Chapter 25:
A whisper flitted through my mind before I could separate from the men.
Amanda is near the florist's shop.
A low growl slipped out, dragging on with no end. Without any warning or reasons why, we darted like a bullet out of Thane's hold. Zooming toward the shop.
We wanted her blood, as well. We wouldn't rest, until she was bloodied on the ground. Until the light left her eyes.
We found her sniffing flowers, and we dropped into a stalking crouch. Inching forward, getting closer and closer. The goddess was on our side- the wind was blowing to where she couldn't smell us.
Stilling ourselves, we gathered all of our strength, preparing for the leap. When she left the shop, flower bundle in hand, we flew toward her. Knocking her to the ground before she even knew we were there. She screamed, trying to kick us off her. Not wasting any time, we closed our jaws over her face since she was covering her throat, protecting it from us. Her screams only grew louder as the pain hit her.
With a sickening crunch, we shattered her skull and waited. Listening. For her heart to stop beating. When it did, we howled.
And then, we moved off her corpse, laying a couple feet away. Waiting for others to join us. We didn't care if we would be punished- it had to be done. She was just as guilty as Isadore.
People gathered around, Thane taking a step toward me, but my brother shook his head. Father moved forward, approaching me. I lowered my head, baring my neck in submission. He crouched, patting my head. We weren't in trouble.
"She was an accomplice in the plot Isadore concocted to murder my daughter, Andromeda Quinn. She was next on our list of challenges- it just happened sooner than we'd planned." He announced. "And she is victorious."
Cheers went up. While everyone had a soft spot for Isadore because of how she'd acted, they all loved me. I was always willing to do whatever it took, even argue with my father on the behalf of those in the pack when he wouldn't listen to them.
Juno approached, holding out a dress. We took it gently between our teeth, before going behind a tree and shifting. Throwing the dress on.
She was standing on the other side of the tree, a knowing glint in her eyes.
"What?" I asked, wary.
"It has to do with the queen."
My eyes narrowed. "Spill."
"She wanted me to ask you when you want your mating ceremony and his binding ceremony to be."
"Oh. As soon as possible." I gestured toward the crowd. "Give them something to look forward to. A princess is dead, but another has found another mate. And someone is joining the pack. Reasons to celebrate."
"We'll plan it for you." She offered, and I nodded, relieved.
With that, she went off with my mom, the two of them whispering conspiratorially.
I walked up to Thane and Kolyat. "Guess what."
"What?"
"You're joining the pack soon." I grinned, reaching out and grasping his hands. "You'll be able to hear any and all announcements that the pack gives while we're here. Without someone having to tell you." I wrinkled my nose. "Also, we're having our mating ceremony at the same time. It's not that I don't want to- trust me, I do- but it's just that it's such a spectacle. I felt the same way with Garrus's and my ceremony."
He gave me a brief kiss. "I look forward to it." Eyes searching mine. "How are you feeling?"
I pursed my lips. "I... am conflicted. I'm happy she's dead. She was a threat. But she was my twin. I didn't like her, but that didn't mean I wanted her dead, either. But... You're all here." I gestured around at the four of them. "And that makes me happy, too. It outweighs the heartache, getting to spend time with real family."
Solana grabbed me in a tight hug, which I returned. "You're so strong." A whisper.
"I have people behind me that make me strong." I said, glancing toward Thane. "As long as I have them, I can do anything."
...
Garrus's family and Kolyat wanted to get to know each other, since their lives would be intertwined, as well. So they went to Castis's guest room to talk. Thane and I walked around, with me showing him everything I hadn't yet. He loved seeing it all. And meeting the people, who were all kind to him.
"Do you have proof if she was the one bothering you on the Citadel?" He asked at one point.
"Father and Darius are looking into her things. Her rooms, her computers, her omni-tool. And any burner devices she may have used." I explained. "If they can't find anything, I'm going to send a message to Kasumi, asking her to take a look when she has the time. If anyone can find secrets, it would be her."
He nodded, squeezing my hand, and I let out a quiet purr. He chuckled, looking at me with affection.
