CASSIE
The strange piece of furniture arrived just asCassiewas beginning to believe they might actually have a moment to breathe.
She was still tucked betweenRavikandSeverinon the enormous nest-bed, both males holding her as though they were afraid she might disappear if they let go.Ravik’sreturn had changed the air in the suite completely.Thetension wasn’t gone—not exactly—but it had shifted from sharp, painful fear into something warmer and more fragile.Hope, maybe.
Cassie was almost afraid to name it.Shewas afraidRavikmight change his mind—nothing was certain until they actually tried to form theTriuneBond.
Then the door chimed.
All three of them jumped slightly, which would have been funny under almost any other circumstances.Ravikimmediately shifted to put himself between her and the door, whileSeverinrose smoothly and reached for the robeCassiehad discarded earlier, draping it over her with automatic care before he answered.
“Yes?”
The door slid open andLipshillstood there, crest feathers fluttering madly with excitement.Behindhim was a floating delivery platform carrying something large, padded, and deeply confusing.Itlooked like a cross between an expensive reclining chair, a medieval torture device, and something sold in the very back room of an extremely specialized adult store.
Cassie stared at it.
“What in the world isthat?”
Lipshill’s crest flared brightly.
“Dr.Verityxsends his compliments and this specially configuredTriunereproductive support chair.Hesaid it should be useful for the required simultaneous positioning, pelvic support, and nectar-production alignment.”
Ravik made a low sound in his throat and the corners ofSeverin’smouth twitched.
Cassie looked from one male to the other.
“What?”she asked.“Whydo both of you suddenly look like you understand what that thing is?”
“BecauseIthinkIdo,”Severinsaid quietly.
The floating platform glided into the suite and lowered the chair to the floor with a soft hiss.Lipshillchirped something cheerful about best wishes for a successful vaccine-grade output, then backed away beforeCassiecould ask any questions.
The door slid closed behind him and for a long moment, the three of them simply stared at the chair.
It was actually two padded seats facing each other, close enough that whoever sat in them would have their knees touching.Thebacks were high and angled slightly, with soft supports for shoulders and hips.Betweenthe two seats was a lower, curved saddle-shaped support, obviously meant for her.Therewere handgrips on either side and adjustable stirrup-like rests that madeCassie’scheeks heat when she realized exactly where her legs were supposed to go.
“It’s abreedingchair,” she said faintly.
“A support chair,”Severincorrected, though his voice sounded strained.
Cassie gave him a look.
“Severin.”
His cheekbones flushed.
“Yes.Itis almost certainly a breeding chair,” he admitted in a low voice.“I’veseen something like it before—theTwinKindreduse it forBondingwith their chosen female.”
Ravik folded his arms over his massive chest and stared at the chair thoughtfully.Therewas no old panic in his face now—no instant rejection.Justtension, hunger, and a raw kind of determination that madeCassie’sheart flutter.
“This will let us face each other,” he said at last.
Severin looked at him.
“Yes.”
“AndCassiewill be between us.”
