James explained the meeting with Luna and Jamie to Amber and Zenaria as they departed the house. Kicking into a run, he noticed both ladies staring at him with wide eyes as he finished.

"They can still talk to you?" Amber asked, talking clearly despite the flat out run.

"Seems so." Turning to Zenaria, he asked, "what do you think of all of this?"

Pursing her lips, Zenaria shook her head. "I'm not sure. There's a lot to unpack here."

He couldn't help but agree. Losing everyone hurt worse than anything he could possibly imagine. Learning they were still with him, quite literally made that pain dull but not leave entirely.

"What all did you guys talk about?" Amber asked.

Blinking a few times, James slowed his pace, bringing them to a walk. "I'd like a minute with Amber." Turning to Shadow Paw and the wolves, he said, "take Zenaria and run ahead to let Mother know we are coming."

Bowing his head, Shadow Paw stepped up to the kitsune and urged her to start running again. Zenaria shared a worried look with him before walking over to his side and kissed his cheek. "Don't keep me waiting."

Giving her a small smile, he touched her shoulder gently. "We'll be there soon."

Returning his smile, she started running again, putting distance between him and Amber. Blowing out a slow breath, James turned to the nekorian. "Where were we?"

Amber cocked a brow. "You were telling me about how Zenaria wants you."

"No I wasn't," he protested. "She just needs solid comfort."

"She needs something solid all right. She just lost everyone and wants to secure her place by your side as well as give you comfort. She wants to feel that you aren't going to leave her too."

Running a hand through his hair, he watched the retreating kitsune. "Maybe you're right. But that's a talk for another time. Luna talked about you."

"Oh…"

Kicking into a slow jog, James pulled Amber up next to him. "She wants us to admit to each to other that we are soulmates. She also told me to kiss you or she'd be mad at me."

Jaw dropping, Amber tried to work her mouth, but no words would come out.

"That was my reaction too. Also, she is letting you borrow me until I'm with her again."

"Umm…"

Despite the somber statement, James chuckled. Breaking apart to dodge around a few corrupted trees, they came back together a few seconds later. Inching closer to the nekorian, he asked, "what do we do about Zenaria?"

"I don't know." Shaking her head, Amber met his gaze. "We just lost everyone and she wants you to kiss me?"

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"I think she wants me to find happiness however I can. She also knows I need the comfort right now. All three of us do."

"I've always been fine with sharing," Amber admitted. "And you're right, all three of us need to be there for one another." Coming to a stop, she hugged herself and sank to her knees. "She knows me so well," she whispered.

James kneeled next to her. "She does. She knew what we meant to each other and even Mender ensured you survived. I can't do this without you, Amber. I just…" he didn't want to finish.

Amber let herself go and rubbed her face. "I need a minute. I need to process."

Nodding, he helped her to her feet before starting to run again. After a few minutes, she spoke up again. "Can you run ahead to Zenaria. I need to be alone."

"Sure." Picking up speed, he left Amber behind and caught up to the kitsune. She eyed him with worry before he fell in next to her. "Amber asked me to leave her behind for a minute."

"What did you talk about?

He needed to tell her the truth, and so that's what he did. He told her about Luna's wishes and what Amber meant to him. He also told her that they were talking about her too.

"So, both of us?" Zenaria asked with a slight smile.

"Maybe," he admitted. "It's just the three of us now, Zenaria. I can't lose either of you. I want…" Shaking his head, he didn't finish his thoughts.

"We all need to talk," Zenaria stated. Slowing down, she started to fall behind. "I'm going to talk with Amber. We'll meet you at the city."

Nodding, he picked up his pace slightly. He had a lot to think about, just as the ladies did. He wanted to hold them close and ensure they didn't leave him. He couldn't bear another loss.

***

Amber slowed her pace as she noticed Zenaria jogging back toward her. "He talked to you about us?"

Falling in next to her, the kitsune nodded. "I think he's afraid to let us stray too far from his side. He's grasping at anything to feel solid."

Snorting a laugh, Amber shook her head. "We both are." Lowering her voice, she added, "you weren't there. I watched our friends die while I was right beside them. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't save them. I wasn't fast enough. I wasn't strong enough. But it was James that felt everyone die. He talked to them, knowing that they were giving him their strength in order to beat that woman. I can't imagine…"

Zenaria pulled them to a stop. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left. I don't care about those demi-humans. I shouldn't have left his side. I shouldn't have left any of you."

Wiping her eyes, Amber could barely nod. "I don't know what to do…I'm afraid of losing him. There are still cracks in his soul and mind, but I think he wants to fill them with us. Both of us. He thinks if we are with him intimately, we won't leave."

"Would we leave anyway?"

Shaking her head, Amber could help but chuckle. "No, we wouldn't. He's my soulmate, Zenaria. We've both known that for a long time, yet we didn't act. I want to feel him holding me. I want to taste his lips and wipe away his tears. But I also don't want to share him. I'm willing to though, I just…"

Pulling her into a hug, Zenaria rubbed her back. "Then we won't share him. At least not yet. Ultimately it'll be up to him. He's my savior and protector and I can continue being his friend and sister. Just know that I want my tails cleaned still."

Hugging the woman back tightly, Amber felt the tears drip from her chin. "Why did Luna have to go? I miss her so much. She was perfect for him. She held all of us together and kept us in line."

Zenaria pressed her face into her neck. "I don't know…I want to feel her arms around me again. I want to hear her stern voice as she chides me. Dammit!"

Squeezing the kitsune tight, Amber openly cried. She couldn't handle the pain in her heart. Her very soul was strained as she thought of her family. Seeing Jamie die before she could properly show up. Watching the elf impale Mender and the red veins spreading through his body.

She felt herself be lowered to the ground. Zenaria refused to let her go as they cried together. Minutes passed before she was done and could focus again. With shuddering breaths, she wiped her face and got back to her feet. "We need to go see our friends off."

Nodding, Zenaria cleaned her face with a spare shirt before kicking into a run. Amber matched her pace as they let the hours pass in silence. She would have James to herself, at least at first. She also knew he wouldn't let Zenaria stray from his side. Things were going to be slightly complicated, but she trusted the kitsune to put down some rules with him.

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