Page 110 of Mated By Twilight

Her face was red and swollen, there had been a large lump to the back of her head, and her vibrantly red human blood had created a web of lines all across her legs from where Biella had cut into her with her claws.

Their failure to protect her had resulted in her pain, and that was what really ate at them. They’d taken that package from Biella to just be from an obsessed fan. They all got things like that. Security usually intercepted it. They hadn’t considered Biella would be so obsessed with them that she’d see Leah as a threat. Nor that she would have escalated so quickly.

One of the peacekeepers assigned to the station had already come by. He had been the one to threaten them with detainment if they didn't leave the room. He wanted to speak to Leah alone to get her story. When he finished, he came out and spoke to them.

Biella had been screaming and throwing a fit when station security got to her room. Skara had been blocking her from chasing after them and, unlike Leah with her soft skin, the dull knife Biella’d stolen from the kitchen hadn’t been able to cut Skara’s scales. Biella had just been ineffectually hitting her with the knife when security subdued her.

She was being taken for an emergency mental evaluation. She had committed a high crime, but her insanity would likely keep her out of prison. More than likely, she’d be sent for mental health treatment and rehabilitation.

Medirings could fix a lot of things, but there were some things it couldn’t do. The brain was always so difficult. If her obsession with them was caused by some kind of imbalance of chemicals or some kind of wire crossed in her head, it could probably be fixed.But that wasn’t a guarantee, and it might take a long time before she was well.

Regardless of whatever punishment or treatment she’d get, however, she would be absolutely forbidden from being within a certain distance of Leah. Which meant she would no longer get to follow the troupe around. Her obsession with them ended here, one way or another.

Personally, Sollit would rather she be thrown into a deep hole and left to rot.

But that wasn’t how cases like this were handled. Her crime was caused by mental disturbances, not by a choice that she consciously made, therefore the way she was dealt with would be different. Sollit had to be satisfied that, at least, she wouldn’t be a bother for them ever again.

He only cursed Biella and wished her ill until the healer came into the room and finally told them that they could go see her.

With that, he left all thoughts of Biella behind as he and Tillos rushed to her room.

Leah was sitting up on the side of the stretcher. The mediring was off and all the marks on her body were gone like they had never been there. But her hair was still a mess, and her clothes were still mussed and torn in a couple places. The skin that had been healed wasn’t as soft as before, proof of the healing process. It just made Sollit want to get her back to the room immediately. It begged for a new bonding ceremony so they could get her back to how she had been.

They both reached for her at the same time, and she collapsed eagerly against them, letting out a long sigh like the weight of the world was falling from her back. Her arms around their necks,resting on both of their chests. At least she had stopped crying, but it was like something had been sapped from her. A vitality that was lost.

Sollit tightened his grip. Hating Biella even more for taking that light that had just been restored.

“Are you okay,aevea?” Tillos asked, kissing the top of her head as Sollit rubbed her back.

She nodded. “How’s Biella?”

“She won’t bother you again,” Sollit promised.

Leah sat up, keeping her hands on them. “No, that’s not… I’m worried about her.”

Tillos gave her a wan smile. “You’re too kind, Leah.”

She shook her head. “It’s not that. She just… kind of reminds me of my family.”

Sollit frowned. “Your family are obsessive over actors?”

“No,” she chuckled. “But they are obsessive. Their religion means so much to them that it’s driven them to exclude everything else. Their devotion isn’t a healthy thing, and it makes them hurt other people. It makes them think that other people’s opinions and desires don’t matter. They’ve become convinced that their reality is the absolute right one, and any challenge against that is a threat that must be destroyed by any means necessary. Usually, it’s about attacking outsiders, but it’s even worse when it’s aimed inward. It makes them cut off their family or hate what makes them happy. It’s an obsession that blocks out the rest of the world. That’s what Biella reminds me of.”

Sollit and Tillos briefly shared a look before focusing back on her.

“Leah, we owe you an apology,” Sollit started solemnly.

She shook her head. “It’s not your fault she took me. No one could have predicted that.”

“Actually,” Tillos clenched his jaw. “A while ago, we got a package.”

Leah cocked her head as she listened to them explain the animal carcass that had come in the mail. The box that they’d not told her about. Biella hadn’t signed it, though there wasn’t anyone else who could have sent it.

She looked between them, frowning. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“We didn’t want to worry you,” Sollit said.

“You didn’t think I might want to know?” She shook her head. “I mean, thank you. For looking out for me. I do appreciate how devoted you two are to me, but for something like that, something important, I should know. Right?”

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