Chapter 24:
My parents greeted us, my brother and his mate meeting us halfway to the packhouse. I introduced Thane and Kolyat, and they were all thrilled to meet them.
Isadore wasn't present- she was still upset over the way I'd talked to her, Darius told me. I rolled my eyes at that. I wasn't going to apologize. Besides, I didn't want to see her, anyway.
We settled in in my suite- Kolyat taking the spare room, of course. I wasn't about to make him stay in one of the guest rooms, not if he didn't want to. And it was clear he didn't from how uncomfortable he looked- he was in a new environment, with a new species that he was only familiar with through me.
...
On our third day here, a male approached me while I was walking through the garden with the two of them.
"Mine." He growled.
I ignored him, pointing out the red flower beside us. "Isn't it beautiful?"
"Mate." He darted toward me, jerking me against his body. "You're mine."
"Excuse me, but if you would be so kind as to unhand me, I won't have to resort to violence." I stated calmly.
His hold tightened. "I'm not letting you go anywhere. You're mine."
I ripped my arm from his grasp, baring my teeth at him in a threatening manner. "I have a mate already. Two, in fact. So leave me the fuck alone. Better yet, give me your name."
He growled, eyes flitting to the two drell.
I snapped in his face, earning a startled look. "Excuse me, but I'm over here, you worthless mutt."
He shifted, snapping angrily at me. Letting out a howl. I rose to the challenge, letting Gen take over and shift, as well. He snapped at her face, and she didn't flinch, snarling at him in response. He stalked around her, trying to get by. It was clear his targets were behind her. He lunged, jumping over her, but she was prepared- she closed her jaws over the soft hide covering his belly. With a shake of her head, she threw him into the flowers, before running after him and pinning him in place. She leaned down, ripping his throat open. A howl leaving her. Telling everyone she was victorious in the challenge. That the one against her was dead. She had defended her mate and won.
I spoke mentally to the staff member that came to see if she could do anything, asking her for a sundress from my closet. With a nod, she ran off.
We walked slowly toward the men, our head lowered in submission. Thane approached, ruffling our fur roughly. With a yip, Gen took the reins and started bouncing around, like a playful puppy. Kolyat came up to her a few moments later, and she playfully snapped at him. Begging for pats. He obliged, laughing at her antics.
The woman came back, handing the dress to Thane. Kolyat turned around while I shifted and dressed.
"Thank you, Amanda." I smiled at her, grateful.
"Of course." With that, she left us.
"You killed him." Thane observed, curious.
"He threatened you." I glared at the corpse with distaste. "No one lets their mate be disrespected, let alone threatened." A pause, glancing at them. "Even if I didn't care about that, he also threatened Kolyat. He deserved to die." Matter-of-fact.
Am I wrong to be feeling more attraction to you for that?
No. I grinned. It's a bond thing.
We returned to the suite shortly after. Only leaving for mealtime, going to socialize with the pack members eating in the dining room.
I fell asleep at some point while we were watching tv, and woke up in bed in the morning, Thane sleeping soundly beside me.
Kolyat
I left my father and Andromeda to spend time together, without me. Deciding I wanted to walk around. Look at the things she had yet to show us.
I was in the garden, cutting through it, when I heard voices. Paying no mind, I continued on my way, until I heard it.
"She's here." A female voice said, disgusted. "I wish she would just take a hint and stay dead."
"I know." Another female. "As if being able to pick a mate from anyone isn't enough, she had to go and get two. Rubbing it in everyone's faces. And then! She has the audacity to kill other wolves for the aliens." I clenched my teeth. "What a freak."
A cold laugh, sending a chill down my spine at the sound of it. "She won't be around much longer. Not if I have anything to say about it. And the best part? She doesn't even suspect me." Another chuckle. "Isn't she just the most pathetic thing?"
"I don't know how you're even related, honestly. She's such a pest. Worthless, compared to you."
Related? To Andromeda? And she was conspiring to kill her? As quietly as I could, as carefully as I could, I moved to bring up my omni-tool. Opening a call with her, muting her end. Her face appeared, and I moved my finger to my lips. Her eyes narrowed, but she nodded. It was clear she was listening as the two women continued to talk, because her expression shifted. Tightening, before sorrow made an appearance, overshadowing everything else. When the women left, she beckoned me to return.
Andromeda
I couldn't believe it. I mean, I knew she hated me, but this? I couldn't... I couldn't believe it. I'd sent a mental message to father and mother, Darius and Juno, to come to my suite. They all arrived just in time for Isadore to admit, again, that she was out to kill me.
She couldn't stop gloating about it with the other woman. Another voice I recognized- Amanda, the woman from yesterday. The one who'd helped me.
"The other woman... that's Amanda. One of the staff members." I whispered.
Kolyat walked through the door, and I looked him over quickly, making sure he wasn't hurt.
"I'm alright." He assured me.
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "Thank the goddess."
My family were discussing things silently with each other. I let them- I wasn't in any state of mind to help. Thane's arms were wrapped around me, holding me in place on his lap. Caging me in, his comforting presence helping me. Kolyat came and sat beside us, rubbing my back gently.
