Chapter Eight
Arin’s face tightened. “Who told you about the Dragos?”
Valerie looked at him, a little taken aback. “Arin, if I can’t talk to you about this without you looking as if you want to kill something, then how can I think about joining this triad? I’m not going to be your personal sex kitten and nothing more. I deserve more.”
Arin ran a hand through his hair, conflicted.
“I told her,” Xavier admitted, and when Arin’s eyes jerked to his, he lifted a shoulder in half a shrug. “Chill, dude. I told her, but then again, I didn’t. You stormed out growling about the Dragos. What was I supposed to say?”
Arin threw a hand up. “Does she even know what or who the Dragos are?”
“Hey, Growly Gus. I’m sitting right here,” Valerie objected, her brows knotting at his stubbornness.
Arin exhaled, kicking his backpack.
“You’re being a jerk, Arin. Maybe if you told me why this is such an issue, I could help.”
“Enough with the name-calling. I’m the alpha of the Gemini. It’s bad enough I have to prove myself to my own people after exile, but to have to prove myself to my own mate?” He threw and arm out toward Xavier. “And why don’t you ever call him names?”
“Because,” she smirked. “His scales don’t get ruffled over every little thing.” She leaned in, giving Xavier’s cheek a kiss. “Plus, he doesn’t annoy me. You, on the other hand, are a big baby sometimes. You’re impulsive and brash, while X is calm and sensible. It’s no wonder the Gemini have two of you lead. It’s a built-in system of checks and balances against asshole autocratic bullshit.”
Xavier lifted a corroborating hand. “She just called me X, so I do have a nickname.”
“It’s not the same,” Arin muttered.
Valerie reached for a package of Nutty Buddies and squeezed open the bag. She plopped two mini cookies in her mouth and then held the bag out to Arin. “Want some?”
He shook his head, giving Xavier a sideways glance.
“Aren’t those you’re all time favs?” X asked.
“So?”
Xavier took the bag from Valerie, and fished inside for a handful. “Val’s right. You’re being unreasonable. Not ten minutes ago we had the hottest ‘all about you’ sex with a woman we both can’t stop thinking about. The woman we just asked to be our mate. What do you do? You get your back up at a simple question. And you wonder why Valerie isn’t creaming in her pants over the idea of a forever threesome with us.”
Arin grumbled in reply, but at least he stopped pacing. “It’s not like either of us anticipated a past enemy our first five minutes on Nova.”
“We’ve been trained for this, but it’s all been in the academic. It’s go time now, bro. Situations like this are going to hit us when we least expect now that we’re back. If we expect the elders to support us after so long, we have to show a unified front and the ability to deal.” Xavier picked up the only other bag of Nutty Buddies and tossed them to Arin.
He caught them in one hand, and looked at his omega. “What now?”
“We eat junk food and wait for the gate mechanics to open the pod doors—and while we wait, we tell the woman of our dreams whatever it is she wants to know.” Xavier gave Valerie a wink. “Considering she doesn’t know that much about us, together or separately, it’s only fair. If the marks on our arms tell us anything, it’s we can trust her. Not just with our dicks, but with everything.”
Arin growled again, but this time it was subdued. He plopped down beside the two and opened his bag of cookies. The tight set of his jaw, gone. “And I’m not sharing, so don’t ask. Alpha’s privilege.”
Valeri burst out laughing, and Xavier grinned, gesturing to the cookies in Arin’s hand. “Well, love…now you know his Achilles Heel is a bag of processed peanut crunch.”
“It is not,” Arin replied, emptying half the bag into his palm. “My only weakness is sitting opposite you, big mouth.” He plopped the entire handful into his mouth at once. “And as much as I hate to admit it, you’re right. Valerie deserves to know everything,” he said, chewing.
Xavier punched his arm. “Dude! Manners, much?”
“Ow! What?”
He looked at Valerie, jerking his thumb toward Arin. “Now you know why I said caveman.”
“Aww.” She leaned over to rub the spot on Arin’s arm Xavier punched. “That’s just Arin’s brand of charm. Kind of like gold. You gotta pan for the nuggets worth keeping.”
“Will you two get off me so we can talk about what’s important?” Arin put the bag of cookies down. “Look,” he said, swiveling around to face Valerie. “Has Mrs. Wilder told you anything about Nova Aurora? What about her connection to the planet or us?”
Valerie shook her head.
“Okay, then.”
“Wait,” she interrupted. “She did tell me that earth shifters were actually descendants of the core breed on Nova and the surrounding planets. That they had been on earth for millennia.”
Xavier and Arin exchanged a look.
“Is that wrong?” she questioned.
A tiny smirk tugged at Arin’s lips. “No, not exactly.”
