Page 21

L eska stared at the spot where the reaper had been standing. Sarel walked up to her and smiled. You are beautiful when you fly, Leska.

Thank you. I need to go back to Raek s place and change.

Vinul was moving closer to her. Why?

She looked at him. I am sweaty.

I know. Your scent is coming through very strongly. He sniffed.

She blushed. Sorry.

Vinul wrapped his arms around her. Don t apologize. You smell like a snack.

Sarel chuckled. He s not wrong. Even I am getting a hit, and I never react to other omegas.

Sarel was suddenly curling up next to her with his head against her neck. Leska squeaked. What is going on?

Vinul chuckled. We are appreciating you.

It feels more like a me sandwich.

Sarel chuckled. There s an idea.

Leska froze. Oh, no. Nope. Not happening.

Vinul nuzzled her shoulder. Maybe you will feel different during a heat.

Not unless it has been proven to be not painful.

He lifted his head. You have a problem with pain?

I have had enough pain for a lifetime.

Sarel s lips were starting to trace the column of her neck. We don t want you harmed. Anything we do will be slow and with consent.

Leska fought the urge to grab hold of him. Why are you being so nice?

Vinul chuckled. Because Raek offered to let his mate harmonize us into sludge if we weren t. This is the best-behaved group of alphas on the planet right now.

Leska laughed. Yeah, she s a lot of power in a very polite package.

Sarel bit gently, and Leska squeaked and went up on her toes as her body slicked. She gripped his shoulders, and Vinul dragged in a deep breath. Oh, that was intense.

He was purring, and Sarel still hung on, sliding an arm around her waist, pulling her against his very taut body. Every inch she moved, Vinul shifted forward until she was firmly wedged between them, which didn t make her damp situation any better.

There was a giggle from nearby, and Leska said, I am glad you are having fun, but I am wearing spandex, and this feels odd, Cadence.

Cadence hopped onto the stage and watched with her chin propped on her fist. But you look so cute. You also have what you want. An omega of your own and a big cat.

Leska narrowed her eyes as she felt both guys grin.

Sarel lifted his head. You wanted an omega of your own?

I thought they might be better behaved than alphas, Leska muttered.

Cadence said, Salat wants to make an appointment to learn more aerial pole and the silks. So, gentlemen, when can you have her back here?

Sarel chuckled and kissed the side of Leska s face. Give us a week.

Leska blinked. A week? You meant a day, right? Maybe two.

Sarel laughed. A week.

Vinul chuckled and stroked her thigh and hip. And then another week.

Leska muttered, Oh, I am gonna have to stretch.

Cadence giggled.

Raek came by and said, You are laughing at your friend s distress?

She isn t distressed. If she were distressed, they would be on the ground by now. Possibly in pieces. She may just have become a dragon today, but her claws were always at her disposal, which I suppose should have tipped me off that she wasn t human.

Leska was distracted as long fingers were moving down her belly and rubbing between her thighs. She hissed, Vinul!

He chuckled. What? Oh, you are very hot.

She elbowed him in the abdomen, but she was trapped between them and couldn t get a run at it. His fingers curled against her sex, and she hissed.

That s a noise I am familiar with. He laughed. Vinul s fingers slid between her thighs and pulled her back against him.

She squeaked and clutched at Sarel for balance. He laughed and held her ribs. Etir, put her down. Your enthusiasm is noted, but not in front of her friend.

Cadence said, This is mild considering what Leska warned me to deal with. I will just walk off with Raek and pretend that I will see Leska at the end of the workweek. I have her com if I really need to talk to her.

Leska gasped. You are just tossing me to them?

Well, no, but you are in harmony with them. More than any of the others. It is making me feel much better about this whole thing.

Leska asked, What about the girls who just got snagged?

Cadence smiled. There was some light shifting around, but Mori is with the Black Eagle, Esme is with Nighthawk and the Sandman, and Rayn is with the guy that doesn t have a face.

Sarel laughed. They have names, you know.

Fine, all of their first names are Etir. Cadence crossed her arms.

Leska came out of the haze that Vinul s fingers were causing and said, Esme can teach an aerial pole class.

She gasped and whined softly. Sarel turned Leska s head away from Cadence.

