Page 51 of Mated By Twilight

All that was left was for Tillos to leave the room, announce the queen’s death, and expect his adulation, only to be shocked when he was, instead, betrayed by his co-conspirators. Skara was already dead, having been slain by him on the way here so he wouldn’t have to share power. And the play ended with everyone important gone, the side characters left to pick up the mess, and a dead queen who had done nothing but sleep and cause chaos with her very presence. There was something in there about a lesson in greed and lust for power, but all Sollit knew was he left the show bummed out.

But that was okay, because lying on Leah’s lap in their bed after rehearsal turned out to be an excellent cure for all that ailed him and he couldn’t wait for the next treatment.

He would have to though, because when Corvidair called out that they were done, and before they could escape, Shorvicommed to let them know Leah’s costume was ready. He knew by the face his female made that she was not looking forward to that at all.

“It will be quick,” Tillos promised her, pulling her down. She had not yet gotten used to how to move in the low gravity of the stage.

They moved around with the help of propulsion boots and gloves, usually carefully hidden in their costumes. It was actually the same technology used on the trikball fields, but on a smaller scale to allow for finer, slower movement. But Leah kept finding herself spinning in circles, trapped in the air, unable to break her way out of it.

She’d need to get better at that if she wanted to do anything more complex than lying in bed, but for now, it was rather cute to see her face scrunched up in concentration as she struggled to work the unfamiliar technology.

Tillos pulled her out, Sollit right behind them. They had both agreed that they wouldn’t leave her alone with Shorvi. The little male was incomparably good at his job – but unfortunately, he was also an incomparable ass. He didn’t know how to talk to people without pissing them off, said whatever came into his mind, no matter how cruel, and he absolutely refused to change. Every time someone tried to talk to him about it, he got worse. It was best to just leave him be since he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

The problem was, hewasso good at his job. He had won awards in art fashion, fashion, and costuming for his skills. As far as Corvidair was concerned, talent like that couldn’t be created, it could only be harvested, and he was willing to tolerate a lot for the best.

Which was why he had been so determined to get Leah on stage. Though there wasn’t anything to sing in her current role, if he got her used to being up there, he could leverage that into her becoming a star later. He was good at manipulating people like that.

That same way of thinking meant that Shorvi was allowed to be rude to everyone, so long as his performance continued to be the best. But that didn’t mean Tillos and Sollit couldn’t stand between her and him.

Their task was to keep her relaxed and happy, and Shorvi disrupted that mission. Therefore, they walked into the costume room together, determined and protective. Sollit had his arm around her waist, Tillos had his around her shoulders. They both gave the short domini male a hard look when they walked in.

He was completely unimpressed as he immediately shoved something into Leah’s arms.

“Change,” he barked, waving her towards the changing rooms. She went without argument as Tillos frowned at him.

“Do you have to be like that?”

Shorvi leveled a dull glare at him. “She’s your mate, not mine. I don’t particularly care about her feelings.”

“Do you care aboutanyone’sfeelings?” Sollit chuckled.

“We’re getting off topic,” Shorvi put his nose in the air. “Go try on your ghost costume. I’m making some changes, and I need to make sure they fit right.”

Sollit gave Tillos a look. His brother nodded. Sollit was leaving Leah in his care alone, and he agreed to take her. It was a silent communication that they’d already mastered, despite notknowing her for very long. The more time passed, the better they would get at handling their mate. Their fathers didn’t even have to look at each other, they justknew.

The ghost costume for his character was nearly identical to his living costume. Except the colors were changed to be all purple shades. That was a choice made to go with his scale color. The fabric had also been changed to be wispier and more tattered, while his hair was left to flow free. It was obviously the same character, same military uniform, but more ethereal and unreal.

He emerged from his dressing room, fully expecting Leah to already be out, but the door to her room was still shut and the look Tillos gave him said that she hadn’t come out yet.

“Leah?” He called to her as Shorvi immediately began moving around him – fixing and adjusting the costume. “Are you okay in there? You need help?”

“Erm… I’m okay…”

Immediately, he looked at Tillos. They’d both noticed it. The wavering of her voice. The uncertainty in her tone.

“Leah?” Tillos approached the door cautiously, like she was a scared animal hiding. “Is there something wrong?”

“No,” came the squeaky reply.

“Ugh,” Shorvi groaned. “Just come out. I don’t care how ugly you feel.”

“Shorvi!” Sollit snapped as Tillos glared.

Leah remained silent and unmoved for a long moment more before the door finally spread. Sollit tensed, ready for something bad. Maybe she’d hurt herself somehow changing, or fell while trying to pull it on. Or maybe she was just embarrassed becauseshe couldn’t figure out how to put the clothing on – the seals that were used throughout the Coalition weren’t available on Earth. Her clothing fastenings were very simple by comparison, and though they had bought her plenty of clothing, she was only wearing them sparingly as she got comfortable with them.

But no. She was wearing her costume correctly.

Verycorrectly.

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