Sabine is enjoying the reception until she gets a distress call and goes to pitch in by distracting some alphas so her friend could escape. The alphas just changed their focus and split up. The ladies scattered, and the hunt was on.

Sabine has been recovering from work-related damage. An active nearly crushed her spine. She’s now on crutches until a walking suit can be arranged, and coordinating formalwear with crutches is harder than it looks.

Watching her friend Vallu get married to the large furry man of her dreams and the father of her baby was sweet, and the reception was fun. With the crutches, Sabine had to skip the dances, but she enjoyed every moment of the party. The bride and groom were long gone when she got a call from another guest and answered the call for help.

Ylara was being cornered by three alphas who didn’t mind sharing, and that was not something she was interested in. With three ladies gathered to distract the guys, they split off to deal with their individual alpha. Shaking them off was another matter.

Sabine ends up with a muscle-bound water-breather on her trail, and dealing with him and her injuries is just too complicated. She makes a few decisions that change the direction of her life and twist her future into something she could not have imagined.

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

The Wedding Hunt—Sabine

Copyright © 2022 by Viola Grace

ISBN: 978-1-990635-11-3

©Cover art by Angela Waters

All rights reserved. With the exception of review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher.

Published by Viola Grace

Look for me online at violagrace.com.

The Wedding Hunt—Sabine

Blind Date Corporation Book 6

By

Viola Grace

Chapter One

Sabine watched the three alphas pursuing Ylara and turned back to her tea. There wasn’t any panic in her scent yet.

Zera and Torun came by, and she sighed. “Susara is getting you another walking suit.”

Sabine grinned. “Thanks. Looks like the alphas are on the hunt.”

Zera chuckled. “I think Ylara is receptive, so she’s not going to be clear of them any time soon.”

Sabine nodded. Her own cycle had just signalled it would be arriving soon, but in her current state, she wasn’t going to do anything about it. “That would do it. You two are looking happy.”

Torun grinned. “She has finally moved in with me, and it has settled something inside me.”

Zera smiled, and Torun kissed her.

Sabine chuckled and wistfully watched the dancing.

Torun asked her, “Would you like to dance? I can hold you up.”

She sighed. “It isn’t the same.”

Zera frowned. “The nanites will have you up and running in a few weeks.”

She nodded. “I know. I know this is a delicate matter, but I am still glad I made it to the wedding. Vallu looked so happy.”

Zera smiled. “Yeah.”

“You two can go dance. I am fine here. The bar is open, and they have attentive servers.” Sabine held up her glass, and another lemon soda was brought to her in under a minute. She thanked them gratefully, and the young man blushed and nodded before leaving.

Torun chuckled. “Injured or not, you still have an effect.”

Sabine chuckled. “An effect is all I have.”

Zera snorted. “Above the surface.”

“Well, yeah, but I am still not one hundred percent under the water.” She sipped her soda and smiled. “You two enjoy the reception. I just need to relax tonight.”

Zera nodded, got up, and kissed her on the top of her head. “Take it easy, Sabine.”

“I always do.” She smiled. “At least I don’t have any regulars pining for me.”

“You have three that are watching your calendar.”

Sabine blinked. “No, I don’t.”

Zera chuckled. “As management, I can confirm that yes, you do.”

That was news. “Well, that’s awkward. I can’t think of who it would be.”

“They aren’t existing patrons. They are new ones.”

“Oh. Right. Hyreneans?”

“Surprisingly... no. Sethir-nin.”

Sabine cackled. “Right. Funny one, Zera.”

Torun shrugged and grinned. “Come, love. One more dance before I sweep you away.”

Zera got to her feet and went with her lover, and they were grace and style on the dance floor. Sabine finished her soda and grabbed her crutches, getting up to walk to the ladies’ room.

A few minutes later and she was on her way back to her table when her phone rang. She leaned against the wall. “Hello?”

“Sabine? This is Ylara. I was wondering if you could help me with something.”

“One of your gents getting persistent?”

“Yeah. I am receptive, and they seem to be stopping thinking. I found a spot to hide and have called in my sister, but I need help now.”

“Let me know where you are, and I am on my way.”

Ylara described where she was, and Sabine was on her way.

Sabine passed three confused alphas in the hallway, and they dismissed her crutches and minimally functioning legs as she passed them. Her long black dress covered her legs and showed deep cleavage, but no one looked past the crutches.

Her scent was mild heat, which would confuse their tracking.

When she got to the storage closet, she was pulled in carefully, and there was another woman standing there. “Oh, hey, Brittany.” Sabine waved at the identical copy of Ylara.

The original Ylara was hugging her around the neck. “This is freaking me out. Vallu told me to just assert myself, and they cornered me and told me to choose, so I ran again.”

Sabine smiled. “Who is your choice?”

“Um, the scorpion guy. The best man. Riithan.”

Sabine cocked her head. “You know he and the others are Sethir-Nin?”

She paled. “No, I didn’t know that.”

“Well, I am not sure if they have a treaty with Daycross, but let’s say they don’t because it has never come up. So, here, they don’t have a right to enforce a claim. At home, they do, so we just need to help you dodge them tonight until you can get home.”

Ylara looked at her, and her eyes got distant before she blinked. “Your mate is out there, Sabine.”

“Yeah, I have heard that before. So, how do we want to play this?”

They looked at each other, discussed their options, and Ylara set one of Sabine’s crutches carefully aside.

She looked like she had lost or broken one of her crutches, and Ylara acted as the missing crutch. Brittany darted out ahead of them, and they waited a minute before they slowly started to make their way back to the reception.

Riithan and Shavore blocked them a few feet from the door to the party.

Sabine sighed. “Yes, gentlemen?”

Riithan smiled. “Denier has charged after the scent that led into the woods. Having not seen you return to the party, we decided to wait for you.”

Ylara cleared her throat. “My friend’s crutch broke, and I have to help her back to the party.”

Shavore cocked his head. “You have a genuine need of support?”

Sabine inclined her head. “I do. I have suffered a spinal injury, and repair is underway. I normally have a walking suit, but I can’t wear it with this dress.”

Ylara nodded. “And a client broke it.”

They both intently focused on Sabine now. Shavore smiled slowly. “You are with BDC?”

She nodded. “Of course. Vallu doesn’t know many regular women.”

He stepped toward her, and she leaned on Ylara and swung the crutch up. “Where do you think you are going?”

“I am going to offer myself as your stability so that Riithan may continue negotiating with Ylara.”

“Then offer it without approaching. I am sure you learned manners in alpha class.”

His eyes shone. “So, you know that much.”

“Oh, yeah. It makes sense that Etgar would choose friends from school to participate and help him celebrate.”

Riithan was staring at Ylara, and she was staring back at him. Sabine sighed and turned to her friend. “Ylara, would you like Riithan to escort you back to the party?”

Ylara was vibrating with tension. Sabine looked at her and gripped her hand.

Ylara’s wide eyes were turned toward her, and the pupils were blown. Sabine leaned toward her and whispered, “You can go to him. It’s all right.”

“But, you won’t be able to get around.” Ylara blinked.

“I can manage just fine. Go. I know how it is. You need him, and you aren’t on the clock.”

Ylara nodded, made sure Sabine was balancing, and then, she lunged for Riithan, who caught her handily. They didn’t head for the party but off to a shadowed hallway that led outside.

Sabine smiled slightly and exhaled as she moved her legs and balanced carefully on her single crutch and headed back to the party.

“Allow me to help since I have lost my bid for the omega.” The man that Ylara had briefed her on as Shavore stepped forward.

She looked over his green skin and midnight green hair. “I can manage. It just takes a while on my own.”

She inched forward and had made it half a dozen steps when he said, “Please. Let me help.”

She gritted her teeth. She hated being this disadvantaged. “Fine. Straight to the ballroom.”

She expected him to offer her an arm. He picked her up, and she yelped in shock. “I didn’t say you could carry me.”

He looked at her seriously. “Does it hurt?”

“No, but that isn’t the point. I didn’t authorize you to carry me.”

“You are used to contracts for your time and contact, aren’t you?”

She noticed he was veering away from the party, and she sighed. “I believe my request was straight to the ballroom.”

“No, that was your demand. I don’t answer demands.”

She reached up and stroked the folds of his closed gills, and she said, “Return me to the ballroom, please?”

He paused. “You know how to tease water-breathers.”

Sabine blinked. “Is that what I was doing?”

“I believe you know very well that is what you were doing. What is your specialization?”

She stared. “Right now? Recovery.”

“If I contacted the Blind Date Corp and asked for you, what would I get?”

“Put on a waiting list to be considered as a patron.”

“What if I am already a patron?” He inhaled slowly.

“Then, if you and I were compatible, I would have appeared on your options list. You seem the type to have specific tastes. I, obviously, don’t fulfill them.”

He frowned, his fingers flexing in the gauzy fabric under her breast. “You feel like you fulfill them.”

He licked her. His eyes widened. “You definitely taste like you match my needs.”

“You licked me.”

“Yes, I can’t use scent in the open air like Denier can, but my sense of taste is excellent.”

She blinked at him. Sabine had an idea of what he was looking for with his tongue. They were out in the open, and he was approaching the saltwater pool.

“What are you doing?”

“Just like to be by the water. You can swim, can’t you?”

“Not right now. My legs don’t work.” She was telling the absolute truth. An intent alpha could feel it when you lied.

“Your nerves work?”

“Yes. It is a control issue. Why?”

He smiled. “You taste nice. I am guessing underwater you will taste even better.”

She tensed. “What do you mean?”

“I believe you have a scent that blooms underwater. I am going to test it.”

She looked up at him, and his solid black eyes told her nothing. Sabine started to struggle as the sound of the water got to her. She heard a growl in the distance and whispered, “Brit.”

“Don’t worry about your friend. Denier is very careful with that muzzle of his.”

Sabine struggled, and he casually stepped into the water in the shallow end, walking toward the deep end.

“Don’t be concerned. I won’t let you drown.”

She didn’t find it comforting, but when the water closed over her head and he eased her away from him, she bent her legs and tried to locate him in the dark water. She felt a touch across her shoulders, another at her waist. She needed to breathe, but she wasn’t going to ask him. She had options if she got desperate.

He moved in close and kissed her. She took air from him, let the carbon dioxide leak from her nose, and her body held onto the oxygen, savouring it slowly. He withdrew and looked at her with surprise. She started to move away from him when he dipped toward her, and then, his hands touched the damaged part of her back, and she whirled and hit him with the force of a few tons of water. He was thrown up and out of the water, and she wrapped a column of water around her hips and used it to walk her back into the reception, where she got her crutch and made her way into the party. The water evaporated and left her dry, and she asked the helpful server to go and get her spare crutch.

Once she was back on her feet, so to speak, she spoke to Denny, the bride’s brother. “Tell Vallu that it was a great party when she gets back from her honeymoon.”

“Why don’t you tell her yourself?”

“I am hoping to be back on duty by then, Den.”

He smiled at her. “I hope so, too.”

“Can you give me an escort to the dock? Some of the groom’s friends are a little handsy.”

“They are mostly good guys. But sure.”

He escorted her to the dock, and the ferry was ready to leave. Her timing had been specific and precise. She waved at him, and the ferry left. She wobbled to a seat and leaned back. She could say that she helped Ylara get two of the three alphas off her back. Anything else was up to her.

Chapter Two

Sabine got to her feet and groaned in relief. “Damn, that feels better.”

Susara grinned. “You look better with your normal straight posture. How much range of movement do you have?”

Sabine twisted and bent over, then straightened. “I am pretty good. So, why did I suddenly get higher priority?”

“Torun hated seeing you hobbling around at the wedding. So, he booted a few of the team members onto more of a leave and moved you up it.”

“Oh, right. He can do that.”

Sabine took a few steps, and she sighed. “Oh, that feels good.”

“They are using the footage of the attack at the peacekeeper academy.”

She grimaced. “Lovely. Well, when do you get your team assignment, Susara?”

“Soon. They are trying to find a team that doesn’t want to sleep with me, so it is taking a while.”

“A shame you aren’t an omega. The Sethir-Nin would have you on a flight in seconds.”

“I will leave that designation to you, Sabine. So, are you going to try and get reinstated?”

“I will settle for office work at this point. Can’t work for BDC, can’t work for border patrol.”

Susara chuckled. “You don’t seem like a paper pusher.”

“I am not, but until I get this injury healed, it is all I can do. A desk at the waterfront would be heaven after the last few weeks.” She smiled. “I have an appointment this afternoon.”

Sabine hugged her friend, and she slipped a dress on over the bodysuit. It was set to match her skin, so it was only visible at close range.

She headed out to meet her lunch date. Arcady was with her boss in the lab, and she linked arms with Sabine as they headed to the local mall for a quick lunch and some gossip.

“So, Kritz lets you get away?”

Arcady chuckled. “No, but I snuck out with a back in 30 minutes sign. He will wait until the thirty minutes pass and then start tracking me down or having me tracked down. Either way, eat fast.”

Sabine laughed and dug into her burger. “So, what is the local gossip this week.”

Arcady looked at her slyly. “You mean since the wedding? Well, there are three alphas from Sethir-Nin in town, and they are stalking some omegas that they met at the wedding.”

Sabine nodded. “Interesting. I am sure you wished them good luck.”

Arcady grinned. “Of course. Zera laughed at them and told them that she didn’t test for that trait.”

Sabine chuckled and kept eating. “She doesn’t. She just tests for... uh... capacity.”

“Like Khytten or Vallu.”

“Yup. Do you know where they are?”

“They didn’t get names. Well, they got part of one. Brit. But, she’s not an officially registered escort and is under lockdown with the peacekeepers.”

“Yeah, they won’t be parting with her anytime soon.”

Arcady muttered, “That’s the thing. You know about the treaty. They might not have a choice.”

“What about the other two ladies?”

“Well, one is a delicate little thing in heat, and the other... a tall blood-haired woman on crutches.”

Sabine winced. “You don’t say.”

“So, what did you get up to at the wedding?”

“I just had to fight off someone who was getting a little handsy. I used water to do it and flipped him out of the pool. Then, I made a run for it.”

“What about Ylara and Brit?”

“I think Ylara was having some fun on her day off, and Brit led the reaper away. I am guessing he caught her, but she got away, or they wouldn’t be looking.” Sabine dragged her fries through the ketchup, and she smiled. “I have missed going out for lunch.”

“Yeah, that injury was nasty.”

“I can’t believe how much I screamed and cried.” Sabine muttered, “That was embarrassing.”

“It was nearly deadly. A little more pressure, and it would have severed the spinal cord.”

She shrugged. “I can’t believe it was one of my clients attacking me. Talk about conflict of interest. But, those claws dug in, and I managed to keep myself together until the team arrived. You know, he actually sent me flowers through Zera once he figured out who I was. That was creepy.”

Arcady blinked. “How did he figure it out?”

“My blood is distinctive.”

Arcady chuckled. “Mine, too.”

“Yeah, but yours is spoken for. Mine was still on the market, and blood was his thing.”

