“What do you mean?” she asked.
Her voice was much softer than her brother’s, which had Conall straining even more. He leaned to put his ear closer to the door.
“Being friendly with the Earther… what’s his name? Conall? That’s relatively helpful, but I need you to switch your focus to getting closer to one of the Sirilians. Which one would you say you have the most access to?”
“I’m not sure,” she replied uneasily.
“Oh, come now. You’ve been here for several days; I’m sure you’ve seen Reus during that time.” There was a pause. “What about his Earther female; does he seem happily mated to her?”
“Yes. He and Ashlyn are happy,” Onalee answered.
Forkan sighed. “Too bad. You’ve been wanting a mate, and with his connections, he’d be perfect. Oh well. You’ll just have to make friends with his female.”
“I don’t see how I could do that. Ashlyn isn’t around much.”
Conall’s brows drew down. That wasn’t true: Reus and Ashlyn were constant figures in the house—especially since the attack.
“I’m sure you’ll figure something out,” Forkan told her. “Don’t forget—we need the Sirilians’ technology if we’re going to get closer to finding the cure.”
“I remember.”
Onalee’s answer was so soft that Conall barely heard her reply. It didn’t matter. His heart was beating so hard he was surprised it didn’t leap from his chest.
Onalee had been planted here with the intent to gain access to his family—in the hopes of them securing some piece of Sirilian technology?
Suddenly Conall felt lightheaded. He set the tray down on a nearby table, and headed down the hall. He didn’t know where he was going, but he needed to get away: away from the scheming siblings in his suite; away from the woman he’d opened his heart to, and fallen in love with.
Damn it! Why had he let that happen?
Conall was nearly running down the hall, when he turned a corner and came into contact with a hard chest.
“Whoa!” Brogan exclaimed, and grabbed Conall’s upper arm to steady him. Conall barely noticed him holstering a weapon he’d been holding.
“What’s the matter?” Brogan asked urgently. “Are you alright?”
“Onalee…”
It was all Conall could say past the lump in his throat. He felt like he was going to pass out from the clenching of his chest. The pain… he hadn’t felt anything like it in years.
“What’s wrong with Onalee?” Brogan was on alert and already moving past Conall to head towards her.
“No!” Conall called.
He leaned back against the wall for support. It felt like his legs were barely able to keep him upright. His head swam.
Brogan stopped and turned his direction again.
“She’s not harmed. They’re still in there talking,” Conall explained.
Brogan’s brows creased in confusion. He came to Conall’s side and tilted his head up. Brogan’s eyes ran over every inch of his face, and Conall knew he was using his capabilities—both enhanced and trained—to make sure he was physically okay.
When he was sure Conall wasn’t in danger, his touch turned more tender.
“Then what’s the matter?” Brogan asked with a gentler tone.
“I heard them talking,” Conall told him, in a soft tone to match the other male’s.
Brogan pulled back and took a step away. Conall missed his touch immediately.
“You were listening to their conversation?” Brogan inquired.
“Aye.”
“Why?”
“Because he makes her uncomfortable!” Conall defended as he ran both hands through his hair, agitated that Brogan was treating him like he’d done something wrong, when it was Onalee that had betrayed him and his family. When Conall spoke next, he tried to keep his voice down.
“A few weeks back she told me how Forkan makes her feel small, inconsequential, and like an accessory in her own home. Today I could see it: her discomfort at his arrival was written clearly on her face, in her posture, and how carefully she chose her words. I’m sure you saw it too.”
Brogan nodded. “I did. Were you listening to everything they said?”
“At first I wasn’t. But I thought I’d bring her something to eat, and to see how things were going… to step in if need be. I heard them through the door before it even opened.”
He kept his eyes locked with Brogan’s. “I know that listening to them was wrong, but what I heard was much worse.”
“Tell me,” Brogan demanded softly, stepping back into Conall’s personal space and helping him to breathe a little easier.
“Forkan told her that she’d done a great job of getting close to me, but now he wanted her to move her attentions to Ashlyn, so that she could gain her trust. He wants Reus’ technology, or something. That’s why she’s staying here.”
“I don’t believe it,” Brogan denied, shaking his head. “She’s here because she was injured.”
“I just heard them!” Conall insisted. “She’s been playing me this whole time.”
Something suddenly dawned on Conall. “Oh my God. She offered to help Oliver in order to position herself in this house.”
Had any of it been true? Her supposed attachment to his son, her feelings for him? For Brogan? Her smiles and laughter shared with his family?
Conall’s heart fell, and now he felt pain for a different reason. Did she ever really love me? Or was that all part of the plan too?
CHAPTER 22
Brogan paced away a few steps before returning to Conall’s side.
“This can’t be true,” he denied. “Onalee would never agree to something like that. We need to go talk to her.”
“What’s the use?” Conall countered, sounding angry and brow-beaten. His heart was breaking. “She’s just going to deny it all anyway.”
“She has the right to defend herself,” Brogan argued.
Conall gestured in the direction of her room. “Be my guest, but don’t expect me to stand there while she denies what I clearly overheard.”
