(Max's POV)
As Max strode back to his chambers, his internal turmoil was a roaring tempest.
He was at war with himself, grappling with lust and betrayal in equal measure. His body had betrayed him back in Anna's room; the stirring, insistent arousal was a physical manifestation of the maelstrom within him.
He had felt a primitive, all-consuming desire to claim Anna, even while his conscience screamed in protest. It was a level of carnal craving he had only ever felt for Asiva.
' Damn it all! ' Max thought as he felt like punching through the palace walls.
It was all very frustrating because his tier5 test that revealed his inner demons showed a visual where he discovered that he did have some form of attraction towards Anna.
It was a confusing moment for him that Max had tried to bury deep within thinking that he could not jeopardise his relationship with Anna and Asiva by acting on it, yet today as Anna made her intentions clear, that deep buried desire resurfaced with a vengeance.
The worst part in this exchange however was Asiva, how could he face her, let alone touch her, knowing he'd just left a room pulsating with a forbidden atmosphere?
He knew he needed to come clean about what happened today with her, he at least understood that it was the right thing to do, but even though he knew he had to talk to her, he felt it incredibly difficult to muster enough strength to face her.
It took him an hour to finally reach her room and 20 minutes more to muster the courage to grasp the door handle.
Taking a deep and stabilising breath, Max eventually opened it and saw Asiva seated by the window, her form illuminated by moonlight as she looked even more beautiful than what Anna did a few moments ago with her belly softly rounded with their unborn child.
It was a serene image, starkly contrasting the emotional chaos he felt inside, as just looking at her he was reminded of how much he loved her and what she meant to him.
"Asiva, we need to talk," Max said, his voice faltering in a very uncharacteristic manner.
Asiva turned, and she could instantly see a storm in his eyes that mirrored his inner turbulence. " What's wrong, Max? You look like you just fought ten rounds against Sebastian "
Max wasted no time, he knew the longer he dallied the more difficult this conversation would become as he instantly came clean.
He expressed everything raw, uncomfortable, immoral, but entirely honest, as he recounted the encounter with Anna.
The erotic tension, the uninvited arousal, the atmosphere that felt like a noose tightening around his loyalty—everything.
" I feel like a traitor to our love," he admitted, his voice tinged with shame. " Anna's advances unearthed something within me, something unsettling and I'm feeling lost, Asiva."
Asiva was silent for an agonising moment, her nails digging deep into her own flesh as she glanced outside the room, not being able to maintain eye-contact with Max.
" She came to me before you, she told me about how she felt and I told her that if she wanted to win your love she would need to do it herself " Asiva said as a few drops of tears slipped down her cheek.
Max looked at her, bewildered, "You knew?"
" Yes, " she sighed. " I've been sitting on it, contemplating. Anna has been your steadfast companion, even when you were nothing more than a common vampire. I can't dismiss that level of loyalty and love. And, I've seen polygamous relationships work within our circle, like with your brother. But," her voice faltered, " the thought of sharing you with anyone else is agonising "
" So, where does that leave us? " Max asked, his voice tinged with desperation.
" I don't know, " Asiva admitted.
" I feel like I'm standing at the edge of a precipice, between what I know to be good and what I feel to be right. The thought of another woman sharing your bed, your life, is unsettling.
I kind of want to have a relationship like Naomi has with Ruby.
It's beautiful, and a better environment to raise children.
But I also secretly wanted Anna to fail in trying to seduce you.
The very thought that she's able to arouse such emotions in you is emotionally crippling for me because I thought I'm the only one that can make you feel that way, but I also don't want to block you from being happy.
I trust you enough that you'll do right by me and I've decided to leave the rest to our love.
If it's strong enough everything will be alright, if it's not, hell, then this wasn't worth it to begin with " Asiva said as she wiped the tears off her cheek and kept staring into the distance.
Max took in her words, each hitting him like a hammer against the anvil of his conscience.
"Whatever I decide, it has to honour what we have and what Anna means to me," Max finally said, " and it has to be a decision that neither of us will regret.
But one thing is for sure, I'll never hurt you and nobody will ever replace your place in my heart.
That much, I promise "
Saying so, Max knelt and kissed Asiva on her belly and then on her neck before leaving the room to have some time alone.
Talking to Asiva gave him a lot of unexpected clarity as he felt like he almost knew what to do now.
He would marry Asiva first, he would give her the honour of being his first wife and the mother of his eldest child.
He would take care of her and only her during the entire duration of her pregnancy, but once the baby was brought into the world and the wedding had happened, he would explore his relationship with Anna as well and see if she truly fit into his harem.
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/// A/N - Bonus chapter for hitting the GT target, good job everyone! ///