She slapped her forehead. “Seriously, if one of you says those three words one more time—”
“Sorry, love.” Arin snickered, blowing her a kiss. “I couldn’t resist.”
Xavier bit the side of his cheek, not to laugh. “What this bonehead means is Earth was once a penal planet and the shifters that were exiled there were criminals.”
“Criminals. As in break the law and get deported?” she looked from one to the other.
Xavier lifted a hand halfway. “Not exact—” He caught himself and shot her a sheepish grin. “I don’t mean murderers or such, but people guilty of treason. Gerri was exiled to Earth because she failed to save a Dragos prince from his own stupidity.”
“Ryker Dragos.” Arin grimaced, stretching his legs out. “It was his scent I thought I caught at the townhouse.”
Valerie’s mouth went dry with a mouthful of cookie. She stopped mid-chew and glanced from one to the other. Ryker was Camille’s mate. Her best friend’s mate. The one person in the world who meant more to her than anyone. More than a blood sister. Not that she had any blood relatives left. Ryker, who made Camille so happy she squeaked. The one who laughed with her on the interstellar skype thingy. He was Arin and Xavier’s enemy. Her heart sank as Gerri’s words came back in a heated rush.
If you want the Gemini for your own, it might mean a choice you don’t want to make.
This choice…is it life or death?
No. But it will test you.
Double fuck on toast.
Why did the fates always mess with her when something good came into her life? And why would Gerri match her with men who would make her choose? She snorted to herself. Yeah, right. As if she would ever turn her back on Camille. Never going to happen. Did Gerri lie outright or was it just a lie of omission? Was there a method to her matchmaker madness she missed?
“Valerie, are you paying attention?” Arin waved a hand in front of her face. “You’re the one who asked about this.”
She exhaled, giving him a quick nod. “Sorry. You were saying?”
“As much as I despise the Dragos,” he continued. “Ryker is not the reason the Gemini are at war with his clan.”
Xavier nodded in agreement. “It’s because of Ryker’s sister, Calliope.”
Valerie’s lips parted as she looked at him but didn’t say a word. Xavier was quick to read her face, and quickly shook his head. “No, love. It’s not what you think. All this happened way before our time. Calliope completed the triad for the alpha and omega that came before us.” He looked at Arin, hesitating. “Calliope was Arin’s mother. Our custom holds that a single triad male must be born of the completed triad that came before. The other is chosen by the elders according to the stars.”
“So Ryker Dragos is your uncle?” she replied, taken aback. “What happened that caused such hatred between you?”
Arin glanced at his knees before looking up again. “Calliope was in love. Happy to be the chosen of a Gemini triad. Or so we’re told.”
“But?”
He shrugged. “Her father wasn’t. Ores was a prideful man who ruled the Dragos with an iron fist. He refused to let her become part of their threesome. He said our custom of a sacred threesome was immoral. Her father dug in his heels, and in essence, doomed an entire generation of Gemini because of his pride.”
“You remember what we said about how a triad works?” Xavier asked. “What the consequences are if things go south for an existing triad?”
Valerie nodded.
“The Gemini elders arranged for Calliope to be kidnapped. She knew about the plan ahead of time, of course. It was a ruse. She wanted to be part of our tenets, but when her father learned she was ‘gone’, Arin crooked his fingers, “he declared war.”
“Jesus. Your poor mother.”
Arin nodded, his expression softening at her compassion. “For a solid year both clans sacrificed so much blood, but when Calliope gave birth to me, that was the end. Her father arranged to have her poisoned.”
“Arin, too.” Xavier scowled. “It wasn’t enough he had his own daughter murdered. He ordered his grandson poisoned as well.
Valerie’s shock was palpable.
Arin’s face hardened again. “I lived. My mother didn’t.”
“The triad was broken,” Xavier continued. “The elders performed the rites as soon as they were able, and I was chosen as the omega. The elders concealed us from the Dragos until we were old enough to travel. By then Ryker had been cursed into some book by the sirens in the Wyanar Woods. Mrs. Wilder was the Dragos seer then. Their Dragosarra. From what we know, she warned Ryker not to stick his dick in dark places, but he didn’t listen.” He shrugged. “Because Mrs. Wilder didn’t prevent what happened to him, she was exiled to Earth.”
Arin’s face softened a bit. “My grandmother, Ariadne, didn’t want me harmed. I was all she had left of Calliope, so she made a pact with the Gemini elders. She knew she could never have me with her. Not only was I the son of her husband’s sworn enemy, but I was also the alpha of the next Gemini triad. She agreed to allow Mrs. Wilder to take me and Xavier to Earth, where she would watch over us until we could safely return to Nova.” He shrugged.
