Dripping fire, p.3
Dripping Fire, page 3
Those words acted as cold water on her overstimulated senses. “No, that isn’t a good idea.”
She set her plate down and ran back to where the horses were being loaded, except... they were gone, along with her clothes. She looked around and headed for the trees to take her hair down.
She climbed up and didn’t think about why she could move so easily. Once she was up in the tree, she reached for the coronet and chain and unravelled it. She let the hair cascade down, and she picked out the chain, catching it before it fell. Pregnant. That was the end game for an alpha.
She remembered the feel of her bones grinding together. Pieces moving where nothing should move. Pain when she breathed, pain when she moved her arms, legs, everything. Her pelvis had not healed easily. She had been rebroken and set several times until everything lined up, and then, it took a while for all the pins that held her together to be stabilized. The strangest thing about tonight was that the pain had been burned away. She didn’t know how long it would last, but it was a strangely light feeling like she wanted to float away. She unravelled her braids and watched the party from the tree. It looked like a lot of boisterous fun, and she was glad that Lexa had found family to surround her at last. When Alita got a hold of her own family, she would kick their asses. Leaving her at a party filled with alphas wasn’t nice. She didn’t care what particular brand of bullshit Alexi had woven.
She checked her phone and sighed. The car fare home would be exorbitant, but it was better than sleeping in a tree, and she was so very tired.
Chapter Three
Niko looked toward the distance where his princess was sitting in the tree. When she jumped down, he winced, but it was when she headed toward the edge of the party and went past it that he moved.
His father moved to block him. “Where are you going, Niko?”
“I am looking for my princess. She seems to be leaving.”
“She is very cute but not ready for the practicalities of being with an alpha.”
Niko paused. “What? What did you say?”
“That in ten days, she would be carrying your child.”
“Shit. We are going to discuss this, Dad. If you had told Olyna you were going to steal her and plant Grigory in her, she would have cut your throat.”
Vrenko blinked. “Oh. Yes, I see your point.”
“Dad, it is a good thing you are pretty because you are an idiot.” Niko headed to block his princess, but she was quick with little trace of her limp. He smiled slightly at that but headed to the front of the house, where the drive was choked with cars. She had gathered up the skirts, and her boots struck the ground as she ran away from the house and party.
Niko smiled and chased her, lifting her in his arms and catching her scream with his mouth. He walked her back toward the house.
She pulled away and gasped, “Need to go home.”
“Why? What is there for you tonight? Work, exhaustion, the hunt for something to eat because your brothers ate all your snacks?”
She sighed and blurted, “I can’t be a proper mate. The doctors get really quiet when the ability to have kids is mentioned, and since you have Alexi, that is all I would be good for. So, I am not good for much.”
“Alexi is my best friend and holds part of my soul, but there is an ache for an omega of my own, even if I must lift her up because she has fallen.”
She leaned away from him. “Your dad said—”
“He is overly excited that both of his male children have found omegas, and he anticipates grandchildren. Now, here is something that no one will have mentioned. If your body doesn’t want to get pregnant, it won’t. If you are in too much pain or your body chemistry is out due to chronic distress, you will not get pregnant.”
He smiled. “However, I can help to alleviate those symptoms, and I want to, but it only works for a dragon omega. Now, what kind of omega are you?”
“Uh... They don’t give us affinity classes. We just get basic training on how to deal with alphas, which mainly focuses on avoidance.”
He chuckled. “We get very different training.”
His hands were under her knees and around her ribs, and his thumb was moving slowly and caressing the underside of her breast. “I like this dress, though there is too much of it. Your perfume is also very light.”
“I am terrified.” She blurted it honestly.
He frowned. “Ah, princess. I will not hurt you.”
“I don’t want to disappear.”
He turned her head to face his with a gentle caress. “You know what kind of omega you are. I know it. It shows in how you move in the videos and while performing with power and control. Did you see Lexa at the party? Did she disappear?”
“No. No, but she’s Lexa. She was always strong.”
He smiled and walked her back to the party. “Dismiss your car.”
She blushed. “I didn’t call it. I was waiting until I could get to a clear place for a pickup. There are a lot of cars here.”
He pressed a kiss to her temple, and his tongue flicked out. She blinked when she realized it was forked. She hadn’t imagined it.
She whispered something, and he pressed his lips to her jaw. “What was that, princess?”
“I have scars. Lots of them.”
“Proof of survival, princess. You have to heal to have scars. Don’t worry. They will pass in time, and if not, they are simply part of you. I have scars, Alexi has scars, there is little a living being can do to get through life without scars.”
Her eyes widened at that casual reference. “Alexi?”
He smiled. “Yes, you will be my omega; he is already my beta. We will be a triad, and you can either continue your work with horses, or you can join us on our excursions. If you wish a different occupation, you are welcome to select one.”
“So, this is a done deal?”
“There are over a hundred alphas here, and none would try and take you from my arms.”
They rounded the house and saw some familiar faces. “No, but I think you are about to play tug-of-war with some omegas.”
He said, “What?” and then Ford eased her out of his grip, and Olivia fussed over her while Lexa stood in front of him and glared.
