Mated by Twilight (True Match)

Chapter 8

Leah

“We’ve arrived at the station, Miss Williams,” Sollit said, walking into the room where Tillos was helping her step up onto another luggage cart so she could sit on her suitcases again.

“We did?” She asked, surprised. She hadn’t even felt them move. Surely, she should have felt something , right? When they like attached, or whatever? Actually, she had no idea how any of this worked, so maybe she was just being stupid again.

After an uneventful night in a nice, alien hotel, the two had showed up at her door with breakfast on a tray. They ate, packed, and they put her back on a luggage cart to take her through the city, to a hover, which brought them back to the space port. Luggage cart seemed to be their preferred way of transporting her, which she didn’t really mind, though she found it funny.

She had her own room in the transport ship right beside theirs. It was small, but she didn’t need much space. They came over during the day and told her about the troupe and their ship, the Twilight Star, and what life was like on the road – metaphorically speaking.

Talking with them was surprisingly easy. That was – excluding the whole two mates thing – probably the most surprising part of them so far. She could count on one hand the number of times she’d seen her parents just sitting around, talking. And even then, it was more like her father was talking and her mother was just sitting there, listening to him.

But they didn’t do that. They asked her questions and asked for her input and opinion. It was odd and she found herself, embarrassingly often, without an answer to give them. Luckily, they accepted ‘I don’t know’ as an answer without complaint and just said to tell them when she thought of one.

They only spent one night on the transport ship and, the next morning, they showed back up telling her that they would arrive soon. That had prompted her to pack up the things she’d used that night – her ancient MP3 player, her dirty clothes, etc – and get them ready to go.

But she thought that she’d feel the ship docking or something. Right? Or maybe hear the engines turning off or something? Some sign that they’d actually arrived. But there wasn’t one. Just the two males telling her that they’d been alerted through their combots before pushing her – on the cart – out of her room and into the hall.

This time, it was Tillos who was pushing the cart – though that was a bit wrong to say, since he wasn’t actually putting in effort, he was just guiding it – while Sollit walked in front. They moved through the transport ship, down and out, following the others who were getting off at this station.

A real space station. Jinron or something like that? Tillos told her it was a popular food destination. It boasted about having restaurants and bars from every Coalition species within its walls.

But first, they had to check in to the station. Logging their entry here. Something that took a bit longer for them since Leah was here on special visa. When she mated her males, she would be considered a citizen of their planet, but for now, she was considered an offworld human.

Eventually, however, Tillos got them all cleared and they were free to make their way to the Twilight Star.

“Ready, Miss Williams?” Sollit asked as they approached the door that led from the exit tunnel into the station itself, smiling at her so sweetly.

She nodded, fixing her purse in her lap.

They were still calling her Miss Williams. What was up with that? Should she be calling them misters… snap, she forgot their last names. She’d been so focused on the fact that there were two when she’d been introduced, it hadn’t stuck at all.

Though, they didn’t seem to mind when she just addressed them by name. So, why were they calling her Miss Williams? At this point, she was afraid to ask in case she had made another stupid mistake like not realizing she had two mates.

That worry was pushed back in her head, however, as the door opened up.

She leaned forward, excited, but she was quickly disappointed. They didn’t go into the station itself. Instead, they stayed on the docking platform. A busy, huge room where all the exit tunnels from the various ships were emptying. People mingled, coming and going in a huge crowd. It was incredible, but it wasn’t the station she was promised.

They crossed the dock after leaving the connecting tunnel, going straight to their destination – the entrance of another connecting tunnel. Which made sense, as they were going to their own ship. It wasn’t like they could go to the restaurants or bars she was promised. Not with all her luggage still with her. But she couldn’t help but catch and long for the distant strains of upbeat music and the scent of something foreign and delicious as they passed the entrances leading into the station itself..

“We’ll see it soon,” Tillos said, surprising her into turning to face him, “The station. We’ll have a chance to explore it later, I assure you.”

Leah smiled quickly, not wanting them to think she was upset. “Right. Thanks.”

He gave her a short nod, bobbing his head in acknowledgement, before she turned forward, focusing back on their destination. That was still exciting too. She couldn’t already be thinking that she was bored of spaceships. That seemed like such an insane thought considering how incredible they were.

On Earth. They were incredible, and rare, on Earth.

The next tunnel was identical to the last – long, basic, boring. It took them to a door that opened as Sollit approached without him even needing to scan anything. She leaned forward, curious about her new home.

“Welcome!”

The loud shout, from a multitude of different voices, made her cry out as she jerked back, clutching her purse like it was a shield. She was more startled than afraid to find herself in a large, open atrium packed with strangers that were all looking at her.

