Chapter 7:
"You're..."
"My brother and his mate are next in line for the throne, when my father and mother step down. If he abdicates, which I highly doubt he would, then my sister would take to the throne. There's very little chance of me ever taking it. You wouldn't have to worry about that." I assured him. "But yeah. That's the last bit of my se- Oh, wait." I facepalmed. "Our family also has abilities. Mine is electroreception. I can manipulate electricity and feel when electronics are around. It's how I pinpointed the bugs and the camera to take to Bailey. I can also use the electricity in a person's body to ascertain their whereabouts, like if they're cloaked. It pisses off one of my best friends, because she constantly tries to sneak up on me. I'm still learning how to use it, though. My trainer back home thought that I could potentially manipulate the electrical impulses in someone's body to control them, if I had enough training." I rolled my eyes. "I'm more than content with what I have right now, not that he understands that. Pushy bastard." A thought popped into my head. "My sister-in-law also said that she thinks, if I try hard enough, I might be able to read minds. Beyond the pack and mate bond links."
"Read minds?" A pause. "Wait. You can read minds with the mate bond?"
"Only yours. And you'd be able to read mine. From what everyone says, and what I've read, it seems to be a conscious effort. I wouldn't just be able to pop in any time I wanted and know what you're thinking. It's more for communication."
"And the pack link... You can communicate with any of the werewolves within that pack?"
"Yeah." I nodded. "You would be able to, as well, after a ritual to add you to the pack. Which, if we mark each other, it would be expected of you. Because you'd be mine, and that means a part of my pack. My family."
He didn't say anything for a few minutes, and I decided to go about cleaning my piercing.
And then, I had the bright idea to switch my jewelry. When I wasn't even sure if it was healed enough for that.
I cleaned the new piece, the same way I clean the piercing itself, and carefully pulled out the original jewelry.
That was relatively quick and easy.
I looked at the rose gold, twisted strand hoop I'd chosen. The stopper I was meant to put through the piercing looked... really big. Way bigger than I felt it should, but I swallowed my apprehension and started to push it through.
Only to let out a strangled yelp and crash backward against the wall, doubling over in pain. Tears falling in earnest from my eyes.
"Are you okay?" Garrus came sprinting into the bathroom, taking in my position. "What happened?"
"I'm a fucking idiot, is what happened." I hissed.
The damn thing was only halfway through, and I had to decide whether or not to pull it out or push it the rest of the way in.
"One or two?" I left it up to his choice.
"What?"
"Garrus!"
"Two."
Taking a deep breath, I shoved it the rest of the way, and promptly fell to my knees. Clutching my head, sobbing in pain, rocking back and forth.
"Andromeda!"
I mentally cursed the maker of the damn thing, wondering why they'd made the stopper so fucking big.
He crouched beside me, hands fluttering all around, unsure what to do.
I gave a tentative sniff. No blood, so that was a plus. It just hurt like a bitch.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the pain subsided, and I was finally able to relax.
"Fuck." I breathed, leaning my head back against the wall. "That sucked."
"What the hell happened?"
"I put in a new piercing. The stopper, as I'd feared when I first saw it, was too big for the hole. I'm probably going to be tender for a while." I gingerly touched the side of my nose.
He stared at me for a moment, before holding his hands up in a snapshot gesture. "It looks good on you, at least."
I chuckled, doing a little pose. "Thank you."
He helped me to my feet, and I studied my face in the mirror.
Touching it, I murmured. "You know, if you don't want me after all of that earlier, I understand. It's a lot to take in."
"Meda..." His hands went to my waist, slowly turning me to face him. "I meant what I said. You're mine."
His mouth lowered against mine, and I relaxed into the kiss, wrapping my arms around his neck. Holding him to me.
His hands slid down to my butt and lifted me up. My legs wrapped around his waist, and he walked me to my bedroom. Set me down on the edge of the bed, before pulling his shirt over his head. My eyes widened as I picked up on the direction the night was taking, quickly slipping out of my own clothes.
He climbed onto the bed, making me retreat until we were in the middle of the bed, and he was poised above me.
"How does this work?" He asked softly.
"How does... What?" I blinked, trying to clear the fog in my head.
"Do the bites come first? Or after?"
"First."
Without waiting a moment longer, he lowered his mouth to my shoulder and sank his teeth into the skin.
I moaned, clutching his shoulders and pulling him closer, so I could return the gesture. Elongating my canines, I easily bit through the carapace covering his shoulder.
His moan made my stomach tighten.
...
My alarm went off, being cut short by something. I opened my eyes and looked over, seeing Garrus pulling his hand back from the alarm clock.
"I really hate the sound you have as your alarm." He grumbled.
"It makes me get up." I chuckled.
