Page 23

So, there is going to be marking involved. She bit her lip.

Sarel stroked her neck. You will be fine.

She shuddered and kept eating. Water, tea, and juice were brought out to them, and she smiled as she filled her tank.

They had taken down about three-quarters of the available food. When they were done, Sarel helped her to her feet and walked into his quarters with slow steps. I think a nice warm bath will help you relax before bed.

Um. I am a little iffy on bathing within reach of others.

Why?

She wrinkled her nose. They used drowning as a punishment.

Sarel said, Noted. No face under water, but I want to see your hair loose.

Can you arrange a warm shower and huge towel?

He chuckled. Yes. As long as I see your hair loose and clean.

Fine. You two are just going to mess it up anyway.

Vinul walked past them into the bathing room and had a wide towel waiting for her. She smiled. The shower was a waterfall cascade, and Sarel did something at the back of the dress that caused it to slither off her hips.

She stepped away from the fabric and walked under the water. She groaned and rubbed her neck as she rotated her head from side to side.

Her braid was unravelled in Sarel s hands, and he made a happy sound as it unravelled to her waist. Sarel tutted. You need a trim.

She snorted and blinked as he carefully started to wash her hair from the centre of the mass and carefully working up to her scalp. He kept his touch light, and the shampoo smelled like flowers.

When she was standing with her eyes closed and swaying with the careful movements of his hands, she smiled, and at his urging, she stepped back and rinsed her hair.

She sighed happily, and then Sarel washed her body, pulling her back against him as he slid a hand between her thighs and got every nook and cranny.

She moaned as his hands slipped and slid.

He used his free hand to guide her arms behind his neck, and that is when she met Vinul s direct gaze.

She blushed at the heat in his eyes, and Sarel chuckled.

Oh, you finally noticed. He s been staring a hole in you since you stepped under the waterfall.

Has he had a rut recently?

Sarel chuckled against her ear. You know, I think he might be due for one.

You are an ass.

I have been complimented in the past.

She looked at Vinul. Sweetie, put the towel down, get naked, and come here so we can all start clean.

He set the towel down on a shelf and peeled off what looked to be formal leather.

Sarel continued her shower and chuckled when there was a huge tiger-striped alpha in front of them.

She looked up at him, and he was staring down at her. Leska muttered, If you don t wash it, I am not touching it.

She had never seen a cat lather up so fast.

Sarel chuckled in her ear, I guess I had better wash up as well.

She turned to rinse off and then left the shower area to wrap up in the soft towel. Watching them both showering got things started, but she wasn t desperate. Not yet.

Vinul s colouration was less fuzzy and more pigmented skin. His head was the most feline part of him, which was good, because he was already sporting a knot; she didn t need a spur as well.

Sarel looked to be in a tremendously good mood. He was grinning and helped Vinul wash his hair.

Leska chuckled and dried her hair, making a face at the gold stuff. She had always wanted to have black hair. Both Sarel and Vinul had black hair, so maybe the next generation would have black hair.

When the guys were clean, she tossed them the towel and walked into the bedroom, crawling into the middle of the bed and settling the pillows so she was comfortable.

She watched the bathroom door and smiled at the view as they approached her. She sighed and let the nerves just wash away.

An omega in my bed. This is a first.

She stretched and said, I am pretty sure there is an omega in your bed every night.

He settled in front of her and wrapped an arm around her waist. There was a thud behind them, and Leska s back got very warm as Vinul spooned her from behind.

She snuggled in and whispered, Why does this feel like the safest place in the world right now?

Vinul purred and started slowly licking her neck. His tongue was wide and raspy. He held her to him with an arm around her waist, and she felt like a kitten.

Sarel kissed her and gripped her hip, sliding his thigh between hers.

What happened to the nap?

Sarel grinned. You nap; we will keep ourselves busy.

She shrugged and relaxed, using years of practice to push herself under.

* * * *

S arel looked at her and chuckled. She s out. I guess we have to wait, after all.

Vinul huffed and opened his mouth to test the fit of his teeth on her shoulder. Sarel watched him, and when Vinul s gaze met his, he leaned back and closed his mouth.

I don t care that you can fuck your way through a concrete wall right now, we are just going to hold her until she s ready. She needs her rest, and she knows it. Her scent is building, so it won t be long.

Vinul purred and scooted closer to Leska.

Sarel chuckled. Maybe we can get her to make some new photos to showcase your mark.

Vinul s purr got louder.

Of course, she s going to be wearing my tattoo and possibly those cheekbone scales that come with the wings. Oh, her naked with her wings. That would be stunning.

Vinul shuddered.

Sarel chuckled. Don t worry about it, Vinul. There will be plenty of time to spill into her. After this, we can introduce her to my sister and your family.

Vinul chuffed. When his rut was over, his speech would return. In the meantime, he was doing very well in the self-control department. Sarel was impressed.

Four hours later, Leska shifted and whined softly, reaching for Sarel.

He woke slowly, and she kissed him, sliding over him and rocking against his erection.

He was startled by how much she was dripping, and when she raised her hips to line up with him and started sinking slowly, he stopped thinking.

She was hot, wet and-he arched his head back and groaned as heat shot from his balls to his omega.

She whined softly and leaned forward to lick his chest while she slid up and down on him.

There was a soft chuffing sound, she was pulled from him, and Vinul settled her, straddling his hips. She grabbed him and climbed into a position where she could capture his cock as well.

Sarel sat up, feeling dazed and fascinated. Leska was working herself on Vinul, and he was helping with his hands under her thighs. She was determined to have them both, and she was doing a helluva job doing it.