The room was beautiful, done all in warm orange, yellow, and red tones. A small entrance alcove opened into a bigger chamber with smaller alcoves along the sides, a high ceiling, a golden crystal chandelier dangling down in an elongated spiral. Sweeping staircases lined the walls on either side, leading to a second floor, and more steps, spiral this time, led to a third. A bunch of closed doors lined the two walkways, though the bottom floor had only one set of doors, big and red and covered in beautiful woodwork carved with shapes she couldn’t see from here.

And people, so many people of so many different species, lined the walkways, filled the chamber, stood on the stairs. They were calling out, waving their hands at her. The scent of hot food filled the air, while the distant, dimmed sound of music served as an undercurrent to the surprise.

At the very front of the crowd was a person who could only be Corvidair – judging by the very accurate description she’d been given. He was huge, he had four arms, and he was covered, head to toe, in a thick layer of pitch-black fur. A large ruff of it came down from his head, down his chest, like a lion’s mane. He had a muzzle, a fluffy black tail, and he was wearing a bright, fuchsia outfit that made her think of a flamboyant genie. All four arms were thrown out and he was smiling, short fangs glinting in the golden light.

Tillos brought the luggage cart up short as Sollit turned, offering a hand to let her down.

“Miss Williams,” he started. “This is Corvidair.”

“Only Corvidair, if you please,” the man in question said, tossing his mane, his grandiose voice booming in the large room. “I do not like it shortened. And how shall I call you, little thing?”

“Er, I prefer Leah,” she said, her own voice swallowed by the huge space in contrast.

Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Sollit and Tillos exchange a glance over her head. Oh, was that why they had been calling her Miss Williams? She hadn’t told them not to, and that was what they heard her guide calling her. She should have just addressed that sooner.

“Well, you are most welcome upon the Twilight Star, Leah,” Corvidair declared. “Have you any talent, as it happens, that would be suitable for the stage?”

“Er, no?”

“Ah. No matter,” he waved her denial away. “I’ll find you something. Come! You must meet everyone. This is Skara.”

He immediately gestured a bright green ratchi female forward. She was wearing a long, white dress with an empire waistline that, somehow, broke Leah’s brain. She didn’t know why but seeing a giant lizard lady in a regency style dress was such a conflict of stimulation, it somehow made the parade of people she walked past afterward seem almost normal by contrast.

Corvidair seemed determined to introduce her to everyone . More than that, they all seemed just as eager to be introduced. Tillos and Sollit talked to them all, clearly familiar with the whole crew, but they all very quickly blurred together to her. At some point, a plate of unfamiliar food and a cup of unfamiliar drink were shoved into her hands – she didn’t even know if it was juice, alcohol, soda, or some other fourth thing that didn’t have a comparison on Earth.

It was overwhelming. In a bit of a good way. Everyone was so friendly, but it was just a lot to be thrown at her all at once.

She was grateful when, somehow, she found herself being herded back onto her luggage cart by Tillos and Sollit. They worked together so gracefully, so easily, she didn’t even notice she had been led there until she was already sitting down, and they were pushing their way through the others. The crowd had no other choice but to make way for the large cart, though they were still talking to her as she passed. She did her best to keep up, but Sollit – his turn to push – kept moving them forward without pausing while Tillos led the way.

They took a hallway under the curved stairs, then followed it around to a door marked employees only before heading right inside. The warm tones turned into dark, cool tones immediately, and she realized that the atrium had been for people coming to see the plays.

This was the real Twilight Star, and it was so different, but she couldn’t complain. There wasn’t as big of an attempt to be bright and beautiful and luxurious in appearance, but she rather liked that. It made it seem more real. The halls winded around, back towards more halls that were covered in a variety of pictures, posters, and artwork. There was no theme, scheme, or color coordination. It seemed like everyone had just put up whatever made them happy at the time. The result was a beautiful, chaotic mosaic of life and joy.

“This is your room,” Sollit said as Tillos finally stopped in front of a door. They had to be deep in the ship at this point. And it was much bigger than she imagined.

Tillos tapped against the control panel, unlocking it. The doors slid open and Sollit pushed her inside. From her throne of suitcases, Leah had a great view of the room. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting. Part of her thought, with two males, it would be like a suite of some kind, with their own beds. Probably spartan, needing a woman’s touch. Maybe even messy.

No. Not at all.

There was only one bed, against the far wall, with a dreamy, draping canopy sweeping down from the ceiling. But it was a big bed, more than big enough for three people to lay comfortably – she realized. It was slightly rounded, like a shallow bowl, but it was filled with big, fluffy pillows, and a thick, pretty, orange blanket.

