Page 49 of Mated By Twilight

“Hush.” Corvidair grabbed one of her new dresses that was on the bed and tossed it over Sollit’s head to block him from her.

“I’m blind,” Sollit moaned pathetically as Corvidair came to kneel on the side of her bed, arms on the side, clasped like he was praying, puppy eyes back in full force.

“Look, take Skara’s part in the play we’re doing now. Her role is super simple. She doesn’t have a single line of dialogue. She lays in bed most of the play. The only thing she does is at the very end be struck with a knife as she ‘sleeps’, and then her arm drops dramatically over the side. That’s all you have to do. Your eyes will be closed the whole time. You can pretend you’re not on stage at all, just sleeping. It’s the perfect beginning role.”

“You’re pathetic,” Tillos told him, staring down at him from above. “Leave our female alone. If she doesn’t want to, she doesn’t have to.”

“She hasn’t said no yet,” Corvidair snapped at him before turning back, pathetic and inconsolable again. “Please, sweet bird. Darling female. Kind and magnanm-ugh!”

Tillos grabbed him by the scruff again and moved him back as Leah could do nothing but laugh. She honestly couldn’t tell if they were being silly or serious – it kind of felt like a mix of both.

“You’re obnoxious,” Sollit told him, peeking out from under her dress.

“I’m determined,” Corvidair smirked. “And you two are already mated to her. She could be your romantic partner during ourplays, and the chemistry would be real! Not to mention the fact that humans are so unbelievably sensu-”

“Finish that statement, and I shave you bald,” Tillos promised him in a dull tone that was no less threatening for being understated.

“Rude. Let the female speak. You shouldn’t be so controlling of her. That’s how you make a female hate you.”

Sollit snickered. “What wouldyouknow about what makes a female hate someone?”

Corvidair huffed, sticking his muzzle in the air. “I am a rootavin. Who would know better thanIhow to appease a female?”

Tillos scoffed. “That only works for mated males. Or males interested in females.”

“Or males interested inanyone,” Sollit added, laughing.

“Guys,” Leah interjected when Corvidair opened his mouth, prepared to refute them again. Their argument was getting nowhere, and quickly devolving into irrelevance. “I think… I think I won’t mind being in the play.”

“Really?” Corvidair perked up, fuzzy ears and all. It was adorable. Especially for a male that had to weigh four – if not five – hundred pounds. Easily. He was massive.

“Are you sure,aevea?” Tillos asked as Sollit lifted his head, her dress sliding away so he could see her unobstructed.

She hesitated. Even just in agreeing, she felt nerves clenching tight in her belly. Her last foray on stage had been humiliating and devastating.

But every time before that had been wonderful. Exhilarating. She missed that feeling. And while she didn’t think she had the ability to sing in front of an audience again, she could easily lay there and just meditate on the stage. Remember why she loved it. Experience something that was so familiar, yet so new considering the circumstances.

“I’m sure,” she said softly. “I want-”

“You said it!” Corvidair jumped to his feet, beaming. “No taking it back! I’m going to tell Skara she can do something else for this performance. She’s going to be so relieved. Be in costuming first thing tomorrow to get fitted!”

As he was speaking, he was rushing out. Like he believed if he escaped before she had a chance to change her mind, she’d be locked into the decision.

Leah could only giggle. It was rather cute. Tillos and Sollit, however, kept their gaze on her until the door shut behind his retreating form. Only then did Tillos speak again.

“You know, you don’t have to do as he says. He can’t force you on stage. He’s already got us, and you work for him on staff anyway. You owe him nothing.”

“No, but… I want this. For me.” She reached out a hand, which Tillos immediately took. She pulled him into bed with her. As Sollit settled back onto her lap Tillos moved behind her, pulling her back against his chest. “I used to love performing. I used to love singing. I… I want to love that again. I don’t want to be afraid my whole life.”

“Youarea beautiful singer,” Sollit agreed, smiling up at her from her thighs. “Your voice is so beautifully sweet.”

“She wasn’t even singing at full voice yet,” Tillos said, nuzzling the back of her neck, making her shiver. “Can you imagine her on stage? Belting it out as loud as she can?”

Sollit sighed dreamily. “No. My imagination isn’t even close to that good.”

“You two,” Leah shook her head, smiling. “Thank you.”

“It’s a really boring role,” Sollit assured her. “The sleeping queen is central to the story, but she’s also completely incidental to it. She really does nothing but lay there, threatening the others with her presence, until she’s killed before the climax.”

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