I led him through the rest of the tour, stopping in our suite. Just as the door closed behind us, I stumbled, falling to my knees.
"Andromeda?" He called out, his voice making me shiver. "What's wrong?"
A whine left me, my body burning to the point of pain. He touched my cheek, eyes widening at how warm my skin was.
"I'll go get-"
"Heat." I managed, hoping that Garrus and he had talked about it before.
Understanding blanketed his expression, and he stood. "Strip."
I rushed to obey, the need, the ache, overwhelming. When I stood bare before him, he beckoned me to follow him to the bedroom. Where he pushed me down on my stomach, my feet still on the floor, and took me from behind. I screamed in pleasure, everything amplified, thanks to the heat.
...
The next two weeks was spent mostly in the same fashion as my last heat- sleep, fuck, forced to eat, sleep, fuck, forced to eat. Repeating. And I ate it up. I craved every inch of him- and he delivered. Every time I begged him, he obliged. Anything I asked for sexually, he gave.
Yesterday, I'd begged him to dominate me. To treat me like the little domesticated pup he and Garrus had created. And I relished his control over me. He didn't deny me what I wanted nearly as long as usual, and I was glad for that. I didn't know if I could have handled that much, in that state.
This morning, I woke up refreshed and calm. Sane. I snuggled up to the drell who had me in his arms.
"Good morning." His murmured.
I smiled sweetly at him. "Morning."
"How are you feeling?"
"Sane." I kissed along his throat to his chin. "I hope that wasn't too difficult to deal with."
"You, begging for me to fuck you?" He chuckled darkly. "I enjoyed myself as much as you. Trust me."
I shivered at that. "Good. I'm glad."
"Your mother wanted me to let you know she wanted to speak with you when your heat was over."
I groaned. "Okay."
Mom.
Oh, good. Tomorrow is your ceremony.
I blinked. You had so much faith that it would end before then. You're crazy.
Her laugh filtered through the link.
"She wanted to let me know that our ceremonies will be tomorrow. She really had a lot of faith in me, to plan like that." A shake of my head.
He rolled us so I was under him.
"You can't possibly want more." I raised an eyebrow.
"I always want more, my sweet wolf."
...
I rushed to the door, finding Thane waiting for me. He smiled, reaching out a hand. I took it, watching as he raised it to his lips, kissing the back.
My dress was the same, though this time, I'd had it died black. Just like in the show. Garrus was the pure side, Thane was the dark. That had been very clear from the start. Sure, Garrus joined in when Thane took control, but when it was just the two of us, he was sweet and soft. The drell was a cold dominator, who gave no quarter. If he decided I wasn't getting what I wanted, then I didn't get it. No matter how I begged and pleaded. He stood firm.
And I loved both of them so much.
He walked me to the stage, where Father waited. He gave much the same speech as before.
"I do." I declared. "You are a piece of my soul. I don't know how I existed before meeting you. And I wish to be everything you need and want me to be. I live for you and Garrus. I would not be here, where I am today, without you. I owe everything to you. And I want to repay that debt however I can, until the end of days."
Father asked him next.
His hands squeezed mine, a tenderness to his gaze. "I do." A firm nod. "I knew love before, but it had never been as all-consuming as this. I cannot part with you, with my soul." I knew how sacred the soul was to the drell, and that line made me tear up. "You are everything I didn't know I needed or wanted. You are perfect, just as you are. And I will remind you of that every day until the end of days. I wish to be the partner you need, even if you don't always want it." A mischievous glint to his eyes, several laughs coming from the audience. "I will be with you until the end of days. Always. In every way you need."
There was a soft smile on my father's face, glancing between us. He handed me the knife, and I cut my palm, letting the blood drip into the chalice he held out. Thane took the blade next, doing the same. Last, was my father, his blood mixing with ours.
"With this, I bind you together, just as much as your mating marks." He looked to the drell. "With this, I bind you to our pack."
I took the first sip, Thane taking his next. I felt the pack link add him and watched carefully in case it overwhelmed him. He took a moment, eyes closed in concentration, before smiling a little at me.
I'm alright.
I'm glad.
