"Alright, my profile on Tind3r is up." She said with a wry smile. "Though I doubt I'll get any hits if they read my profile."
Catherine Jenkins was an extremely wealthy CEO of her corporation, Cathy's Corner, a furniture creation company. She was super busy. Catherine barely had time to meet with her clients individually, much less find time to date. She hoped Tind3r would help her solve that problem, though she doubted it.
Most people used Tind3r for sex, not relationships, but it was her last hope. Catherine tried all the other services with no luck, or creepers. If she ever wanted to get married before forty, she needed to find options. Of course, she did not think she was all that attractive herself, but surely someone would find her so.
She had short black hair with brown eyes, an oval-shaped face, and slim figure. Few knew she had a belly ring or a tattoo on her upper thigh of a rose. Most saw her as strict, cold, even, so having tattoos or piercings did not fit her image within the company.
Catherine worked many years to reach a point in her life she would be happy with before finding a husband, only now, she was almost too late. In finding her professional happiness, she was lacking in the love department. She looked around her sleek, modern office with a proud yet lonely smile. Even having all the wealth in the world did not equate happiness.
Her arms crossed in front of her small chest, her thoughts going back to the last time she even had relations with someone besides the toy in her dresser. Years ago. And he did not like her independence or drive to work. Especially when he wanted to propose, but could not work it around her busy schedule as a CEO.
His demands for her to quit were beyond demeaning, so the relationship ended horribly. Three years ago, she remembered, lifting a thoughtful finger to her chin, her eyes sliding closed. Since then, she focused fully on her career. Only now, the empty house did not feel as nice as it once did.
Would she ever find her Mister Right? She wondered with a sighed as she stared at her phone before locking the screen. As it blinked off in front of her, the world shifted and she hit the floor of her office, hard; the force knocking her unconscious.
Sound was the first thing to return to her, as birds chirped in the distance. This confused her, but when she tried to open her eyes, the glaring sun burned them. The heavy scent of woods filled her senses, and she lifted her hand to her aching head.
"What was in the coffee Rochelle brought me?" She wondered aloud, wincing as her voice seemed to echo in her head. "Ugh…"
"That was quite a spill, My Lady. Are you alright?" A deep voice entered her ears, soothing her frayed nerves a little. "Let me help you up."
The warm hands wrapped around her waist and helped her stand back up. She could finally open her eyes to find a large man standing in front of her, much larger than any human man she ever saw. He was shirtless, and she could see tattoos wrapping around his arms, and she was sure there were some on his back, if the lines were any sign.
The stranger had a mean expression on his face, under short brown hair, but there was a tenderness in his hazel eyes Catherine was unfamiliar with in a man his size. He towered over her slight frame, at least six foot eight, and the muscles mixed with his tattoos made her lick her lips unknowingly. His hand remained firmly around her waist, keeping her steady, but they felt hot through her clothes.
Clothes. Instead of her business suit, she looked down to find herself wearing a beautiful princess-like blue dress, one which stretched all the way to her feet, concealing her shoes. She tilted her head to the side in confusion when the man pressed his lips to a point on her neck, making her shiver from head to toe.
The slight action made her let out a sharp gasp of pleasure, and her knees turned to putty beneath her weight. In all her years alive, she had never felt such overwhelming desire for anyone before, and she wrapped her legs around his hips, her dress rising to reveal her pale thighs. Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, making her lock her arms around his neck.
"Cathy, you have always driven the three of us mad." He mumbled against her skin, his large hands lowering to grab her bottom and grounding himself against her. "If you're okay, we should get back. The others are waiting for us."
The three of them? Her mind hazily wondered as her eyes slid closed. What did that mean? And why was she okay with the fact this random stranger was touching her butt and kissing her neck? She pulled out of his arms and glared up at him in annoyance. He tilted his head in confusion before leaning closer to look at her head. With a gentle touch, he placed his hand on the top of her head, making Catherine wince in pain.
