Chapter 163: Alone--Just the Three Of Us

Ravyn POV

Jude's wolf seemed even bigger and stronger than usual--maybe Hades' magic had done something, or having the soul of another shifter inside his body made Jude's wolf more powerful. His coat seemed thicker, more lustrous, and a deeper black. 

"I didn't notice how your wolf had changed." She bumped noses with him, feeling the coldness of it, which reassured her--it meant he was healthy. "I like it, though."

"Thank you," Jude thought.

"I'd make it red," Hades added, "but wolf coats don't ever change during a lifetime. Even a hint of red would be suspicious."

She blinked, stunned by the twin voices inside Jude. 

Jude howled softly, amused. "The look on your face!"

"Next time, warn me," she huffed. "Warn me when it's a three-way conversation."

"It always will be, even when it seems like only one of us is speaking out loud," Jude replied. "Hades and I go paw in paw now."

A sharp nudge with her wolf nose. "You could have warned me beforehand."

Hades laughed. "Dear Ravyn, you should have guessed that. Just because Melisande vacated her body--voluntarily--and I used her voice doesn't mean it's the same with Jude. At least, not on the inside."

"The trick is blending our voices so I don't sound like you," Jude observed.

Hades had a mischievous lilt to his voice. "Would that be so bad?"

"If you want to tip people off, no," Jude argued. "The reason you got away with impersonating Melisande--"

"INHABITING her," Hades corrected.

"The reason that worked was because her arrogant and frosty personality matched yours," Jude jabbed him.

Hades' voice was a verbal shrug. "You're not as hot-blooded as some Alphas--I think I can inject some of my own character without it sticking out too much."

Jude was humble enough to agree. "Maybe, but if you start talking about things I couldn't possibly have experienced--"

"Give me some credit," Hades huffed, offended. "When I let those things slip, you were confused. I was trying to jolt your memory."

"Well, mission accomplished, along with scaring my family half to death."

Hades growled, "I expected them all to figure it out days ago! I gave them all the clues. What did I have to do, paint them on the side of a barn? Write them in the sky?"

Ravyn's ears flattened. "ENOUGH. I won't spend centuries listening to you two bicker!"

Jude lowered his head in submission. "He's deliberately being provocative."

"I am not," Hades grouched. "I'm pointing out the truth."

"In a provocative way--"

"Hush! Our mate just told us to stop quarreling--or as I like to think of it, verbally sparring." Hades sounded gentle. "Ravyn, we both want to be a good mate to you."

Jude's new evergreen-spice scent comforted her, even though her senses were still becoming accustomed to it. "You didn't seem like mate material before," she said to Hades.

"No ... Morgana is well rid of me," he sighed. "As is anyone else I've been involved with. But freed of my body, I have a new start. I can feel Jude's feelings for you, Ravyn. His passion is hotter than lava. Purer than the moonlight. Deeper than the sea."

Jude smiled, his tongue hanging out, and her bathed her face in gentle licks. "It is hot, and deep, and pure. Hades is right."

Ravyn accepted the affection from both of them. 

How would she know which one was speaking? How could she tell? Did it matter?

It would if Hades descended into madness.

Jude's golden eyes narrowed. "Ravyn, you're still troubled."

"I have questions, yes. How do I know that Hades won't go feral again?"

Hades' voice sounded somber. "I don't want that. It won't happen. I swear on the Moon Goddess, may she forgive me and continue to be merciful."

"I'll make sure it doesn't," Jude added. "We'll work it out with Eirika and Tulaska and Roslynn. They'll watch over us. And you're a brilliant witch, my love."

She woofed. "You are just trying to soften me up."

"With the truth," Hades added, double-teaming her.

Ravyn tried a bold question. "And when we make love ... which one of you is making love to me, exactly?"

"Both," Hades and Jude chorused. 

After a moment, Hades asked, "You'd want to make love to Jude, knowing I'm inside him?"

She huffed and planted her feet in the wet grass, "You don't understand love, Hades. When you love someone, you'll do anything for them. Absolutely anything. And you'll accept them for who they are. I accept you as part of Jude."

* * * * *

Jude POV

Ecstatic, he pounced on Ravyn, rolling over and over with her, picking up bits of grass and flowers in his fur. It felt wonderful. Absolutely stimulating and refreshing. All of it. Her fur against his, her muscles brushing against his. her paws pummeling him as they sparred.

"Ahhhh," he sighed.

Ravyn sighed too as she nipped him. He moaned. 

Hades asked, "Are we fighting or mating?"

"Just blowing off steam," Ravyn replied, with a wink.

"Maybe." Jude gave her a seductive smile, his tongue hanging out provocatively.

He felt Ravyn's nervousness at the word "mating." She might embrace Hades as part of him, but it probably felt like letting a stranger into her body and into her bed. It was like he and Hades were the world's most bizarre harem for Ravyn.

He could feel Hades' desire for Ravyn, ramping up his own. Not now! Not when Ravyn was just getting used to the idea of having two mates in one body. 

"I'm still me, you know," he said huskily. 

"I know." Ravyn yawned, her eyes becoming sleepy. "You know ... this is supposed to be our bonding celebration and wedding night, but I'm quite fatigued."

Jude stopped the dizzying roll in the grass and shifted back to human form. Ahh. He spread out on the soft grass beside her. She also shifted back to her long-legged, pale, beautiful witch form. and sprawled next to her. "Then let's rest a while here."

"Agreed." Hades sounded weary. 

Ravyn objected. "But Jude ... the bonding ball ..."

Jude closed his eyes. "We weren't expected to stay for the whole thing. Let everyone else try and enjoy themselves. We have help that will clean up after the ball in the morning ... most people will be celebrating until the wee hours anyway. This is our bonding night, and we can spend it how and where we choose."

Would she do it? Would she sleep beside him?

He felt so bone-tired from everything that had gone on. Although it humbled him to admit it, he needed a bit of rest before he could even think of making love to his mate. Would she agree? Would she rest beside him?

The warmth of her body settling beside his, skin to skin, comforted him.

Cyran approached them in human form, towering over them. "Are you going to stay here all night, you two?"

"What's left of it," Jude yawned, staring up at the twinkling stars.

Cyran nodded. "Very well, then I'll guard you, along with your enforcers, who are patrolling."

Jude yawned. "Don't be silly--you should be with your mate and children."

"They understand," Cyran said. "Now, you both rest."

Jude reached for Ravyn's hand. "Where is your hand?"

Her beautiful, soft hand slipped into his. "Right here, where it will be for the rest of our lives."

"Mmmm. I do like the sound of that."

They stared up into the starlit sky, pointing out the constellations to each other. Before long, Ravyn lay her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around him.

"I get two for the price of one," she murmured. 

He kissed the top of her shining golden head. "I promise ... you'll get twice the love, too. You've really earned it."

A soft snore answered him. 

Despite all the questions and challenges swirling inside him, he fell into a contented sleep.