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“Uma?”
“No...” She buried her face in the pillow.
The body next to hers moved. The hand that had been resting on her waist moved to her belly. Uma was face down and she could feel the other person press against her back with familiarity. A soft purr sank into her neck.
Oh, that was cheating.
“Come on! We promised to have breakfast with them.”
Uma buried herself deeper into the pillow. One of the softest pillows in the world. Plus, it smelled like lemon and was so calming. The purr intensified in her ear, relaxing her that much more.
“You can't expect me to get up if you do this,” Uma warned, letting herself fall asleep a bit more. “Besides, you were the one to blame for making me watch that documentary horror film. Four hours! It took four hours!” She screamed the last against the pillow.
The hands slid down her waist to her hip. So, Uma reached out her hands and clung to the head of the bed. She was exhausted. Uma didn’t want to move.
“Uma... Up!”
The purr didn't really help her wake up. Neither the body heat surrounded her so pleasantly. And in truth, she had barely slept two or maybe three hours.
“No, I'm a princess and I had read we need to sleep. Something about beauty. I don't know. Just... Let me sleep.”
"Uma."
A growl echoed against her ear like an order.
Oh...
It was going to be one of those days. That explained why Evie had insisted that Uma stay the night in her room and now Evie was so loving. Like a cycle, the beast had its moments, and right now, that phase was the time of the month when Evie became extremely protective of her own. Which meant that, for now, Uma was hers. And Chad. So Evie was in charge. And it wasn't a problem. Uma found those moments so fascinating.
But Uma should suggest to Chad not to show up. The press would have a feast if they saw Evie snuggled with him all day.
“Maybe we should change today's activities.” Uma allowed her best friend to sit her down and hug her around the waist, cuddling against her neck with a soft purr.
Evie shook her head and hugged her tighter.
“What happens?” Uma stroked Evie's hair with her fingers, earning herself a bigger purr.
“I want to see Ben,” Evie confessed.
“Is it safe?” Uma threw the question at the ceiling “How do you think you are going to react?”
“I don’t know.” Evie lamented “What if I act with him like with you and Chad? Or worse...?" Evie shaped her head "But I really want to see him.”
Uma laughed and pressed Evie against her neck to encourage her.
“I'm sure you're not going to do anything he doesn’t want. But as a precaution, let's move breakfast to a private place.” Uma proposed.
“Well.” Evie shifted, but with the natural strength the beast gave her, Uma was gently dragged to the edge of the bed like she was nothing. “Time for a shower.”
Uma looked at her best friend's hands tightly closed on her waist and knew immediately that they would both share the shower. Which didn't bother Uma. Evie enjoyed being protective and more caring than usual at this stage. So, Uma could enjoy perfectly hot water, essences, and a hair massage that took away all the stresses. In addition to continuing with casual and carefree conversations.
The press would never understand how perfectly harmless this part of Evie was. So, they had to hide it.
After the shower came more attention, like Evie combing Uma’s hair and constantly hugging her. Uma wrote to the boys to tell them that the location had changed and that a limousine would take them to the castle, where they would have breakfast. She also warned Queen Belle about Evie's situation and announced to the servants about the breakfast they would have on the terrace of Evie's bedroom.
By the time Ben and Harry arrived, they found a table full of food and Evie and Uma sitting in a long beach chair, their legs intertwined and Evie's head on Uma's shoulder as they both read the morning news.
Uma rested her hand on Evie's as a precaution. Actually, they had no idea what would happen the moment Ben was in front of the princess. Faced with all possibility, he could end up on Evie's lap and hearing her purr for hours. Uma knew how surprising that could be to someone who had never experienced something like this.
But Evie just raised her head from her position and smiled at the sight of the two boys in front of them.
“Ben! Harry!” Evie looked at the chair in front of them, across the square table. “Come on, have a seat.”
Ben froze in place. After everything they'd been through, Evie was already used to reaching out to him so that Ben would kiss her knuckles and caress her hand imperceptibly. But Evie didn't let go of Uma and just pointed to the chair with her eyes.
Harry put his arm around Ben's shoulders and led him to his place, dropping him onto the seat and sitting across from them. Uma looked at the pirate through the great feast and he immediately smiled in that demonic way that made her pulse race. Evie growled against her ear and pulled Uma onto her lap. Immediately Uma looked at Evie. But her friend looked just as surprised.
“Your highness?” Ben ventured to look at them without really understanding what was happening in front of his eyes.
Uma looked at Harry and to her bad luck, there was a mischievous glint in the pirate's eyes.
“Please, let's eat,” Evie asked, lowering Uma from her lap...
…Sliding her to the other side, so Uma was facing Ben. Evie seemed not to realize it because she was keeping direct contact with Uma at all times, she began to serve plates for each of them. Harry and Uma preferred a cost breakfast, Ben opted for fruits, waffles, and chocolate. As always when she was in that state, Evie enthusiastically filled her plate with cold cuts of different kinds, bacon, and scrambled egg with beef stew. All accompanied with a large glass of milk.
Ben and Harry exchanged glances, but at a signal from Ben, they both decided not to point at anything and continue their conversation. Uma stayed focused on her plate, thinking about the possibilities. Evie had never been possessive of her or Chad. Although, of course, people used to give them their space when they were together with the future queen of Auradon. But even in that state, the beast inside Evie wasn't usually territorial. Yes, it was protective and affectionate. But it had never growled at anyone.