* * * *

Shavore was tense. He had become furious the moment that he saw the video that showed his lithe omega being torn to pieces and discarded like a broken toy. No wonder she had been using crutches. It was a miracle that she could walk at all. She had been too far to summon the water, according to the captain who showed them the footage.

“Where is she now?” He growled it.

“She’s on medical leave. Did you need to talk to her?” The captain looked at them calmly.

“Yes. We do.” Shavore nodded and flipped out his credentials.

The older man sighed. “Right. I will see if I can get her on the line.” He looked up a number, and Shavore memorized it as the captain punched the numbers.

“Speaker, please,” Riithan murmured.

The captain punched a key, and the call went through. “Hello, Captain?”

“Sabine, there is a bit of an issue here at the precinct.”

“Did those three twats show up?”

Shavore chuckled, and the other two snorted.

“Oh, my god. You put me on speaker! Are you an idiot? At least tell me that you covered the pad while you dialled.”

The captain cleared his throat. “Well, they have credentials as treaty enforcement for the Sethir-Nin.”

The line went dead.

The captain looked at his unit. “Should I get her back?”

Shavore chuckled. “No, I have what I need.” He lifted his com unit and keyed in the number. It pinged before it went dark, but he had her location.

“I believe we are going to take a trip to the mall. I will catch her scent from there.”

Denier muttered, “Can you manage it yourself?”

“Sure. Why?”

“We are not precisely mall material. You get your lady and work the identity of her friends out of her.” Riithan chuckled. His scorpion’s tail waved behind him.

“Right. I will keep you posted. She seems like the type to run, so I am going to have to use my credentials to get the public footage.”

Shavore’s buddies wished him well, and he headed out. He got on the cycle he used on the mainland and roared through the city, heading for the last place his Sabine had been spotted. He liked the name. It suited her. His water-witch omega would be his if he had to chase her for months. Of course, she tasted like she was about to go into heat, so she wouldn’t be able to run for long.

He got the footage from the food court of two women, one white-haired and one with hair the colour of blood. He grinned. He knew that woman. More to the point, he had spoken with her group, including her alpha. Dr. Kritz was going to be his next stop.

* * * *

She had gotten a new com unit from her stash of unregistered items. Sometimes, it paid to work with smugglers. She would get a new official one when the nosey bastards had left town.

She sat on her deck and looked over the bay with a glass of chardonnay. If her captain was giving information to the enemy, she didn’t have much chance to return to any kind of work when going into work would get her put into an alpha’s custody. Sure, it was all fun and games when she was with patrons, but right now, it was real, and it was terrifying.

A waterspout containing a familiar figure landed on her deck, and she screamed, getting up and sprinting for the house with panic in every line of her body.

He wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Don’t they teach you omegas anything?”

She was making soft, panicked sounds.

“Never run. It makes me want to chase you, and I don’t think you are up for it quite yet.” He pressed his lips to her neck above the edge of her suit. “A walking suit?”

She was still panicked, and her hands were pressed against the door that would have been a barrier between them.

She whined, and he licked her jaw. “Oh, almost there. A few more days and you will be in heat, and when you are, I will be there to help you through it.”

She shuddered. “I was just going to go through it on my own.”

“Oh, no. I couldn’t let you go to waste like that.”

“You really could.”

He laughed. “Not after tasting you.”

“Who told you where I was?”

“Dr. Kritz. He has sympathy for alphas desperate for a mate, so he provided us with the names we needed.”

“Fucking hell. He’s off my winter holiday list.”

“His woman is furious with him. Perhaps you could smooth things over for him?” His hand spread over her abdomen, and the other cupped her breast.

“Like hell.”

He chuckled. “Well, I am going to keep you with me until we depart for Sethir-Nin territories.”

Sabine’s eyes widened. “No. Absolutely not!”

“Oh, little sweet, yes. By reason of the treaties that your country agreed to, yes.”

“Can’t you just visit me now and then? I promise to tell you when I am in heat.”

He hummed. “A nice thought, but no. You are coming home with me.”

She muttered, “My body is useless to you right now. And it will continue to be useless through my heat. As soon as this suit is off, I am a fish out of water.”

“I saw the footage of the attack. Is he still in custody?”

She snorted. “I have no idea. I was separated from the case while in hospital. He’s kicking himself now for that particular tantrum, I am sure.”

He pulled her away from the glass. “Why? Because he got caught.”

She shivered as he turned her around and refused to face him. “Uh, he got banned from the BDC.”

“He was registered?”

“Yeah. He investigated and found out I was an escort and then tried to apologize by having henchmen bring flowers.” She mumbled.

“Someone at the corporation leaked your identity.”

“No. That was airtight. He recognized me by taste.”

He stiffened. “He was your lover.”

“An occasional patron, but he was a biter, so as you said, I am distinctive. He figured it out when he tasted my blood, and then, he surrendered to the peacekeepers.”

Shavore angled her head toward him. “Do you have an attachment to him?”

“No. Not after that. I felt muscle and bone separate. You don’t get over that.” She still didn’t meet his gaze.

“So, if he appears and I tear his throat out, you won’t be upset?”

“Only if he ends up on my outfit.”

He rubbed his cheek against hers, and he smelled like deep ocean and bright sunshine. She went up on her toes to catch a little more of it, and he held her tight against him. She jerked back when she wanted to cuddle up to him.

“Problem?”

She shook her head and tried to back away. He wasn’t letting her go anywhere.

“If I am with you, you will remain next to me or draped over me until your heat starts.”

“What if you aren’t with me? You can’t just park me in a box where I wait for you to return.”

“There are security officers who will accompany you and other omegas to socialize with.”

She grimaced. “You are not selling life in a cage.”

“Ah, Sabine, it will not be in a cage. It will be with me and possibly another alpha if there is another compatible with you.”

She tensed. “I don’t do multiples.”

“If my government wills it, you will.”

Sabine looked him in the eye, and the endless black expanse showed her frightened reflection back. If she wasn’t so damned vulnerable right now, she would feel a lot better. She would grab a water jet and cross the bay.

“Oh, you don’t want to do that, Sabine.”

“Do what?”

“Make a run for it across the bay. I would have to chase you, and my control might slip a little when I finally catch you.”

Sabine swallowed. “How did you know that is what I was thinking?”

“Your body hums a fraction of a second before your power kicks in. It started humming as you looked toward the bay.” He grinned, and she noticed his pointed teeth. All of them. “My senses and everything else perked right up.”

She swallowed and looked away.

“You know, I thought an escort would be bolder.”

“I was until I wasn’t whole. It made me reflect on my line of work and if I was making any impact on my community. The impact I did make was a wet, bloody thud.” She shivered.

“You survived it.”

“Barely. If the team hadn’t already been on the way, there would have been a nice memorial, which would have been the end of me.” She chuckled. “You would have met the other two and shared one.” She grinned. “You can still share one. I know that they both have it in their contract specs.” She looked up at him hopefully.

“Why would I share a semi-suitable omega when I have a very suitable one right in my arms?”

“Uh, I am broken. The repairs might never be complete. That’s just a bad selection right there. You have some judgment issues. I am not sure I want to be near an alpha that can’t tell a whole person from a broken one.” She tried to ease out of his arms, but he gripped her tight.

“I have confidence that our medical system can have you whole in short order.” He chuckled. “That is how we ended up with nothing but alphas, after all.”

She swallowed. “So, you are planning to take me there shortly.”

“I am planning to take you there immediately.”

She bit her lip. “I have to contact my boss.”

“I thought you were on leave?”

“Um, I am. But both need to know that I am not coming back.”

Something satisfied flicked over his features. “Fine. Make your calls. I will be here. You have a lovely spot here.”

She nodded and headed inside. She kept her body calm as she took the steps down to the main floor, grabbed her illegal com, and then jumped into the wet entrance that took her into the darkness and along the coastline. When she needed to breathe, she rose out of the water as her waterspout carried her away from him.

A glance back at her deck showed no green and black figure. He was already after her.

Chapter Three

She arrived at the Daycross docks and checked in through customs before heading inland and making her way to a cute bed and breakfast that Vallu had pointed out during the bachelorette.

Sabine called the resort in Aksalla and talked to Tirra. “Can you ask Vallu to ask Etgar to call his friends off?”

Tirra chuckled. “I will. They are due in for an early dinner. I will have her call you when they finish.”

“Uh, can I just call at eight, and someone gives me the message? My official com had an accident.”

“Fine, but you might not get a response until tomorrow morning.”

Sabine whimpered, and then she clenched her jaw. “Fine. Thank you, Tirra.”

“Sabine? Are you all right?”

“I am fine. For now. Shavore is trying to find me.”

“Is he that green guy from the wedding?”

“Mmhmm.”

“I will make sure that Vallu gets the message.”

Sabine hung up, and she got a glass of water. It was too dangerous to go out and get some food on the street. She could fast for a day or two if she had to. She tried to think of places where she could run, and she came up empty. If she got a visa for Aksalla, she wouldn’t be able to leave. Her own government was obligated to turn her over if the Sethir-Nin put a claim on her. She might be able to cruise around the coastline for a few hours and make it to Aksalla, but there was no guarantee she wouldn’t run afoul of some patrols. In her current state, Shavore might catch up with her with shocking ease, or she would lose power out at sea and drown. That would be an embarrassing way to go.

She set her alarm for eight, crawled into the closet with a pillow and blanket, and then went to sleep. She was so tired. Dealing with alphas was stressful.

Her alarm chimed, and she sat up and made the call to the resort. Her words were slurred when she asked, “Hi, this is Sabine. Is there a message for me?”

The perky voice on the end of the line paused, and a masculine growl kicked in. “Sabine?”

“Oh, hey, Etgar. How is the honeymoon?” She heard her words slur.

“I am thinking that some time at home would be more restful. They want you to hike here. Sigh. Vallu is in no shape to hike.” He chuckled. “So, I hear that you have a suitor.”

She was having a hard time staying awake. “Hm? Yeah. Scared. Don’t want to leave home. I like home. Don’t wanna go.”

There was a frown in his tone. “He said he would take you away?”

“Life in a cage. Probably a nice cage, but a cage. I don’t like cages.” She sighed. “Make them stop.”

“Oh, Sabine. I can’t. I can negotiate to keep you safe. Where are you?”

“Ha. Not stupid omega. Not telling you.”

“You don’t sound well.”

“I’m fine. Just hungry and sleepy and scared. Make him stop.” She rolled her head and fought to stay conscious. She heard him speaking to her.

“What, Etgar?”

Vallu’s voice came through the com. “Sabine? You don’t sound good. Where are you?”

“I’m safe.” She sighed. “I’m sorry you have to talk to me.”

“Honey. What are you wearing?”

“Walking suit. Forgot to eat for a while. Suit doesn’t like that.” She giggled. “Are you having a nice time?”

“It has been nice, but we are done and want to come home. Can you get to our place, Sabine?”

“I can try.”

“Will you try for me, sweetheart?”

“I just wanna sleep.”

“I know. When you get to our place, go to the guestroom with the blue door on the main floor. Will you do that for me?”

Sabine dragged herself to her feet. “He’s gonna get me.”

“He won’t get you. He’s being told not to get you. You wait until we are there, okay?”

“Okay. I am up.”

“Lady Daycross will be waiting for you, baby. Get up and get going.”

“Not your baby. Way too big.”

“Move, Sabine, and keep talking.”

She moved into the hall and took a deep breath. “I am heading to the front door.”

“Where are you, Sabine?”

“You know that bed and breakfast you showed us? Yeah. I didn’t get either.” She giggled and left the surprised folks on the main floor as she walked out.

She heard Vallu talking about her in the background.

“Hey, you aren’t supposed to tell on me.” Sabine swayed as she walked toward the manor where Etgar and Vallu lived.

Folk on the street were staring.

“Uh-oh. I must look really bad.”

“Why do you say that, Sabine?”

“They are staring and stopping, or stopping and staring.” She giggled. “I think the suit is eating me.”

“I think so, too, so just keep going to our place, get into the blue room and peel your suit off.”

“Okay.”

It took her over an hour to walk to the manor, and she didn’t see Shavore. Lady Daycross looked ill when Sabine arrived.

Sabine kept walking to the blue door, and then she gripped her suit, pulling it open. “I am getting out of the suit. Then what?”

Vallu’s voice was a whisper of sound over the weird muffling of being in a shuttle. Sabine nodded, and she fought her way out of the suit and its connections. She dropped the suit next to the bed, pawed the bedding open, and crawled into it. She pulled the blanket up, and she mumbled into the com. “I am going to sleep now.”

“You did well, Sabine. Rest.”

She did.

Sabine felt the hand smoothing her forehead. The smell of milk preceded a hand at the back of her head, lifting her to pour it down her throat. She coughed and spluttered, and Vallu sighed. “Oh, thank gods. I thought you were dead.”

Sabine opened her eyes, and Vallu winced. “Oh, Sabine, you are worse off than I guessed.”

“It got to my eyes?”

Vallu grabbed a hand mirror and held it up for her.

“Holy...” Sabine looked at her face. Her eyes were sunken, her skin grey, and her hair lank. “The suit ate me.”

“Yeah, they do that if you aren’t eating and drinking regularly. When did you last eat?”

“I had a snack with Arcady... yesterday?”

“Two days ago.”

“Oh.” She tried to hold the mirror, but her hand wobbled dramatically. “Shit.”

“Well, now that you are up, we are going to feed you, and from there, more milk, then more food. Even Khytten can’t work without base materials.”

“She isn’t here, is she?”

Vallu sighed. “No. She’s home with the babies.”

“Thank goodness. I will stuff my face, get back on my feet, and then slink out of here.”

Vallu huffed. “Sorry to wreck your plans, but Shavore is here, and he isn’t going to leave without you. However, before you panic, there is some negotiating room.”

Sabine bit her lip to stifle a whimper. “I don’t want to go.”

“Hush. You don’t have to. He will speak to you when you are stronger.” Vallu smiled.

The bed began to lift, and Sabine sat up. “I am sorry to be so much trouble.”

“Honey, you nearly died, and you aren’t compatible with a lot of standard medications. You aren’t yourself, but it’s okay. How bad is the pain?”

“A bit of an intense ache but not bad.”

“I’ll get you something to eat, and then, we can get you another vial from Khytten.”

Sabine nodded and breathed carefully. “Okay.”

Vallu was about to get up when Etgar came in with the tray held in his large furry hands. “Ah, Sabine, you are up. Vallu was getting worried, and Shavore is out of his mind with worry.”

Sabine froze. “He isn’t coming in, is he?”

Etgar paused. “Did he hurt you?”

Vallu settled the tray for her. “No, he didn’t, but he told her that he was going to take her away from everything and everyone she knows, lock her up or leave her under guard while he went wherever he wanted, and she was stuck waiting until she was in heat.”

Etgar paused. “He didn’t say that.”

Sabine sat with tears rolling down her cheeks. She looked up at him and shrugged. “If you say so. You know him better than I do.”

