Free Her Warriors by Bianca D'Arc

kill the other.
    Within the specified half hour, they
presented themselves in the main house, only a little banged up
from their endeavors. Jacki was pale and silent at Bettina’s side.
The High Priestess looked at them with a measuring gaze.
    “I know all three of you are confused,” she
began. “Each of you men think that Jacki is your mate.”
    “I know she is,” Beau declared loudly. Geir
wanted to speak too, but the High Priestess held up both her hands,
palms outward, quieting them.
    “I don’t doubt your claims. Both of
your claims,” she emphasized. “Have either of you bothered to
consider how Jacki may feel?”
    Beau looked pained while Geir just felt his
heart sink. “I—” he started, then tried again. “I wondered if maybe
it was different for her kind. I don’t know much about selkies or
how they mate. Though it pains me, I thought maybe she didn’t feel
the same.”
    “Oh, no,” Jacki denied quickly in a raspy
tone. “I never wanted to make you feel that way, Geir. Or you,
Beau. I’m just…” She looked at Bettina. “I’m really confused. How
can you both be my mate?”
    “How can they not?” Bettina asked
rhetorically, then smiled. “Jacki, you are going to be a priestess.
Surely you must realize there is some precedent for a triad formed
by two shifter males and a priestess.”
    “But we’re not identical twins, or Lords,”
Beau pointed out unnecessarily.
    “And I’m not Allie, destined to help her
twin mates rule,” Jacki added.
    “Of course not, but Jacki, you will be in
charge of something very important, if not rule, per se. After me,
you will be the High Priestess.”
    “Only if you fall, you said,” Jacki
protested.
    “Or if I retire,” Bettina added with a
benevolent nod of her head. “I’ve been High Priestess for a very
long time. Even I might deserve a rest from my toils once this
crisis ends. Don’t you think?”
    “It’s not what I think that matters,” Jacki
answered, already showing the wisdom of a priestess, in Geir’s
view. “It’s what the Lady asks of you and what you’re willing to
give.”
    Bettina nodded with a kind look on her face.
“You’re so right, my dear. And I have always given Her my all. But
it’s clear to me that even I may not live forever. Or work forever.
There must be a successor, and the Mother of All has led me to you.
Is it no wonder she wants you to have a strong and loyal support
system should you need to fill my shoes?” She turned her gaze on
the men. “And you two… You have both allied yourselves with Clans
not of your species. Beau was drawn to the Kinkaids—one of the only
tigers in their ranks. Why, Beau? What drew you there?”
    Beau’s face flushed, but he seemed resigned
when he answered. “Jacki did.”
    “I did?” Jacki seemed truly surprised and
very intrigued.
    Beau nodded. “I saw you, and I knew I wanted
to be near you. I thought at first it was just the magic of the
selkies that attracted me, but I came to really care for your
family. I would adopt Tom as my own brother, if I could. And I have
watched you for a long time, wondering if maybe you were meant for
me. I never had the guts to find out until now. You seemed so far
above me… I’m just a simple soldier. You’ll always be too good for
me, Jacki, but I can’t let you go. I can’t give up the chance for
happiness. I’ll do everything I can to make you happy for the rest
of your life, if you’ll only be mine. I’ve loved you for a long
time.”
    There was little doubt that Beau was
embarrassed to have to declare himself in front of an audience, but
Geir admired his courage in doing so. It was tough to hear that
Beau had the prior claim on Jacki, having seen her first. But Geir
wouldn’t back down either. If what the High Priestess was saying
held any merit, perhaps neither of them would have to back down.
His tiger was already considering it. He could feel the cat
watching and waiting to be consulted for its opinion.
    “Master