“What did you do to her?”
“I kept her from leaving the party. That is all. I am not a monster.”
Her expression softened. “I know you aren’t, but I got used to looking out for Alita on the shoots. She is the only one of us with no natural defenses.”
“Why are you so protective?”
Lexa pressed a hand to her forehead. “You know Alita’s scent?”
“Honey and clover?”
“My sister was daisies and clover, so light you could almost miss it until she laughed, and then you were standing in a summer meadow. Alita does the same. My instincts are geared toward protecting her.”
Niko’s eyes widened. “Ah, Hailey’s mother had a matching scent. I understand.”
“Good.” She paused. “I don’t have objections to your courting of her, but if you frighten or hurt her, I will have Grigory eat your car and shit out a keychain.” She turned and glided away.
He understood which Grigory she meant. They were going to take the flight to the mountains as soon as her morning sickness was under control, and that meant that Grigory could get a photo of his mate and his beast at the same time. It had started a trend with that family to want photos of their beasts with Lexa, and the thought made Niko smile. Alita wearing nothing but his wing or the coil of his tail.
Alexi was an excellent photographer, and he managed to get to the essence of his subject. The beta in question walked up to him and asked, “How did it go?”
“She’s still here, and she’s staying overnight.”
Alexi raised a hand, and Niko high-fived him before pulling him in and kissing him until he staggered. “Geez, Niko.”
Niko was breathing hard, and he pressed his forehead to Alexi’s. “She takes more self-control than I think I have.”
Niko looked at the cuddle of omegas around Alita. They were all concerned that the big bad alpha had upset her. He had wanted to do a whole lot more, but terrifying an omega into submission was not a good way to start.
She was born to be his. He knew it, and she knew it. If she hadn’t been, she would not have been able to take his fire. She had taken all of it, and her body had put it to use. That was the mark of a mate. The other mark would come soon.
* * * *
The first thing she noticed was that she wanted to crawl back to him. Alita kept looking at Niko out of the corner of her eye, and his passionate kiss with Alexi had ended with them both panting for breath. He looked over at her and met her gaze, and she winced. That was her fault. He was worked up with no outlet. She turned crimson when she realized that her outlet was slick.
Ford chuckled. He caught it before the others did. “So, it isn’t him that freaks you out. It is just the entire idea of mating.”
“I haven’t ever... and toys aren’t people. And I am within earshot of family, so I don’t use my toys as much as I should.” She was blushing.
Olivia smiled. “However, I have read some bits of the books you read, and you are definitely not unaware of the details, as well as some permutations and combinations I haven’t heard of.”
Ford frowned. “Wait. Alita, you read erotica?”
Lexa chuckled. “She reads all the freaky stuff. Not just alpha-beta-omega, but monsters and scales and tails.”
Alita blushed, and Ford looked shocked. Olivia giggled. “Dude, you should see your face.”
Alita patted Ford’s hand. “Don’t worry, it just means that if I had a date and it ended with him just kissing my hand, I would feel grossly ripped off.”
He blasted a laugh. “Here, I thought you were just a good horsewoman.”
“And a mediocre dancer.” Alita smiled.
Olivia cleared her throat. “I have seen you belly dancing with the backup dancers.”
Ford blinked. “Wait. What?” He stared at Alita.
“Yeah, it was recommended by my physiotherapist as good exercise for my back and hips. It is... considering.”
Grigory, Delun, and Arthur walked over with a man with dark hair, golden skin, and glasses. He had the same physique that they did, huge and imposing.
Lexa had been giggling, but she looked over, saw her guys and the newcomer, and a needy whine came from her throat. She clapped a hand over her mouth. Alita giggled.
Olivia smiled.
Arthur was grinning. “Lexa, this is Rennic. He is an investment banker and is interested in meeting you.”
Grigory crouched next to her. “He has had a polite introduction to Hailey before she goes to bed. She likes his glasses.”
Alita was watching as the new alpha was introduced to Lexa. Lexa was looking at her alphas for any sign of disagreement.
She left the cuddle of omegas and extended her hand to him. “Um, pleased to meet you?”
Rennic smiled. “You seem unsure.”
“Oh, I am. I am just a few weeks into my mating and my settling in. My daughter’s at a new school, and I have gained three pounds in a month despite the morning sickness. If you are looking for a heat, it isn’t going to be here for a long time.”
He pulled her to him and whispered in her ear. Alita watched, and she blinked, Lexa’s eyes getting wider. “Oh, okay then. Yeah, that will probably be doable on occasion. Currently expecting twins, though, so both might be occupied.”
Alita clued into the conversation, and she started looking for an exit. Nopenopenope.
She was saved when Hailey started running up to her, and the discussion of lactation stopped. “Alita! Have you danced for the party yet?”
“Oh, no, honey bear. I am not doing that. There are a lot of people here very good at dancing, so they need to do their thing. I don’t want to get in the way. Plus, I didn’t bring a change of clothing, and it is hard to dance in this dress.”
Hailey screwed her face up and channelled her mom when she said, “Gimmee a minute.”
