"I am not an angel," I asserted; "and I will not be one till I die: I will be myself."

(Charlotte Brontë)

As soon as Ashur stepped inside the room, with his precious cargo secured in his arms, Fayez knew that Akhenaton was here.

He didn't see him, though. Yet, he was positive that the brunet was present. The reason?

Well, simple. The second Ashur and himself had entered the room, the door had been instantly locked.

Had Fayez had any intent to escape, he couldn't have done so, for the door was magically closed and wouldn't open until the stubborn sorcerer decided to do so.

Fuck. Guess Ash was right. These two are going to watch my every move until they're sure I don't plan to leave them ever again.

The realization didn't annoy him. He just wasn't used to having people care so much about him. Back at his castle, he could spend an entire day without interracting with anyone. Sometimes he even wondered if his parents hadn't forgotten about him entirely.

He didn't blame them, though. They couldn't help it, and while he knew they were still trying their best with him, loving someone isn't something you can force yourself to do.

He was hard to love, yet his three mates made it seem so easy. They made it seem like loving him was only natural.

Eventually, Ashur put him down on their huge bed, so carefully one would have thought Fayez was a fragile infant.

The second he was put down on the bed, the young vampire turned around to face his other mate, who was currently laying on the heavy blanket.

He swallowed, his throat suddently feeling very dry, as his eyes met with bright blue ones.

Not so long ago, these eyes, although undeniably beautiful, had looked liveless and sad. Now, although there was still some sorrow and anxiety in them, there weren't those horrible dark circles under them.

Zephyr looked a thousand times better than the last time he had seen him. He looked healthier, and possibly stronger. It made Fayez's metaphorical heart beat wildly in his chest.

He cleared his throat, without realizing that the vampire was doing the same thing.

"I want-" he started.

"It's completely-" Zephyr began.

"I'M SO SORRY" they both exclaimed at the exact same time.

They fell into each others' arms, and Ashur couldn't tell if the two men were laughing or crying. He didn't say anything, as he simply watched them, with an unmistakable fondness in his warm brown eyes.

"What are you sorry for?" Fayez eventually asked, after they had both calmed down a bit. "I'm the one who lied to you, invited you on a fake date, acted behind Ash and Ake's backs..."

Zephyr shook his head at these words and hugged him even harder.

"You saved my life, you stupid squirrel." he sniffed. "I am the one who should be apologizing to you. You almost died because of me. If only I had been stronger-"

"That's enough. Both of you." Ashur suddenly intervened, with his quiet but authoritative voice that Fayez had missed so much.

"As much as I love you, I have to tell you that you're both spouting nonsense right now" he added, looking at them with a stern expression.

He took a seat on the bed, ruffling Zephyr's soft hair with one hand while drawing soothing circles on Fayez's back with the other.

"Zeph", he continued, making the slender man look at him with a sheepish expression. "As I've told you over and over again, it's not your fault Fayez was in coma for weeks. You were on the verge of dying, and Faye wanted to save you - we all wanted to do so. And now, thanks to this bold young man, you're healthy again."

Zephyr nodded, giving a quick peck on the other prefect's lips before focusing on Fayez again.

"Faye" Ashur then declared, turning to his other mate and squeezing his hand tightly. "The same goes for you. It doesn't matter that you lied to us, as it was for a good cause. Of course, we were worried sick - we still are - but what is important is that you are both alive."

"Thank you, Ash" Fayez said, feeling relieved at the idea that he was entirely forgiven.

Well, Ashur and Zephyr forgave him.

Where is Akhenaton and why hasn't he showed up yet?

With that thought in mind, he got up from the bed and took a few steps in the corridor.

Too fast. His head was spinning and he would have most likely fall, if a strong hand hadn't suddenly grab him.

Of course, he knew who the person was. He could recognize his smell anywhere, just like he did with his other two mates.

"Akhenaton" he said tentatively. "I didn't hear you. You really have the habit of appearing out of nowhere."

"I was in the bathroom" Akhenaton replied curtly. "But I knew you were there so I finished showering as quickly as I could."

