Page 10 of Facets of Attraction (Betas in Waiting #30)

A sel sighed as she looked at the outfit made of so many chains she couldn t count. She had the headpiece in place and was escorted to the low throne that Themak had created out in one of the little serene areas on the lake.

Win was standing with a camera, and her gaze looked excited when she saw Asel. That looks wonderful. You look like you are wearing mercury.

That s all I am wearing.

Win laughed. I know. Now sit down like a good girl, and put your hands on the arms of the throne.

Asel sat and positioned herself on the low throne as Win adjusted her hair to pull her braid forward, and the rest of her snowy hair was back.

Camera shutters clicked, and Asel looked to Alexi behind Win. Really?

This is the coolest image, and no special effects necessary.

Asel looked at him. It isn t an image; it s a person. An irritated person.

Alexi blinked. Yes, of course. Sorry.

He waited, and Win snorted. This is date night. Taking pictures of elves is becoming a fetish for him.

Asel smiled. Date night?

Win sighed. I have a compulsion to be around him. Don t know why, and we have scheduled date nights every few weeks to ease that compulsion. We both like photography, so we are taking photos today and at most of the events.

Alexi chuckled. We are also going to go on group outings with my den and hers.

Win smirked. Like chaperones.

Asel chuckled, and Vemel and Themak were standing by in their own finery.

Win grinned. I am really enjoying the play of light on your skin. The lake makes it extra challenging with the moonlight.

Alexi leaned over and showed her the settings she needed.

When Win had taken some base photos, she crouched and got into it. Asel was stood and posed, and then she draped herself dramatically over the throne, like a teen texting.

When that one was done, it was a volley of group photos with Asel and her mates. Asel was on the throne with them behind her. Draped over Vemel and being bent back by Themak, and somewhere in the careful posing, something happened. The diamond on her chest and the mark on her forehead turned crimson.

Alexi paused. What s that?

Vemel looked and grinned. He lunged in and hugged her. Win snapped more photos.

Alexi chuckled. She s pregnant.

Win smiled. I know. I have known since the first photo.

Alexi chuckled. Smartass.

Yup.

Asel was lost in the hugs and kisses while she could see Win calmly taking pictures of the triad from the corner of her eye.

Win spoke to her. Don t worry. It s a trend for the first gens. One child per mate. There are healers standing by to make sure that things go well. Not everyone can have Keres bear for them. She s started her own.

Asel tried to get the guys to stop with the excited affection, but the silk wrapped around their hips, draping going down to the floor. Themak even had his wings and tail out for the event.

She murmured as she was forehead to forehead with Vemel. So, is there a reason I am wearing chains and you are wearing silk?

He chuckled. It s a fashion choice. Also, it keeps you from running away.

She snorted. Like public nudity would even slow me down.

He grinned. Good to know.

Win called out, Now, other faces, please.

Vemel turned blue and crimson, Themak s cheekbones got sharper, and Asel felt the scales on her cheekbones and down her nose, while stars started to swirl under her skin.

Win s voice denoted her smile. There you are.

Images of her with Vemel, of Themak caressing her cheek and kissing her softly. She felt cherished, but she had felt cherished before the possible pregnancy.

They continued for another half hour before the house party was set to begin. Time to invite friends and family over to celebrate their union.

It was a wedding, after all.

Putting black silk on under the pounds of fine chain took all three of them, but when she was dressed in a tight wrap around her breasts and a draped wrap of skirt similar to theirs. Vemel was giddy.

The house was filling with visitors. Shoes were being neatly aligned in the foyer. When they entered the room, there was a wave of applause, and Asel saw familiar faces, including Honey s. She smiled, and Honey waited for the photographers to go nuts before she rushed in, hugged Asel, and kissed the cheeks of Vemel and Themak.

Honey s markings were on display with a low-cut dress, and Asel could see the small blooming tips of the markings. You next, Honey.

Yeah, yeah. I think we might need another heat for that.

No. I think you need a few hours.

Honey s eyes widened, and she looked down. Seriously?

Seriously.

Honey grinned. Cool.

Congratulations. I am an auntie. You are, too.

They pressed their foreheads together for a moment, and someone said, Oh, my god, they are twins!

They laughed together, and Asel was pulled aside to meet Themak s cousin . She blinked at her ex-boss. Mr. Minoru.

Polly was staring with wide eyes. Wow. That is quite the makeover.