She picked up the napkin, wiped her eyes, and then she picked up the bowl of soup with shaking hands and drank it down. She ate the toast and then consumed the little pot of jam. Vallu took the tray away. “I will get you some more, Sabine.”

“Thank you. I really am sorry for the trouble, but he already knew where my house was. I didn’t have anywhere else to hide.”

Vallu stroked her cheek. “Lie back and rest, Sabine.”

Etgar was frowning. “I am going to talk to him.”

Vallu nodded. “Good idea.”

Sabine lay back and dozed off.

* * * *

Etgar walked into the dining room, where Shavore was waiting. “She’s freaked out, and only part of it is her physical condition. What did you tell her about your plans?”

“She will only have the best that the Sethir-Nin can offer. Our healers could have her up and running in no time.” He shrugged. “There would be a power tether, of course, but she will have a long and happy life.”

Etgar stared at his friend. “You would tether her?”

“Only until she stops trying to get away.” Shavore shrugged.

“Don’t take this the wrong way.” Etgar balled up his fist and punched his friend. He grabbed Shavore by the back of the collar and hauled him into the back garden. He growled. “What is wrong with you?”

Shavore stood and rubbed his jaw. “What do you mean? This is how we keep our omegas. We take them, confine them, and take care of them. You are doing the same with Vallu.”

“Vallu has friends, a family. I am not blocking her from them. I am encouraging her connections to the world around her.”

Shavore scowled. “What the hell am I supposed to do then?”

“Leave her here. She will still be accessible, and yet she won’t let her body deteriorate because she is just a hole with legs for you.”

“She isn’t... that’s a repulsive thing to say.” His skin flushed dark green.

“So is taking an active woman who is at her lowest point and caging her.”

“Well, what the hell am I supposed to do?”

“You want her?”

Shavore’s expression got hot and dark. It wasn’t an expression Etgar had seen on his friend’s face before. “Yes.”

“Fine. You will be responsible for her recovery. Talk to her, idiot. Find out why she is scared and what she will lose if you follow your protocol of sweeping her away.”

He grunted. “What of the other two?”

“They are quiet. I have heard nothing from them. One of the ladies is tagged by the peacekeepers as a dangerous adaptation, and the other is a precog that activates sporadically.”

“And Sabine is a water mover.”

“Sabine was protection for the main port until Jinako got the drop on her and nearly killed her. Her body doesn’t react well to most medications and treatments. She can’t take painkillers. She had to go to her mother’s funeral on placement day, or she would have been on a team. She was one of the youngest graduates that the program has produced.” Etgar sighed. “She’s an impressive person who has worked hard to get where she is, and she doesn’t deserve to disappear.”

Vallu walked out. He caught her scent, and she was hot. Etgar looked at her. “Vallu?”

She walked up to him and caressed his hand before running her palm up his chest. He liked it when she petted him and liked the reward for hearing what she needed to hear even better. It took skill to kiss someone with his muzzle, but his wife had that skill.

Vallu looked over at Shavore. “Right. There is a second tray and a vial on it. Give her the vial first and the food second. Reassure her that you are not going to take her away. The healing nature of the vials will have her back to full strength in two days. At that point, she could probably restrain you with the water in a glass.”

Shavore walked back into the house.

Etgar chuckled. “Shall we warn her?”

“No, she will panic. It is his job to soothe his omega. If he can’t manage that, he isn’t much of an alpha.”

Etgar smiled. “You are good at getting alphas to do what you want.”

“That is because I want one alpha, and I study him constantly. Especially that fluffy tail of his.” She ran a hand around his back, and she rubbed the base of his tail. “I do love his tail.”

He growled and kissed her, lifting her up to face him as the curve of her belly pressed between them.

His hot little omega was all his. He wished the others luck. They were going to need it.

* * * *

Sabine felt a hand stroking her cheek and the pressure of a vial at her lips. She opened and swallowed slowly. The light scent of open ocean met her, and she fought her panic as she opened her eyes to see Shavore fiddling with the bowls and the tea.

She swallowed reflexively. “Why are you here?”

“Vallu and Etgar think I will change my mind if I have to care for you. Or you will warm to me.”

She looked at the bowl and picked up a spoon. Her hand still trembled, so she set the spoon down and picked up the bowl.

“What are you doing?”

“I can’t properly hold a spoon. This way, I consume it and not wear it.” She lifted the bowl to her lips and took a few sips before setting it down with a clatter.

“How weak are you? You look horrible.”

She snorted. “The suit was using my surplus energy to move around. I didn’t have any surplus energy, so it just pulled it directly from my body, and this is the result. The suit ate me.”

“All this to run from me?” He moved the tray closer, put the spoon in the soup, put his hand under it to catch drips, and started to feed her.

“All that to maintain my freedom. I may be in pain, I may be permanently damaged, but I can choose where to go and with whom.” She spoke in between swallowing. “Choices like that are all I have.”

“Do you have family?”

“Why? Are you going to threaten them so that I go quietly?”

He paused. “Do you think I would do something like that?”

“I don’t know you. You kissed me once, and that was it. That is the start and end of our association. This isn’t a romance. This is an accidental collision at a wedding.”

He nodded. “I prefer to think of it as a destined interaction. Neither of those other women suits me, and I believe that I suit you as well.”

He held out the sandwich, and she leaned forward to take a bite. Her hair was still lank, and he frowned. “You need a bath.”

“That is even trickier than the soup. It will have to wait until tomorrow.”

She leaned forward again for more of the sandwich.

“I will help you bathe. Etgar and Vallu have handed you into my caretaking. That includes bathing you, I am guessing.”

She blinked and finished the wedge of the sandwich. “My body is bruised. A lot of it.”

“I can see a good portion of it from here, and while it will irritate me to see the extent of the damage, if you need tending to, that is an alpha’s duty.”

“What?”

“As an omega, you are to be protected and pampered. Keeping their omega from frowning or upset is an alpha’s duty and privilege.” He smiled and stroked her cheek.

“What makes someone an omega?”

He smiled and helped her finish the food on the tray. “Outwardly, they are usually smaller, but their skin is soft, sensitive. Their emotions are close to the surface. They can take a knot.”

She blushed. “Zera had to explain that one to me.”

“Have you?”

“No. None of my patrons had knots.”

“Ah. I would love to offer to introduce you to one, but it might be a bit forward.”

“Well, if it comes out of the rear, I don’t know what to do with it.” She clapped a hand over her mouth. “I am going to take that bath now.”

He chuckled and nodded. “Fair enough. I will be right back.” He picked up the tray and carried it out of the room.

She flipped the bedding to the side and got up, using the bed as a balance point as she moved toward the bathroom. She cursed the size of the place when she had to push off from the foot of the bed and try and make it to the bathing room door.

She was on the floor and trying to pull herself up the wall when he returned and cursed under his breath. He lifted her up and walked her into the bathing room, sitting her on a stool as he filled the high-sided tub.

“Your stubborn streak is going to cause me to develop a tick in my jaw.”

“I can take a bath from here if you don’t want to waste water.” She shivered as she waited.

“No, you are going to settle into the water and relax.” He checked the temperature and adjusted it until it was where he wanted it. The water was turned off, and he lifted her up, settling her carefully into the tub.

She blushed and leaned back.

“How is it?”

“It’s good. Thank you.”

He went through the products that were available, and he said, “Wet your hair.”

She slid down and relaxed under the water. He helped her rise, and then, he washed her hair for her from scalp to end.

She rinsed her hair out, and his fingers moved along her scalp. It felt really nice.

She squirmed and moved her head against his fingers. It was a first for her. No one had ever massaged her head like that before. It felt really nice.

“So, do you have family?”

“Two sisters and a brother. They are all in university. None are in the program.” His fingers were at the base of her skull, and she would tell him anything he asked.

“Your parents have passed on?”

“Yeah, my father when I was twelve and my mother when I was nineteen. Both died in incidents with folks who had criminal intent. I wanted to be on a team so bad, but I wasn’t going to miss her funeral.”

“You are an easy one to question.”

She swallowed. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

She started to stiffen up, but he murmured, “It wasn’t a jab. I just started to massage your head and neck, and you answered anything.”

“I didn’t know how nice it felt and was concentrating on that.”

He paused. “No one has done this before?”

“No, they have pulled it or wrapped it around their fist for control but not a gentle touch like this.”

His eyes flicked, and she saw the multiple eyelids that he possessed.

He finished with her hair and the massage and draped it over the edge of the tub. A silky-soft bathing cloth was soaped up, and he went over her from head to toe.

He got her to lean forward, and he growled. “If he was here now, I would break him into large chunks.”

“Scars are still bad?”

“You still have bruising under the skin.” His hand moved carefully over the marks, and then, he rinsed her just as carefully. “Now, lay back and relax.”

He drained the water and filled it with fresh. He added some scented oil and sat next to her as she dozed.

She didn’t know how long she was there, but the water had cooled by the time he lifted her out of the tub, wrapped her in a towel, and used another to dry her off.

The sheets on the bed smelled sweet and fresh, and she smiled as she wiggled into her new nest. When a warm body slid in next to her, she jolted in surprise. “What are you doing?”

“I need to sleep, too, Sabine.”

She shivered, and he pulled her back against him, his erection pressing against the back of her thighs.

He splayed a hand over her belly to keep her in place, and the heat of his hand made her drowsy. His breath whispered against her temple, and she swallowed. He stroked her thigh with his free hand, and she squirmed, then settled.

The scent of the ocean wrapped around her, and she relaxed against him. It reminded her of better times. Different times. She closed her eyes as her mind played childish laughter as she dozed off. She missed that laughter.

She woke up after dreams of Hyreno, and she was alone. Sabine pawed her hair away from her face and sat up. The blotches on her body were dramatically reduced, and she felt better. She got up and wobbled to the bathroom, taking care of essentials before she brushed her teeth and splashed water on her face.

She looked around and found a wardrobe with a silky robe hanging in it. She wrapped it around herself and tied it snugly. When she was covered, she went in search of coffee.

Lady Daycross was sitting at the dining table, and she blinked before smiling brightly. “You have recovered well, miss.”

“Thank you, Lady Daycross. I am very sorry to have been any trouble to the household.”

“Honey, Vallu has stipulated that if anyone gives you any trouble, she is going to give them the experience of being shot in several places as soon as the baby is born. She is very protective of the escorts. You in particular.”

“I am a peacekeeper adjacent when I am working. I associated with her brother’s detachment during my duties.”

Lady Daycross smiled. “Well, your breakfast delivery is on the way. I would never have thought to see such hulking men doting on their ladies, but now, it is a regular event. Shavore used to be such a brusque young man. Now, he’s carrying your tray in.”

She looked over to where the scents of food were coming, and the male in question came through carrying a tray with flowers sprouting from a small vase.

“Sabine, get back to bed. You have two more doses to take, and you are going to give them the best chance to work.” His voice was calm, but the look in his eyes promised dire consequences if he wasn’t obeyed.

She curtsied gracefully to Lady Daycross and left to return to her room. Shavore was on her heels and closed the door behind them. “Robe off and back in bed.”

“Why do I have to take the robe off?”

“Because I am monitoring your visible damage, which calls for it to be visible.”

She sighed and opened the robe, slipping it off her shoulders and folding it at the foot of the bed. She crawled back into bed and pulled the sheet up to cover her. He held up the vial, and she reached for it, but he drew back. “Open.”

She muttered, “Why do I think this is foreshadowing?”

He laughed. “Because you are feeling better. Khytten’s milk is remarkably effective.”

“Yeah, and she’s one of the sweetest people you would ever meet, with the best shot.” She opened her mouth, and he tipped in the milk. She smiled as she swallowed. “Did you warm that for me?”

He shrugged. “It seemed the way to do it.”

She smiled, and he fed her breakfast. There was a lot more care than pity this time and way too much eye contact.

Sabine reached out for the flowers and smiled. She cupped the flowers in her hands and rubbed the silky petals against her cheek.

“You like soft things?”

She froze and put the flowers back in the small vase. “I...”

He stroked her cheek. “The flowers wish they could be this soft.”

Her heart pounded, and she didn’t know where to look.

She laughed uncomfortably and knotted her fingers together.

“You don’t get compliments when you are with patrons?”

“I do, but I don’t know what to do with them either.”

He nodded. “Take them and keep them for when you need them.”

“A textural analysis isn’t exactly a compliment.”

He snorted. “I suppose not. As you are not fully repaired, I will not be proving to you how much I want to run my hands over your skin, but I believe I can get the point across.”

He leaned toward her and kissed her, his scaled suit rigid in some areas and yielding in others.

She tried not to rub against the armour, but she couldn’t help it. It felt... nice. His tongue teased hers, and her breath hitched. She had always been a sucker for a good kiss. It was like making out with the rolling tide. She panted, her hips rolled, and she felt hot from the inside out. She paused. “We can’t do this here.”

“What? A kiss?”

She stared as she realized that he hadn’t picked up on it.

“It doesn’t feel right in Vallu’s house.”

“Technically, it is Etgar’s house.”

She frowned. “Remove Vallu from this house with all her stuff, and what do you think happens?”

“Etgar brings her home or follows her.” Understanding dawned. “Ah. It is Vallu’s house.”

Vallu knocked at the door as if summoned. “Sabine, Zera is on the com and needs to know if you need your suite.”

Sabine nodded and called out. “Yes, please.”

“As soon as you have the final dose, the guys will drive you over, and you can check in.”

“Thank you.”

Vallu opened the door and smiled at the image of Shavore crouched over her. “You can totally ride it out here. Since I am pregnant, it won’t make me insane or throw me off.”

“Um. It might still be not a good idea. Isn’t Lii coming over this Thursday?”

“Oh, shit. You are right. The dower house?”

“No. The hotel is soundproofed and is set up for this.”

Shavore frowned. “You are talking about your heat?”

She blushed. “Yeah. It’s starting, and I don’t want to disrupt the house or the neighbourhood.”

Vallu cocked her head. “You will come back afterward?”

“Uh, sure.”

“I have access to a private home within half an hour of here.”

Vallu blinked. “That puts it on the island.”

He nodded. “It is. When we started the polo club up again, we all bought homes on the coastline. It makes it easier to visit the horses.”

Sabine started to slither out from under him, and he gripped her thigh and held her in place.

He nodded. “You can tell your friend Sabine will not need the hotel. I’ve got this.”

He looked down at her and smiled. “I’ve got you. Now tell me what you need.”

She turned scarlet and told him.

Chapter Four

Sabine wore one of Vallu’s dresses as they got out of the car. She had nothing but the walking suit, and she wasn’t allowed to wear it anymore. Because she had panic-trashed her com unit, she couldn’t buy anything either. She had wedged herself into a corner.

Vallu swore to take her shopping, but the heat came first. Sabine had a wardrobe at her place on the mainland, so she didn’t need to get clothes, but there was a look in Vallu’s eyes that indicated the clothing would not be in Sabine’s normally practical style. Sigh.

She didn’t have to walk from the car to the house. Shavore picked her up and carried her inside. She got a glimpse of polished stone and smooth wood, and everything smelled clean. “It’s very pretty.”

