Me, too…sort of.
Mave chuckled at her indecision. It had been an exciting season, and a large part of her had craved it after the long, cold winter. She was almost sad to be called back to the village.
An entire season. As winter had given way to spring, they had received word that Shadra was with her troops, just south of the Dragon Spine, ending her time of grieving for Lothen early. She started sending troops into the mountains the moment she had arrived and faster than the Andinna had been able to prepare.
Alchan had responded by sending out strong units to crush her attempts to create forward camps early in the new year. If they put her down early enough, it would be harder for her to gain traction later in the year.
So, Mave had kissed all of her husbands goodbye, all needing to do their own work for the rebellion. She got onto a horse and left with her father—technically adopted, but no one ever mentioned that part—and left to fight Elvasi in the unit led by Nevyn. They had headed southeast of the main village and done exactly as Alchan had asked of them. They crushed every Elvasi camp they could find and pushed Shadra back out of the mountains, at least for the time being.
They rode into the village, laughing as they were welcomed home. It was a hero’s welcome. Mave jumped off her horse and handed the reins off to someone while Kian stayed next to her. Still ahead of her, Nevyn and Varon were handing off their own horses. Mave went up to them, smiling as Varon wrapped an arm around her waist. Kian jumped on Nevyn’s back.
“We’re home!” he said, laughing. Behind them, warriors cheered at Kian’s proclamation.
“And what do you bring me?” someone called out. The crowd parted, and Alchan walked through it, smiling.
“Good tidings!” Nevyn called out, grinning. “In the time we have been away, we have engaged the Elvasi in five battles and came out victorious every time!” He was yelling by the end. Mave threw her fist into the air, cheering along with the warriors around them. “We’ve brought glory back to you and to the rebellion! Our campaign was a success!”
Andinna around them were jumping in excitement and screaming in victory.
“I’m glad to hear it,” Alchan replied. “Nevyn, come with me, and we’ll discuss. Everyone else, welcome home.”
Mave jumped forward the moment he was done speaking and wrapped her arms around the smaller male at Alchan’s side. Rain laughed as they entered a bone-crushing hug.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered. “How are you?”
“I’m great,” he answered, laughing until he cried. “Now, I need to let you go—”
He didn’t get the chance to finish as Mave was pulled away. She didn’t fret as the large arms wrapped around her and the world began to spin. The spicy scent of her first husband filled her senses as her mouth found his full lips. Her first husband always seemed to be the first one to find her. A wave of need flew through her as Luykas flew overhead, trying to find her.
“I need the crowds to disperse!” Rain called out. “Move for the King!”
Mave didn’t pay attention as she stared at emerald green eyes and a self-confident smirk that owned so much of her heart.
“It’s been too long,” he whispered as he leaned in for another kiss.
“We were winning,” she replied, chuckling. “We couldn’t pass up the opportunities as they came. Where are Bryn and Zayden?”
“Zayden went to get Bryn. He was in the next valley over, training with his latest batch of scouts. They’ll be here soon.”
“We should get to the war room—”
He cut her off with another passionate kiss, this one prompting cheers of the Andinna around them. Luykas finally found them and landed behind her. Mat let her go as Luykas grabbed her hand and spun her around.
“Who gives a shit about the war room right now?” he growled. His gold eyes were full of emotion, the same one she felt pulsing through the bond between them.
“Well, I’m certain Alchan does,” she said, the laughter coming back to her as he growled again and kissed her.
“You’re not needed there,” he reminded her. “He asked for Nevyn because he’s the general. You can go see him later. You’re going to spend the evening with us. Alchan can come tomorrow.”
“Really?” She let Luykas pull her out of the crowd. “I’m certain he and I can find something—”
“No,” Mat said with little patience. “We’re going to get you into a hot spring for a bath, then we are going home. You’re not going to work your first night back from a victorious campaign, Mave. Let Nevyn and Varon pass along all the news and just enjoy some time with us.” There was a note of desperation at the end that echoed in her own soul.
“I’m only teasing, love,” she promised. She took off, glad to get the wind under her wings, and headed for her home. Mat and Luykas followed quickly. She was able to make it out of the crowd and over the village first, beating them to the hot spring. As she landed, Bryn and Zayden appeared, landing shortly after while Luykas and Mat were still trying to catch up with her.
Bryn swooped her up and spun her around the same way Matesh had, his lips greedy for her.
“Ya tell me to never leave, but I’m not allowed to tell ya the same. It’s not fair,” he murmured in her ear as they finally slowed, and her feet could touch the ground again.
“I won’t go away again without one of you. You were all just so busy here.” She touched his cheek gently. “And the Champion must go and fight in the name of the king.”
“I know,” he whispered, kissing her softly. “We’ve missed ya, though.”
“And I’ve missed you.”
When Bryn stepped back, her most recent husband stepped forward, but he didn’t give a display of passion like the others. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and walked toward the spring. His fingers toyed with the strings and ties that kept her armor on, slowly undoing them.
“Let’s get you cleaned up,” he said with a casual note she didn’t quite believe.
“You don’t want to proclaim your love for me and cause a scene? Everyone else has.” She tried to hide her smile as he looked down at her.
“I’ll make sure you know how much I missed you tonight when you’re on your back,” he whispered hotly in her ear. “After I’ve fed you a proper fucking meal since you’ve been on rations for months.”
She took her armor off slowly, letting Zayden and Bryn help. Luykas and Mat stripped fast to join them, half jumping in.
“How was it?” Mat asked as he waded through the water. “How was the campaign?”
“It was…” Mave was grinning as she thought about it. “We hit hard at night, taking the Elvasi by surprise every time. We partied after victories. We hunted for food when rations got short.” Repeating all of this to her males made it sound like the campaign was hard, but there was something so alive about it that made Mave miss it already. “We were unstoppable. The last fight was the hardest, though.”
“Tell us everything,” Zayden growled, coming closer. Soon, all four of her husbands were nearly on top of her, forming a semi-circle that kept her pinned to one side of the hot spring.