Thank you.

Themak chuckled. Minoru is my cousin. Sort of. I was adopted by a couple to run their businesses, and he was adopted at birth. By law, your adoptive parent only needs to be one day older than you are. I already had Vemel with me, so they got a son with an omega. Vemel got his modelling career.

Minoru grinned. And I got a cousin on my mother s side. One who could wrestle.

She laughed, and Themak kissed her shoulder. He murmured, The ogre is a remarkably good sport.

Minoru laughed. He has mellowed recently. Still up for some wrestling though.

Asel smirked. Watch out for his tail. It s sneaky.

She walked away while they were still chatting. She greeted a few guests, and when she glanced back, she saw Vemel in earnest conversation with another djinn wearing a nicely tailored suit with a gorgeous woman standing next to him. Asel would talk to her shortly, but there was someone else she needed to talk to.

She slid the door to the dining room open and stepped inside, watching the caterers filling the space with food stations and a glittering array of desserts. The cake topper with all three of them sculpted in sugar made Asel giggle.

The woman at the dessert station turned to her. There you are. I was wondering if you could find me.

I have heard about you from Honey. I thought you were taller. She smiled.

Meh. I am what I need to be, when I need to be. The woman stuck her hand out. Hello, Asel. I am Regis.

Hello, Queen Regis.

The woman hushed her. Zip it. I am waiting for the big reveal. We just need to stabilize a few of the rescued ladies, but at least you have been doing well.

How do you know that?

I have had someone checking up on you. She can t hold her form for very long, so she goes through the world and sees things that no one else can see.

Asel thought hard and blinked. Wait. I have been seeing mist on the lake, but Vemel said that it rarely happened this time of year.

You do make excellent connections. Well, congratulations, Asel. I look forward to having you and yours visit the palace soon. I can t even have my husband home yet. The ladies come first. Having a hulking alpha stomping around and giving off musk and pheromones won t be great for their recovery.

Don t you have two mates?

Not this time. They were dying, and two became one. It took them centuries to recover, and my sister s mates were chained outside his prison. I had to bring her to distract them as they wouldn t have let me pass anyway. I broke his chain and smiled as he was thrown back with the others. He doesn t know this form, so things have been quiet until now.

How old is your daughter now?

Just ten. When I started her, he was furious. I changed him, just for a while, and then left him there. He didn t understand, and I hope that eleven years was enough to figure it out.

Whoa. I hope so. The beasts seem to like threatening violence that turns into cuddling.

Regis laughed. When I left him the first time, he was furious, and when he was left the second time, he was shocked. How he reacts when we meet for the third time is going to be a surprise. As long as he is nice to his daughter, things will go smoothly.

Does your daughter know?

Regis smiled. Yes. She used to tell her teachers in kindergarten that Mommy has a second face, and they just thought it meant makeup.

And if she said you got taller, they would think heels.

Correct. We get along, and now that we are in the palace, things are going fine. She is meeting others like us, and it has widened her view of the world. She also has way too much empathy, but that is being tempered with calculation and planning. It s good to watch her evolve like that.

And you hope her father likes her.

Regis sighed. The dream of every mother. The two people I care for most in harmony. You will understand that moment soon.

In thirty-eight weeks.

Twins come sooner, Princess.

Okay, so what is the deal with the princess thing?

Vemel is one of six brothers, each sent with a detachment to find new worlds and compatible populations. Themak is my husband s brother, so we are sisters-in-law.

A column of fog rose out of the lake, and a female figure was visible. The black eyes blinked at Asel, and she distinctly heard, Oh shit! before exploding into vapour that cruised away.

Regis laughed softly. That was Pandora. She s a little skittish, but she means well. She can get into anything or out of anything. That is how she escaped the Stronghold, but no one knows when.

I have never heard mist curse before. Asel grinned, watching the wave of mist travel across the lake.

Oh, she can really blister paint with her language. It makes her a good delivery person or an excellent baker. She designs most of those delicate little puffs filled with calories and sin. Regis pointed at the dessert array.

Do the guys here know what you are?

Not yet. I will wait until my significant other is with me. We will throw a party at the palace and have a giant barbeque.

Sounds good. Very good. I think I am hungry. Asel giggled.

Right. Take something with you into the other room. It will explain your absence. Regis finished setting things up and nodded. Right. All done. So glad to have been here for your big day.