"Of course, you knew I was there" Fayez tried to said jokingly, but the shaking in his voice ruined his whole attempt. "You locked the goddamn door the second I stepped in. I would make a pretty hot prisoner, right?"

Akhenaton said nothing, his grip on Fayez remaining strong and unbreakable.

"Erm, could you let me go, now? I promise I won't run. " Fayez eventually whispered, as the other man still hadn't make another move.

Nothing.

Let's try something else.

He tentatively rose his free hand, and lightly pressed the shoulder of the slightly taller man with his cold fingers.

That seemed to bring him back to reality. Fayez could now feel his mate's gaze on him, but he didn't dare looking up.

A minute or so passed. Fayez felt like he was no longer breathing - not that he really needed to breathe, but still. Akhenaton was probably mad at him. He never was as collected as his other mates. He had always been the more intense of the trio.

He startled when he felt a hand lightly grab his chin, forcing him to look up. His eyes met with Akhenaton's.

At times, he thought that the brunet was unreadable. Not now, though. Now, he could clearly see every emotion that were dancing in the piercing eyes.

Worry. Love. Frustration. Disbelief. Above all, an intense relief, so intense that the man almost looked like his legs could barely hold him.

"I'm - I'm sorry" was all Fayez managed to say, before he was pulled into another embrace.

The hug was bone-crushing, but Fayez wasn't complaining. It felt too good to be close to his mates again, to have their strong arms circling his waist. He was so glad to be back.

"When you're fully healed, I'm going to fucking kill you" Akhenaton promised in his ear, as he cupped Fayez's cheeks with a softness that quite contradicted his words. "When Ash and I entered the room to find you laying on the bed, liveless and so pale... you have no idea how it felt."

"Ake, I'm-"

Fayez heard a little metallic noise, and startled as he looked down at his own wrist.

"Ake! Come on, man, you're not serious!"

"I'm dead serious. I'm not letting you go more than a meter away from me."

Handcuffed. The asshole had handcuffed him! His right wrist was now chained to Akhenaton's left one.

He huffed, as he let the other man drag him back to the bed.

That's kinda hot, though, an unsolicited voice whispered in a corner of his mind.

"It's not!" he denied instantanly.

"Huh?" Akhenaton looked back at his with a questionning expression.

Shit. I said that aloud.

"Nothing" he quickly replied, shaking his head a bit too vehemently to be really convincing.

"You're talking to yourself, now" Akhenaton commented with a worried expression. "That's not good. Maybe you need to rest a bit longer."

He tugged at the handcuff, making Fayez fall in the middle of the bed. He was now completely surrounded by his three mates, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remove the handcuff.

"Don't worry, Faye" Ashur said, while glaring at Akhenaton. "This stubborn, anxious little porcupine is going to release you. NOW."

"I told you and Zeph not to call me a porcupine" Akhenaton protested with a pout, before shutting his mouth close when Ashur got a bit closer to him.

"Careful, Ake." Ashur warned him. "You're treading on thin water right now."

Fayez wanted to laugh because a pouting Akhenaton was way too cute and funny, but he managed to control himself.

" I can see where the nickname comes from." You do look like a porcupine right now, with your hair unkept and spiky" he observed, earning himself a punishing slap on the thigh.

"Ouch" he said, although he barely felt it.

"Sorry not sorry" Akhenaton mumbled, but he was now soothing the sting with his very capable hand.

"The reason his hair look so messy is because he was so excited to see you that he didn't even wash them" Zephyr teased, giving his mate a bright smile when Ake turned his murderous glare in his direction.

"Why did you slap me and not Zeph?" Fayez complained.

"Because Zeph is too delicate to be slapped" Akhenaton retorted.

"What?" Zephyr shouted, before he jumped on his boyfriend. "Me, delicate? You can't even handle me, you big, whining porcupine"

They started rolling on the bed, each of them trying to overpower the other and pin them on the mattress - alas, the poor Fayez, who was still joined with Ake by the handcuff, was also being tossed around.