“So why is it safe now? Is it because of me?” Valerie asked.
Xavier nodded. “Partly. I also think she’s found a way for this feud to end.” He frowned at Arin. “If someone could learn to keep their fire on slow burn.”
Valerie dropped her gaze to the empty bag of cookies in her hand. This was so not good. The minute Arin and Xavier learned the reason they sensed Ryker at the townhouse was because he was Camille’s mate, it was game over. She drew in a quick breath, turning back to the guys.
“What?” she asked, watching Arin watching her.
He gave a chin pop toward the door. “Gerri had us come to that townhouse, but it wasn’t just for you. Your friend,” he paused, “The one recently mated to a Nova shifter. She wouldn’t happen to be the reason I scented a Dragos in that house?”
Valerie wasn’t going to lie. It was time for the truth and the chips would fall wherever.
“Yes. Camille is mated to Ryker Dragos. I know the whole story about his curse, but what I didn’t know was about you or your feud.”
Arin’s face was conflicted. He got up to pace, but in a small confined space it didn’t really work.
“Sit down, dude. Your brooding is getting on my nerves,” Xavier complained.
Valerie gathered the empty snack bags and stuffed them in Arin’s backpack. “They’re going to fix the pod doors any minute, and the truth is I’m here to see Camille and meet her mate. The tie formed with the two of you wasn’t something I expected, and for better or worse, I couldn’t get away from it even if I wanted to.”
She paused, letting her words sink in. She had their complete attention. Even Arin stopped pacing.
“If you truly want me, then you’re going to have to come to terms with my association to the Dragos.” She lifted one shoulder and let it drop. “Look, I’m outspoken and determined. I was before you met me, and I am now. I live my life on my own terms, and I will continue to do so. Good, bad or otherwise. Alone or with the two men I’m falling in love with.
“We’ve known each other two days. In my world, bonds don’t happen that quickly. I have reservations, it’s true, but I can’t deny what I feel or the attraction that seems to have a mind of its own, Gerri explained how it’s different with shifters. Maybe that’s part of what I’m feeling. I don’t know. You’re both marked. I’m not. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be or that I don’t want it. All I’m saying is Camille is my family and Ryker is her mate. I won’t choose between you.” She shrugged. “So, the ball’s in your court.”
Before either Arin or Xavier could reply, the doors to the transport slid open. Gerri stood in the transport hub right outside, her faced a mix of annoyance and concern. Worry changed almost immediately to pleased, and she gave them a shrewd smile.
“Looks pretty cozy in there. I guess I don’t have to wonder what you three did to occupy yourselves.” She chuckled.
Valerie went to get up from her spot on the floor and Arin jumped up to help her, hitting his head on the broken intercom panel. “Ouch, shit.” He rubbed his head. “What did you expect? You matched us with this one, and she’s insatiable. From the minute the pod doors closed, seriously.”
“Arin!” Val smacked his arm.
Xavier grinned, picking their jackets up from the floor. “You don’t remember some of the nasty things you said. Very hot. We could barely keep up.”
“Oh my God! You two suck.” Embarrassed, she pressed her hands to flushed cheeks.
Arin waggled his eyebrows. “Yes we did.”
Valerie lobbed his backpack at him.
“My transport smells like a bordello and you three smell like cookies and sex. Either way, it sounds to me like you had a good time.” Chuckling, Gerri beckoned them frontward. “Your rooms are waiting, so let’s go. I’ve already had your bags sent up.”
Valerie dusted Nutty Buddy crumbs from her clothes, shooting Xavier a dirty look as he held out her jacket. “Is Camille here?” she asked Gerri, ignoring him and his teasing grin.
A deep male voice answered. “She’s down by the beach. Ryker’s taking her the long way ‘round so you can surprise her.”
Valerie’s eyes took in the tall, handsome man. He looked so much like Ryker she did a double take.
“Dragos,” Arin said, taking a step closer. His eyes went wary, but this time they stayed green.
The man inclined his head. “That’s right. I’m Vikter Dragos, alpha of my clan. You must be Arin Gemini.” He extended his hand. “Welcome home. Nova Aurora has missed you.”
Xavier pushed past his friend and accepted the outstretched gesture. “Thank you, Vikter. It’s been a long time coming.”
Arin’s gaze took in the man and the familiar features he noted. Features he saw every day when he looked in the mirror. They had the same shaped nose and mouth. Dragos features. Traits he got from his mother.
Xavier released the man’s hand, and Vikter extended it again to Arin, and this time he took the offering but didn’t say a word.
“C’mon,” Gerri motioned for them to follow again. “The palace is waiting. Let’s get you three settled.”