and she pouted a little so I changed my mind. I kept my arm around her waist but adjusted so I was next to her with Alette on her other side. I then looked into her eyes and said, "We have quite a few gifts so you best get comfortable this might take a while." To this Hope just nodded but said nothing.

Alette was the one who began and said, "Well mother is a dark fae of phoenix decent that means that we have a phoenix ancestor but all we get from their lineage is rebirth through flames, spirit healing through song, healing tears and fire resistance. From our dark fae side we get shapeshifting, telekinesis, clorokinesis, atomkinesis, teleportation, healing, energy manipulation, superhuman strength, durability, hypnosis, flight, resurrection and immortality. I know it's a lot and some overlaps with our phoenix lineage but mama said that they would meld and become stronger than a singular species ability. Last but not least our dryad side the one we use most and are most familiar with we have mastered pretty much all of our gifts for this side due to us being stuck as tree dryads for a good century or three, give or take a decade. As dryads we can commune with nature due to being tree spirits of sorts ourselves. We again have clorokinesis, healing touch, fire manipulation, wood manipulation, elemental magic and telepathy. Arion and I also each have a special gift the is not species related as far as we can tell. Arion can contract and summon those contracted animals to him. while I have the ability to see bonds but I have already told you that."

Hope looked at us in awe but said, "And here I thought I could do a lot as a witch, wolf, vampire tribrid." It took all of two seconds for us all to start laughing at her comment but I was glad she could joke about it with us.

'My mate is awesome!' I said to my sister in her mind and she just nodded while smiling at Hope. I tightened my hold on her and kissed the top of her head it is getting harder to keep from wanting to hold her and love on her as the bond grows stronger with the more we share with one another. I can tell Alette's bond with her is growing stronger as well. 

Hope smiles up at me and says, "Why do I feel so at ease with your arms around me? I am never at ease around people or with them touching me but with you it's different." 

Alette sighs but says, "I can answer that. I usually don't tell anyone about romantic bonds because I like to watch their relationships unfold the natural way, but I have a feeling you need to know due to the strangeness of your bonds Hope. You and Arion have a true mate bond which means your are each others soul mate. You also have a fake mate bond with someone else, but it is bad for you because it was trying to influence you to put your own life at risk to save the fake mate. However, when you met Arion and accepted his advances, examples being his small touches and kisses to your head the fake mate bond became strained and is on the verge of collapse. Which is a good thing if your asking for my opinion." 

Hope looked at me and asked, "Did you know about this?" 

I didn't want to lie to her so I nodded and said, "Yes Alette and I have no secrets so she told me. I want you to know we planned on telling you everything but it's not exactly something you tell someone during your first conversation. I wanted to get to know you and for you to know me before we told you. I will never lie to you or hide things from you without a reason. I just wanted you to know and want me without the knowledge that I am your mate hanging in the air pressuring you."

With that out of the way I waited for her response she sat for around five minutes and it was the longest five minutes in my life. The only thing that was keeping me from totally losing it was that Hope didn't pull away from me and allowed me to continue to hold her in my arms as she thought. When she finally spoke I felt myself tense but her words sent a wave of relief though me as she looked into my eyes and said, "I hate being lied to but I suppose this wasn't a lie as you and Alette told me as soon as you were comfortable enough with me, so I appreciate that. I'm not going to get mad at you guys this time but from this point forward I want no more secrets being kept from me. All new information will be shared equally between the three of us. Do I make myself clear?"

Alette and I laughed but said, ""Crystal"" This caused Hope to smile and say, "I'm trusting you two don't hurt me please, I couldn't take it if you did."

Alette hugged Hope around her shoulders as I squeezed her hip while placing a chaste kiss to the top of her head and we said ""Wouldn't dream of it.""