“It is a suitable home and has an excellent dock and deck.” He smiled. “I confess to having created a special space for my omega, and I hope you enjoy it.”

She kept her expression calm.

He asked her, “Have you ever had anyone with you for an entire heat?”

“No.”

He chuckled. “How long have they lasted?”

“They don’t. It’s embarrassing. I don’t like people to see me like that.”

He didn’t say anything until he reached a space she could only describe as the soft room. Part of her gave a silent happy shriek, and the other part sighed happily and squirmed to be let down. Everything was covered with softness. Velvet, chiffon, super-soft cottons, and all in the colours of the open ocean. The pile of pillows made her fingers itch, and the wide expanse of the bed looked soft and welcoming. This was a place to make a nest and invite her alpha to join her. She swallowed at the strength of the impulse to pull an alpha into her nest for sexy cuddling purposes, plus hours of raw fucking.

She swallowed, and he set her on the bed.

“Sabine, what do you think of the space?”

The room was snug; the drapes over the windows kept the noise from coming in and distracting her. “It’s pretty and soft.”

“Can you relax in here?” He nuzzled her cheek.

“I can. It’s easy to breathe, too.” She breathed in his scent as her body became one needy pulse.

“Your scent just thickened.” He licked her temple.

“It’s going to keep doubling up for a while until the air in here is thick.”

“Good.” He chuckled and moved his mouth to her neck. He sucked, licked, and his teeth grazed her skin.

Sabine shivered, and her nipples tightened. His mouth felt really good, hot and wet and dangerous.

“You are tall for an omega. I never would have guessed at a glance.” He chuckled and slowly unfastened the buttons on the front of her dress.

“Yeah, I turned this sundress into a mini.” She chuckled.

He chuckled and kept licking and kissing her shoulder as his fingers parted the dress, button by button.

He eased the dress off her shoulders, and he gasped.

“Why gasp, Shavore? You have seen me before.” She looked at him.

“Not with your breasts pebbled, nipples tight, and eyes open with your pupils wide. You are stunning.”

She licked her lips and pressed her thighs together. “Is this the part where you just look?”

He grinned. “What do you want?”

She looked at him and made fists in the fabric of her dress. “You. Inside me. Before I go mindless.”

“Oh, that can happen.” He traced his hands over her breasts. “I have a few things in mind first, but I think things should begin with a shower.”

She blinked. “Shower?”

“Yes, that way you can become familiar with me before you lose your ability to look for another lover.” He grinned. He got to his feet and unfastened the neck of his suit.

Sabine got to her feet, the dress dropped, and she pushed his hands away, slowly sliding the suit open and stroking her hands inside. She slid her hands up and over his shoulders, flexing her wrists and smoothing the suit off his shoulders.

“You have done this before.”

She nibbled her lower lip as she opened the sleeve and pulled it off one arm and then the next. “Once or twice.”

He grinned. “You had team members as patrons?”

“Probably. The masks were very effective.” She pressed her lips to his chest and flicked the darker green of his nipple with her tongue before she sucked and teased him while he growled.

He lifted her and carried her to the bathroom, started the shower, and then placed her under the warm spray.

He pushed the suit off him, and she blinked. “Those aren’t tattoos or body mods?”

He grinned. “Nope.”

She reached out to his lower belly, and there were a series of black dots in some fairly straight lines surrounding the interested erection. She stroked his cock absently while she trailed her fingers over his dots. The banded lines were warm, and she knew they served a purpose. The lines arched over his cock with the thick knot already forming and wrapped around his hips and even his inner thighs. “What do these do?”

He chuckled. “You figured that out. Clever.”

She stroked him slowly. “What do they do?”

He wrapped his arms around her, whispering, “You will see.”

She looked up at him with her eyes wide, feeling every drop of water on her skin as her body heat slowly dried it.

“Why did you really buy this house?”

He chuckled as he reached for the towel and ran it over her shoulders and butt. “The polo league we play in requires that you be a registered occupant of a home in the country of the club you play for. So, we all bought houses in Daycross as soon as Etgar said he wanted to get the band back together, so to speak.”

“Wait. All of you have homes here?”

He chuckled. “As at least one of your friends has learned.”

She blinked. “Oh. Right. I hope it wasn’t Brit. If she leaves the city, alerts are set up.”

“Why did she come to Daycross?”

“Ylara needed help because you were all sniffing around. And the wedding.”

“Polyandrous situations are normal with the Sethir-Nin. She was really upset?” He stroked her cheek and started feathering kisses across her forehead and down to the tip of her nose.

“Very. That situation for work is one thing, but Ylara always wanted a mate of her own.”

“Have you been the centre of such events?” He massaged her back and hips.

She shrugged. “Once or twice.”

He smiled. “What did you think of those encounters?”

She blushed. “They paid well.”

“So, you were in it for the money?”

“Well, it wasn’t a hobby.” She ignored the trickle of hot moisture running down her inner thigh that had nothing to do with the shower and everything to do with her heat proceeding.

“What was the real reason?”

She swallowed. “I wanted someone to help me through a heat, but I didn’t get the nerve up to do it. Management never pressed, but that is why I never had a string of regulars like some of the escorts.”

“Your scent is getting stronger.” He smiled. “Seagrass and chamomile?”

Sabine was shocked. “Nobody ever guesses.”

He kissed her, his tongue enticing her to play. She released his erection and stroked her hands up his abdomen. Heat coursed through her, and the rest of the world fell away as she held tight to him. It was starting.

She whispered, “Will you take care of me until this is over?”

He slid his fingers into her hair. “I will take care of you.”

“Then, give me all of you until I beg you to stop.”

His expression got tense. “Then, that is what you will get.”

She wasn’t sure what she had set in motion until he carried her back to the nest and knelt in front of her, using his lips and tongue to wake her breasts and nipples before he urged her to lean back on his hand and forearm while he continued licking lower.

Every sigh, every gasp was absorbed by the soft fabrics of the room around her. He gave her small instructions, and he took her entire weight and lifted her on his palm and arm. Her legs were on either side, and he held her up as he pressed his lips against her folds and then started lapping at her. He was tasting her, drinking from her, and she quivered and shrieked before she moaned and went limp in his grasp. The warm blade of his tongue took one last lick, and then, he withdrew it, and two fingers entered her instead.

He licked her clit, and the wet sounds were embarrassing, but she didn’t care. She wanted more. He slid a third finger into her and widened her carefully.

Sabine whimpered and wanted to squirm and twist, but with him holding her suspended, she had no choice, which she guessed was the idea.

His fingers moved inside her, and the squelching made her blush, but it was when she felt him tilting her toward him that her eyes widened. He chuckled and spilled her onto his lap.

“Now. What do you want, Sabine?”

She was straddling his hips, and his cock was hot and rubbing against her. She was leaving a trail of slick from base to tip because her hips would not stop rocking.

She whimpered and licked at his neck, stroked his shoulders, and reached between her thighs to put him where she needed him. “I want more.”

He lifted her to the bed and worked himself into her. “Then you shall have it.”

She gasped in relief as he finally was where she needed him to be. She let the need and the heat take them both.

Sabine wanted to groan. Everything hurt, and there was a patch at the base of her neck that burned. She pushed herself upright, and she was alone. She was also sweaty and sticky.

She got to her feet and staggered to the shower to clean up and take out some of her aches and pains. He was a biter. Not a drinker but definitely a biter.

She finished and wrapped herself in a towel, then searched for the dress she had worn to the house. It was gone.

She didn’t sit down. She carefully walked to the door and opened it. Shavore was walking toward her with a tray, and there was fabric draped over his arm.

She stepped back, and he met her gaze. “Damn, you do come out of it quick.”

“Yeah. I always do.”

“You even showered already. There goes my morning of cuddling you and telling you that you are the sweetest omega that there ever was.”

He pressed the wall with his elbow, and a table slid out. He set the tray down.

“Is that fabric for me?”

He nodded. “I need to check you over and administer first aid to any particularly bad bites. I would apologize, but they were very satisfying.”

“There are a lot.”

He walked over to her and whispered, “It is our fifth day.”

“But some of these are in strange spots. Why would you bite my waist?”

“Lie down, and I will explain it as I tend to you. I already changed the sheets.” He took a small medical kit off the end of the tray and beckoned to her.

Sabine walked over to him and sat down.

He lifted her and sat her across his thighs. “First things first.” He leaned over and licked at the burning spot behind her. She suddenly understood what that was.

“You marked me.”

“Oh, yes. Several times. When the pattern heals, it will be embroidered into all of your clothing.”

“It will?” She was a little off-balance, but his slow licking of the mark started something again. “Why?”

“Because we alphas are a predictable lot. Big, deadly, and possessive of our mates. If the mark is on your clothing, other alphas are warned not to go looking for it. Yes, there are actives out there who might want to start something with one of ours, but this gives them warning, and then, they can be killed without qualms.”

“Why kill them?”

“Because once they lock on to one of our females, they do not stop with battles of honour or challenges to your mate. They become obsessed and try kidnapping.”

“Wow. Big head much?”

He chuckled and licked again. “It’s true. Exposure to us provides you with certain enhancements that some actives consider desirable in the next generation.”

She blinked. “Like what? A third breast or something?”

“The two you have are delightful. So soft and responsive. Your left one more than the right. Sucking on the left gets you wet in half the time. Of course, that wasn’t an issue.”

She went crimson. “I will make a note of it.”

“You don’t have to. I have already memorized a number of your triggers. You like it quite rough. Are you sore?”

She covered her face with her hands.

“Ah, Sabine. You don’t need to be embarrassed. In your heat, you were very direct and a bit bossy.” He chuckled. “It was refreshing.”

She mumbled. “A little sore.”

“Then I will tend to that as well. Do you remember much?”

“Flashes.” Her eyes closed, and she could remember him over her, inside her, and the fierce expression on his face as he came. The weirdly tender expression on his features in between rounds and the burn of the bite on her neck. She had cried, and he had licked the wound and soothed her.

He had been very serious about tending to her when she wasn’t begging him to jackhammer into her.

She moved to the bed when he asked her to, and he tended to the shallower wounds on her shoulders and waist. “Why my waist?”

“I will have to show you. It involves you riding me, and then, I twist sideways and bite you when you cum.”

“Did I miss what the design is for?”

He chuckled. “No, sweet. I didn’t do that knowing that you couldn’t remember it. I didn’t want any confusion as to what was going on.”

“Is it scary?”

“It could be considered unusual, and I didn’t want it startling you in a flashback.” He kept applying the cream to the nips and bites he had created. He rolled her gently to her back and worked on the marks at her breasts. “These were just for fun.”

She got the feeling that she had enjoyed them a lot at the time.

He switched containers. “Now, we take care of any residual soreness.”

He scooped a large dollop of the cream onto his fingertips and then slid his fingers deep.

Her back arched, and she moaned as he slowly covered every inch of her inner walls with the cream. There was heat and then a pleasant hum in the aching flesh that he stroked so carefully.

“Shall I continue until you cum, Sabine?”

She twisted and undulated her hips against his fingers. “Please, Shavore.”

His fingers slid against her g-spot, and he started a slow massage with his fingertips that turned into a rapid rubbing that sent her over the edge with a hoarse scream. He slowly brought her down and then extracted his fingers from her. She was panting and closed her legs as he licked at the slick he had just been fondling.

“Doesn’t the cream make it taste weird?”

He chuckled. “I am used to it. The cream is made from an extract of my own semen.”

She pushed herself up to sitting. “What?”

“It is a training tool for your body. To help it recognize my genes as worthy of entry to your most sacred spaces.”

She took that in and paled. No protection. She hadn’t thought about protection. She never did when she was in heat. That is why she preferred to spend it alone.

He cupped her jaw and smiled. “That is why my kind is so hung up on your kind. Only you can offer me what I want most.”

“What’s that?”

“A family. Etgar’s dream was the same, and he was so happy that he proved his mate was an omega, built to take an alpha.”

“Proved it?”

“Video chat. She wasn’t aware that we were watching, but I am guessing she suspected.”

“Vallu is very chill.” She chuckled. “I am less so, for the record.”

“Noted. You have been through enough. I do hope that our marathon bears fruit.”

“If you shoved fruit in there, you were doing it wrong.”

He chuckled. “Would you care for something to eat?”

“Oh. Please. Though, in light of your heroic efforts over the last few days, I believe I should be serving you.”

He was wearing jeans and a tee, and her mouth was watering.

She cleared her throat. “Can I put the dress on?”

He nodded and handed her the swath of silk. “Vallu contacted Zera, and for a hefty price, she has forwarded your wardrobe. I picked this because I wanted to see you in it.”

She lifted the thinly strapped gown and slipped it over her head. She got up to settle the rich blue silk around her. She flipped her hair out of the gown, and then, she went to get the tray.

She looked at the quantity and smiled. “You already ate.”

He sighed. “I did, but can we revisit you serving me at another time? Possibly naked? Or maybe wearing this. It looks amazing on you.”

“Zera doesn’t let us... didn’t let us wear anything unflattering.” She started to pick over the snack tray. “She has high standards considering what folks pay for four hours with us.”

“She now knows you have been retired. Officially.”

She grimaced. “You told her?”

“Vallu and someone named Denny. And of course, the Sethir-Nin acquisitions official.”

“Who is that?”

He grinned. “Me. I am in charge of scouring the globe to find omegas and have a high success rate. I had never found someone just for me until now.”

“How do you know?” She nibbled at a piece of cheese. “How do you know that the next woman you meet won’t suit you better?”

He smirked. “Because I have been on active duty for twenty years, and you are the first and only woman that has gotten my cock hard from the faintest scent of you. Even injured as you were, I was captivated by the sway of your hips, the swell of your breasts, and your determination to aid your friend as she panicked. It was admirable. The moment you blasted me with water in my own element, I knew that you and I would fit, and I had to have you.”

She nodded. “And you wanted to shove me into a box and visit to screw me when you weren’t travelling.”

“It was made clear to me that that particular technique would not be suitable for an omega with a life in public service.”

She perked up. “So, I can resume my job?”

“Oh, no. It is far too dangerous if you are carrying, and I cannot be with you on the job, but you can be with me on mine.”

“What?”

“I travel over the globe when those with possible omega characteristics are spotted. Some are offered by their governments, and some are hidden. Some are brazen, and others weep.” He shrugged. “I am not interested in facing endless formal dinners alone. If I had my mate with me, the ladies might not be so terrified.”

“Oh, so I am an object lesson.”

“Yes. Alphas with omegas with them are far less threatening to new omegas.”

“I don’t want a part in abducting young women.”

“We are not abducting them. We are taking them as treaty offerings. Countries that agree to find omegas gain faster military assistance and no accidental interference.”

She grunted as she sipped at the water. “It is still really creepy. I am beginning to have fond thoughts of the cage.”

“Well, you are in it.”

“What?”

“I have guards coming from Sethir-Nin, and their sole purpose is to keep you safe. You will remain in this house with the hired household, and the guards will be with you when you travel anywhere.”

“Wait. So, the cage is on Daycross?”