Her eyes focused on a scar under his left eye, and she reached out to touch it when he flinched, pulling back and averting his eyes. Just who is this man? Who is she? What happened to her office, and would she be able to go home? These thoughts swirled in her head until she felt dizzy, her body sinking to the grassy hill beneath her feet.
"Woah, there. My Lady, tell me. Do you know who I am?" He wondered, his eyes widening when she shook her head no. "I'm your husband, Zion. We just celebrated our one-year anniversary."
He lifted her into his arms, one hand at her back, the other wrapped around her knees, and started walking. When did she get married? She wondered as she stared at the man named Zion. Who were the other two? Where were they going? Who was he? All these questions surfaced, but she was in such a state of shock, she could not open her mouth to ask.
A small camp came into view with two other large men sitting around the fire, as well as some more men in the distance, but close enough she could see them. The two men stood, their forms towering over hers as well, and one approached, almost yanking her from Zion's arms.
"Why is her head bleeding, Zion?!" He yelled, his voice making her wince. "I told you not to take her out into the woods! She could have died. My Lady, are you okay?"
Her hand fell to rest on his chest, where she felt his racing heart. He was out of breath, too, but what struck her were his glowing red eyes. Blood red hair draped down to his shoulders, looking silky to the touch, and she gazed at him in shock as he pulled her closer, his head falling to her shoulder.
The man seemed to gather himself for a second as his hands roamed her waist, legs, and arms, as though checking for injuries. He pulled back to meet her gaze before cupping her cheek, his eyes still glowing that faint red before he calmed. Gunther was the smallest of the three, but still at least six foot four.
"Gunther, you worry too much. Cathy's fine. She's not like the other Queens. She's immortal, remember?" The next said, his eyes landing on her. "Ah. That is a problem, however."
Catherine gasped as soon as she locked eyes with him, surprise coursing through her body. One golden eye, the other a soft purple. She half wondered if it was a trick of the light until Gunther walked closer to him. Unlike the first two, he had long black hair and a slim figure, though she could tell he was still fit.
Gunther's and Silas's clothes could not be any more different, though. Gunther wore an open vest-type shirt with pants that billowed out towards the ankles before closing in at his feet. Silas's clothes were much more concealing, and as dark as his hair, but closer to the design of her own clothing. She gazed up at his face questioningly as he looked down at her, multicolored eyes impassive.
"She lost her memory." Zion replied, making everyone turn to look at her, and the one called Gunther placed her on the ground next to the third man. "So, she doesn't know any of us."
"My Lady, is it true?" Gunther asked with watery eyes, his emotions reading as saddened by the news. "You don't remember the three of us?"
She stared around at the three of them, looking for any features she recognized, but there were none. Zion was the largest of the three, and the most fearsome looking with his tattoos and muscled body, but the other two were not small either. The quiet one only looked at her with indifference, though he had a handsome face, she thought as she stared at him. Gunther gave her a weak smile, but she could tell his heart was not in it.
Clearly, he wore his heart on his sleeve, making her wonder if he was as annoying as he seemed. When she averted her gaze to the sparks of the fire, she went over what she knew. These three knew her, and she was very important to them. Zion was her husband, but what about the other two? Who was she in this world?
"I'm your husband, Silas, and the emotional one is your third husband, Gunther." The indifferent one supplied and her eyes widened again in shock. "What? Why is that so strange? Surely you remember something from our world."
She shook her head, staring at the three of them, unable to understand what they were saying. In whatever world she was in, women could have three husbands? The three of them shared a look; before turning to stare at her expectantly. Soon, she was explaining who she knew herself as, where she came from, her job, and her life.
Most of all, she explained how this was not the world she knew. An uncomfortable silence fell over the small camp before Zion placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes serious. She hoped if she were to die, it would not be like this, she thought, with fear clogging her throat.
"So, your name is Catherine Jenkins. I guess we're all meeting for the first time again." His voice was soft, heartbreakingly so. "Let us reintroduce ourselves. I'm Zion, the first man you married. We met three years ago at a tribe meeting. Silas." Zion said, motioning to the other man. "I'm not telling her your story. Do it yourself."
