Kept By Her Obsessed Minotaurs

39. Mara

39

MARA

T he morning light filters through our makeshift camp, casting a warm golden glow over the rugged faces of my beloved minotaurs. There's a palpable energy in the air, a sense of anticipation that makes my pulse flutter with excitement. Garron, Lazir, and Calo have been unusually secretive these past few days, whispering plans and exchanging knowing glances whenever they think I'm not looking. It's enough to make a girl more than a little curious... and perhaps a tad anxious.

"Mara," Garron says with a softness in his tone pulling my attention toward him. "We have something to show you."

There's a spark of mischief in Lazir's amber eyes as he takes my hand, his touch sending a jolt of electricity up my arm. "Come with us," he urges, leading me outside where the cool morning air greets us.

We walk in comfortable silence through the forest that has been our refuge for the past month. They’ve refused to settle anywhere permanently until they were certain we were safe from any lingering threats. And yet, there's a destination to our steps today that fills me with a sense of hope and wonder.

As we emerge from the cover of the trees, my breath catches in my throat. There, nestled amidst rolling hills and lush greenery, stands a castle that looks as though it's been plucked straight from a fairy tale. Its stone walls are overgrown with ivy, and the tall towers stretch toward the sky, their spires bathed in the soft light of dawn.

"Welcome home," Calo says, his voice thick with emotion.

My heart swells in my chest, a thousand questions racing through my mind as I turn to face them. "What is this place?" I ask.

"Your place," Garron replies, his gaze fixed on the castle. "Our place."

Lazir steps forward, his hand reaching into his pocket to produce a familiar key—my key, the one I had kept hidden after killing Wlloza. "We found this shortly after... well, you know. It led us to Wlloza's estate, to a vault that was far too easy to crack open."

My eyes widen in surprise. "You went back there? Without telling me?" I ask, my voice filled with shock.

Calo chuckles, his green eyes twinkling with mirth. "We wanted to keep you safe. You've been through enough," he replies.

I'm stunned, overwhelmed by the realization that these incredible beings risked their lives for me once again. "But why?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why would you do this?"

Garron reaches out, his large hand gently cradling my face. "For you, Mara. Because we love you," he declares.

The words hang in the air, a profound truth that fills the cracks in my heart with light. I love them too, more than I ever thought possible.

"We used the gold from the vault," Lazir explains, "not to win our way back into our clan, but to secure a future for us. For you."

I glance back at the castle, its beauty magnified by the love that now resides within its ancient walls. "I don't know what to say," I admit, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.

Calo takes my other hand, his voice filled with earnest sincerity. "Say you'll make this castle our home. Say you'll share this new beginning with us."

I look at each of them in turn—Garron, with his ice-blue eyes that see right through me; Lazir, the cynic who now smiles with unguarded warmth; and Calo, whose youthful enthusiasm is infectious. How did I get so lucky?

"Yes," I answer, my voice steady and sure. "A thousand times, yes."

Their smiles light up the morning, and together, we cross the threshold into our new life, a life where love is the true treasure we've found. And as the door closes behind us, I know that this castle, this home, will be filled with laughter and happiness for many years to come. It's a future I never dared to dream of.

As we step inside the grand hall of the castle, Garron, Lazir, and Calo lead me deeper into our new home, their hands intertwined with mine, grounding me in this surreal moment.

Garron turns to me, his voice resonating with resolve. "Mara, we want you to know that we haven't forgotten our people, our clan. We hope to one day earn their acceptance again through our honest efforts," he says.

Pride swells within me, a fierce warmth that spreads through my chest. These beings, so strong and determined, have faced exile and loss, yet they remain steadfast in their honor.

Lazir, ever the realist, adds, "But even if we never return to our clan, we are still minotaurs. And mating is a sacred rite for us."

Calo's eyes gleam with excitement. "We've found an elder, the oldest of our kind, who has agreed to perform a mating ceremony for the four of us. It will be a commitment unlike any other, a bond that transcends the traditional," he explains.

I am speechless, my heart pounding with the magnitude of their words. To be united with them in a ceremony that defies convention, that honors love above all else, is more than I could have ever imagined.

The following week passes in a blur of preparation. The castle's neglected gardens are tended to, their vibrant blooms a testament to new beginnings. A sense of magic permeates the air, as though the ancient stones themselves are bearing witness to our love.

On the day of the ceremony, I stand before Garron, Lazir, and Calo, dressed in a gown of flowing silk that shimmers in the sunlight streaming through the castle's tall windows. The elder, a minotaur of great stature with a mane of silver fur, begins the ritual in a language that predates the empire of dark elves.

Garron steps forward first, his ice-blue eyes locking onto mine and says, "Mara, I vow to protect you with every breath in my body, to cherish and honor you until the end of my days."

Lazir's voice, gruff with emotion, follows. "I promise to stand by your side, to share in your laughter and your tears, and to love you with a ferocity that matches the fire in your soul."

Calo, the youngest and most earnest, takes my hands in his and says softly, "I pledge to care for you, to celebrate your strength and your wisdom, and to walk beside you on this journey we call life."

Their words weave a tapestry of love and commitment, each vow a thread that binds us together. My own promises spill forth, heartfelt and sincere. "I will love you all with every fiber of my being, support you in your dreams, and stand with you against life's storms," I say softly.

The elder nods solemnly, his gaze encompassing the four of us and proclaims, "By the ancient laws of our people, you are now bound, your souls intertwined for all eternity."

As the ceremony concludes, a sense of peace settles over me. We are united, not just by the vows we've exchanged, but by the trials we've overcome and the future we're building together.

Together, we will forge a new path, one that is ours and ours alone. And as I lay my head against Garron's chest, with Lazir and Calo nestled close on either side, I know that this is just the beginning of our adventure. With love as our guide, we will face whatever tomorrow brings, knowing that we are stronger together than we could ever be apart.