But... There had been no need to do so before.
“Darling?”
Uma looked up, already too used to Harry calling her that and the effect was immediate. Evie dropped her fork and bared her fangs in a roar that came from deep within her chest and faded from her roof of the mouth. Evie's free hand, the one on Uma's waist resting quietly, became more possessive. Without hurting her.
“Evie...” Ben stood up, his eyes shining emerald and circling the table to reach her.
Uma immediately stood up and extended her arm protectively between Evie and Ben. But the princess hadn't cut eye contact with Harry who had his eyes flaming in crimson. Uma rolled her eyes.
“I think currently Evie could fight five bears on her own. She doesn't need extra protection.” Ben tried to reason with Uma.
“She could carry the sky and I still wouldn't move,” Uma warned.
Ben genuinely smiled.
“I admire that about you so much, Uma. But I would like to help.” Ben looked at Evie. “It's my mother's magic after all.”
Uma lowered her hand and Ben leaned down to face Evie. She frowned and blinked until she realized what was happening. Evie immediately turned and took Uma's hands.
“I'm so sorry… I don’t know what’s happening.” Evie returned to see Ben “This has never been like this. The beast usually requires immediate physical contact and affection. Only…”
“It's fine. You're just being territorial.” Ben took her hand and kissed her knuckles “Uma is your precious friend, and you don't want anyone to take her from you. Even less my dear cheeky pirate who seems ready to leave us at any second. But I assure you, he won't.”
“Evie...” Uma rested her hand on Evie’s shoulder, feeling her core shake You know I'm always with you."
Not even a pirate could do a difference.
“Harry, I-”
Harry's loud laugh interrupted Evie. Ben immediately shot him a warning look, but for the first time since Uma had met them, Harry didn't react. Instead, he got up and closed the distance between him and Evie. The princess released Ben, looking away from the pirate, trying not to rouse her beast against Harry. But the pirate laughed again and took Evie's hands, helping her up.
“...I don't want to fight you, Harry Hook.” Evie closed her eyes “I beg you not to do this.”
Uma felt her lip’s part when she saw what the pirate was doing. She wanted to jump at him, save him from the madness he was doing. But another part of Uma, the one that trusted Evie and Harry, made her stay where she was. Ben had apparently come to the same conclusion.
So, when Harry guided Evie's hand down and that forced the princess to open her eyes, she found the pirate on his knees, exposing his neck to her. Evie immediately grunted, knowing she could rip the pirate's throat out with one bite. He smiled.
“I don't plan on taking Uma from you. I don't have that power.” Harry explained, “What I want is for you to accept me.” He looked at Ben “If that’s okay with you.”
Ben laughed and put his hand on the pirate's shoulder.
“A little late to ask for my authorization, don't you think?” But Ben looked at the surprised Evie “But he's right, your Highness.”
And Ben knelt with the superior grace of a prince. Evie looked at Uma, searching for some kind of explanation, overcome by her confusion over her instincts.
“They want you to accept them. Like me and Chad.” Uma translated “Well, I think Ben wants something else.”
“As far as your Highness allows me, of course,” Ben responded with his innocent smile and malicious gleam.
Something clicked on Evie. Uma knew it because Evie sat down and looked at the two VKs. She first took Harry's face in her hands, looked at Uma, and then at him.
“Are you okay with this?”
“What she means is that every cycle you're going to have to accept being covered in cuddles because that's how Evie is with her friends.” Uma translated “You may end up sitting on her lap. She is extraordinarily strong.”
Harry stared at Uma. It was clear to him that this wasn’t a price to pay, but something else that he obtained by wanting to be by her side.
“The press cannot find out about this.” Evie said “They would believe that my intentions are different. But I assure you, it’s not like that. I just need to calm this desire for protection that exists in me.”
“I lived with Ben. I can handle this.” Harry shrugged “Also, I like groans, princess. You look lovely like this.”
And Evie relaxed because of it. She was always afraid that part of her being was too aggressive for people. Lovely. That was a nice word. Evie wanted to be that.
She released the pirate and looked at Ben, ready to ask the same question. But it was obvious that between them it was more than just friendship. Much more than hugs and purrs of happiness. Something that neither of them had explored because they went in a gentle courtship, from one leader to another, of mutual respect. But there was also something else and from the way Ben leaned further in her direction, it seemed to be something he longed to know.
“How about we watch movies?” Uma offered “The best thing is to stay inside.”
Evie nodded and got up, offering her hands to help the two VKs up. Without releasing their hands, she guided them into her room, where her little corner of entertainment was. Uma had to admire how easily Harry and Ben were giving in to all that. So, they sat on the floor, Evie sat on the couch behind Ben so he could use her thighs for pillows. And Uma leaned back on the couch and against Evie's side. Harry was next to Evie's legs and with her hand stroking his hair. Evie sighed gladly of all the contact received and the safe space she was dominating and snuggled closer on the couch while looking for a movie together with Ben. Harry looked up, making eye contact with Uma. He seemed intrigued as if wondering if this was how it felt to be special to Evie. Uma smiled proudly. Yes, that was her little paradise. And it had gotten bigger. But definitely for the better.
Evie purred with sheer happiness and Uma relaxed more.
Tomorrow they could continue to improve things. But today? Today was theirs. Safe and secure.