“With Etgar’s express permission. He wants to make sure that his mate is entertained when he has to travel for business. Your little triad is being given citizenship on Daycross.”

“Triad? The others are here?”

He chuckled. “They are. Once you and I finish your bonding, we can go visiting.”

“Bonding? I thought that’s what the heat was for.”

“Oh, that was necessary to keep you from distress. Bonding is more deliberate with consent and agreement across the way.”

She nibbled on a cracker.

“I thought you would be ravenous after five days with only water and sports drinks.”

“I am, but I know from experience that if I dive into this and eat it all, I will get violently ill.”

“I should have chosen more items from your list. I just went with what my mother chooses afterward.”

Her eyes bugged out. “Your mom is an omega?”

“She is. She and my father have three children. All alphas. Most of her heats are not productive, but she is from Hyreno, and it was difficult for her to adjust to life on the surface.”

Sabine blinked. “Your mother is from Hyreno.”

“Yes, and my father is a Sethir-Nin. He’s a captain in the armed forces. The recruiter at the time made the match. She agreed to the match, and they have had many happy decades together, and she has stopped trying to drown him.”

She nodded. “Huh. I thought that Juro would take better care of his people, but it was several decades ago. Probably before his time.”

“You know Juro?”

She paused. “No. Not particularly.”

He grinned. “He was a patron.”

“I wouldn’t know. Masks.”

He laughed. “He’s my cousin.”

“Oh, well then I am glad things are anonymous, and I don’t have any regulars.” She finished as much of the snack as she could and sipped at the water. “So, we have to bond before I can see my friends?”

“That is the idea.”

She moved the tray back to the projection table. “Fine. How do we do this?”

He grinned. “Figure it out.”

Chapter Five

“Figure it out? Okay. I will treat you as a patron then.” She shrugged.

He frowned. “I don’t know if I want—”

She pressed her hands to his chest and slid her hands upward, wrapping them around his neck. She kissed his lower lip softly, and he tried to move his mouth over hers, but she leaned back. “You did order me to figure it out, didn’t you, Shavore? This is me figuring it out.”

She slid the gown up her leg and straddled him, pulling his head down to hers and kissing him softly and then with more intensity as she tasted him. He tried to get control of her, but she moved down and kissed his neck slowly, and he groaned. His arms went around her, and she reached behind her to place his hands on her back, one at the ribs and the other on her ass.

Sabine’s body still responded to the scent of his. A trickle of slick started to emerge, so she rose up off his thighs.

“Why did you do that?”

She licked and nibbled at his neck. “I didn’t want to get you wet.”

His hand slipped under the silk, and his fingers pressed against her slick folds. “Ah, that would do it. Good thing I am washable. But, I believe I am going to participate. This is fun, but it’s driving me crazy to know that you are making the choice to touch me and not acting out of blind need.” He chuckled.

“Crazy? I have just started. I was planning on teasing you for an hour at least.” She moved to the other side of his neck and swirled her tongue against his skin.

He groaned and slipped two fingers into her, and she started rocking her hips against them, riding his hand slowly and carefully with her eyes nearly closed.

He tugged her head back, and she looked at him, slowly licking her lips with the tip of her tongue.

He growled and kissed her. He stuffed a third finger into her, and she swivelled her hips to settle them until she started moving again.

He growled again and rubbed a thumb against her clit, and she moaned and whimpered as she moved on him faster, harder, until she moaned again as her body gripped and twitched around his fingers.

The low moan, when he drove his fingers deep to get the last pulse from her, hung in the air. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, and she kissed him softly, humming to him.

Shavore chuckled. “I think we will have to do your turn later.”

She caressed his face and kissed him softly. “I have no objection.”

“Let’s get this out of the way before I tear it.”

He slid her gown up over her head, and it slithered to the floor.

She pulled at his tee and slid it upward. “As much as I enjoy the look of you in this, your skin is so much fun.”

She pulled it up and over his head, and his hair tumbled back into place. She kissed him and pressed her breasts to his chest. She sighed and murmured happily. “Feels nice.”

He grunted and pried her off him, tossing her to the bed. He unsnapped his jeans and carefully pried them off. His underwear was dramatically distorted, and everything got shoved down and off.

She was on her stomach on her elbows with one leg bent as he fought free of his clothing.

He turned to her and shook. “That’s... quite the pose.”

She looked down, realized how it must look, and she pulled her legs together and sat with her legs tucked to her side, her hair spilling over her shoulders.

He sighed. “I didn’t mean for you to react like that. It was just very arousing. You were completely relaxed, and it was very arousing.”

His cock was dripping in confirmation.

She whined in confusion, and he jolted. “So, it was bad, or it wasn’t bad? We had to practice so much; some positions were just more comfortable than others.”

He sat next to her. “You looked like a lazy goddess.” He chuckled. “Now, what are your favourite positions?”

He eased her forward and bent to lick the new mark at the back of her neck.

She moaned and whimpered at the long strokes of his tongue. Sabine’s thighs clenched together as she tried to control her reaction. No luck.

She swallowed and thought about her flicking memories from the heat. “You behind me with me on my belly or me astride you with you on your back.”

He chuckled. “It is like you read my mind.”

“Maybe your enjoyment is colouring my perceptions, but I remember... enjoying the two exceedingly. I guess we will have to go through a catalogue of positions to have a proper analysis.”

“Ah, the analytical approach. I like it.” His lips were touching her mark when he spoke, and she shivered. “What do you want right now?”

She thought about it. “Um, curl up in your arms for a bit to just cuddle?”

“We can do that.”

She twisted toward him and pressed against him. Shavore gathered her in his arms and pressed a kiss to her temple. They stretched out their legs, and she squirmed to get comfortable.

She muttered, “Bear with me. I need to get comfortable.”

He laughed as she twisted against him, and then, he jolted in surprise when she lined up his erection and sank onto him to the edge of his knot with one leg on his hip,. She gasped and arched and then cuddled against him while he made a stunned choked sound.

She kissed his neck. “Sorry, but it was poking me.”

She started to rock her hips against him slowly. She bit his neck softly, and he growled.

He rolled to his back, and she was crouched on him. “You are a tricky little thing.”

She flexed around him. “Comfort is comfort. Now I get a cuddle and am warm all around.”

He stroked her back and cupped her hips. “You will be warmer if you work up a sweat.”

She laughed and sat up, bracing her hands on the flat slabs of his abdomen. She rose and then slowly slid back down. Inside, she still ached, but it became part of the enjoyment as she moved faster with building pleasure. She got slicker, and when she started to take his knot inside and then off, her head started to rock limply, and her arms got weak.

He gripped her hips and moved her on him, starting his hips thrusting upward and then slamming her rapidly until he groaned, lodging inside her.

Her climax had started during his barrage of thrusts, but it was a soft one, fluttering around him. She felt the heat spurting inside her, and then, something started to move against her thighs. She looked down and then back at him. “The anemone mutation?”

He grinned. “You know what it is?”

“Sure. I just didn’t know that you had one. I haven’t seen one before.”

The anemone fronds touched her belly, stroked her clit, and wrapped around her thighs, pulling her down and snug against him. She was held by the nearly translucent tendrils flush against the base of him.

“You aren’t freaked out?”

She chuckled. “They appear rather polite, so I am just going to enjoy the tickling feeling.”

“Oh, they aren’t polite. They are exploring.” He slid his hands up her back and pulled her forward.

She leaned forward, and his tendrils began to touch her from her clit, tiptoeing down her perineum and then exploring the rear entrance slowly. She felt something slick and sticky at the same time, and she looked at him in surprise.

He smirked. “They are exploring. You are doing very well. You get a reward.”

She frowned, and then, she felt a bunch of small points of contact on her clit that started to push and pull, which started off as odd but soon had her squirming. She clung to him and dug her nails in as she rapidly approached orgasm. When the tendrils at her backdoor pushed inside with a slick surge, she groaned and bucked and shivered... but it wasn’t over. It continued on and on as the anemone fronds stretched, pushed, pulled, squeezed, and acted together until she was lying on him, shivering and twitching.

His knot released, and she groaned as everything spilled out of her.

He laughed. “Good girl.”

The tendrils slowly retreated with some final teasing of her clit.

She was completely limp and rested bonelessly against him.

He stroked her sweaty back; he was crooning to her in a subsonic tone. She felt the pulse in her ears, sternum, and lower belly. It was a common emanation from a Hyreno male.

“You don’t have to make courting noises. I know what this is. That ship has sailed.” She sighed.

“How do you know what that was?”

“My dad activated with a water-breather setup and was educated in Hyreno, and then, he returned to the mainland and met and married my mom. She was a researcher.” She chuckled and said, “He used to make a sound that weakened her knees from down the road. I get that now.”

“Why did you say that I don’t need to court you?”

“You said it at the beginning. You claimed me, got my government to agree to surrender me, chased me here, and now I am good and stuck. I get it.” She sighed. “In a few days, we find out if I got pregnant, and then, it is one more link in the chain.”

“You don’t sound upset.”

“Resigned. I have had to get used to a lot of things in my life recently. All I can do is find a way to work with what I am left with.” She lazily shrugged. “Maybe I can rent myself out as a fancy fountain for kids’ events.”

He caressed her back. “Why do you have to work?”

“I always have. Dad died when I was ten, Mom had to do a lot of work away from home, so I had to take care of the kids as soon as I was legally able. I got them up, got them dressed and to school for years, went through team training, and then, my mom was killed when I was supposed to graduate and get assigned to a team. So, I took a job at the docks and worked with customs. Every credit I had went to get my siblings into university, but it isn’t cheap.”

“Where are they in university?”

“Hyreno. They are all water-breathers like Dad.” She sighed. “Still two years more for the youngest. The twins graduate this year.”

“You are paying for three full courses at Hyreno University?”

“And master’s degrees.”

“Holy stars.”

She chuckled. “When BDC asked me to train, I was able to take my house off the market. I had met with Torun before at the ports, and he recommended me to Zera.” She didn’t mention that Torun had been her training patron. The price she got for that date had eased her financial worries.

After that, it was about one date a week. She had to report her second job to the customs office, but as the conditions of the blind part of blind date kept her identity a secret as the mask put out a signal that blurred the memory of the patron, it was still considered necessary to her heats and was therefore authorized.

“So, the BDC took care of my financial issues, but I still have the last two years to go.” She sighed. “I guess I can sell my place on the water.”

“It might not be a bad idea, but you don’t need to do it for your siblings. I will take care of it.”

She tried to lift her head, but he put his hand over it. “It isn’t your concern.”

“Well, I suppose there is only one way through it. Normally, alphas and omegas are a basic relationship upheld by most countries. You have had people leaving you and have taken on a lot of responsibility. I can’t lift it from your shoulders, but I can hold you up.”

“Why the hell would you want to do that?” The lazy, warm feeling had burned off.

“Because you are mine, and your troubles are my troubles. What is your relationship like with your siblings?”

“Nonexistent the moment they went to Hyreno. An air-breather is an embarrassment when the other siblings can breathe water like their father.”

“What do you remember about him?”

“He was really tall, silver-skinned, red hair. He had an easy smile and liked to sneak up on my mom when she was studying and put vibrantly coloured seaweed in front of her. She would squeal, kiss him, and put it under the microscope. When I activated, I would surf on the water, think about him, stir up different seaweeds with other colours, and bring them home to Mom. She would kiss my cheek and sniffle a little as she examined them.”

“What was his name?”

“Sabnos.”

“You are joking. He died nearly twenty years ago?”

“I don’t joke about Dad. He’s the one who named me Sabine.”

“He died in Hyreno.”

She lifted her head, and he didn’t fight her. “He did. There was a surface contingent who was trying to do some sabotage, and Dad stopped them, but they killed him.” She sighed. “Mom was working on aquafarming, and she died at a symposium to help create wider farms that would craft kelp that was easy to manipulate into something air-breathers would eat. Both died in active attacks, and neither had life insurance.”

He exhaled. “Can we go back to the point where we negotiate?”

“There was no negotiation.”

“Right. That was wrong of me. You say your family doesn’t speak to you?”

She nodded. “That’s right. I just get messages requesting financial aid with very specific amounts.”

“You know you have grandparents, right?”

“What?”

“Your father’s parents are still alive and well and teaching in Hyreno. They both work for the university, which is probably how your parents met. It also means your siblings get free education.”

She pushed herself off him and ignored the wet thunk of his cock against his belly. There was horror in her voice. “What?”

“There is no charge for relations to the professors. Sabnos also had special status at the school. He was an excellent researcher himself and made several notable contributions that created an income stream that would have been offered to your siblings.”

Sabine looked at him. “Stop. I feel sick.” She got up and scrambled to the bathroom, losing the snack she had eaten earlier.

He held her hair, and she started to cry. All the things she had done, everything she had endured, and even her enrolment with the BDC had all been because she knew her parents had wanted their kids to all get as much education as they wanted.

They had probably known the day they enrolled that they didn’t have to pay, but they asked for the money anyway, and Sabine paid. Twice a year, she paid, and then, it was three of them.

He wiped her face and held her when she brushed her teeth.

He lifted her up and carried her to a bedroom with a huge four-poster with a magnificent view of the water through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Shavore pulled the bedding back, and he tucked her in. “I will get you some of the items on your list, but rest. Everything will be fine.”

She nodded. “Right. New situation. New start. I can begin again.”

“Let’s try and start over together, okay?”

She nodded, and he tucked her in.

* * * *

Shavore had a camera aimed at Sabine, and she was still out cold. She deserved it. It had been a tiring five days. He finished his call to Juro, contacted his father, who couldn’t stop laughing in delight, and contacted the university as well as the agricultural research centre. The siblings were about to get a nasty shock.

He grinned and contacted her grandparents. Based on the memorial they had set out in the memory garden, they were going to be shocked that the granddaughter they had mourned, Sabine Nekko, was alive and well.

Chapter Six

Her hand was heavy. Sabine sat up and looked at the giant rectangular emerald surrounded by sapphires. “What is this?”

Shavore was at his desk in the corner, and he lifted his head and grinned. “It’s a family jewel. Engagement ring. I want to marry you before we continue our running around.”

“Why? Actives can’t get married.”

“At your home, yes. On Daycross, anyone can. Remember the event that brought us together.”

She sat up and looked at the ring. “If they hadn’t lied, we never would have met.”

“That isn’t quite true. The tablet next to you has a document you might want to see.”

She scowled and moved her hand. It was heavy. She activated the tablet, and she read it slowly and then read it again, staring at the signature with a confirmed ocular scan and fingerprint. It was her father’s signature. “This is a betrothal contract.”

He chuckled. “It is.”

“This is between the eldest daughter of Sabnos and the eldest son of Reggion.”

“Correct. It is only under the eventuality that the female reaches the age of thirty without finding her own mate. The same for me.”

“You didn’t mention...”

“I didn’t know who you were until we spoke. They had done a good job of expunging your history.” He smiled. “We have been meant for each other all along.”

“This was signed two weeks before my dad died.”

“Our fathers were friends through my mother’s family.”