Very glad to see you. I mean, I haven t seen you before, but Honey saw you and described you. The moment I felt you here, I just had to say hi.

Regis smiled. Thank you for coming in. The caterers will take care of everything else.

I will see you soon?

Very soon. When it s time.

Okay. Have a great day, Your Majesty.

You too, Your Highness. Regis winked and was gone.

Whoa. Well, she did say I could have something, so that is a royal decree or whatever. She made a careful selection of a glorious item involving chocolate and cherries. She started nibbling and returned to the party full of alphas, betas, omegas, and dark elves. Well, and Win s third, the grey elf. Win and Alexi were taking photos and comparing notes.

Asel walked back to Vemel and Themak, standing between them.

They looked at the treat in her hand, and as one, they bent and bit into the tart from either side. She was left holding a thin strip, shrugged, and popped it into her mouth. She mumbled, I know where to find more.

Themak swallowed, We have to have another one of these celebrations at the Akamora house. The food will be different but really good.

Vemel smiled. That s really good. They are in the dining room?

Yeah. I am beginning to understand your appetites.

Vemel pressed against her. Do tell. Shall I put some music on?

Her sex flexed, and she hissed, Knock it off.

Themak chuckled. Shall we open the buffet, or did you want to do the public declaration?

Declaration and then buffet? She smiled.

Dari, Maybel, and Lydia, along with Lydia s family, were staring at all of the elf omegas with wondering gazes. There were ladies who could help those women gain their full heights and power, and they were here in this room if she wanted it. Asel would introduce them later.

From somewhere, there was a gong, and they walked on the pathways to the gazebo, stood together, and pledged to each other. She stuck a small cuff in their upper left ear, and they did the same to her on both ears.

They had been pierced the previous week and healed by diligent efforts on their side.

Once they had been joined officially in their very official costumes, the party could begin.

Music began to play, the happy triad was set loose on the buffet first, and after that, the rest of the guests cruised by.

Asel sat at a low table with the guys, and she looked out over the other triads and quads sitting and feeding each other. That is so freaking cute. So, do either of you know if there is a school for the wave of itty-bitty elves? If not, we should figure that out. I get the feeling it is going to be necessary.

Vemel nodded. We have been working on getting zoning for one. It will be a kindergarten through year twelve.

She nodded. It will accept other children?

From the neighbourhood.

How big is the neighbourhood?

Do you want to be in on the planning meeting?

Yes.

When the queen surfaces, all of these decisions will be hers. She is in charge of our population and will stop it if it gets excessive. We are starting with a boom, and it is going to slow down once we have reached a level of sustainability.

How many is that?

Twenty to forty thousand beings, give or take.

Asel exhaled sharply. What the hell? Out of a hundred and fifty women?

Themak laughed. No, of course not. This is just the first generation being created and their siblings. We waited a long time for the Elite omegas to emerge and would have waited longer, but we are very glad that you came to us.

Honey brought you to me.

Vemel grinned. Oh, yes. Right.

Themak smiled. You were so calm, and we went to the screening, and then Alen came in and collected Honey, and she started muttering that your revenge was calm but inevitable.

Asel nodded and looked at her twin, who Baran was feeding. Wise words.

Lydia, Dari, and Maybel looked small next to the other omegas, but they were laughing and having a nice time.

Estrya had made it in from the islands with her mates, and they were having fun with the environment and making notes.

Asel murmured, Themak, you might have a design job coming. Estrya really likes this house.

Themak chuckled. I have a few projects on the go, but any friend of yours will make it to the top of the list.

When do you sleep?

I sleep while you are holding me. After that, I putter around and do some drawing.

Asel blinked. I sleep a lot?

Yes, but you have been under physical strain. It is to be expected that you are tired. Sleep heals.

She sighed. Right. So, boy or girl?

Themak smiled. I am a dragon, so it will be a boy. Vemel, what do you hope for?

Literally, anything healthy. Either gender will still be a member of the imperial household.

As long as it doesn t come out with a crown or tiara, I am good as well.

Themak and Vemel grinned happily, and they finished their meal. The contract stipulation had been fulfilled, and she had gotten her bonding ceremony. She was going back to school in the fall, and a teaching certificate was in her future. If her kids were going to school, she would feel better if she could be there.

Honey was smiling, and her posture was relaxed, as was the posture of the other three ladies who had been trapped in the battery with her. Life was good, and the world was going to have to brace for elves. Ready or not, they were here.