"It gives me a headache."
Laughing, now. "Okay, okay. I'll change it, you big baby."
He rolled so he was above me, eyes narrow. "Big baby?"
"Uh, I meant... Big, strong man. Yes, that's right. Big, strong man."
He leaned down, nipping my nose, and I swatted at him, making a face.
It was his turn to chuckle. "Come on. You've gotta start getting ready."
He got up first, reaching out and pulling me off the bed.
My omni-tool pinged, and I glanced at it, my eyes widening. "Holy shit! Oh, fucking hell!"
I raced through getting ready, grabbing my iPad and trying to cram in as much as I could before eight.
"What's wrong?"
"Today's the start of exams." I groaned, shaking my head. "I can't believe I completely forgot! There's no way I should've, with how they shove it down our throats the closer they get."
"You'll do fine. I know it." He assured me. "Besides, you've been through a lot the last week or so. It's not a surprise that your mind's been preoccupied."
"I guess."
"How many days do you have exams?"
"Just today and tomorrow. The three for today's classes are today, and the three for tomorrow's are, well, tomorrow. After that, I have almost two months of free time, before the next semester. Thank the Goddess for the winter holidays." I spared him a glance. "I'm sorry. I love you but leave me alone."
He nodded, unphased, and went to the armchair, beginning his workday.
...
I pushed back from my desk, staring up at the ceiling.
Half over. Half the exams were done. Then, tomorrow, I'd be free.
Until February, anyway.
"How'd it go?" He asked, looking up as I left my little cave.
"You were right. I'm pretty sure I did fine." I said, going over to him, stopping when I stood between his legs. "I'm also sorry for my behavior while I was trying to study. I should've worded it better."
He leaned forward, reaching up and pulling me down for a kiss. Murmuring against my lips. "It's okay. Didn't bother me. I remember what exams were like. Different subjects, but still."
"What were your exams on?" I tilted my head, curious.
"Military tactics and weapons handling." A shrug. "Turian things."
"Ah, of course. Silly me."
"What kind of doctor are you training to be, anyway? Like, an emergency room doctor? A general doctor?"
I smiled softly, shaking my head. "No. I'm looking to get in the palliative medicine field. It's for end-of-life care. Making sure the patient is comfortable and being cared for the best they can be while they're waiting to die."
"That's..." He blinked. "Wow."
"Yeah."
That's... amazing. She's amazing.
I chuckled. "Oh, I am, am I?"
"What- You said-"
"You put the words in my head. I didn't read your mind willy nilly." I grinned.
"That's going to take some getting used to."
"I can help you manage it, so that you don't accidentally share your thoughts, if you want."
"Yeah, I'd like that." A glance away. "Some thoughts are... embarrassing, and I'd rather not accidentally share them."
"Oh?" I wiggled my eyebrows. "Spicy embarrassing?"
He swatted at me. "Go make yourself something to eat."
I laughed, retreating. "Was thinking of going out to a fancy restaurant to celebrate exams being over."
"I can get behind that."
"And me, later?" I asked, batting my lashes.
He groaned. "That was bad. But yeah."
"Oh, hush. Do you have anything for fancy?" I raised a brow, backing toward my bedroom.
He nodded. "I was told I might have to accompany you to parties."
"Well, go get changed." I shooed him, before the door closed between us.
As I was looking myself over in the mirror in my closet, I heard the knock.
Garrus beat me to it, letting Say and two others inside.
I squealed. "Kasumi! Nyreen! What are you guys doing here?!"
The female turian chuckled, setting a gift bag on the counter in the kitchen. "Well, I knew today was the first day of exams, so I decided to come celebrate with you."
"I had the same thought." The thief nodded sagely.
I hugged the three of them. "I'm so happy you're here."
"Why are you all dressed up?" Nyreen caught sight of Garrus. "And who is this?"
Her eyes raked over his body.
"He's my guard. And my boyfriend."
That earned a look from him.
I thought I was supposed to be your husband now.
Yeah, well, it's only been a week and like three days, mind you. Say wouldn't understand.
But the other two would?
Oh, yeah. They both know. I just haven't had to tell Say, so she's in the dark.
Gotcha.
Nyreen straightened, eyes going to me. "Oh. Sorry. Didn't mean to eye your candy."
"It's okay." I smiled sweetly. "If you had done it after knowing, I'd have broken your arm, but you didn't know, so it's no harm, no foul."
Us girls all broke into a fit of laughter.
"Anyway, we're going out to eat. Join us? I was thinking that fancy fish place. Not the sushi one." I rushed to add, wrinkling my nose at the thought.
"Oh! I've been wanting to go there!" Say and Kasumi both burst out. "Jinx."
Nyreen and I rolled our eyes.
"Let's go."