"Why? It's nothing special. I'm the second man you wed." Silas started, but shrugged as though he did not care. "Your father arranged our marriage when you were a child. As you will never age, and neither will I, he wanted to make sure you had a partner that lasted."
If the way he glanced away from her was any sign, there was more to that story than he let on. All three men looked depressed, making her wonder just how important she was to them. Were that not shocking enough, she could see his ears came to a point under his long black hair. He was ethereal, an otherworldly beautiful for a man, despite the sharp look in his eyes.
Catherine looked at Gunther, who remained silent. She figured he would be the first to talk about himself, but he seemed to withdraw until Zion slapped him on the back. The younger, smaller man snapped out of his thoughts and bright red eyes rose to meet hers, making her mouth fall open.
"I'm the last man you married. We just wed three days ago…" He sighed, his large shoulders moving with it, his frame sulking forward towards the fire. "But I wonder what the point to it was if you can't remember it."
He was so impossibly sad; it made her heart clench in her chest. Then the thought occurred to her. She understood what they said about themselves, but who was she? The stress caught up with her, causing her body to pivot forward towards the fire, when she felt firm hands wrap around her waist from either side.
The hands positioned her over a mountain of pillows, laying her against it gently before covering her with a blanket. She opened her eyes to see concerned red orbs gazing into her face. When her eyelids finally slid closed, she wondered if all this was a fever dream and she would wake up in her bed tomorrow. Maybe it was the stress from the day, but she soon fell into a dream-filled sleep.
"Catherine, I see you've met your husbands." A woman's voice filled her ears, and she looked around for the owner. "You wished for forever. A man that would love you until death. We gave you three. In exchange, we need you to save this world. Tender for your granted wish."
As much as she tried to speak, no words came, and a woman appeared before her. What shocked her was how familiar the woman was. She looked just like Catherine, except her eyes were a beautiful, shimmering purple, and her ears pointed at the shell, much like Silas. Her hair was a shiny white, despite having absolutely flawless skin.
A natural beauty, and the name which came to mind was that the men spoke of in camp last night. A sad smile lifted the corners of her lips before she slowly faded into the darkness. That was Cathy. Catherine looked down at her body to see the form she was familiar with fading away, replaced by the image of Cathy.
"Save my husbands and the world. You're the only one who can." Her soft voice continued, almost like a whisper. "In exchange, you may take my place. Have the love you've always craved, for I no longer need it."
~~~~~
"Do you think she'll return to normal?" A deep voice asked, one that registered in her mind as Gunther's. "We just married and haven't even consummated it yet. She's my wife!"
"Gunther. She's our wife, too. The marks on her flesh prove it. I don't know about you two, but she has the same mannerisms as our Cathy. Maybe a soul swap?" Silas countered, and cool fingertips touched her brow. "You would think as Queen, she would be immune to something like that."
"Queen?!" she shot up, startling the three men, with her mouth parted. "That's who I am?!"
But she knew it was true. From the dreams she had the previous night, all doubts fled her mind. The 'Queen' they knew died last night. Someone brought her soul here, and she did not know why. What she knew was this world needed her. So. to conclude her thoughts, she sighed heavily. It must mean the 'her' in her world was dead.
When did her life turn into a joke like this? She wondered as a loud laugh parted her lips. This was not some television show or book. Why was she here? How did she get picked for something like this? Did she even look like herself anymore? No matter where she turned, all she saw were their confused and heartbroken expressions. Catherine sighed before throwing her feet over the edge of the cot.
"I had very vivid dreams last night." She whispered softly, her eyes narrowing in distress. "Very clear. Of each of you.
Catherine did not miss the hopeful looks in their eyes or the way they moved closer. Though she felt a little crowded, she remained as still as she could and examined the three men closer. Now that the sun shone through the trees, lighting their features, she could see why 'Cathy' was in a relationship with two of them at least.