She blinked. “But we are not related.”

He laughed. “No. I already ran the genetic scans. We don’t share any relatives.”

She exhaled because she didn’t think her vomiting was just stress. There was water moving in her body that had never been there before.

“Oh. Good. That’s a relief.”

He looked at her, his eyes gleaming. “Why is it a relief, Sabine?”

“Well, you know. Future issues. That kind of thing.”

“Hm. After we provide proof of life to Vallu and Etgar, we are going for a visit to Hyreno. It is time you met your grandparents.”

“I don’t want to see my siblings.”

“That’s fine. We won’t. But, Nekko and Dyelara are looking forward to meeting you. I believe they were crying when I spoke to them.”

She brought the tablet to her chest. “They want to meet me?”

“They are demanding to meet you, but they don’t leave Hyreno, so we must go to them.”

She looked at the ring, “You just carried this around with you?”

“No, I had a courier bring it from home.”

“Oh. Why?”

“Because we are getting married today before we leave so that you are taken care of in the event of anything like what your mother experienced.”

“It is traditional to be asked.”

He grinned. “Will you?”

She looked at the ring and frowned. “Yes?”

He laughed. “I will make you an intermittently happy woman.”

“Fair promise. I will make you an occasionally happy man with bouts of panic and frustration.”

“I can deal with that.”

She blinked. “Well. I guess we are engaged.”

“Good. If you are up for it, get dressed, and a meal will be brought up. The staff has arrived.”

“That was fast.”

“You have been unconscious for two days. Etgar sent the retired physician who takes care of Vallu over. She said you were just tired.” He chuckled. “Then she smacked me.”

She smiled and got up. Her legs were weak, but she had run with worse. “Clothes?”

“Right closet is yours.”

She opened the closet and stared at her entire BDC wardrobe. Wow. Okay. So, she went to the undergarments and pulled out some practical-ish stuff. There was still a lot of lace and minimal fabric, but it was nice. She thought about visiting Vallu and picked something that Lady Daycross wouldn’t mind seeing in her previous home.

There was a designer suit and silk blouse with some stylish pumps. She got dressed, pinned her hair up, and put on the shoes before walking back into the bedroom.

She glanced at him. “There wasn’t any makeup in there, so this is as good as it gets.”

He stared, and there was a knock on the door. She went and answered it. “Hello.”

The woman who came in stared at her, then the bed, then back at her.

“Sabine, this is Myura. She will be handling your food.”

Myura blinked. “Are you the lady of the manor? I thought...” She looked to the bed again.

“I woke up. I got up and got dressed. Is that tray for me?”

The woman nodded and carried it to the table. “The selections are a little odd.”

“If I am smelling what I think I can smell, they are exactly what I need.”

“It is what the new Lady Daycross said as well. This was your after-heat list, so this is what you should have.”

Shavore said, “Myura has trained to tend to omegas. This omega was almost on a team, but her mother died, and her priorities shifted.”

Myura blinked. “A team...”

“Water witch.” Sabine was following her and sniffing. “I ended up working customs at the port.”

“Is that where you met, sir?”

“Oh, no. We met at a wedding where I tried to lure him away from a friend in heat who was freaking out because there were three alphas, and she wasn’t trained for that. So, I took the swimmer, and my other friend took the reaper.”

Myura blinked. “You... took them?”

“The idea was a distraction. So, I temporarily incapacitated Shavore, which sparked something in him.”

“My cock.”

The young woman blushed. “Ah. Right. I will be back to get the tray.”

Sabine was sitting at the small table, and she started chortling when she saw the hot dog, tacos, sandwich, and pickle. The bowl of potato chips was a dream come true.

She opened the carafe and got water instead of the dreamed-for soda. She was a junk food junkie through and through.

She made her way through the food with alarming speed. Her stomach was completely settled, and she sighed as she leaned back when the tray was done.

Seven days since the first coupling meant she could probably take a test. She sipped at the cup of water and tried to do a personal analysis of her body. She found a spot that wasn’t something she was used to, and she froze.

She hadn’t realized that Shavore was watching her until he asked, “Are you unwell?”

“Um, no. It’s fine. Excuse me.” She got up and headed to the bathroom.

He called out. “Tests are under the sink.”

She flipped him off and kept walking.

She closed the door and looked under the sink. The huge pack of pregnancy tests made her say, “Good god!”

She took one, read the instructions, and followed them. The unit did its thing, and she brushed her teeth and washed her face. It was an early test, so it should work for one to two weeks. After what she thought was enough time, she sidled over to it, and there was just the control mark. She sighed in relief, but then, the matching band surfaced, and she stared at the tiny jail bars. Stupid.

She picked up the test because she could tell that Shavore was right outside the door. She opened the door, and he held his hand out. She handed it to him and kept walking, but he gasped, and she was hugged from behind, lifted off her feet.

“Now, we definitely need to get the legal marriage.” He kissed her neck. “You aren’t happy?”

“Shock is a better term. My brain only remembers having sex with you once, but my body is keen to celebrate, but I also really want a hug from Vallu. She’s a good hugger.”

He sighed. “I think we should go to Vallu then. Are you ready to leave now?”

She nodded.

A few minutes later, they were getting out at Daycross manor, and Vallu was waiting. She hugged her and whispered, “Sabine, are you all right?”

“I... don’t know. It wasn’t expected, and I am in shock, but he’s so happy, and I have nowhere to run.”

Vallu took her through the house and out to the garden. “Do you want to run?”

Sabine thought about it. “No. I don’t think I do. He is also helping me with a stupidity I never looked into and now find that I didn’t actually need to join the BDC.”

Vallu rubbed her back. “So, just feeling a little stunned at the pregnancy.”

“Yup. I have avoided it so long, and then, it lasted five days, and then, I slept for two.”

“Oh, wow. I am amazed that he lasted that long.”

Sabine sighed. “So am I. When I took my heats in my own hands, I could get it over and done with in three days and then just stifle the rest for a couple of days. He let me run it all the way through.”

“How do you feel?”

Sabine chuckled. “Really relaxed aside from the aches and twinges. I just have no idea what I am going to do next.”

Vallu linked arms with her and started to walk. “How do you feel about quilting?”

Sabine laughed brightly and walked through the gardens with her, asking about the other two, and the answers made her laugh again.

By the time they joined Etgar and Shavore in the family room, Sabine had the start of a plan for her life with her mate. It was going to irritate him, so of course, Vallu had suggested it. Shavore was not going to go for it, but she wondered if he turned dark green when he was mad.

They walked in, and Vallu walked toward Etgar’s outstretched arm. He cuddled her on his lap and sighed as if he had missed her and now he was complete.

Sabine walked past Shavore, and he darted out and pulled her onto his lap. He licked at her neck, and she shivered and relaxed against him. His hand on her thigh was just under her skirt, and she swallowed as his thumb slowly caressed her thigh.

His lips moved on her skin, and he murmured, “The magistrate will be here in a few minutes. Etgar is pissed. He wanted me to have a big wedding.”

Sabine hummed a little at the pleasant feel of his lips on her neck. “You still can. I can do security at the reception. I mean, I am not yet thirty. You can always find someone else to marry. A nice Hyreno lady. Someone who can breathe underwater.”

His teeth clamped down, and she squeaked. He held her until she whispered, “Sorry.”

He released her and licked the new mark on her neck. “No more jokes. You are mine.”

“Fine.”

He chuckled. “My mother will be pleased with your enthusiasm.”

She blushed. “I have to meet your parents?” She whispered quietly, but she saw Etgar’s ears twitch.

“They are going to meet us in Hyreno.”

She swallowed. “Ah. Right. When are we going there?”

“As soon as we are legally married.”

She nodded. “Right.”

Etgar asked, “Were you with the BDC long?”

She looked at him, “I joined a few years after Vallu did. I was number thirty.”

“Did you ever take a patron during your heat?”

“Oh, god, no. I don’t trust anyone that much. I mean...” She looked at Shavore. “I preferred to have my heats alone.”

“I would have thought that the patrons would have paid extra for that.” He was amused.

“Oh, they would have, and there were offers, but the money was never worth the risk for me, and I didn’t trust my patron not to reactivate their reproductive systems. I am not a healer like Vallu. I can’t just turn it off and on with a blowjob.”

Etgar laughed. “She told you?”

“Sure. Why not? It was all the buzz at the bachelorette party.” She shrugged.

Vallu grinned. “It was a nice party. Sabine sang for us. Her voice is incredible.”

“I heard her song, but it was always short. You sing?”

Sabine went pale. “Um, a little. I got drunk at the party, so I did some karaoke.”

Vallu laughed. “It is more than that. How many vocal cords do you have?”

“Um, three sets.”

Shavore paused. “You are a siren?”

“The water witch thing took priority.” She shrugged. “I haven’t really sung since my dad died. He was the one who wanted to hear it.”

“Can you sing for us?” Shavore’s voice was soft.

“Can I get out of it?”

Vallu smiled. “No. How about a lullaby.”

Sabine nodded. “Fine.”

She took a deep breath, sat up straight, and sang a lullaby that her father used to sing to her about the ocean and the moon. It was a song about both longing for the other, but they only could be together at night until the moon made moonlight, and it could finally be with the ocean.

Sabine blinked when she realized how the cute song for a child was actually very suggestive for an adult.

She let the song trail off and sat still.

Vallu sighed and smiled. “That was pretty. Etgar, what did you think?”

“I could hear every note and vibration. It was lovely.” There was a soft look in his eyes.

“Oh, good. My siblings hated it, so I stopped singing.” She looked at her mate. “So, for a Hyreno, how bad was it?”

He cupped her jaw and kissed her. The kiss went on and on. She had no idea how she learned to navigate past his sharp teeth, but it was easy to kiss him. It must have happened during the heat.

When he lifted his head, he smiled. “I want to hear you sing anytime you want to. I am shocked that your father never reported a siren in the family.”

“He was waiting until my active status was confirmed, but he died four years before that happened.”

“Ah, and your family didn’t know how much it would mean to Hyreno.”

“What do you mean?”

“The supposition was that the water witch and the siren genes had died out. The fact that you breathe air isn’t an issue.”

“It isn’t?”

He smiled. “Odds are your children will breathe water, considering who fathered them.”

She blinked. “Them? How many do you want?”

“At least three as long as two are girls.”

Sabine nodded. “I can deal with three, I think.”

He grinned. “Good. I will check again after three.”

The magistrate arrived, and Vallu was irritated and huffing. She wanted a wedding, but Shavore was determined. They were going to be legally married as soon as possible.

They signed and verified the documents. Etgar had to vouch for her as she didn’t have her id with her via the com she broke.

Shavore smiled. “You destroyed it to escape me?”

“Yeah, it worked for four hours.” She groaned. “So much paperwork.”

“We will get you a new one today before we go. Things are a little easier on Daycross.”

She nodded, and when the witnesses signed, she stepped back.

When Shavore grabbed her and kissed her, she blinked in surprise. Oh, right, you do that when you get married.

When he lifted his head, she asked, “Why did we have to get married today?”

“So that Juro couldn’t hand you over to a Hyreno noble, and the Sethir-Nin don’t allow alphas and omegas to marry. Daycross is a loophole.”

Vallu grinned. “It actually is. The city has issues about the actives marrying actives as well.” She snuggled up to her husband. “Daycross does not.”

Understanding dawned. “Okay, that makes sense.”

Shavore asked, “You aren’t mad about missing a big ceremony?”

“Um, I am an active. I wasn’t allowed to get married, and I certainly didn’t have any dreams or plans for it. This is fine. Quick and legal.”

Her mate scowled. “We will do something when we return.”

“I would rather not. I don’t have anyone to invite that wasn’t already at Vallu’s wedding.”

He paused. “No one from work?”

“I worked by myself and only occasionally with a team. Not regular personnel. I just reported to the captain.” She ticked that off on her finger. “My family doesn’t speak to me as we have discussed, and Zera would have my head if I asked for on-duty escorts to skip assignments for me. Also, I have left without notice, so there isn’t actually a lot of leverage for the asking.”

“Vallu left.”

“She resigned and gave a date and time. I went on medical leave for an injury and then disappeared.”

“Are you used to people dismissing you when they have no further need of you?” Shavore looked her in the eye.

She gave him a wry look. “Yes. That is exactly what happens.”

He touched her cheek, and she realized she was crying.

“Probably a good thing I don’t wear makeup.” She dragged in a deep breath. “Right. A new com unit?”

“Do you often change the topic when you are upset?”

Vallu answered for her. “Yes.”

Sabine snorted and turned toward Shavore, hiding her face in his chest. He cuddled her to him immediately, stroking her neck and rubbing the mark on the base of her neck. Heat spiralled through her, and she balled up her fist and punched him.

He grunted and laughed. “It’s healing nicely.”

She pressed against the very expensive suit he had on and lowered her head to give him better access to her neck. He cursed and pulled her tight to him. Sabine quietly smiled.

“We need to head to Hyreno, so we will get your com unit now and then plan how much time we can spend on a honeymoon. I believe that is standard.”

She chuckled. “I would have thought you were exhausted already.”

He snorted. “Oh, sweet, we are just getting started.”

She looked up into his solemn expression, and he grinned, flashing the teeth that she wasn’t turned off by. It was Shavore, and he was hers.

Chapter Seven

The com was back on her wrist, registered to Daycross. She sat in the transport in the Hyreno elegant daywear that had been brought to her for the journey. The heavy jewelled collar matched her ring, and it had the side effect of pressing on her mark. Light gauze wrapped her breasts and sashed around her hips, leaving the rest of her covered by floating strips. There were enough gemstones studded in the fabric in patterns that were eerily familiar to let her know that Shavore had commissioned this outfit. She was wearing his pattern.

She watched their pilot bring them into the Hyreno underwater dock. Standard visitors arrived above and were brought in with lifts that descended into a visitor’s centre. Citizens used the underwater docks. By virtue of her bloodline and Shavore’s, she was a Hyreno citizen, and she had had no clue. The citizenship office had been delighted with her credentials, and her new citizenship had pinged onto her new com within ten minutes.

Sabine twisted her fingers together nervously, but Shavore took her hand and squeezed it. “It will be fine. They are very excited.”

She nodded as they locked in the dock, and the air-breathing vent circulated and confirmed a breathable atmosphere. Their pilot was going to handle their overnight bags.

Shavore was wearing a floor-length vest-style robe and a kilt in black. He had a lot of skin on display, and she wanted to touch it.

His wearing semi-formal clothing was actually comforting. He wasn’t casual about this. He was making a good impression.

They checked through customs, and she was looked over with appreciation and greeted warmly. She scowled. That wasn’t a normal response to her appearance. She was also greeted as Sabine ik Shavore.

She glanced at him. “Your name is now attached to me?”

He grinned. “As I am. Come along. We have family to greet.”

The first Hyreno she saw was Juro. He liked to act as an ambassador, but he was in charge.

Shavore led her right up to him, and she curtsied gracefully before standing and meeting his amused gaze. “I know that bow.”

She inclined her head. “I believe you might.”