Leska pinned herself onto Vinul s knot and whimpered and fussed as Vinul shuddered and growled.

Vinul held her, and Sarel sighed. That s the only break we are going to get, Vinul. I hope your knot can take it.

Leska bit Vinul, much to Sarel s shock. She marked his chest and then rubbed her head against him.

Oh, geez. I am pretty sure I am next. He chuckled.

When she started licking Vinul s new mark, Vinul shuddered again. Leska s heat was firmly underway.

* * * *

L eska groaned. You fucking bit me.

Sarel laughed. It was only fair. You bit us first.

Leska took stock of her position draped on top of Vinul, with her shoulders feeling the burn of the bites. Sarel stroked her back, and she turned her head to kiss him. Four days, Leska. Well done.

She weakly pumped a fist in the air. Yay!

Vinul chuckled. I am nearly dead, and I think you wore my knot off.

Leska leaned up, and he was grinning. You don t look upset about it.

Vinul laughed. I never thought of omegas as aggressive.

She winced. I am not a proper omega. I am partially the most efficient killer on the planet and part inveterate gambler that sold his daughter to a cartel.

Sarel stroked her back under her hair. You are uniquely you and exceptional on your own.

Leska looked at Sarel. I wouldn t mind that hot soak now if it is still on offer.

It definitely is. You may want to dismount from Vinul fully, though.

She looked down and blushed. Oh, god. She was splayed wide across his hips.

Sarel said, It s a good thing you are flexible.

She pushed on Vinul s hard belly and flipped herself off him with a lot of gleaming residue.

Sorry, I should have helped, but that was fun to watch.

Sarel chuckled and lifted her, carrying her back to the bathing chamber, holding her for a thorough cleanup and then walking her to the sunken tub.

He stepped down into the water that was covered with exotic flowers and smelled like fruit. He sighed, cuddling her against him. You exhausted us both.

I don t know what to say about that.

He laughed. It was strangely refreshing.

Um, good.

And exhausting. I hadn t properly appreciated an omega before. I certainly do now.

She nodded. This isn t the worst I have had. It was shorter than most.

That s a good sign. Sarel nuzzled her neck.

A sign?

That one of us was successful.

Was it a competition?

He chuckled. It was a marathon.

Leska started to feel self-conscious. I was... I mean... I didn t mean... She hadn t ever shared a heat with someone, let alone two of them. What was she supposed to say or do?

She leaned against Sarel and tried to relax.

Vinul joined them and took her from the omega, stroking her hair and kissing her forehead, cheeks, and lips. Whether anything takes or not, I am honoured to have shared your first shared heat.

Those were the words she needed. She smiled weakly. Thanks for remembering that. What do I do now? Is it back to Cadence? Back to Aksalla? Where do I go now?

Sarel looked surprised. You stay with us. You choose an occupation, and you begin a life on these islands.

Vinul said, You are ours, and we will take care of you.

Sarel took her back and said, I suppose we should have talked this out before. Things moved too quickly.

I have a bajillion hormones fading out of my system. I am feeling a little unsettled. She leaned against him, and tears tracked down her cheeks. I don t have clothes. I don t know where I am on a map.

Sarel kissed her temple. You can call Cadence as soon as you are out of the soak. Is it helping? Which flowers do you like?

She looked at all the flowers floating around them and picked one that was blue with a gold centre. This one.

He smiled. That is a very nice choice. When we visit Aluhara, you will have a crown of them.

Why?

Because I am in charge, and you need something to show others what you are.

Can she come here? I don t want to go to the Sethir.

He sighed. Ah, right. Yes, she will come here, or we will get the Sethir to declare that they will not pursue you.

Vinul said, We will get them to do that anyway.

Sarel rubbed her back, shoulders, hips, and tailbone.

Why is this bath just warm?

Oh, it s blood heat in case our efforts were successful. We don t want to poach anything.

Oh. When can I sleep again?

As soon as we get you relaxed and the crew is done with the bedroom. We got a little messy.

She blushed. Oh.

Don t be embarrassed. We were the ones who were spilling everywhere at the softest whine from you.

So, you actually remember it?

I remember your heat. I don t remember what mine were like.

Mine will come back in flickers. That makes me more nervous than anything.

We didn t harm you, we both marked you, which shocked the hell out of me. I had no idea my teeth would descend like that. He chuckled.

She turned and looked at his mouth, prodding his upper lip to show a sharp canine. How did that happen?

Well, I was helping Vinul with your mark and got some of your blood in my mouth, and the teeth appeared shortly after.

Oh. That s...

Did they take a lot of your blood in the lab?

Sure. That s all they did every day. I broke out with the others when I was ten. They hadn t drained me for a few days. I think one of the other labs had been compromised.

I am fairly sure they were using your blood to boost other actives.

Yeah, that s what I figured. It s also why I fought against designation. No one seeks power boosts from a human.

Sarel chuckled. We don t want power boosts from you, we just want a mate, and we want you to tell us what makes you happy, no holds barred.

She snorted. Little late for that.

Vinul came toward her and gathered all the flowers she favoured together in his arms. He surrounded her with them. We were all caught by surprise, but we are catching up.

She smiled and took one of the flowers, inhaling gently. It had a subtle scent that was hard to place, but she relaxed as she took in the aroma. She said softly, When do we eat?

Sarel chuckled. Ten minutes.

Good.

She leaned her head against him. Wake me up then.

He chuckled. Yes, Leska.

She leaned against him and dozed off in the safest place she could imagine.