If it was a relationship based on looks, Gunther, and Silas were winners. Zion looked just as scary in the light as he did the previous night, though, and this made her curious what he was really like. She wanted to learn more about the men 'Cathy' married. And find out what they planned to do with her, now that they realized she was not their 'Cathy'.
"I think I saw some of her memories… um… your Cathy, not me." She was quick to correct, watching as their shoulders sagged with sadness. "The good news is, I can see why she has this kind of relationship with you. All of you are very handsome."
"Are you sure you're not her? She often said that to us…" Gunther questioned, his red eyes narrowing. "You seem very calm for someone from another world."
"I could barely speak last night… but I've had time to adjust. Sleep helped." Catherine replied, and her stomach picked that moment to growl loudly. "Ignore that."
"We couldn't if we tried, my Lady." Zion countered, waving a hand over his shoulder, a small smile on his lips. "Are women not treated well in your world, Catherine?"
Her eyes widened as a table appeared in front of her, and several well-dressed men placed a candelabra with lit candles, a plate of food, and a goblet in front of her. It was all done in a flash, and they bowed before stepping away, their figures disappearing into the shadows of the trees.
Of course, she did not expect this treatment, but when she glanced around, her three 'husbands' were watching her with expectant faces. Not one to disappoint, she gently lifted her fork to cut into what looked like simmering steak and lifted it to her lips. The flavors spread across her mouth, making her eyes widen. She tasted nothing so delicious in her life.
"Oh, this is wonderful!" She exclaimed, continuing to eat, making sure she swallowed before she spoke. "Whoever cooked this seared the meat to perfection. The vegetables blend perfectly with the meal and the drink! Is this wine? Paradise!"
"It's like you've never had delicious food. Watching you eat makes me feel full, my Lady." Gunther said, making her freeze. "Oh, no, please don't take it that way, Cathy. You look beautiful no matter if there's food on your cheek or not."
Catherine's eyes widened in shock and she hastily wiped at her cheeks, trying to find the food he mentioned. In her haste, she knocked her goblet over, and the candelabra fell from the table, the fall blowing out the candles on top. Though she felt ashamed by her fumble, the three men shared a glance before Gunther let out a bellowing laugh, startling her from her thoughts.
Silas and Zion both wore knowing smiles, and the scene made her want to find the nearest hole to jump in. As the men from the shadows, as she so liked to refer to them, stepped forward and cleaned up the mess she made, she sighed. Silas leaned forward a little and wiped at the corner of her lips.
When he pulled away, her eyes widened. On his finger was a tiny speck of food, and without hesitation, he stuck it into his mouth. No one responded to his action, but she could not help but watch in wonder. This man seemed the least interested in her presence, yet he would do something so intimate.
When his beautiful one purple, one gold eyes rose to meet hers, there was a heat there she had not seen previously. All three men seemed to stare at her hungrily, but were restraining themselves, and this made her stomach do flips. She wondered what she looked like as a result, but remembered what they were discussing before her stomach so politely requested food.
"Um… women are… well… treated like everyone else… but I've never seen a polyamorous relationship before." At her strange word, the men looked at her in confusion. "Um… usually, people only marry one person…"
"There must be lots of women in your world then. Here, there are only a couple of handfuls of women." Gunther's voice was heavy with insinuation and this caused her eyes to widen in shock. "And you are the Queen above Queens."
It was just as her dream said the previous night. The price she had to pay to get what she wanted. She was still in charge, but now she had more husbands than she knew what to do with. As this information circled in her head, the three men stepped forward, their postures suddenly stiff and serious.
When she went to stand, Zion shook his head no, so she remained sitting where she was on her strange, pillow-like cot. What surprised her was their sudden bow to their knees. Right as she opened her mouth to ask what they were doing; their heads rose to look at her. The heartbroken expressions on their faces tore at her, so she waited patiently for them to say what they needed to.