Hailey was sprinting through the party after she had squirmed loose. Alita looked to Ford. “I am completely fucked.”
Ford smiled and said idly, “Not yet, but he is getting closer.”
An alpha who introduced herself as Natasha came forward and took Alita by the hand. A few barks in Russian got more women to come with them, and they headed out to a van. Alita had no choice. She was being held onto.
There were more barked instructions, and Alita curled up, making herself small. A soothing voice started talking to her, and arms came around her. “They aren’t going to hurt you, princess. They are just nasty, loud ladies who like to scare little omegas.”
Natasha was brought up short. “She’s an omega? Where the hell were they when I was young and horny?”
Alita cuddled against Nikolai, though she knew it was costing him control. She squinted at Natasha from the safety of his arms. “They were hiding.”
Natasha looked at her and Nikolai and laughed. “I see. So, barely seen and already taken. You are as fast as your father, Niko. Faster. No one even knew this one existed, where Olyna was paraded all around the city before Vrenko stole her.”
“Alita is different. I saw her in the video and knew what she was.”
While they were talking, the other ladies were getting lengths of fabric out of the back of the van. Alita muttered, “What is happening here?”
“They are making you clothing you can dance in.” He murmured it in her ear.
She looked over at him. “Does bending down that far give you a crick in the back? A pain in the neck?”
She knew that proximity was causing the heavy scent of honey to emerge, with clover following hopefully. She was getting a little sleepy, so the smell of dark coffee was waking her up in stages. The ladies snorted and pulled her away then flapped at him as they bustled her into the house. She was shoved into a soft sitting room, and the blinds were drawn. The scent of roses was all over the place. She was unlaced, and her hair was pinned up and out of the way while she was stripped. It wouldn’t have been so bad, but all the older ladies were alphas, and they didn’t exactly have a platonic interest in her body. More measurements were taken than were necessary.
She huffed and whined, but in ten minutes, she was dressed in an outfit suitable for rhythmic dancing and possibly exercise in a movie harem.
Natasha grabbed her chin and said, “Make sure Niko brings you to me for all your clothing. Your tastes are far too modest for a body like this. Or have him send you with that beta of his.”
She knew she was pouting when they were done with her. They had turned her into a dress-up doll with gold ribbons in her hair, silk wrapped tight around her breasts and one shoulder, long streamers of delicate ribbon went from her bicep to wrist. The skirt was below her navel and had enough fabric to spin into a full circle when she spun.
The ladies stood back when they were done, and Natasha nodded. “Now spin.”
Alita went up on her toes, and she spun with the fabric spinning out, and all the women sighed.
“Excellent, little doll. Now, go and play. The little treasure wants to see you dance.”
“I am not a child’s doll.”
Natasha gripped her chin. “Until you are a member of this family, you are prey, and if you are prey, then you look like a very tasty snack. Dance for Hailey, and you might leave here unscathed.”
She had been allowed to keep her boots, and that was where she had her phone and house keys. She left the house and stalked to where Lexa was sitting with her mates. Hailey was there, and she squealed happily.
She crouched and whispered to Hailey, which made her face fall, but she nodded.
Lexa was standing in concern when Hailey ran to her and hugged her. Alita got up. “First, so you are aware, Hailey sicced the aunts on me because she wanted to see me dance and my other costume wouldn’t allow for it. Second, the fitting room was really snug, and some of Grigory’s aunts were creeping on me. Third, I will dance, but you pick the music. One song, and then, I am going to hope my phone has enough of a charge to get me home.”
Lexa pulled her in and asked, “How are you holding up?”
“I am tired. I want to go home.”
“One dance and then come to me. I will keep them at bay, and we will have one of our drivers take you home.”
Alita smiled. “This from a woman who used to ration macaroni and cheese.”
“Yeah. Well, I held on long enough.” Lexa picked up her phone and spun through music selections. “This one?”
Alita grinned. “That will wake me up.”
Lexa nodded, and a cousin came to bring the phone to the DJ, and Alita got into the centre of the alphas, and when the music came on, she danced.
Chapter Four
After whirling around the entire circle of watchers, she whirled up to where Lexa was seated, and at the last drumbeat, she dropped with her head on her friend’s thigh. Alita was shining with sweat, and she was fighting for breath against the tight wrap around her chest, but it was over.
Lexa leaned over and spoke to Grigory, and he answered in surprise. “You expect me to send her home after that? If you could move like that, they would have chained you to the stage, treasure.”
He leaned in. “Alita, how would you like to make barrels of money as a club dancer?”
She looked away. “Um, no. I don’t like it when people stare.”
Niko arrived, and he barked at Grigory, but it was more of a roar.
“Little brother, I was just asking.” Grigory held his hands up.
Hailey was staring from behind Lexa’s chair. “What is going on?”
Lexa held up her hand, and Hailey took it, “Did you think Alita’s dance was pretty?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you want to see it again?”
“Yes. But not today. She looks upset today.” Hailey looked guilty.
“Well, there are some of the cousins and uncles who like to collect pretty things, and they want to keep her for themselves so she can dance for them.”