“I’m not doubting you. I’m just…” Brogan visibly struggled for a moment. “I’m not going to give up on her that easily. Are you?”
Conall reared back as if he’d just been punched. “What do you mean?”
Brogan approached until he was nose to nose with Conall. Conall didn’t know whether to bring up his hands to defend himself, or lean forward and rest his head on the male’s chest for comfort.
“We love her,” Brogan declared in a softer tone. It wasn’t a question.
Conall closed his eyes. It was true: he loved her. He loved her deeply—wanted her in his life, and the life of his son. That’s why he was in so much pain at the moment.
Brogan continued.
“She loves us too. No matter what demands Forkan made of her, we need to have faith in our female. Give her a chance.”
Brogan tipped up Conall’s jaw so that he was looking him in the eye, and pleaded, “Don’t give up on us, Conall. Not yet.”
Conall nodded. There was nothing else for him to do. He wanted to have Brogan’s confidence in Onalee—he needed it.
They stood together in the hall for a few minutes, until their emotions were better in check. It wouldn’t do any good to rush into the room and confront the siblings in anger. Luckily, by the time they returned to the suite, Forkan was already gone.
Brogan checked his wristunit to be sure, but his team confirmed that his transport had just left the property.
Onalee stood looking out the windows with a forlorn expression on her face. Her arms were crossed over her chest. She seemed deep in thought as she watched something out the window.
She looked their way when she heard them approach, and gave them a small smile. It didn’t light her eyes, and Brogan’s stomach clenched.
“How did it go with your brother?” Brogan asked.
Onalee shrugged. “Fine. He’s glad that I’m feeling be
tter.”
“Come talk to us,” he encouraged with an outstretched hand.
She came forward to grasp his palm, and Brogan led her to a lounger. He sat at her side, while Conall took an adjoining chair, keeping his distance.
“Did Forkan say something to upset you?” Brogan asked.
He hoped that she’d confess what Conall’d overheard on her own. That would go a long way toward showing Conall that she was innocent.
“I… I’m not used to talking about him with other people,” she replied.
Brogan could see how that had been true before, but now things were different.
“We understand that, but he’s an important figure in your life. The three of us need to be able to talk about things.”
She nodded, but didn’t speak right away. She adjusted the hem on her dress, and smoothed her hair over one shoulder, idly running her fingers over the braided strands. Finally, she spoke.
“He wants me to talk to Reus about getting Sirilian technology for Cormikan Industries.”
The males shared a glance.
“Is that all he wants you to do?” Conall asked.
His tone was clipped, bordering on harsh. Onalee’s eyes flew to him, and Brogan saw her pulse jump. She licked her lips nervously, but didn’t answer right away.
“You can tell us,” Brogan encouraged her.
She looked at him, and he nodded to her in reassurance. He gave her palm a squeeze.
She looked back to Conall.
“Forkan has always wanted me to forge connections for him: ones that may help him professionally, or politically. That’s the reason he takes me to events, so that I can build relationships with people that he has a harder time relating to.”
She stopped to take a steadying breath.
“Ever since Sirilians moved to Arath, he’s been interested in procuring their technology. He believes that there’s a good chance it can enhance our research methods, and help find a cure for our infertility. But he’s had a hard time gaining access to them… to Karo, Aevum, and Reus. Since I’m here, he’s hoping that I can bridge that gap.”
“So, you’re using my family?” Conall asked brashly.
“Of course not!” she denied with wide eyes. “I would never do that. I love your family.”
Conall wasn’t appeased. “And what about Oliver? Did you offer to help him to get your foot in our door?”
Anger crossed her features. “No! Absolutely not. How could you think that of me?”
She looked to Brogan, maybe for help, but he remained silent. Conall needed to hear what she had to say. She turned back towards their Earther male.
“I wanted to help Oliver. Me. That had nothing to do with my brother, and everything to do with the fact that I wanted to help Oliver succeed in his new life on Arath.”
She paused for a moment. When she next spoke, her tone wasn’t as defensive.
“That’s not entirely true; me coming here was partially about Forkan, but not for the reason you think.” She took a steadying breath.
“I told you that he didn’t allow me to work, but it’s worse than that. I’ve never even been allowed out of the house without him or an escort. You can’t imagine what that’s like, day after day, year after year.” She shook her head for emphasis. “Tutoring Oliver gave me a purpose. It made me feel… whole—something I hadn’t felt in my entire adult life.”
Conall’s features softened. “I had no idea,” he told her, then ran both hands through his hair and looked away. “Now I feel like a right bastard for thinking so ill of you.”
“It’s alright,” Onalee consoled him.
“No, it’s no’,” he interrupted, eyes coming back to her. “I thought I had a good reason to think those things, but it was wrong of me to jump to conclusions.”
Onalee’s eyebrows drew together in confusion, and Conall sighed.
“I heard part of your conversation with Forkan,” he confessed to her.
Surprise, and a bit of panic entered Onalee’s expression.
Conall continued.
“The part where he praised you for gaining my trust, but now wanted you to spend your time getting close to Ashlyn… Or into Reus’s bed.”
