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Fun Reunion

*Ren*

T he Verne touched down in Harlxston late the next morning. Nerves tingled up my spine as I strolled the city streets, down the same route we’d walked on our last visit to Cassidy’s house.

The route might be the same, but so much had changed. That terrible sense of dread that had filled me on our last visit was completely gone, replaced with a burgeoning strand of hope. After our talk over the comms, Cassidy and I were closer than ever to seeing things eye to eye. I had a few more things to get off my chest, but if all went well, I could see this visit turning into the first of many.

And this time, I had my mate to lean on. Jalen strolled at my side, his strong presence calming, even though his smile was a little pinched.

I grabbed his hand. “Hey, it’ll be all right. He’ll understand once we explain everything we’ve learned.”

“I hope so.” Jalen squeezed my hand once before dropping it.

“What are you two talking about?” Arda asked. She’d insisted on tagging along, wanting to say a quick goodbye to Cass before we left Dionus. And of course, Karsen didn’t want to be left out either, though Lux was forced to stay behind again so he didn’t burn to a crisp.

“Rhelt.” I sighed. “Jalen’s worried he’ll be pissed when he discovers we’re mates.”

“Why would he be mad about that?” Karsen tilted her head, making the twin plaits she’d woven her shiny black hair into bounce on the shoulders of her burgundy skinsuit. We’d all opted for skinsuits today, even Jalen, who’d been delighted to accept his first navy-blue suit as a gift from Arda that morning. “You two are fated , right? Isn’t that hard to argue against?”

Jalen tugged at his collar. “Yes, it’s just that when Rhelt asked me to be your guide, he specifically instructed me to keep my hands to myself.”

Arda’s brow furrowed. “Weird request.”

Arda and Kar had already skimmed the data, including the cryptic warning about twins, but I hadn’t filled them in on all the personal details revolving around Cass and me yet. “It’s a long story. I’ll explain later.” We’d arrived at Cassidy’s place, and I was itching to see her. “Come on. Let’s knock.”

I bounded up the steps with my fist raised just as the door swung open. “Ren!” Cassidy wrapped her arms around me, and for once, I didn’t feel the urge to shy away. “I’m so glad to see you.” She drew back, smiling.

I sent her a tentative smile of my own. “Same. Can we come in?”

She threw the door open wide, revealing Rhelt looking unusually domestic in the kitchen, his hands busy in the sink. “Yes, please come in,” she said cheerily.

We piled inside as Cassidy took turns greeting us. Everything went smoothly until Jalen crossed the threshold.

“Jalen.” Cassidy lent out her hand just as Rhelt’s head shot up.

“No!” His hard voice cut through space. “Don’t touch her!”

Cassidy retracted her hand instantly, and Jalen leaned back on his heels, stuffing his hands into his pockets. That didn’t seem to appease Rhelt in the slightest. He raced across the room in about two seconds flat, tugging Cassidy behind him. “What are you doing here?” he hissed.

Jalen’s face fell. “Nice to see you, too.”

Cassidy huffed. “Rhelt, calm down. I can’t believe you’re being so rude!”

Arda chuckled uneasily. “Fun reunion we’re having.” She nudged me with an elbow as her eyebrows shot into her hairline.

I shook my head sharply at her, wishing I’d taken the time to explain before Rhelt flew off the handle. Suppose I should’ve expected it, but now it was time to rip off the Band-Aid.

I stepped next to Jalen, slipping my fingers into his. “Jalen’s with me. We’re mates.”

Rhelt froze for a split second, during which his bronze skin took on a shockingly red hue. Then he roared, “What? One thing. I asked for one simple thing, and this is what happens?”

The animosity in his tone made everyone flinch—but not Jalen. He straightened his shoulders, and replied calmly, “I won’t apologize for it. Ren and I are fated.”

I jumped in, my words flooding out in a rush. “We discovered some important facts about twins and Dionion mating I’d like to talk about.”

Cassidy started nodding, but Rhelt spat out through his clenched jaw, “Fine. We’ll hear you out—after Jalen’s back where he belongs.”

Jalen backed up, shaking his head, clearly stung by his cousin’s dismissal. My heart broke as I watched him, recognizing the same feeling from all those years I’d spent waiting for a family I’d hoped would love me to finally come and take me home.

No. Jalen was mine . He’d never be abandoned again.

I advanced on Rhelt, poking him square in the chest. “Take it back! Jalen’s not going anywhere.”

Rhelt glared at me. “It’s within my rights—”

Tears stung my eyes as the physical contact sent a sickening wash of memories flooding back. “Don’t act like you’ve never made a mistake. You know damned well that’s not true.” I pulled back my hand and my chin wobbled.

As Jalen tugged me into his arms, Cass turned to Rhelt with wide eyes. “Wait… What are you talking about? What mistake?”