"You are our wife, the one we picked, and the one who picked us. We want to stay by your side as you rule over this world, even if you have no love for us." Zion started, taking her small hand in his big one and pressing a kiss to the back of it. "Men refused by their Queen face a death sentence, and though I'd rather not die, if you request it, I will."
She stared at him in shock before her eyes flew to the other men, who nodded solemnly. They killed men not accepted by their wives here? What kind of crazy policy was that? Catherine wondered in shock. Could they not remarry? But no, they said there were only a few handfuls of women in this world.
That meant they probably would not want the ultimate Queen's former husbands. Despite all this being strange and very new to her, she knew she could not fathom condemning the three men to death. It would be unfair of her to do so simply because she was not who they thought she was. Her slim shoulders sagged under the weight of this decision, and she sighed softly.
"It would be unfair to cancel our marriages if it means you would die." Catherine said, watching as their eyes widened in shock. "Instead, why don't the four of us get to know each other. Maybe one-on-one? Just until I get used to the idea of suddenly having three husbands…"
~~~~~
"So, I'm immortal?" She asked, and Zion nodded. "And I have marks that prove our marriage?"
He nodded yet again, making her release an inward sigh. Silas and Gunther wanted her to spend time with Zion first, since he was the quietest of the three. But she barely got anything but a nod out of the man. Zion seemed happy to answer all her questions, though it was the bare minimum.
Why did Queen Cathy have to decide to pass on her work? She wondered, looking around the modest camp. For a queen, the camp sure was small, she wondered, looking around the clearing at the trees surrounding them. She could hear the cry of birds nearby, the sway of the branches above in the wind. The scent of masculine musk entered her nose, and a warmth pressed into her hand on the pillows.
What followed that warmth she could only explain as wonderful. Catherine felt as though she could feel his love for her flowing in his veins, hear his sweet whispers in her ear. In his touch, she found something surfacing. Was it a memory of hers? No, this was Zion's memory, she realized in shock. It was in the past, when he first saw her.
Catherine could feel his heart racing in his chest, the emotions curling through his veins. The more she tried to understand this, the less it made sense. What was this? How was Zion doing this to her? A familiar voice seemed to whisper the answers to her, and she leaned against his shoulder. Ancient Magics he had access to because of their bond.
"Zion… I'm not her, you know…" Catherine said sadly, shifting away from the support his body supplied. "The woman you love is Cathy. Not me."
"Then, Catherine…" He mumbled, leaning closer, his eyes narrowed on a point on her neck. "Let me learn to love you instead."
How fickle? She wondered, but thoughts left her when his lips traced whatever was on her neck. For a single moment, Catherine considered questioning what it was. Until she felt his large hands wrapping around her waist. It was just like yesterday, so hot, so passionate; she did not feel like herself.
The thought made her shiver, and Zion pushed her to her back, his enormous frame almost concealing her from the world. His hazel eyes seemed to stare straight into her soul with a burning desire she never witnessed before. Large hands stroked down her body, pulling at the fabric of her dress, and teasing her flesh. Zion's desire was a physical thing, Catherine thought, as something massive pressed against her inner thigh.
Her back arched when his lips pressed to that spot on her neck again, and his hard chest met her breasts through her clothes. Catherine's nails dug into the bare skin of his back, making him groan, and her lower stomach clenched in anticipation. The musky scent of his filled her senses, making her forget where they were.
It was the first time she ever experienced anything as amazing as this, and a moan parted her lips when his tongue traced a trail down her neck to the top of her breasts. One massive hand pulled the top of her dress down, exposing her bare chest to the air, and a hot mouth locked on one peak, making her rational thought flee. Until a throat cleared, snapping her out of her ecstasy. Zion pulled away, adjusting her robes, and sat up as though nothing happened. A few feet away, Silas and Gunther were staring at the two in unconcealed shock.
"You accept her, Zion?" Gunther asked, his voice cracking a little. "I thought it would take you the longest."
"Catherine's dream. Cathy picked her for us to love." Zion shrugged, his broad back finally revealing his tattoos to her. "I saw it."
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