Onalee nodded, unsure of what to say. She grew slightly pale.
“Were you going to do it?” Conall asked softly.
His tone was sad. Brogan knew he was afraid of the answer, but needed to hear it.
“No!” Onalee denied emphatically. She reached and took his hand in hers.
“Absolutely not. Just because my brother wants me to do something, doesn’t mean I’m automatically going to even consider doing it. I just… even now I have a hard time standing up to him when we’re face to face. But I was never going to pursue Reus. I respect him, and Ashlyn; and I love you too much to ever betray your trust.”
Conall’s expression softened further. He bent down and kissed her palm. “I love you too.”
Conall and Onalee spent a moment looking at each other, and Brogan’s anxiety finally eased. The three of them were going to be alright.
Conall looked from one to the other while he told them, “We’ve never really discussed it, but I hope you both understand that I’m a package deal. Oliver…”
“Will be our son too,” Brogan finished. “I’d be proud to call him such.”
“As will I,” Onalee added. “Nothing would make me happier. Well, except mating the two of you.”
She seemed surprised by her own words.
“Did I just hear you say ‘mate’?” Brogan asked.
A slight blush crept over her cheeks, but she didn’t break eye contact. “You did.”
A smile took over Brogan’s entire face before he kissed her soundly. He looked into her eyes as he pulled back.
“Are you asking us?”
“I think I am,” she replied breathlessly, then cleared her throat to speak more certainly. “Yes. Yes, I’m asking you both to be my mates.”
She looked at them expectantly, hope shining in her eyes.
“Wait a second,” Conall interrupted. Both sets of eyes went to him. “I think a little translating for the Earther is in order.”
They laughed.
“Are you asking us to marry you?” Conall inquired.
“I am,” Onalee answered, sliding onto the floor on her knees to bring them closer together. “What do you say, Earth-man. You up for binding yourself to us for the rest of your life?”
Brogan held his breath as Conall’s eyes went to him. He saw love in the blue depths, but also something else. He hoped it wasn’t uncertainty.
“Aye. I’d love to,” he answered.
“Mind what you say, Conall,” Brogan warned. “On Arath, once an offer to mate has been accepted, it’s final. We don’t require a ceremony and legal officiants, like on Earth.”
Brogan was incredibly glad he’d done research on Earther marriage before all this had happened. It may have seemed a little impertinent at the time that he’d been hopeful the knowledge would be needed one day, but now he knew it had been worth it.
Conall’s eyes widened a little in surprise. “You mean that once I say yes, we’re mated officially? That’s it?”
Both Arathians nodded. Conall thought about that for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders.
“That’s actually preferable.” He kissed Onalee soundly on her lips. “Yes, I’ll agree to be your mate.”
He shifted closer to Brogan until their faces were inches apart. “And I’ll agree to be yours as well, as long as you still want me?”
Brogan smiled. “Are you asking me?”
Conall nodded. “Suppose I am. Although, I think Onalee already beat us to it a moment ago.”
Brogan chuckled and shook his head. “I don’t care.” He gave Conall a firm kiss on his lips. “I’ll gladly be your mate.” He turned to Onalee and gave her another solid kiss too. “Both of your mates.”
Her smile was radiant, and she threw herself at them, one arm wrapped around each
of their necks. The three of them embraced, each feeling like their hearts were full to the brim.
The evening was spent with their large family, celebrating the new union. Oliver had been thrilled at hearing that Onalee and Brogan were now “his,” too, and had immediately run off to tell his new friends the news. Clare and Artair had been surprised, but had welcomed their new daughter and son-in-law warmly into the family.
Ashlyn had given Conall a sideways, knowing grin as she’d hugged Brogan and Onalee, but he hadn’t minded. The three of them were finally together: right where they should be.
*****
Onalee sat back in Conall’s transport, happily watching the trees go by as she was taken to her home—her old home.
She was nervous about what Forkan would say once she told him that she was mated—mated!—but there was nothing he could do about it now. It was already final, and there was a house full of people that bore witness.
Her plan was to pack a few bags of her things, check on her aviary, tell him the news, and leave. He wouldn’t be happy about her mating, but she’d give him time and space to come to grips with her choice. Once he was calm, she’d be happy to let him back into her life.
Soon the transport pulled in front of her house.
“It’s now or never,” she mumbled to herself, as she climbed out of the transport and walked up the path. The door opened, and she was greeted by Finch.
He bowed deeply. “Afternoon mistress.”
“Hello, Finch. It’s nice to see you.”
He didn’t return the pleasantry, but the corner of his lips rose slightly. That was a lot for Finch, who was always completely stoic.
“Master Forkan is in his study.”
Master Forkan? When did that become a necessity? Onalee asked herself. Aloud, she thanked Finch, and headed into the house.
Ahead, the door to Forkan’s study was open. Onalee decided to tell him her news first, to get it out of the way. Plus, she never knew how long he’d be home.
He certainly wasn’t her favorite person at the moment, but she’d rather tell him she was moving out in person, than through a vid screen.
“What exactly are you saying, Doctor Ravi?” Forkan’s voice carried through the open door.
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