Meeting the team

Riley Victsa woke slowly, her mind clawing its way up through thick layers of sleep. Something felt… wrong. The bed was far too comfortable, the sheets softer and heavier than the ones in her apartment. But the hangover that was pounding in her head really didnt want her to get up. More importantly, there was weight on both sides of her.

A warm body pressed against her right side. Another, equally warm and unmistakably close, on her left. For a good... 20 seconds. Everything was nice and comfortable and... warm...

Her eyes snapped open.

She was lying in the middle of an enormous bed, draped in deep blue and silver linens that felt impossibly luxurious. To her right, a young man with tan skin and dark hair slept peacefully, his arm draped loosely across her waist. To her left, an almost identical woman had curled in close, her face tucked near Riley’s shoulder, one hand loosely gripping the front of Riley’s shirt as if even in sleep she refused to let go.

Riley’s heart slammed against her ribs. She froze; every muscle locked in place while her mind raced to catch up. Her head spinning as she resisted the urge to sit up and look around.

The room around them was stunning. Floor-to-ceiling windows on one wall looked out over a breathtaking mountainside beach house perched on a rocky cliff. Below, turquoise waves crashed against a private sandy cove, while jagged, mist-covered mountains rose dramatically behind the house. Morning light poured in, painting everything in soft golds and cool blues.

This was definitely not her apartment.

Before she could move or speak, a gentle chime filled the air. A soft, holographic projection of a popping fireworks appeared near the foot of the bed, exploding diferent pinks and reds soflty.

“Congratulations, Riley, Desna, and Eska! We here at Cupid’s Wishes would like to thank you all for using our services to find the ‘one(s)’ in your lives!”

The voice was bright and bubbly, completely at odds with the rising panic in Riley’s chest. Both Desna and Eska stirred at the sound, their eyes fluttering open with matching expressions of groggy confusion.

The holographic hostess continued cheerfully:

“We hope you enjoy your new lives together and the new amenities of the home we have graciously gifted! As well as the optimized bodies, we’ve given you! Now we’re sure you want to go ahead and start your honeymoon and see the sights and sounds of the multiverse! But to do that, you must first make the marriage official with a dance underneath the sheets! Once that is done, you can traverse the multiverse to your heart’s desire!”

Eska lifted her head, staring at the hologram with narrow, unimpressed eyes. Desna slowly pushed himself up on one elbow, his usual deadpan expression already sliding into place even as he registered the situation.

The message went on:

“And remember, you are now bound in holy matrimony for good and for ill, for life and for death! So take care of each other, else you all will meet and suffer a quick meeting with the reaper! But enough with the doom and gloom, it’s a time to think about life! So, enjoy your new life together, you cute trio! And if you have any questions, consult your travel manual — it is next to your complimentary wedding gifts from us here at Cupid’s Wishes!”

The hologram blinked out with a final happy chime, leaving the room in ringing silence.

Riley lay very still between the twins, hyper-aware of their bodies pressed against hers and the way both twins were now fully awake and staring at her.

Eska’s grip on her shirt tightened slightly. Her voice came out low, dry, and dangerously calm.

“…brother. This is new.”

Desna’s gaze flicked from Riley to his sister and back again, his expression unreadable but with the faintest trace of dark amusement in his eyes.

“Indeed,” he murmured. “I theorize that this is mothers doing.”

The silence that followed the hologram’s disappearance was deafening.

Riley’s breath came shallow and quick. She was trapped between two warm bodies that were very real, very close, very comfortable, and currently staring at her with varying degrees of scrutiny.

On her left, Eska slowly propped herself up on one elbow. Her dark hair fell messily over one shoulder, but her sharp eyes were already alert, scanning Riley’s face with intense, unblinking focus. Her hand remained fisted in the front of Riley’s shirt, as if testing if Riley would try to get away from her.

On her right, Desna shifted slightly, his arm still loosely draped across Riley’s waist. He regarded her with that signature flat, analytical stare, though there was a faint glint of dry curiosity in his eyes.

Riley finally found her voice.

“…am i high or something” she muttered, half hoping it was true.

Eska’s lips twitched — the closest she usually came to a smirk.

“You being under the influence” she said, voice low and smooth, “wouldnt explain the accomodations.” She gave Riley’s shirt another small, possessive tug. “... do you still belive to be under the influence?”

Desna let out a soft, almost inaudible huff that might have been amusement. He sat up a little more, the sheets sliding down his bare torso as he glanced around the sunlit room.

“Mother,” he said simply, as if that single word explained everything. “She always did prefer drastic solutions.”

Riley’s mind was still spinning. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep in her own apartment after submitting that ridiculous profile on Cupid’s Wish.×

She carefully sat up, though she didn’t try to pull away from either of them. Eska’s grip loosened but didn’t fully release her. Desna’s hand remained lightly resting on her lower back, steady and surprisingly warm.