"The mating ceremony, and the bonding ceremony, have been completed." My father declared. "I welcome the new couple."
We were greeted by everyone in the pack, the reception lasting hours. Reminiscent of the one before. Finally, everyone filed out in pairs, trios, a few alone, and we were allowed to leave.
We hadn't even gotten to our suite yet, when he reached around in front of me, and I heard the click of the leash closing around the heart at my throat. A shiver ran through me, and I immediately bared my neck to him. Waiting.
He led me the rest of the way to our room, jerking the leash to get me through the door. It was hard enough that I stumbled and fell to my knees. Where I settled on sitting on my heels. He clearly wanted me on the ground, or he wouldn't have been so rough with me. He patted the top of my head, and I relaxed. Praise was always good.
"Crawl to the couch and kneel in front of it." He ordered.
I slowly made my way there, the pace that he always wanted, and did as I was told. He pushed me down, so I was laying on my stomach on the cushions. Hiking my skirt up and pulling my panties down. Before burying his face between my legs. A whine left me when I wriggled, unable to stay still, and he spanked me. Hard.
Stay still. His voice played in my mind, deep and dark, and I held myself still.
He nipped my bud, and it was a herculean effort to not squirm. Pulling back, he slid three fingers inside me out the gate, and I moaned at the sensation.
You're so good for me. He praised. Always jumping to obey me. Always doing exactly what I demand of you.
Four fingers.
How did you like it, that night? When I had my fist inside of you?
Please. I gasped out loud at his words, starting to pant. I need it. I need you inside me.
What are you willing to do for it?
Anything. Please. I'll do anything.
Slowly, excruciatingly slow, he slid his hand inside me, curling his fingers into a fist. I could barely breathe, with how hard I was panting. My need was great. I was aching nearly as much as my heat.
What do you need? His voice was soft, but dark. He wasn't promising to deliver, he was just curious.
I need you. Any way you'll give me. However you want me. I'll do anything. Please.
I think I'll test that.
A shiver ran through me. What more could he do, that he hadn't before?
His hand slid deeper into me with each thrust, until he couldn't fit any more. After learning his limit, he picked up the pace, slamming into me over and over. My vision was starting to get blurry from lack of oxygen, unable to catch my breath still. Before I could pass out, he stopped, jerking on the chain. Startled, I fell back against him.
"Breathe." He murmured, rubbing my shoulders. "Slow your breathing. You're okay."
He'd never broken character before, but then again, I'd never been unable to breathe thanks to my own doing. While I calmed, he dotted my neck with kisses. I relaxed into him, my breathing returning to normal.
"Good girl." He praised quietly. "That's my good girl."
I shivered.
"Are you ready?"
I nodded. "Yes. Please."
He stood, leading me to the bedroom. Stopping me before I could climb up. Curious, I tilted my head, watching as he grabbed a towel and laid it down.
"Lay there." He gestured toward it.
I rushed to obey. He walked around the bed, tying me to the posts. No slack, just like the last time. Garrus wasn't here, so I was confused about what was going on, but I trusted him. He'd never harmed me.
He lit a tapered candle- red- and we watched as the wax started melting. He held it over me, and I felt the wax splash against my skin. I sucked in a sharp breath. It didn't hurt, but the sensation startled me. A quiet whine escaped. He eyed me, and I wriggled a little.
"Be a good girl for me."
I nodded. "Always."
More wax hit my skin, dotting a path from my collar bone down to my pelvis. And it felt wonderful. Just hot enough to make me flinch but without any pain associated with it, it was enjoyable.
Finally, after an eternity, he climbed on top of me, sliding his full length inside my core. Still dripping the wax everywhere. It was all too much, and I flew over the peak, my eyes rolling back. A scream tearing from deep within me.
He swallowed it with a kiss, slamming harder and faster into me, bringing me there again. And again.
I started to lose consciousness, but he slapped my face, bringing me around. I blinked up at him.
"You're not getting out of this that easily." He growled. "I will fuck you until morning."
A shiver ran through me. "Yes. Please. Yes. I need you."
A dark chuckle. "Good girl."