Minna bit her lip, wary about what was in store for her. She had no idea where they were leading her, and even though she thought they spoke true when they said she was their intended mate, she still had her doubts. But, were they the doubts of a frightened woman or those of a warrior wary of a potential enemy? She just didn't know. They still hadn't done anything to prove to her that they were the Tigerians they claimed to be. They could have easily lied to her.
She watched the flex of the one called Dax's ass as he led the way. They'd started out in some sort of standing stone circle in the middle of a meadow before heading toward the tree line of the darkened forest. Before long, they'd left a well-worn path through the trees and began following an overgrown trail deeper into the woods. By the Lady Goddess, where were they taking her?
She wanted to look at everything at once. The trees stood taller than the largest building on G'recio. Their red veined leaves were larger than her head. Her gaze was locked onto the treetops when the sounds of running water caught her attention. "Where are we going?"
Rage cleared his throat behind her, but he didn't say anything else. She could practically feel his gaze burning holes through her clothes. Unwilling to walk blindly into any situation, no matter if they were her supposed mates or not, she wasn't stepping one foot farther until they answered a few questions. They were asking an awful lot of her, and now they were reluctant to tell her where they were taking her.
By the Lady Goddess, they'd soon find out that she wasn't anyone's pushover. And they'd find out right now. Without any warning, she stopped in her tracks, turned on her mates, and pulled her Fazac.
She edged around until she could see both Dax and Rage. Now wasn't the time to let down her guard, even if she never intended to actually shoot them. They, however, didn't need to know that. "You can stop right there, Rage. I want to know where you're taking me."
Minna had to hand it to them. Neither male so much as flinched. Their breathing never altered. Their gazes never wavered. As far as she could tell, they weren't worried in the slightest that she might do them harm. She wasn't sure if it was courage that left them facing her with no worry or stupidity.
Perhaps it is trust. She ignored the voice in her head and voiced her demand once more.
"Well? Tell me where you are taking me."
"We are taking you to the hot springs, where a natural pool formed eons ago. Among our people, it is common for mates to bathe together there, to purify not only our bodies, but our hearts and souls as well. It's a sacred spot shown only to the males upon reaching maturity. Females only learn the location upon their mating night. We shall reveal another such place after the official ceremony." This time, Dax spoke. His rough voice swept over her, caressing her flesh. Goose bumps spread across her skin. She wanted to beg him to keep speaking. To stroke the rough pad of his tongue over her heated skin. Instead, she straightened her spine, and quirked one brow in disbelief.
"Let me get this straight. You're taking me to a sacred pool where we'll bathe together, and then mate? Here? Now? With the both of you?" She didn't know why she was so surprised. She knew they both wanted to mate with her, were taking her somewhere to do that very thing. But until right this minute, it hadn't seemed real somehow.
She swallowed the saliva pooling in her mouth. By the Lady Goddess, could she actually go through with this? Could she mate with two men, strangers, based on a gut feeling they spoke true when they said she was destined to be the third in their triad?
She watched as both the males nodded. "Yes, Minna. That is precisely what we mean. It's exactly what will happen. Or will you go back on your word?" Rage growled.
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