She knew her face wasn t precisely for mass consumption at the moment.

He was looking at her with a sweet expression, and he brought his arm up for her the moment that the torment resulted in her climax.

She moaned and shuddered, and Vinul nuzzled her, purring hard at her back.

His fingers were moving slowly, and it struck again, causing a whimper around the omega s forearm. She slowed and released Sarel s arm.

He chuckled and leaned in to whisper, You must like me. You didn t break the skin.

Vinul muttered, And you must like me because I still have all my limbs.

She sighed. Move your hand.

He stroked back and forth slowly.

Not that way! She hissed as her body clasped for the digits that it couldn t reach.

He chuckled.

Leska turned her head, and Cadence had a dreamy expression. Stop drinking my vibrations, Caddy, it s weird.

Cadence smiled. But it s so calming for me.

Weirdo.

Raek laughed. It is doing the opposite for me, but then I have your images in my mind.

She snorted. Sarel said, I believe we will sweep her away now and bring her back in seven days. Is that acceptable, Raek?

Cadence nodded. Yes. She can feel the baby kick.

Leska smiled. I didn t want to ask.

Cadence frowned. You didn t say.

I know. It seemed personal for you to share with Raek.

Raek smiled. You respect privacy.

I was raised naked in a cell. Privacy and bodily autonomy are always in my mind.

And yet, you are wearing two alphas or an alpha and omega?

Yes, and if I were panicking, they would be off me in a second, or I would be scaly.

She looked at Cadence from her bent position. The other girls are okay?

They aren t happy, but they aren t unhappy, if that makes sense. They are all in harmony.

Leska nodded. Do you know where my dress ended up?

Raek lifted his hand, and the fabric smacked into it. He extended it, and Sarel took it. He smiled. It s very soft.

Sarel touched her cheek. Do you want to go?

No, but all that happens if I stay here is that Salat tries to figure out how I can teach him more.

She looked around and saw Tirra playing on the pole with her husband watching. She waved, and they didn t see her, so she said, I think we can go now. Talk to you in a week, Cadence.

Yeah, like I am going to wait that long.

Leska nodded. Patience is not your virtue.

Vinul chuckled. In that case, we will be on our way.

Sarel snorted. Gets one girl to come on his fingers and he gets bossy.

Leska felt her cheeks heating. Sarel kissed her cheek. Come on, sweet. Let s go home.

She stared at his gorgeous face; there was nothing more reasonable at that moment than to say, Okay.

Leska was wrapped in shadow, and then they disappeared. She smelled the ocean, but everything was dark. She hated the dark.

Look up, Leska, Vinul murmured.

She looked up, and stars were everywhere. Thick bands of light studded with stars were above her. Her breathing eased, and lights flicked on around them. She sighed. I should have mentioned that I still sleep with a night light.

They left you in the dark.

They left me in the dark. She sighed and leaned back against him.

He smoothed a hand over her hair.

Dude, that smells like me. Wash your hands.

They were on a polished wood deck that had a jagged cliff below it. The ocean was beyond that and stretched forever. It didn t feel as hot as she thought it would. She thought the air would be warmer.

Where did Sarel go?

Probably to warn the staff that you are here.

Is that an issue?

Nope. He s in charge, after all.

I hate to ask, but can I get some food somewhere? I have been trapped outside since we were summoned to Salat s this morning.

He frowned. How often do you eat?

Twice a day. Three if at work.

Let s go find you something. I don t want you fainting at a delicate moment.

He set her on her feet, and she felt the smooth wood against her soles. He held her hand and walked with her through the house, toward a kitchen, if the warm smells were anything to go by.

Sarel was in the kitchen, stocking a tray with items and dodging his staff as they cooked. He looked up. Oh, good. I wasn t sure she would mention that she was hungry.

Leska smiled. I try to keep my own needs under control.

Sarel chuckled. I try and cater to mine, but I let them go now and then. Dinner will be in two hours, but this should be a good start for you.

She smiled. Thank you, Sarel.

My pleasure. Eventually. Come on. He winked and led the way back to where they had come from.

There was a low table and some cushions arranged on the deck. Now that the light was on, it was a very inviting space.