Besides the bed, however, the room was totally symmetrical. Anything in here, save for a few things, had a matching pair. And the things that didn’t were in the center of the room, keeping the symmetry. It wasn’t split down the middle, one color on one side or anything, but there was a couch against one wall, and an identical couch on the other. A beautiful rug, woven with a complex, colorful pattern, took up the center of the room – mirrored by the colorful lights on the ceiling overhead. Shelves on one side matched shelves on the other. It was all bright and colorful, in pastel colors, seeming more like a fairy bower than a bedroom. Neat and orderly, bright and lovely, done in a style that seemed at once romantic and futuristic, she loved it.

It was delightful. Absolutely charming.

But it definitely wasn’t hers.

“This is your room, isn’t it?” She asked, looking at the two as they began unloading her things from around her.

“Your room, for now,” Sollit smiled at her. “Tillos and I will share a room in the crew quarters.”

“No. I can’t kick you out of your room. You stay here, I’ll-”

“Don’t even bother to finish that statement, aevea ,” Tillos interrupted, setting aside her luggage. “It’s already done. I’ll just leave these here. Feel free to unpack.”

“But-”

“We’ve cleared out space for you in these drawers,” Sollit said, pressing against something on the wall. It made said drawers pop out, all of them empty and waiting. “You can put your clothes here.”

“You shouldn’t-”

“We have a private privy,” Tillos said, pointing to a door along the wall. Then he pointed to the one on the opposite side, “And that’s the food pantry where we keep snacks and drinks. Help yourself. Tell us if there’s anything we can add to it.”

“You’re not listening to me,” she frowned.

“We’re just hastening the conversation,” Sollit chuckled, as Tillos offered a hand to help her down. “It’s not going to go anywhere anyway, so why waste the time?”

“You’re staying here,” Tillos told her firmly. “Now, you can argue about it, lose, and stay here, or you can accept it, stay here, and we can use the extra time to help you get settled.”

Leah had to bite back a smile. They were just so seamless in the way they worked together. While Tillos helped her down, Sollit took over moving the luggage she had been sitting on. Tillos then turned her over to his brother to show her around the room while Tillos set the luggage cart outside. Tillos then began showing her how all the new technology worked while Sollit picked up a box from one of the bedside tables, bringing it to her with a smile.

“A gift for you, aevea ,” he said, setting it in her hands. “From the both of us.”

“You didn’t have to get me anything,” she said, smiling at them, even as she lifted the lid off the pretty, glittery, wrapped box.

Inside, nestled on a little cushion, was her own little combot. It was dull in comparison to theirs that were flitting around their heads, but when Tillos flipped a switch, turning it on, it lit up bright pink and baby blue, like cotton candy, as it bounced up into the air.

“A combot?” Leah said, following it with her eyes as it hovered around her. They had just given her the equivalent of a new phone.

“Pretty necessary for life, really,” Sollit chuckled as Tillos turned her around to begin showing her how to activate the holodisplay.

He was incredibly patient as he instructed her in how to use the new device. It was a smart phone, a computer, an electronic bird that followed her around and obeyed her voice commands. It even connected to the communication relays back to Earth, giving her access to her playlist without needing to worry about her mp3 player dying.

Sollit was the one who reminded them to send Ambassador Tzomei her new patch signature. It was then that she discovered that Sollit and Tillos had already put their own information within it. They had prepared this just for her.

This was serious for them, she realized. She didn’t know why that wasn’t obvious, but seeing two males instead of one had really thrown her off her game. But this piece of tech – that certainly couldn’t be cheap – brought her back to reality.

Okay, yes, there were two. But they both still wanted to mate her. And not in a way that meant she had to pick one or the other. They wanted to work together to love and mate her, just like they had been doing since they picked her up. To them, life was a team sport, and their buddy system had been set since the womb.

“Thank you,” she said sincerely, smiling between them. “Really, thank you both so much.”

Sollit beamed. Tillos smiled.

“We’re happy you’re here,” Sollit assured her. “We want you to be comfortable.”

“You can rely on us completely,” Tillos agreed. “Courting is a large part of our culture anyway. So, it is no matter for us, no matter how long you need to be comfortable.”

“Whenever you want to invite us back into the room, feel free to let us know.”

“But don’t feel rushed to do so. We’ll be comfortable in crew quarters.”

Leah’s head turned, following them as they talked like she was watching a tennis match. It was still hard for her to believe, the very idea still made her heart pound with nerves as her belly clenched up in a way that wasn’t quite comfortable, but she believed them. The room with one bed, the perfect synchronicity of their movements and thoughts, convinced her of the truth of their words.

“Thank you,” she said again, meaning more than just the combot this time. “I’ll… I’ll try to get comfortable with it as soon as I can. Really. I promise.”

“Take your time,” Tillos said peacefully.

“We’ll enjoy every step of the way,” Sollit said happily.