"Stop"

Ashur had pronounced this word in his usually quiet voice, but his two mates immediatly obeyed, for it was obvious the prefect was starting to get really annoyed, and angry Ashur was scary.

"Stop acting like children." he scolded them. "Can't you see that you could hurt Fayez, who is still recovering?"

They both looked at Fayez with an horrified expression, making him feel a bit bad for them.

"I'm fine" he reassured them. "I'm a big guy."

They said nothing, both of them looking totally unconvinced by his affirmation.

Well, isn't it flattering.

"Ake", Ashur ordered, "Free him now."

Akhenaton nodded, and he looked like he was about to do just that, when Fayez intervened.

"Wait"

Akhenaton paused, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"What is it, brat? Minutes ago you were asking me to let you go."

"I know, I know. It's just - "

Shit. Where was this coming from? He really needed to stop being so impulsive.

"Tell me." Akhenaton demanded, with a knowing smile on his lips.

"There's no need to remove the handcuff." Fayez muttered, his cheeks burning.

"Why?" Akhenaton insisted.

"Akhenaton.." Ashur started.

"No, Ash." Akhenaton said with a firm tone. "This boy is too clueless. I'm helping him getting more awareness. Self-knowledge is important, after all."

"Right." Zephyr snorted. "Because your motives are pure and selfless, porcupine."

"Of course they are!"

Fayez was barely listening to them anymore. He was thinking about Akhenaton's question. It was an interesting question, one he wasn't sure how to answer.

"Don't think too much" Akhenaton cooed, as he saw that Fayez was struggling to come up with an answer. "Just tell me how you feel with the handcuff around your wrist."

How did he feel? It was nice, for sure.

"It's nice" Fayez said truthfully, making Akhenaton smile.

"Care to elaborate, sweetheart?"

Fayez blushed, embarrassed by the nickname. He couldn't let himself be so easily flustered! He had to focus on Akhenaton's question, although he didn't quite understand why it was so important. Ashur and Zephyr now looked very interested in what he had to say, too.

"I like the idea that you are in control" he tried to explain, feeling a bit stupid. "It's only with the three of you, though, on specific occasions. I feel safe, when you watch over me, ready to reward me if I'm doing good or... punish me if I'm doing something wrong. It's - I guess I'm not making any sense, but it's reassuring. I feel like I can truly let it go."

There was a short silence. His three mates now look very serious - even Akhenaton had lost his teasing expression.

What were they thinking right now? Did they find him weird?

"I know I sound crazy right now." he hurriedly added, his voice taking pleading notes. "It's just the way it is, though. You asked me to be honest, and -"

"And you were perfectly honest with us. Thank you, sweet boy" Ashur finished with a calm voice.

Zephyr grinned, making Fayez wince, because this bright smile on Zephyr's face could only mean one thing...

"Yes!" he exclaimed, raising both his arms in triumph. "I knew it! You're the perfect Sub!"

The what?

"What Zephyr means" Ashur explained, after sighing heavily when the vampire started singing 'Alleluia, Alleluia', "Is that you might have submissive tendancies. Some people enjoy being dominated from time to time. Letting someone else be in charge can feel very liberating."

"Is it normal, though?" Fayez asked with a frown.

"Define normal" Akhenaton butted in. "There are as many kinks as there are individuals. Don't worry. We're not weirded out - quite the contrary."

That was embarrassing. And confusing. It quite made sense, though. He had enjoyed being on his knees for Ashur, as much as he had liked Akhenaton pinning down to a wall. Even the spanking -

"That's alright, Faye." Ashur said gently. "You have all the time in the world to discover - or not - this part of yourself. Whatever you decide, we'll be there for you."

Fayez nodded, then lost himself in his own thoughts for so long, that he didn't realize the mood had drastically changed in the room, until he rose up his head again and looked at his mates.

"What is it, guys?" he asked. "Why the long faces?"

They hesitated, and Fayez tensed up, fearing the worst. This time, Zephyr was the one who broke the silence.

"Actually, squirrel" he said in a low tone, "there's something else we need to discuss. Something much less pleasant."