Shavore chuckled. “Juro was a patron?”

“Not the way you would think. We went to concerts together. Mostly.” She smiled as Juro’s awareness of her caused him to grin.

“He is my cousin. Juro, this is my mate and wife, Sabine Nekko, now Sabine ik Shavore.”

She blinked as Juro took her palm and grazed his teeth along it. They weren’t quite as sharp as her husband’s, but they were no joke. She watched him and waited until he decided to release her hand.

“You look quite a bit different than I last saw you, Thirty. I feel bereft that I never thought to dress you in Hyreno clothing. It suits you, as do my cousin’s marks. Your heat must have been prolonged.”

Shavore grinned. “Five days.”

Juro hissed. “You must have been raw.”

Shavore pulled her against him. “No, she’s a good omega, nice and slick.”

Her cheeks were nearly as red as Juro.

“Aw, you have embarrassed your little wife.” Juro stroked her cheek with the back of one finger. “We are just playing, Sabine.”

She nipped his finger. “Play on your own time. This is a bit stressful for me, you crimson idiot.”

He laughed and kissed her forehead quickly. “You are right. Welcome to Hyreno, little cousin.”

Shavore blinked at her tone. “I do not think I have ever heard you speak that way, Sabine.”

“Yes, you have. You just ignored me and shut me up.” She snorted. She looked up at him, and he leaned down and kissed her. The kiss continued on and on, and her lips were puffy when he lifted his head. She muttered, “Like that.”

He laughed and hugged her close.

She sighed and wrapped her arms around him.

Juro frowned. “Sabine, you don’t have any armoured systems.”

“Nope.”

“How do you kiss him like that?”

“The teeth?”

“Yes.”

“I just go around. After the first time, it is pretty easy.”

Shavore chuckled. “She also keeps a layer of water between herself and the teeth. So, she does have an armour of a sort.”

“I do?”

“Yes, you use my saliva for it.” He chuckled.

“Huh. Interesting.”

“I think it is. You are slippery even there.”

She went pink again.

Juro stared at them. “Damn. Now I am more than eager for my own mate. Her situation is complicated, and getting her free of her people is nearly impossible, but I think it will make an interesting story for our children.”

Before she knew what she was saying, she said, “We will help if we can.”

Juro grinned. “Excellent. Now, let us introduce you to your family.”

“You know about that?”

“Oh, yes. My cousin is chatty.”

She snickered, and they followed Juro into the waiting area where an older couple surged to their feet, and they cried out in astonished relief when she became visible behind Juro.

Juro moved aside, and he smiled. “Nekko and Dyelara, may I present your granddaughter, Sabine ik Shavore.”

Sabine smiled. “Pleased to meet you.”

The woman walked up to her with shaking hands. “You have his hair and skin and her eyes. They told us you were dead.” The hug was intense and sudden. She was mashed against her grandmother, and then other arms came around them. She sighed and enjoyed the moment of finding her father’s family. Her family.

When the hug relaxed, she looked around for Shavore, and he was speaking to another older couple. She blinked and looked back at her grandmother. She saw her father’s eyes, and her grandfather was everything else.

She smiled. “You two look like him, or, I guess, he looked like you.”

Her grandmother smiled. “You look like both of them in harmony. You don’t breathe water?”

“No. I can move it but not breathe it.”

Her grandfather asked, “Move it?”

“I’m a water witch. Also, a siren, but that could just be Shavore flattering me.”

They looked at each other and hugged her again. When they leaned back, Dyelara smiled and said, “Your father said you were going to be a siren, and we could hardly wait to meet you, but then...”

Sabine nodded. “Then. That was rough.”

They all grieved for a few moments before Shavore led his parents over. She looked at the military man who had the nerve to bring a Hyrenean woman to his home. Shavore’s mother was soft and graceful, but there was a hint of steel in her bearing. Sabine met them, and his mother looked her over, taking in the bite marks that appeared on her body.

“You don’t mind the biting?”

“Not at the time, ma’am.” Sabine was serious.

The woman laughed and hugged her, her embrace pausing. She whispered, “Are you carrying?”

“Early days, ma’am.” The hug became suffocating, and there was a scent in the air that was watery and wild at the same time.

Her mate’s father looked to Shavore. “Your mother is happy.”

Shavore chuckled. “I guess she has waited long enough to be a grandparent.”

Sabine watched Shavore getting hugged and lifted off his feet at the same time. It was a very masculine congratulations.

Sabine was finally set free, and her mother-in-law smiled. “Oh, I am hoping for granddaughters as pretty as you.”

“Um, do Sethir-Nin have daughters?”

The older woman grimaced. “No, they don’t. But, with every generation, we hope.” Sudden giggles started up. “Oh, I know that pattern. So, you have truly accepted all parts of him.”

“My choices in the matter were limited. Our first joining was my heat, and all I know is he was there every time I reached for him.”

She gave a wry smile. “The stamina he gets from his father. It’s one reason I never ran.”

Sabine caught the reference, and she snickered.

“So, Shavore said you used to work for the BDC. Is that where you met?”

“Oh, no, ma’am. We met at Etgar’s wedding. He and another two alphas were stalking a friend of mine, and she was freaking out.”

“Riithan and Denier?”

“Yeah, how did you know?”

“They tend to gather together. They all tutored Etgar. He’s a good boy.”

Sabine thought of Vallu’s happy face when she was with her husband. “Yeah, he is.”

“Why were they stalking your friend?”

“She was in heat. Normally, it isn’t a concern. We make arrangements and ride it out, but they wouldn’t let her leave, so her sister and I acted as a distraction.”

“Well, my son is still distracted, so well done!”

Sabine snorted.

Juro returned and said, “The meal is arranged. We can all quiz the happy couple as long as we like.”

They got together, including Shavore’s grandparents, and sat down for a meal. Sabine tried to keep eating so that folks wouldn’t ask questions. The moment that her plate was empty, Reggion asked her, “So, how many clients did you have at the BDC?”

Juro chuckled, “Patrons.”

“What?”

“We are called patrons, and she had less than a lot of the ladies and more than some of the more niche activations.”

Reggion stared at Juro. “You were one of them?”

“Of course. She loves music and has an affinity for water. She was delightful company, and her body was the tightest thing I have ever been in.”

Sabine blushed and grabbed some of the seaweed chips that looked very familiar for some reason.

Shavore chuckled. “I have some footage that I would like you all to see before focusing on her time with the BDC.” He slipped a recording chip into a central table, and the room dimmed. They were treated to ten minutes of her greatest hits at the port, using water whips, flying on columns, and using water as bullets to disable fleeing vessels.

The final moment was the attack that disabled her. When the wet, bloody thunk sounded, she looked up to watch the team come down to subdue her attacker. She was lifted and flown to help.

Everyone was silent.

“So, that was my last day at work. I was still on crutches when I met Shavore, or he would still be fighting a water column at the bottom of a pool.”

Juro frowned. “Didn’t they give you healers?”

“I was on a backlist. I am a little more dense than most, so it takes a lot of effort. The sucky thing was the lack of painkillers. They don’t work on me either.”

Juro blinked. “How did you heal?”

“I called Vallu. Vallu called Khytten, as far as I can tell. I... didn’t get better for a while. And then I did.”

“She got a walking suit, ran from me, hid from me, and then Vallu ordered her to go to the manor. I watched her. The people of Daycross thought she was the walking dead, and she made it to the manor and the room that Vallu ordered her into. She was taken care of for a while, and then, Vallu handed her over to me.” Shavore shrugged. “By the time her healing was over, her heat started, and when that was over, she was mine.”

Sabine smiled. “So, all said and done, a pretty traumatic couple of weeks.”

Shavore tugged her hair back, and she gasped as he kissed her with sweet heat. His fingers dug into her scalp, and she whimpered, putting her hand against his chest. When he released her, she cuddled against him. That was what he had been after.

“You only get a few more jokes, Sabine.”

She looked at him with wide eyes, and she whispered to him, “I will make them count.”

His father and grandfather snorted with laughter, and her grandparents smiled. “She gets that sense of humour from her father.”

She grinned. “That and my snappy dance moves.”

She snuggled closer to him, and he scooped her up and put her on his lap. That was what she had been angling for. These were his people, and she was safest when he was wrapped around her. He had one arm around her and one below her navel. Subtle.

Juro looked at her. “Are you really a siren?”

“Do the three sets of vocal cords count?” She smiled.

He grinned. “Would you sing for us this evening?”

“Uh, I don’t know many songs, and I am not sure—”

“Yes. Yes, she will.”

She nodded and then asked Shavore, “So, it didn’t hurt your ears?”

“No, baby, it was wonderful, and if you sang that to our little ones, I would be delighted to listen every time,” he whispered in her ear, and she blinked and covered her mouth.

“Oh, that would make sense. I will try that.”

She was going to kill Juro. She was dressed in strips of fabric that clung to her faithfully, pearls were woven in her hair, and there were over eight hundred people in the amphitheatre.

She walked out, Juro introduced her, and in a delightful twist, Shavore played harp for her.

She sang, and as she sang, she let water from the deep pool behind her wrap around her and raise her up with the song as she held a thin sheet of water between herself and the audience. She sang three songs that her father had taught her as she flew around the space with the water jumping, bucking, and swirling around her in whimsical patterns.

She settled down on the stage again, removed the water from her skin, and dropped the water back into the pool. The last thing to go was the thin sheet of water that she dropped back into the pool as well. There was a barrage of applause.

She walked up to Juro. “Sorry, those are all the songs I know. Well, that and some modern stuff.”

“Are you up to it?”

Shavore said, “No. She has had a stressful week, and she tires easily. You have seen the first siren in generations. And the first water witch. There are thirteen different recording devices in here. Jerk off to her from there.”

Juro waved that off. “I can just remember our date for that. Besides, I have my own mate in mind, and I don’t want to distract from my purpose. Sabine, can you weaponize your voice?”

“Not on short notice, but if you are thinking about a water exit, I have some ideas.”

He looked at her with narrowed eyes. “You know who I am referring to?”

“Probably. Females are excellent communicators. We don’t have your strength, so we have to get it right the first time. Planning does that. She’s very artistic and has done lovely work with some statuary.”

He blinked. “Oh, right. You were with me in Aksalla.”

Shavore plucked her headset from her. “That’s enough for the crowd.”

“Oops.”

“You were amazing, Sabine.”

“Thanks, Pooky.” She beamed at him.

“Pooky?”

“Snuggles? Pretty eyes?” She stroked her hand down his chest. “I can keep going.”

He laughed. “There is only one thing for it.”

He lifted her up and wrapped her in his arms. “Take a breath.”

They dove through the pool, and he swam with her through the dark waters, a red streak passing them. Shavore paused and let her breathe using his body, and then, he swam on. He kicked them up and into the water entrance and landed on his feet. She pulled the water away from him and her, dropping it to the entry.

“That’s a neat trick.”

“My dad always told me that getting people’s homes wet was not polite. Air-breathers don’t like it.”

He grinned. “Let’s get some rest. We are heading home tomorrow.”

“We are? What about my grandparents?”

“They have been given confirmation that you are you, so they are welcome to visit anytime.” He chuckled. “They are looking forward to popping in every few months until their great grandbaby is here. I believe they might want to purchase a coastal house on Daycross. They might even consider time sharing with my grandparents. And parents. I am no longer concerned about leaving you home while I travel.”

She groaned. “Oh, stop chortling.”

He grinned, and she heard a voice in the distance.

“We are at Juro’s house. Why?”

“Would you rather we be at my grandparents’ home with my parents? Juro has already heard you moan.” He chuckled.

“Not jealous?”

“Me, no. Him, quite likely. I know you are mine. He is dreaming of his own mate. I think this will be good for him.”

“So, is it weird that I went on dates with Juro?”

“No. Did you have fun?”

“Yeah, they were nice. He was nice.”

He laughed. “I will tell him you called him nice.”

“Fine. Just do it while I am hiding behind you.” She kicked her feet a little. “Why did you show them the file at lunch?”

“I needed my father to understand why the Sethir-Nin stronghold wasn’t suitable for you. He understands it now and after your performance. Seeing you using water in person is nothing like watching a video. I understand why they refer to you as a witch because it was as if the water and you were in communication.”

He opened a door and walked into a large bedroom.

“You know your way around here.”

“Juro left a mark on the door that I can read.”

“Really?”

“Written in saltwater.” He tossed her onto the low bed and came down on top of her.

“Oof.”

“You look lovely in that outfit.”

“The one you are embedding into my skin?” She squirmed under him and paused. “Really? Suffocating me does it for you?”

He pushed up off her. “Never. Keeping air in your lungs is one of my most ardent desires.”

She slid her leg up the outside of his thigh. “Can you name another?”

“Can I show you?” He winked.

“Please. It feels like so long.” She sighed.

“Shall I joke about that now?”

She grabbed his pointed ears and pulled him down to her for a kiss that she punctuated by grinding her hips against him.

He chuckled and gripped her hair to break her grip on his ears, and he attacked her neck with fervour. She moaned as he took her throat in his teeth carefully. Her whine was unmistakable, even to her own ears. It was a desperate and needy demand.

He released her and licked the marks on her neck that he had just made. He moved down her body and moved the strips of fabric from her breasts, nuzzling and sucking as he slid his fingers under her skirt, and he circled her opening as it got slick and slippery with his lips and tongue teasing her nipples. He chuckled softly as she moaned and arched her hips against his hand. He thumbed her clit, and she shivered and clenched around his fingers. He groaned against her. “I will do better the next time.”

He lined up his hips, flipped his kilt out of the way, and slid the strips of her skirt aside. She felt the wide head pushing at her and the slick precum he was leaking as he slid into her. He slid a slow and lazy cascade of thrusts into her until he was all the way in.

He supported himself over her and slowly leaned down to kiss her. “You did well tonight, Sabine.”

She smiled and nipped his lip. “Now it’s your turn.”

He laughed, and he pinned her arms above her head, and he murmured, “Yes, wife.”

She realized that it was true. The documents were signed and witnessed. They were married. She arched into his thrusts, and his slow beat swept her along until she shrieked into his mouth, and then, the heavy width of his erection shoved into her and worked deep while he groaned. She could feel the heat inside her, and her body fluttered around his. She was panting, his chest was heaving, and then the anemones emerged to tease and grip.

He watched her face and smiled as he surrounded and invaded her. “You feel amazing. Every inch of you is so soft and perfect.”

“They can feel?”

He laughed. “They can feel. They can also taste, but it is a different translation than my mouth.”

She whimpered as they slipped into her ass. “That’s probably a good thing.”

He kissed her, and she was pulled and pushed, sucked and squeezed. Some of the tendrils gripped her folds and pulled her wide. She gasped as he sank deeper, the heavy band of his knot creeping inward.

Her breathing was rapid, her body hot, her toes curled, and her legs wrapped around his hips. She clawed at his shoulders and whimpered as the push and pull against her clit took her to another orgasm.

She gasped and dug her nails into him as a low, guttural moan rippled through her while her body fluttered around his knot.

