"Especially the complicated kind," Zaeryn agreed. He walked passed Ysine into the house. "Oh. I forgot to ntion, Ingrid will be here tomorrow,"
"Who's Ingrid?" Ravena asked.
"My class…" Zaeryn started, but he didn't finish his sentence. He trailed off, realizing there wasn't really a simple way to categorize the fire-brand Warlady-in-training.
"His other girlfriend, the recent one," Aeris said. Her voice playful.
"Oh," Ravena said, her eyebrows shooting up. She exchanged a look with the others, her expression unreadable but definitely intrigued. "I see."
Zaeryn braced himself. Ravena had a jealous streak a mile wide, and introducing a new girlfriend could an dealing with her possessive nature flaring up. He'd experienced it when she learned he was in a relationship with Sage.
Instead, Ravena just looked up from where she'd been scrolling through her comm. "Cool. What ti's she coming?"
Zaeryn blinked. "Uh. Probably midday? I haven't sent her the address yet."
"Okay." Ravena went back to her screen. "I'll make sure I'm around. Want to et her."
That was it. No pointed questions. No territorial marking. No subtle suggestions that maybe Ingrid should visit so other ti when Ravena happened to be conveniently busy.
Zaeryn stared at her, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
It didn't.
"What?" Ravena asked, catching his expression. "Why are you looking at like that?"
"You're... okay with it?"
"With what? Your girlfriend coming over?" Ravena set her comm down, genuinely confused. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Aeris scoffed from the kitchen doorway. "Because you usually act like a territorial cat when other won get near him."
"That was before." Ravena's green eyes found Zaeryn's, and there was sothing different in them now. Sothing settled. "We're bonded now. I can feel it. You're mine, I'm yours, and that's not changing no matter how many girlfriends show up." She shrugged, picking her comm back up. "So yeah. She can co. I want to see what kind of woman catches your attention."
Ysine smiled, leaning against the doorfra. "Look at you, being mature." She walked passed them into the house, heading for the stairs.
"Don't push it," Ravena muttered, but there was no heat in it.
Zaeryn felt sothing loosen in his chest. He'd been expecting drama, the usual complicated dance of managing multiple relationships. Instead, Ravena was just... handling it. Actually handling it, without making him feel guilty or forcing him to choose.
The bond did that, he realized. It wasn't mind control or so magical compulsion. It was just certainty. She knew, the sa way he knew, that what they had was real and permanent. Everything else was just details.
"Well," Zaeryn said, still processing. "That's... good."
"Very eloquent," Aeris teased. She disappeared back into the kitchen.
Ysine stopped on the stairs and turned. "I'm going to set up the guest room for tomorrow, just in case she wants to stay over." She paused, giving Zaeryn a knowing look. "Unless you have other sleeping arrangents in mind?"
"I don't think she's going to sleep over." Zaeryn responded.
"Well, just in case." Ysine responded and disappeared up the stairs.
.
Zaeryn turned to Ravens and kissed her lips. Stepping back he said, "I'm going to bed," he announced.
"It's barely evening," Ravena pointed out.
"I got beaten up by a princess today. I think I've earned early retirent."
Ravena's lips twitched mischievously. "I would love to ruin your plan and make you stay up all night, but I also have things to do,"
When he finally made it to his room, he collapsed onto the bed without bothering to change. The day had been a lot. eting Viora, sparring until his abilities ranked up, getting his ass handed to him repeatedly, then sohow ending up with a sister who actually seed to like him.
Plus Ravena being weirdly mature about Ingrid's visit tomorrow. He liked that a lot.
His comm buzzed. He glanced at it.
Ingrid: 'Can't wait for tomorrow. Should I bring anything?'
Zaeryn stared at the ceiling, thinking. What did you tell your new girlfriend to bring when she was eting your adoptive family, and the complicated web of people who sohow made up his life?
Zaeryn: *Just yourself. Maybe wine like you ntioned. Ysine would appreciate it.*
Ingrid: *On it. See you tomorrow
He set the comm aside and closed his eyes.
---
The next morning arrived with the kind of aggressive sunshine that made sleeping in impossible. Zaeryn woke to find his room already warm, light streaming through the windows in golden bands that cut across his floor.
He rolled out of bed, muscles only slightly protesting. Whatever Viora had given him worked better than expected. The deep aches from yesterday's sparring were mostly gone, replaced by a pleasant soreness that reminded him he'd actually held his own for longer than expected.
Since today was not a school day Zaeryn didn't have to rush for the academy. It was the start of Cycle-End. In the Queendoms, ti was asured in Decads, a ten-day week consisting of eight Duty Days for those with jobs, or school days for people like Zaeryn, followed by two days of rest known as Cycle-End. It was a harsher rhythm than Earth's, designed for a society permanently mobilized against the Vorthak, but it made these two days of freedom feel that much more valuable.
Downstairs, the house was already awake. Ysine was in the kitchen. The sll of breakfast drifted up, rich and promising. Zaeryn followed his nose down to find her plating eggs and toast.
"Morning," he said, sliding into a chair.
"Morning, darling." She set a plate in front of him without being asked. "Did you sleep well?"
"Like the dead." He took a bite. Perfect, as always. "Where is everyone?"
"Aeris has accompanied Marcie sowhere. Ravena's in the garden, I think. ditating like she always does." Ysine poured him juice. "And before you ask, I already prepared the guest room. Clean sheets, fresh towels, the works."
"You didn't have to do all that." He said. Honestly he didn't think there was a need for that, because if Ingrid was going to stay the night then she would spend it in his room.
"Of course I did." She walked towards him, cupping his face and kissing him. "First impressions matter. Especially when you're introducing your girlfriend to your family."
Right. That was what today was. Ingrid eting everyone. Not just showing up for a casual visit, but actually integrating into his life here. The thought made sothing twist in his stomach, not quite nervousness but close. He didn't know she would react to everything.
"Anyways. Aeris thinks the whole thing is hilarious." Ysine walked behind and wrapped her arms around his shoulder, her scent hitting his nose. So pleasant it made him lt into her. "She placed bets with Ravena on how long it takes before Ingrid tries to claim territory."
"They what?"
"Don't worry. It's friendly betting. Mostly. Just be yourself. Ingrid already likes you. Your family's going to like her. It'll be fine."
Zaeryn hoped she was right.
He finished his breakfast in record ti and stood up, feeling the need to burn off the restless energy. "I'll be outside practicing my Vitae. Can you let her in once she's here?"
"Sure, baby," Ysine promised, watching him with a soft, knowing smile as he headed for the garden
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