"Andromeda." My father's solemn voice drew me out of my daze.
"Yes, father?"
"There is enough proof, with this confession, for you us to arrest and try her. Or..." I tilted my head. "you could challenge her."
I could... Could I kill my own sister? My twin?
Talk to me. Thane urged softly.
I don't know what to do... She's my sister... But she wants to murder me. I... I feel so lost. I buried my face in his neck. I need help.
What do you need from me?
Gen rose to the surface, joining our conversation. Something she hadn't ever done. At least, not that I could recall.
We need permission. She said.
A whine escaped both of us, mine out loud.
From me?
I thought about it, mulling over Genesis's input. She was right. If we had permission from our mates... even just one of them... We would be strong enough to fight her. To take her down. To kill her.
Yes. I finally responded.
There was a pause, a moment of silence, then-
Meda. I perked up at his tone. The tone. It would please me if you took matters into your own hands.
A shiver ran through me, and I looked up at my father, nodding.
Genesis and I both spoke. "We'll challenge her."
He nodded, both proud and sad. "I will arrange it."
My family left. To grieve, to mourn. To plan.
I turned to look at Kolyat. "I'm sorry you had to stumble upon that. I can imagine how awful it was."
He frowned, his eyebrows pulling down. "Don't do that."
It was my turn to frown. "Do what?"
"Deflect like that." He explained. "What I felt hearing that is nothing compared to your pain."
My eyes filled with tears, the enormity of it hitting me.
"I should call Garrus."
"No!" I grabbed my mate's arm. "Please. It would only worry him, and he's already got a lot on his plate, trying to gather forces for the war."
There was a knock at the door, and I got up, the two drell following close behind.
"Yes?"
It was Richard. He had...
Honeysuckle and fresh rain. The first rain of spring and forest. Two very distinct scents hit my nose, and I immediately knew who they were.
"You're Garrus's family." I said, peeking around the doorway.
There they stood- Solana and someone I assumed to be their father.
"It's nice to officially meet my daughter-in-law." He bowed his head to me.
I smiled at him. "Come in, come in."
They walked in, looking around the space.
"There's plenty of room in the living room for us all." I motioned toward said living area. "Do you want drinks?"
They both asked for water, and I returned with an armful of bottles. One for each of us. Waiting for me to get settled, Castis- Garrus's father- explained that my mate had sent them the coordinates for our pack, saying it would be safer than even the Citadel. Which was true, considering we hadn't been overtaken by Cerberus. Knock on wood.
He cast his eyes over Thane, who met his gaze and didn't look away.
"He explained the... strange pairing." He tilted his head, before glancing at me. "I mean no offense when I say that. It is just abnormal in that turians are very territorial. It is not often heard of that one of us will share their bondmate."
"Ah, yeah. Well." I didn't want to out him. If they didn't know, then I would keep that to myself. "Werewolves are, too. It was definitely strange to feel connected to both. But we make it work." I smiled up at the drell holding me.
We chatted well into the night, talking about all manner of things. Especially the culture of werewolves- they were both very interested in us. It made me happy that they wanted to learn.
The next morning, I was summoned to the entrance of the packhouse. Thane and Kolyat accompanied me, as well as Solana and Castis. They all knew what was at stake, and they wanted to be there to support me.
Richard led me out into the front lawn, where Isadore was being detained, arms tied behind her back. She growled as soon as she saw me.
"What the hell is this?" She demanded.
"I, Andromeda Quinn, challenge you, Isadore Quinn, on the grounds of conspiring to murder a member of the royal family."
A dark smile pulled her lips up. "I accept, dear sister."
She was unbound, immediately leaping forward and shifting. I waited until she was close enough I could almost smell her breath, before sidestepping. She flew into the façade of the building, a whimper escaping her. Getting back up, she gave herself a shake, before throwing herself at me again. I sidestepped again. A third time, she tried to attack, expecting me to move out of the way again. Instead, we ducked, shifting as she flew over us. Biting her belly and tossing her off to the side.
Weakly, she got to her feet, blood pooling under her. She rushed us, and we met her halfway. She snapped at our leg, only getting air. While we went for her throat and got her scruff. We clamped our jaws down tightly, refusing to let go even as she shook herself. Trying to throw us off. Another whimper left her. She was starting to flag.
Releasing her, we ducked and went for her throat. We froze when she was beneath us, hesitation threatening to overwhelm us.
Andromeda. Thane's voice filled our mind, and we instinctively bit harder. Kill her.
With a roar, we twisted our head violently. Snapping her neck and ripping out a chunk of her throat. Spitting it out, we howled. Loss, anger, victory. Our voice was full of it all. Arms wrapped around us, and we turned slightly to find Thane crouching beside us, arms around our neck. Kolyat was stroking our fur on our other side.
We let out a whine.
"I know." My mate murmured. "I know."
Another howl ripped itself from us, from our soul, and we threw back our head to release it.
Our twin. A piece of our soul. She was gone. She'd wanted us gone. And that would have hurt our mates. We couldn't let that happen. We'd had to stop her. There was no other course of action. All that was left was to grieve and move on.