“So…” Riley exhaled, running a hand through her hair. “That message wasn’t joking. We’re… married. All three of us.”

“Thats seems correct.” Desna replied matter-of-factly. “A rare triadic bond, apparently. Efficient, in its own way.”

Eska leaned in closer, studying Riley’s face like she was trying to memorize every detail. There was something almost... hungry in her eyes.

“You are bolder than most who look at us,” Eska murmured. “You did not flinch when you woke up between us. I think I like that.” Her fingers traced a small circle on Riley’s shirt. "What do you think, brother."

Desna looked Riley up and down, his eyes scanning over her shamelessly. "She looks adequate but that is hardly what i care about."

“Thanks?” she answered, trying to keep her voice steady despite the headache pounding in her head and the heat rising where Eska's fingers circled.

“Riley” Eska spoke slowly, as if tasting the name. She glanced across at her brother. “I believe she will do nicely, Desna.”

Desna gave a small nod, his expression softening just a fraction as he looked at Riley.

“The house appears well-suited,” he observed, nodding toward the massive windows. “Mountain and sea. Isolation with beauty. Someone understood our tastes… and hypothetically yours as well.”

Riley finally allowed herself a moment to truly take in the room. It was spacious and elegant, with tasteful Northern Water Tribe influences mixed with modern comfort — ice-blue accents, soft furs, and large woven rugs. Through the windows, she could see a wooden deck overlooking the cove, and beyond that, endless ocean meeting rugged peaks.

She let out a short, slightly dazed laugh.

“Destiny has excellent taste.” Desna tilted his head slightly, watching Riley with quiet intensity.

“The message mentioned we must… ‘make the marriage official’ before the rest of the features unlock.” His voice was calm, almost clinical, but there was an undercurrent of something there.

He glanced at his sister, then back to Riley.

“The question is… what do you want to do now, Riley?”

Riley sat there between them, the weight of the situation slowly sinking in. Her heart was still racing, but the initial panic was beginning to shift into something else — a strange mix of disbelief, curiosity, and an undeniable spark of intrigue.

She looked from Desna’s calm, analytical gaze to Eska’s more intense one. Both of them were watching her closely, waiting.

“I want…” Riley started, then paused to steady her voice. She was never one to back down from a challenge, and this was the biggest one she’d ever faced. “I want to understand what the hell just happened. And I want to know who you two actually are first.”

Eska’s lips curved into a slow, smile that didnt fully cover her face. She finally released Riley’s shirt, only to slide her hand up to rest against the side of Riley’s neck — a touch that was both gentle and unmistakably claiming.

“We are Desna and Eska,” she said simply. “Twin children of the former Chief Unalaq. Leaders of the Northern Water Tribe.” Her thumb brushed lightly along Riley’s jaw. “And now… your companions.”

Desna shifted closer on Riley’s other side, his presence steady and grounding. “The system called it a triadic marriage. Rare. But efficient. We have always been a pair. Now we are three.”

He reached out and gently took Riley’s hand, turning it over in his as if examining something precious and new. His touch was cooler than Eska’s, but no less intentional.

“You are… not what we expected,” he admitted quietly. “But you feel… right.”

Eska leaned in, resting her chin on Riley’s shoulder. Her voice dropped to a teasing murmur. “You have not tried to run yet. I shall take that as conformation ”

She wasn’t entirely wrong.

Riley glanced toward the windows again. The morning light was beautiful, the ocean sparkling far below. The house felt warm, safe, and somehow perfectly tailored — like it had been designed with all three of them in mind.

“Alright,” Riley said, gathering her confidence. She turned her head to look at Eska, then Desna. “If this is real then we'll do this properly. And if we’re really stuck together… then I want to make it work.”

Desna’s eyes softened with quiet approval. “A sensible approach.”

Eska’s grin sharpened, pleased. “Good. I like when our wife is decisive.” She whisperd against Riley’s ear. “We have time. The house will not let us leave this place for two weeks anyway.”

The three of them sat in the massive bed for a long moment, the reality of their new bond settling over them. Eventually, Riley swung her legs over the side of the bed, standing up. She was wearing soft sleeping clothes she didn’t remember putting on — another gift from the system, no doubt.

“Come on,” she said, looking back at the twins with a growing spark in her eyes. “Let’s explore this place. I want to see what kind of ‘new home’ we’ve been given"

Eska rose gracefully, stretching like a cat before stepping up beside Riley. Desna followed a moment later, moving with his usual quiet poise. They flanked her naturally, one on each side, as if they had always walked like this.

As they moved toward the large glass doors leading to the deck, Eska slipped her hand into Riley’s. Desna rested his hand lightly at the small of her back.

For the first time since waking up, Riley felt something close to excitement overriding the shock.

This was completely insane.

But as the cool sea breeze washed over them and the twins walked beside her, she realized she didn’t hate it.

Not even a little.