Fuck. This really fucking sucks. I’d planned to sit Cassidy down and explain everything calmly, sharing the warning we’d found first, for context. But Rhelt had forced my hand when he’d threatened to send Jalen away. And from the utter surprise in her expression, it was pretty clear Rhelt had never told her how he’d been unintentionally drawn to me when we’d first met.

Rhelt dragged my sister close, rubbing her shoulders sweetly. “Cassidy… I don’t know how to explain. What happened… It’s never made any logical sense.”

Cassidy blinked repeatedly, her voice breaking. “Just tell me, Rhelt. What the hell happened?”

As the silence dragged out, I shuddered in Jalen’s arms. And when I couldn’t stand the suspense for a moment longer, I blurted, “The first time we met, he… touched me, mistaking me for you.”

Jalen growled out, “And he did more than just shake her damn hand.”

Beside us, Karsen gasped. “Of course! That’s what that warning meant. The pheromones that cause the mating heat must be too similar between twins.”

Her explanation was intriguing, but I couldn’t reply. Not after Cassidy sped out of the cabin without a single word to anyone.

“Cassidy!” Rhelt took a step toward her.

I pushed out of Jalen’s arms and planted myself in Rhelt’s path. “I’m going after her. Stay here and talk to your cousin.” With that, I spun on my toes and jogged out the door, Arda and Karsen following closely behind me.

I found her in the front yard, leaning against a haldi tree, her back shuddering. “Cassidy? Can we talk?”

“Why?” Cass spun to face me, blue eyes that looked just like my own red-rimmed and hazy with tears. “Why did you both keep this from me for so long?”

My gaze slid to the ground. “I’m so sorry you had to find out like that. Honestly, Cass? I thought your mate was a handsy creep, but you were so in love with him, and I couldn’t bear to break your heart.”

“What did he do?” Her palms landed on my shoulders, and I lifted my eyes, finding hers filled with compassion—and pain. “Please, I need to know.”

Truthfully, I wanted nothing more than to put the memories behind me. Especially now that I knew Rhelt’s unwanted touches were driven by a fluke of nature and not any lewd intentions he harbored for me. But Cass deserved the truth.

“He pulled me into a hug from behind a couple times. And once, when I was bent over, he slapped my ass.” I wrinkled my nose. “When I would turn around, he always seemed so shocked. At the time, I thought it was just an act, but looking back now, I really believe he thought I was you.”

Karsen cleared her throat. “Sorry to intrude, but I’d like to share some of the data that we recovered. I think it will go a long way in helping you understand why these false mating signals keep cropping up between you two and your mates.” She whipped out a tablet and started quickly scrolling across it.

Cassidy’s brows dipped, but then it was like watching a light bulb go off. Her expression shifted, brows shooting up and a hand lifting to cover her slack jaw. “Wait… You think this is why Jalen thought I was his mate?”

I nodded. “We do.”

Cassidy snagged the tablet. Her gaze traced the screen before she lifted her head, blinking rapidly. “We have to show this to Rhelt. God, Ren. Three years—wasted. If we’d only known this before…”

I patted her arm. “We’ll show him. Let’s just give them a moment to talk first.” Together, we stared at the silent house. “I hope they can forgive each other.”

Arda wrung her hands. “They better. I don’t want to lose my new botanist.”

Karsen asked, “Can he really make Jalen go back to that lonely cabin in the jungle?”

“According to the local laws, yes,” Cassidy said. “But I don’t think he will. Not after he hears all the facts. Rhelt can be a little obsessive about protecting me, but he trusts science. And he’s always had a soft spot for Jalen.”

I scoffed. “He’s got a funny way of showing it.”

Karsen turned to me, cocking her head. “What will you do if Rhelt doesn’t listen to reason? Will you stay with Jalen?”

If you’d asked me even a few days ago, my answer would have probably been no. But now, the thought of leaving him alone in that stupid house was enough to give me indigestion. I’d hate leaving my friends, but I’d suffer through it if it was the only way to be with the man I loved.

Fuck. I love him. The realization hit me like a heatwave, warming me all over. “Yeah. I would. But I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

Cassidy linked our hands. “Me too. And I hope you’ll forgive me, Ren.”

I gaped at her. “Why? You did nothing wrong.”

Her lips quivered. “It doesn’t feel that way. If we’d had a normal relationship, you’d have told me everything when it happened. Instead, you had to keep it all inside. I hate that.”

“I do too. But now that everything’s out in the open, maybe we can have that closeness back.”

“I’d like that.” Cassidy sniffled.

“Me too.”

Damn, it felt good to no longer have those secrets weighing on me. Cassidy and I could move forward with no skeletons in the closet ready to jump out and wreck the tentative bond forming between us.

Arda slung an arm around us both. “That was fucking beautiful.” She nodded to the house. “Think we gave them enough time yet?”

I shrugged. “I don’t—”

An enormous crash from within made the words die on my lips. We exchanged stunned looks before we hurried across the lawn, back to the house.