Sarel set the tray down and took her hand. Come on. You are taller than most of the females I am set for, but I have some clothing that can probably fit.

She asked wryly. Clean?

Clean. They are designed for my taste, so until we can get you something else, you will have to make do. That spandex is adorable, but I want to see you in something feminine.

She shrugged. It s functional.

Yes, very. He chuckled. He led her to a wardrobe of the same polished wood that made up everything around them.

He opened it and flipped through the outfits that looked like they were on hangers by friction, hopes, and dreams. He pulled out a dress and chuckled. This will do.

Thin black silk with white and gold trim.

Put it on.

She sighed and peeled her top off, dropping it to the ground before pulling the chains over her head and settling the waist near her hips, then she peeled the leggings off.

Change in a lot of locker rooms? He grinned and crossed his arms.

She settled the backless dress on her hips. Yes. It s one of those lab holdovers. Controlling how my body is presented is a pretty big thing. How do I look?

Sarel smiled and slid his hands under her hair. The kiss was a riot of emotion that he wasn t holding back.

Leska paused and pushed him back. Just a moment. I have to make a quick call.

She made the call and got Raek. Can you ask Khytten if the treatment would speed biology along a little?

Certainly. A moment.

She looked at Sarel s curious expression and tried to keep herself calm. Khytten says it will only have a mild progression effect.

Thank you.

She flexed her face a little and nodded. She kissed Sarl softly and said, I think I need to eat.

He chuckled. What was the call?

I just had to ask Khytten something, so I went through Raek.

Ah, you don t have her com link.

Nope, but I really had to know something.

* * * *

K hytten looked at Raek . Why did she need to know that?

Cadence cleared her throat. I think she was kicked into a heat.

Khytten frowned.

Salat laughed. She s an omega, kitten. She s going into heat. Like Ylara at Vallu s wedding.

Cadence ate a few bites. She had been three weeks away. I am guessing that she s in the early stages. I hope Sarel and Vinul don t have plans for the next few days. They are gonna be tired.

The other omegas covered their eyes and groaned. Khytten frowned. I don t think wanting sex is that bad.

Esme looked at her and laughed. It isn t wanting sex.

It is wanting breeding. Imagine fucking your husband raw and then going back for more because he didn t manage to hit the spot or your body didn t acknowledge that you were pregnant yet, and if you don t get pregnant, everybody just collapses in a heap, and the next round in a few months is going to be longer and rougher on the mating pair or triad.

Khytten cocked her head and said, So it s a group event?

Mori mentioned, It s like professional wrestling. The nice ladies have all the stamina, and the guys have to tag out and trade places. She snorted, That is if she doesn t flip them over and bite the hell out of them.

The Black Eagle chuckled. I am enjoying this conversation. My own father claims that my mother locked him in her nest, and they didn t emerge for six days.

Mori looked at him. Nest. Huh.

He clacked his beak.

She chuckled.

Khytten paused. So, the heat is a problem?

Cadence shrugged. Well, she s already nearly naked, in heat, and about to be mindless. She s on leave right now from Z-Corp, so I guess she doesn t have to call in to work.

Raek said, I think I might need to notify Zera of her whereabouts.

Cadence patted his arm. Solid idea. You got an omega into your household, and then you gave her away... for free. Zera s going to have an aneurysm.

Esme chuckled. So, if I were working for Z-Corp, they would come and get me?

The two alphas flanking her were tense.

Cadence said, She had us sign on to BDC so that the sexual nature of our interactions was taken into account. Of course, she didn t know that Leska was an omega until Im-bar ran the tests. They are hella expensive.

Tirra chuckled. Yes, we are.

Khytten blinked. You are, and Nelith is. Oh. Was your dad an alpha?

Tirra shrugged. I don t know. He was a bastardy thug. I am guessing that he sold his genes to Uradda because they were trying to organize their own alpha program.

Khytten whistled low and leaned back. Nelith and her kind are making a lot more sense.

Salat nodded. They found an omega and made more of them.

Khytten rubbed her head. Because they already had one and knew her genetics.

He put his arm around her and rubbed her back. Yes.

I should have warned Leska about the acceleration. Khytten sighed.

Mori asked, You think?