“Once again, I apologize for my behavior with your mother this morning.” Dusk started off by explaining why he brought them here.

“No, it's my ma who should apologize. We know your history. We should have been more careful.” Taking their dishes to his sink, Pyrite said. They appeared to know and claimed to be knowledgeable, but to what extent?

“How much do you know?” Dusk asked, walking to the sink and grabbing a token from the small jar he kept by the sink. Snapping it and cleaning the dishes in a furry of water and air.

“We know what your mother did and what your siblings did to you.” Micah turned his eyes away from Dusk as he spoke. Rubbing the back of his neck. Micah looked back up at him. They knew everything in the dissolution paperwork then.

“We also know about your scars, but we didn't look at the recordings.” Pyrite spoke in a low, rumbling tone. Even with the lack of expression on his face, he could hear his words. Pyrite was furious.

“I wanted to learn about your past by gaining your trust and your love. Mother had other plans.” Micah said, turning back to face him. “You have to understand.” Pyrite approached Micah after he began to frown. Hugging him into his side.

“You are a prince.” Dusk spoke, expressing how tired he was. How would a mother feel? Dusk thought about it. A real mother, one who cared. They wouldn't be happy if their son came home one day after shopping and declared he had found his mate—his second mate, at that.

“You said a mate was like marriage, but destined. What does that mean?” Dusk asked Pyrite, since it looked like Micah was struggling with his emotions.

“It implies that the universe will assign ya one or two fated partners. You are made whole by those who make you whole.” Micah was taking some trembling breaths to calm himself down when Pyrite stroked his arm. “There is something about those special people that draws ya in,” Pyrite said, his face pinched together while he tried to explain.

“This country allows multiple bonds.” Since he did not think a prince would blatantly break the law, Dusk said. In the world of martial arts, harems were common, but there could only be one legitimate union.

“For the mateship, or marriage, to take place, the bonds must demonstrate their validity. There's a test.” Standing up in Pyrite's arms and sounding much more collected, Micah said.

“Then should we take this test?” Dusk asked, That was the fastest way to nip this at its root.

“We need to spend at least six months together. Then we can test the mate bond.” Micah shook his head. Dashing Dusk hoped for quick resolutions.

“It takes time to grow a bond,” Pyrite said, rubbing his thumb along the opening in Micah's neck.

“Six months?” Dusk asked. Could you get to know a person in such a short period of time?

“Mates bond fast,” Pyrite said, kissing the top of Micah's head. “Micah and I have been inseparable since we were ten.”

“I don't feel anything for you; I feel no pull.” Dusk spoke in blunt, cold words. He might behave a little strangely around them, but that was just the stress of moving, adjusting to school, and dealing with his nightmares.

“We sense it; Dusk, we sense you.” Micah appeared to be on the verge of crying. “I did not notice your pain last month because I was so excited to see you,” Micah said, taking another shaky breath.

“We share all of our emotions as mates, not just love.” Pyrite informed him while regaining his growl. “More than either of us, Dusk. Micah can feel your pain, but that is typical for an omega.”

Dusk said, “Give me a second,” and closed his eyes. Considering everything, it was clear that they meant what they said. That he was there, mate. All of this because they felt him. Feel his pain? What exactly was an omega? Dusk allowed his thoughts to wander. Thinking about it would not help him in any way. “I'm not in any pain.” Dusk started from the first point that came to mind.

“I practically hear your heart screaming, so do not lie.” With unshed tears in his eyes, Micah uttered. “Who on earth would mark a child with such a scar?” Micah raised his arm to wipe his eyes. Dusk took a trembling breath and bit his tongue to control his feelings. His own blood's subtle copper flavor helped him focus.

“Is this an omega ability?” Dusk asked, not wanting to believe in such an evasion of his emotional state. Seeing the charming and cool Micah cry in front of him, though. Even though they had just met this morning, something felt off. That emotion also had nothing to do with the bond between mates. Dusk wouldn't fall for pretty ideas that sounded too much like fairy tales.

“An omega who cares for his mates and is the heart of his mates. He feels the connection the deepest.” Pyrite took the end of his school robe to dab his mate's face. “I'm an alpha. I protect my mates, and I provide for my mates. Our family.” The more he spoke, the deeper the growl in his voice went. “I let a country keep me from protecting ya. I'm sorry.”

“I don't know what to say.” Dusk looked at the people before him. Nobody had ever been this honest with him before. He could continue to try to brush them off, but that would feel like slapping them in the face. Sighing, Dusk looked down to the floor and back up, allowing himself that quick respite to gather his thoughts.

“Give us a chance,” Micah pleaded, placing his hand on his chest and displaying a level of vulnerability that Dusk would never tolerate in himself.

“Please, Sunshine,” Pyrite added his pleas on top of his mates. Dusk could not refuse because he was backed into a corner. He could, but he would not like how much that would resemble the woman he fled from.

“Six months, and we can do the test?” Dusk asked, and the men before him perked up.

“Six months, and we can take the mate bond test.” Micah said his lips were starting to turn up in a smile.

“Then you have six months.” The truth would come out eventually. They were not bad people, so he could put up with this.

“Alright!” Dusk jumped at Pyrite's yell. Micah leapt at him and pulled him into a big hug. Pyrite gave them both a hug and lifted them into the air. How did he get into this situation? Dusk pondered whether he should reverse his choice.