End Game – Chapter Fourteen

Tabitha turned looking fully at Thane, eyes sparking with appreciation and desire for her husband, openly roving over his physique. Her voice octave lower and husky, "I'm glad you will have a chance to battle test the upgraded leather armor."

Thane smiled inwardly, inaudible growl in his chest, for the look of desire and pride he saw in his wife's eyes for him as her mate shifting the position of his body posing for her, "As am I, Siha," voice gravelly from deep in his chest.

Tabitha scanned the apartment seeing breakfast still on the table. Kolyat noticing her glance spoke up, "I will make sure breakfast is put away, dishes done, and apartment taken care of during your absence."

As Tabitha headed to the door, she called over her shoulder, "Kolyat, follow me." On her omni-tool, she called Commander Bailey who responded immediately, "Yes, Commander."

"Thane and I have been sent on a mission. Kolyat will be the liaison between the Normandy and C-SEC."

"Anything else, Shepherd."

"Yes, let the people know that 'Star Commander-Shepherd,' of clan Krios will unite the different races to fight and defeat the Reapers and nothing will stand in our way."

Approval could be heard in Bailey's voice over the omni-tool, "I will and good hunting, Bailey out."

Tabitha and Thane walked side by side with Kolyat slightly behind as the group made their way to the docking port. Tabitha sensed movement as she passed through the Presidium Commons. As Feron materialized out of the shadows beside her, Tabitha heard an audible growl coming from Thane causing Kolyat to state, concern in his voice, "Father, it is just Feron."

Feron responded with his bedroom voice, "Just Feron, Kolyat…I am hurt. I thought after…" Feron sighed audibly, hurt expression crossing his features, "I thought after our last time together. You said you…"

Tabitha controlled herself swallowing the laugh keeping her facial features neutral as both of Thane's eye ridges raised up to his crest ridges, "Kolyat…"

Utter shock and embarrassment written across his facial features, neck fringes blushing a deeper red, voice high and cracking, "Dad, I never…"

Feron cut him off smirking, "Sere Krios, I thought you were taking proper care of your son." Lifting one hand rubbing the side of his face musing, "Well, now we know the reason for the frustration."

Tabitha did not think that Kolyat's neck fringes could turn any redder from embarrassment as Feron shifted next to Kolyat brushing the fingers of his left hand down Kolyat's arm, voice dropping to a husky whisper, "I can help you with your issue or I know a lady or two would love to prove 'Fornax' correct about Drells."

Thane smiled chuckling to himself as Kolyat jumped over six inches in the air when Feron caressed his son's arm. Tabitha could not contain her laughter seeing the mortified expression on Kolyat's face, "Feron, that is enough," she stated as soon as she had stopped laughing.

Merriment in Feron's eyes as he squeezed Kolyat's shoulder, "Sorry, my friend. I could not help myself. You left yourself wide open with your open ended statement." He shrugged his shoulders continuing, "…and I could not flirt and tease Tabitha as I normally do with your father being so territorial, at the moment." Tabitha saw a dangerous glint come into Feron's eyes as he shifted his position to the side of Thane, "Can I be of assistance?"

Thane glancing over his shoulder, face neutral, voice deep and gravelly, "Assistance with what?"

Tabitha held her breath seeing the look in Feron's eyes responding, "Feron…don't."

Feron winked at Tabitha before responding, "Thane, I know your cardiovascular system is compromised with Kepral's Syndrome and might not be able to respond adequately to Tabitha's physical condition, right now. Let me help…Two's fun, but three is better."

Kolyat's eyes went huge as he choked. Tabitha groaned, "He is dead…Feron is dead.." she thought to herself, "How am I going to explain this to Commander Bailey. Well, Bailey. Feron was propositioning Thane and me for a threesome when Thane killed him."

Tabitha did not see Thane lift Feron by his leather collar slamming him into a corridor wall, he moved so fast. What she saw was Thane holding Feron off the ground by his leather armor collar against a wall. His teeth were bared, neck fringes inflated, black flames of rage evident in his eyes, arms shaking from fury, as he hissed and growled low against Feron's neck, "She is mine."

Tabitha biotically moved rapidly over to Thane's side cupping one hand against the side of his face speaking in Drell, "Thane," as Feron spoke seductively licking his lips, his eyes gleaming wildly, "I love it when you go all dominant, my assassin."

Thane shifted the side of his face more fully into Tabitha's cupped hand relaxing his tensed muscles lowering Feron looking at Tabitha, voice emotion filled, deep and gravelly, filled with conviction, "You are mine!" He exclaimed in Drell.

Tabitha replied, voice soft and reassuring, "I am yours."

As soon as Thane released Feron's collar, Tabitha biotically slammed him into the wall, voice escaping through gritted teeth, "Feron, what the hell were you thinking?!" Both Thane and Kolyat watched as Tabitha biotically pulled Feron up close to her face, "I know you…you were not thinking. You want to die. You want the rush…the excitement." Tabitha biotically flung him over the rail.

Thane and Kolyat rushed to the railing looking down, utter shock written across their features as Tabitha advanced rapidly to the railing using her biotics to catch Feron's fall to his death pulling him back onto the Presidium Commons walkway. She hunched down to look into Feron's face as he collapsed to the floor, his legs not able to support himself, "I know you are suicidal at times, and a big flirt, but enough is enough!" Shaking her head, lowering her voice, she continued, "We have the Reapers to contend with. You want to kill yourself. Do it by taking out a few of them or a Cerberus base or two."

Feron lowered his eyes to look at his feet. Tabitha ran her hand through her hair as she spoke in a harsh military manner, "Feron, look at me."

Feron looked up to see not anger or disgust but love and compassion from Tabitha's eyes, "I do not want to see you dead. Liara does not want to see you dead. We need you. You are one of the best Intel operatives." Feron smiled but his smiled vanished as Tabitha continued, voice hard, "…but if you ever pull another stunt like that, if Thane does not kill you, I will. You understand."

Feron slowly nodded his head, 'yes,' as he stood along with Tabitha. Tabitha went over to Thane placing her head against his chest nuzzling and purring, reassuring him. Thane absently ran one of his hands through her hair holding her close with his other arm as he whispered where only Tabitha could hear, "Please forgive me, Siha. I lost control."

Tabitha responded in like manner where only Thane could hear, ". If my body is 'in heat,' then you are acting instinctual, like a Drell. There is nothing to forgive, Kadar."

Thane kissed the top of Tabitha's head before releasing her from his grasp as he heard C-SEC officers approaching. A Turian remarked, "What happened here?"

Tabitha turned to face the Turian and other C-SEC officers speaking matter-of-factly, "Spectre business."

The Turian recognizing Tabitha nodded his head, "Yes, Commander Shepherd-Krios. Do you wish the Drell arrested?"

Tabitha responded, "No. All he needed was an attitude adjustment, but thank you for asking."

Tabitha, Thane, Kolyat, and Feron smiled and chuckled as one human C-SEC officer spoke to his partners as they left, "I thought Commander Bailey was a hard-ass, but I will take a pissed off Commander Bailey any day over Commander Shepherd-Krios."

All four saw the Turian officer clap the human on the upper back as they turned a corner, "I agree with you, but that is the type of person we all need to take on the Reapers and win."

Their enhanced hearing heard the conversation as they trailed the C-SEC officers, "You think Commander Shepherd-Krios will defeat the Reapers?"

"Hell, yes."

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