Word Count: 1524

~Kiva

A week ago, I returned home. Two days ago, my mate sent me a letter.

Ark must have gotten into my room while I was gone. I'm not sure why he bothered, since he could have just told me he wanted to speak to my face, but clearly he is maintaining the ruse that he isn't working for the rebellion.

It all seems so ridiculous. There is so much pointless lying, considering the truth is so obviously laid out.

Regardless, I'm heading out into the forest tonight to meet with the masked figure.

Ark is supposedly elsewhere tonight. Convenient that I've been requested to leave the manor he isn't working...

Ice crunches underfoot as I pick my way carefully through the forest. My skin crawls with a haunting feeling like I'm being watched, or followed.

I pause, glancing over my shoulder.

Nothing. Just flimsy shadows wrapped around trees, seeming to crawl their way toward me. A soft but steady breeze rustles the canopy above me, adding to the ominous scene unfolding around me.

Turning around I gasp. My mate stands with his hands in his pockets, staring at me from beneath his hood.

Something seems off tonight. He almost seems smaller, more withdrawn and unsure. Usually he approaches me with his shoulders squared back and sense of confidence about him.

I rest my hand over my chest, my heart racing beneath.

"You scared me," I breathe. After knowing Ark for months now, he still terrifies me.

Especially when he looks like this...that dark hood hides his face, and instead of his usual leather gloves, these ones are soft like velvet.

Like they are meant to be dragged over my skin...

All of a sudden, a figure emerges from a nearby tree, drawing behind my mate, a knife to their neck.

It takes a few moments for me to register that the man holding the knife is Ark. And in his clutches, is a hooded man who I thought...I thought was Ark.

"Ark...You're here." I can hardly comprehend what is unfolding in front of me.

"I followed you," he growls, looking down "Who is this?"

The man in the hood is stiff, unmoving. He doesn't protest against Ark's hold on him, but with a knife pressed to his neck, I don't blame him for keeping still.

"My mate. But you're my mate," I mouth, looking between the two as I try to make this fit in my brain.

This can't be happening right now. Something isn't right about this situation...

"Take off your hood," Ark orders, drawing his knife away enough for it to still be an imminent threat, but far enough for the man to oblige my guard.

He doesn't though. In response to his lack of submission, Ark strikes my mate in the centre of his back, causing his legs to give out from under him. Immediately Ark is behind him, a strong grip on his hair as he forces his head back, exposing his neck so the knife can be pressed against it.

In one swift movement, Ark pulls the hood of the man back.

His head falls forward, waves of light brown hair falling over his forehead.

I don't recognise him. Nothing about him is familiar.

"You...how is this possible?" I gasp, examining his face.

He doesn't look like a member of the rebellion. His features are too soft, his eyes too wide and frightened. Maybe it's because of the imposing figure that is Ark, but he doesn't seem like the kind of man to come into my room at night in an attempt to kidnap me.

It must be my perception deceiving me...I've been convinced for weeks now that it's Ark who broke in, who held me down. I need to shift my thinking.

The hooded man's gaze rises. Large blue eyes drink on the sight of me as his mouth opens to speak.

"Kiva-"

Ark cuts him off, striking him in the side of the head.

"Answers. Now."

The man stares up at me, wincing at the pain Ark clearly inflicted upon him. "You set me up. I thought we were mates, that you cared about me."

Hearing his voice makes me shudder. I spent a long time imagining it, and once again, it's not what I thought it would be. It's too soft, too shaky.

"You're with them. The people who want me dead," I remind him coldly. Him being mad at me is ridiculous.

"We don't want you dead. We tried to kidnap you, yes, but it wasn't because he wished to harm you." He glances sidelong at Ark. I can't tell if it's because he's fearful Ark will strike him down, or if it's for another reason.

Ark shakes his head irritably.

"Don't listen to him, Kiva. He's trying to manipulate you," he mutters, looking down at my other mate with pure disgust.

I can only gape at them both in disbelief. "I have two mates."

He shifts uncomfortably, and not because of the knife pressed threateningly against his neck. "Well...ah, see-"

"Ark is my mate. And...so are you." I'm having a lot of trouble ingraining that in my mind. It just won't stick. It seems impossible, like something I've never heard of happening before.

"Strange," my mate mutters, while Ark remains silent, possibly as stunned as I am about this all.

"Yeah. Really strange," I exclaim slowly.

Suddenly the cold feels colder, the ice melting into my boots. I want to crawl back into my bed and cry, even if I want answers. I doubt I'll get them, considering both the men in front of me are the shadiest people I know.

Or don't know, it seems.

"What's your name?" Ark demands. His patience is clearly wearing thin, and considering his past as a mercenary, there is a chance he's going to kill my other mate right in front of me.

"I give you my name, you let me go," he barters.

"Not happening," Ark seethes.

"You're going to kill me." He sounds like he's whining, although the bite to his tone is unmissable. He doesn't want to be here, in this situation, but it's not as if Ark is going to let him go easily.

My gloved fingers roll up into fists. "He won't. I won't let him."

My mate sighs, bowing his head in defeat.

"My name is Taven."

Taven. I wish the name sounded familiar to me, but it really doesn't. Nothing about this man strikes me familiar, and although he's handsome, I can't believe I kissed him.

I kissed him, and I had sex with Ark...what is wrong with me?

"There has to be something else going on....I'm not okay with having one mate let alone two," I tell them, digging my hands into my hair as I turn around in a circle.

"What?" they say in unison.

I back away a couple steps. "I...This can't come to anything. I suggest you both leave me alone."

I can't manage two mates. My feelings for Ark are enough, and with me marrying Caspian...this mate bond problem could screw everything up. I just need to forget about them as soon as possible.

"What about my job?" Ark demands.

It clearly doesn't matter whether I want him working for me or not. My father controls all that, and considering Ark isn't working for the rebellion like I thought he was, father won't accept any reason for me wanting to get rid of him.

Unless of course, I come clean about Ark being my mate. Father would slaughter Ark before he stepped from the door to avoid anything coming between Caspian and I's advantageous marriage.

That won't happen, though. The less my father knows about my private life, the better.

"Your job won't matter anymore if Taven kills me," I complain, motioning to my other mate, who is shivering at this point.

Taven frowns. "I wouldn't do that..."

"I don't want to see you again. Get out of my life," I snap at both of them. My voice echoes through the tree's, making them both grimace.

Taven glances up at Ark, looking for permission to get out of here.

My guard gives him a lasting look before eventually relenting, drawing the knife away. We both watch Taven stand.

"Get out of here," Ark mutters.

Taking the chance to get out of here with his life, Taven vanishes into the shadows, leaving behind only footsteps as evidence that he was ever here.

Ark turns to me. "We should talk."

"I can't...not now. I need to think about this," I tell him shakily, fighting back tears to the point it burns at my eyes and throat.

Ark nods solemnly. I've never seen him so understanding before.

"You don't ever have to see Taven again. I'll make sure of it," he murmurs.

He doesn't follow me, as I make my way quickly back to the manor.

💚••💚

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! and as always it is available 10 chapters ahead on Radish!

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~Midika 💜🐼