He leaned down and pressed a controlled bite to her collarbone. She felt his knot slowly release, and the fluid rushed out. He slowly released her and grinned down at her. “How was the first time as a married couple?”

She looked at him and bit her lip. “I wasn’t paying attention. I think we have to do it again, but can we lose the clothing? I like the feel of you against me.”

He found the fastening of her skirt and then the one for her top. Two minutes of leaning and wiggling while he was inside her and they were both naked except for her new rings and the pearls in her hair.

He started to rock inside her with the anemones still in place, and she cried out. It was the continuation of her wedding night. As he pulled out and moved behind her, pressing her to her belly, the tendrils attached to the new angle.

“You had better not be using the same ones that were in my ass,” she muttered.

He laughed. “Antibacterial secretions, but no, they are off duty until I shower.”

“Is that why everything is slick now?”

He chuckled as he slid into her. “No, sweet. That is all you. You are a slippery little miss.”

He rocked into her, and she clutched at the bedding. Her evening was spent moaning and wailing, and it was the best night of her life.

Chapter Eight

She yawned through breakfast, and Juro laughed at her. “I have never seen a woman look so smug and exhausted at the same time.”

“The smugness is mutual.” Shavore grinned and sipped his coffee. “Just had to make sure she was still pregnant.”

“Ah, stuffing her with cum is going to do the trick?”

Shavore shrugged. “Couldn’t hurt. But, we did need a proper wedding night. Sorry about the bed.”

Juro asked, “What do you say, new cousin?”

She looked at him, covered her mouth, and yawned. “What did you say, cousin?”

He hooted with laughter.

They finished breakfast, and her grandparents came to say farewell with hugs and promises to visit, and then, they exchanged com information. That moment made her so happy.

Shavore’s parents came up, and his father looked at her and nodded. “We understand now. We will smooth things over. As long as you send your sons to the school, everything will be fine.”

He inclined his head to her. His mother hugged her. His grandparents hugged her, and everyone promised to visit by the end of the second trimester.

They returned to their vessel, and their bags were waiting. Their pilot controlled the vessel, and Sabine crawled onto Shavore’s lap and fell asleep. She heard his soft laugh as he stroked her hair slowly.

She smiled and breathed him in for the long travel back to Daycross.

There was someone talking, and she stirred, taking in the rhythmic movements. He was walking. They were back at Daycross.

She touched her mouth, relieved that she hadn’t drooled. “I can walk now.”

“No, you can’t. I have your shoes.”

“Oh.”

“You are going to get some proper sleep, and tomorrow, we are going to a dinner party at Etgar and Vallu’s.”

“Yay.”

He smiled and walked up toward the house. The door was opened for them, and Myura was there, inclining her head. “A meal is prepared for you.”

“Thank you, Myura. The Missus was sleepy. She didn’t get much sleep last night.”

Myura smiled. “Omegas are often sleepy when their alphas are home.”

He carried her into the dining room and sat her down on his lap. Her shoes thudded to the floor next to his chair.

“Here we go, some Hyreno snacks before the chicken casserole.” The housekeeper-cook grinned and set some bowls down.

Sabine looked at one of the bowls with kelp chips. “What are those?”

“They are Sabis kelp. They are extremely popular. A researcher came up with the blend, and as soon as it passed the trial, everybody was eating it.”

Sabine laughed. “That is so funny.”

Myura frowned. “What is?”

Shavore caught on. “Her mother was a food researcher. It isn’t Sabis kelp. It’s Sabi’s kelp. This is Sabi.” He hugged her.

“You are researcher Nekko’s daughter?”

She waved. “One of them. Yes. I helped her source samples after I activated. I lined them up just like my dad did. She hugged me, thanked me, and got back to work.”

“Her death was a great loss to the Hyreno people. She created so many of the easily grown foodstuffs that are everywhere today.”

“Oh, you are Hyreno?”

Myura blushed. “No, I have just researched their foods and the chemical and nutritional requirements of the Hyreno people in preparation for this position.”

“Well, you don’t need to worry about me. I can live on junk food.”

“But you won’t.” Shavore’s voice was stern.

Myura scampered away.

Sabine turned to look at him while nibbling a kelp chip. “But I can.”

“But you won’t. Myura will prepare nutritionally balanced meals, and when the baby is here, we will have a nanny that assists you and takes over keeping the little one fed.”

“Hey, I raised three siblings. I think I can handle my own child.”

He nuzzled her temple. “I am sure you are, but once the child is six months or so, your heat will return, and as you have a long heat, we need someone who can be there for our little one. And you don’t recover swiftly, baby.”

She grumped. “You don’t have to be so accurate.”

He chuckled. “Thank you for seeing logic. The nanny will also be a bodyguard.”

“Great. So, our child has to go away for school?”

“Yes. The Sethir-Nin has a school here on Daycross for little alphas.”

“Why here?”

“There are spontaneous alphas in the world, and Daycross is willing to take them on.” He nuzzled her again. “That young Etgar is a lucky one. His child will be here first and will likely be the first into school.”

“Well, I am five months behind. Sorry. You should have tracked me down earlier. Yeah, I blame you.” She grinned. “If you had done that, I never would have gotten my work injury.”

“Oh, so that’s my fault.”

“Or you could have registered with the BDC like Denier.”

“How do you know he is registered?”

She smiled at him pleasantly, then laughed. “I saw him at the Aksalla resort.”

He sighed in relief. “Right. Don’t give me a heart attack.”

“What? He has very specific requirements. Nothing wrong with that.”

“You know about it?”

“Sure. The other escorts and I did talk. A lot of them were a little nervous about his preference, so we just talked it out with the permission of management.”

“So, it’s a little odd.”

She stroked his cheek. “Oh, honey, not even in your league. You would have had a special handling note on your file.”

He laughed.

Myura brought out the chicken casserole and dished up two servings before setting both servings in front of Shavore. He grinned and forked up the first serving, blowing on it before looking at her seriously. “Open.”

She stared. “You have got to be kidding.”

“Nope. Bonding thing. Now open.”

She examined the morsel and then opened. Around the food, while he took a bite of his food, she asked, “Why is it a bonding thing?”

“It’s for me, not for you. I am getting used to caretaking. My instinct is to take for myself usually, but with you here, I want to take care of you, so I want to let myself reinforce that.”

“Uh, what happens if you don’t?”

“Bad marriage? You won’t thrive, and we both need you to thrive.”

She opened for the next bite, and he smiled. He kissed and cuddled her through the entire meal, and he hand-fed her small berry tarts for dessert.

When she sipped her water, he chuckled. “Ready for your nap?”

“That or to explode all over the walls.” She looked at him ruefully. “My entire time with you has been getting stuff or passing out. I am hoping for a middle ground eventually.”

“You need to build up stamina, Sabine. Don’t worry. I will help you toward that goal.”

“How generous.” She snorted.

“Oh, I can be. An audit is being done on your family’s correspondence with you as well as their financial records. The alpha school is covered for our children, but if you wanted to save up to buy them a car or something, or pursue your own education or interests with the money, you are welcome to do so.”

“Wait. So I am getting the money back?”

“You and your grandparents. It seems your siblings were not particular when it came to parasitic behaviour.”

She sighed and leaned against him, yawning.

“They were the ones that didn’t like your voice, am I correct?”

She nodded. “Yeah. That was it. They said it hurt. Like, physically hurt.”

“When you were learning, it would have, but a siren’s voice is supposed to be heard through a layer of water. Ah, we should get you some more Hyreno ballads to practice.”

She chuckled and yawned again. “I am not going to be doing any public performances soon. Just like I am not going to be playing with water again. It’s draining.”

“It makes you tired?”

“Very. I think part of it is emotional. My parents would have been so proud. My mother was so proud. So, after I do my water thing, I think of her, and it makes me sad.”

He hugged her. “That is understandable. You did the foraging for your mother?”

“Yeah, out from the capitol to the Reyside breakers. That is where I found that stand of kelp. It has a delightfully neutral flavour. My mom made it taste like nacho chips, and I was so happy. I had to stay down there for hours until I found the right thing.”

He paused. “How did you stay down there for hours?”

“Um, an air pocket and splitting the water into oxygen and hydrogen? I wear it like a glove. It extends just past my nose.”

“So, you can breathe underwater?”

“Sort of. Not like you do. I can’t do it with my body. I have to do it before it gets to me.” She shrugged. “I have to be calm and keep part of my mind doing that while I work.”

“So, I don’t have to breathe for you?”

“Not if I know we are going down first. If it’s a surprise, yes. It takes a bit to remember how to do it every time. It is not a natural process.”

He relaxed. “That is a load off, but I do like breathing for you.”

“A bonding thing?”

“No, I just like holding you.”

She laughed, and he kissed her, stroking small circles on her mark. She felt tightening, throbbing and whined against his lips. “Installing a hotkey wasn’t fair.”

“Against a woman like you, I will use all possible advantages.”

She pressed against him, and as he continued to rub, she whined softly again, then muttered, “Those noises are unsettling.”

“I like them. They tell me when you want, what you need, and when you have spun away from the world.”

Sabine sighed. “Right now, I need to be in bed.”

He got to his feet and carried her back to the bedroom.

“Not the nest?” She stood while he removed her Hyreno clothing.

“You can nest when I am not with you or when you need comfort.”

She chuckled. “So, I have to turn to you when you are here?”

“Absolutely.” He finished setting her clothes aside and went to work on his.

She settled on the bed and edged a knee up, and watched all of the green skin appear with the intricate striping around his groin.

He smiled, held her down, and slowly slid into her, her body already on its way to being slick for him. This was her favourite position. He could reach everything, he went so deep, and she felt covered and protected.

She flexed her fingers in the bedding, and he flexed his over hers.

It was a while before she got her nap.

Vallu smiled at her. “You look exhausted.”

“I can’t seem to get a nap in without something big and green joining me.”

“At least yours doesn’t shed.”

They giggled together and continued their walk through the gardens. Sabine was wearing a Sethir-Nin gown, which was two long panels of cloth attached at the shoulder and under the arm to the knee. Strands of pearls connected from shoulder to shoulder and swung down to her abdomen. It was extremely comfortable but draped low in the back to show off her mark.

“So, how are you adapting? Ylara is nervous about seeing you again since she got you stuck in this.”

“It’s fine. I think I am creeping toward happy. I just wish there were more opportunities to do what I am good at.”

“Etgar has an idea about that.” Vallu linked arms with her. “How would you like to be a coastguard commander?”

“Really? Oh, Shavore will hate that.”

“I don’t know, he might—”

Roaring and growling were coming from the house.

Sabine started walking. “I think he just brought it up.”

She paused outside the house and turned on a faucet.

With water coursing for her, she walked behind Vallu and saw a destroyed dining room and two angry alphas. She whistled sharply and beckoned to Shavore. He was considerably bigger than normal, his neck and shoulders had become one, and his lips were peeled back to flash his teeth. His clothing had split along seamlines.

Sabine walked closer to him and beckoned him close. She rubbed her cheek against his chest and sang softly. He grunted and pulled back. “No. He wants to put you in danger.” His words were surprisingly clear through the shark’s teeth.

“The coastguard thing? I like the idea. I get called out for abnormalities, and I am sure that the guards you have stuck me with wouldn’t mind doing something that involved thumping heads.”

He growled.

“If someone can’t sneak up behind me, I am in no danger. All I need is someone to watch my back.” She stroked his chest, and he grunted and tried to stay mad. She kissed his pectorals and stroked him softly.

He touched her hair, and then, his rough finger stroked her mark.

Astonished, she looked up at him. “Are you hitting on me?”

He nodded.

“Now?” She glanced back, and Vallu was nuzzling with a massive Etgar.

“Vallu, guestroom?”

“Main floor. Gold door.”

Sabine stepped back and pulled her cranky mate into the room to blow off some steam. Yeah. Steam. He seemed to know what she wanted and tucked a pillow between his feet before she knelt.

She paused and took her dress off before leaning forward to open his strained trousers. When his cock thudded into her palm, she summoned the water from outside and worked his shaft with that while her mouth played at the tip.

It took her less than three minutes to coax his climax, and as she tried to take it all, she was very happy about removing her dress. She sent the water back outside after she cleaned herself up and looked up at him. His belly flexed as he breathed, but he was back to his standard size.

The howl that sounded showed that it had taken Vallu a little longer than her friend. But they went upstairs. Travel time.

Sabine used his legs to push herself up. “Are we calm now?”

“Yes, are you going to do that every time I expand?”

She looked at the calculated look in his eyes and grinned. “No.”

He chuckled. “So, you caught that.”

“Hard to miss. Your cock started to swell again, and the fronds nearest waved happily.” She squinted down. “I think they high-fived.”

“So, you can use water for anything?”

“You mean hand jobs? Yeah. You are kind of wide. No way my mouth was getting further than it did.”

“How did you know to do that?”

“I told you, ladies talk. How to subdue an alpha as efficiently as possible, so there are no hurt feelings. We took a class in it.”

He paused. “I hadn’t thought of that. You took classes?”

“Sure. That is part of the entire thing regarding becoming an escort for the BDC. We need to know how to handle all situations.”

She got back to her feet and reached for her dress. He grabbed her arms and pulled her onto his lap. He smiled, “I look forward to learning all the tips and tricks you have picked up. You need to practice. You need to keep those skills up.”

She chuckled as he pressed against her lacy underwear. He carefully linked her wrists behind her back and nuzzled at her neck.

“Um, this isn’t letting me practice.”

“I feel that I should practice having a sweet little omega for my own. You put up with my teeth and have seen me get irritated, so I think I should give you consideration.”

She mewled as he licked and nibbled at her neck. He started to bulk up as he worked at her, and she realized it was completely voluntary. “You can do and undo it anytime you want.”

He chuckled. “See? You are learning.”

She felt like she had walked into a trap, but she wasn’t upset about it.

She was a little unsteady on her feet as they returned to the dining room, where the staff had already replaced the broken table and chairs. Sabine wondered if there was a storage container nearby with the extra antiques. No one in the household looked upset.

Vallu was a little ruffled but otherwise elegant as always. She was sitting on a settee next to Etgar, and they were forehead to forehead with their hands on Vallu’s belly.

Vallu looked at them. “You look pristine, Sabine. He looks... big.”

Sabine snorted. “Shavore, pull it in.”

“Ah, apologies.” He shrank to his normal just-under-seven feet in height. He touched his com, and there was a flash. “Replacement clothing will be here shortly.”

Sabine smiled. “So, is the evening over?”

Etgar shrugged. “Why? He feels strongly about your becoming the primary member of Daycross’s first team.”

She looked at her husband. “Is that the problem?”

He grunted. “It’s dangerous.”

“Being an escort was dangerous. Working at the port was dangerous. If I have local laws written down and Etgar will back me up and someone can watch my back, I am fine.”

Etgar smiled. “We do have a local charter.”

Their driver came in with a garment bag. Shavore took it and looked at her. “This isn’t over.”

She rolled her eyes as he took a few minutes to change, and in that time, she asked Vallu for a few separate items from the kitchen.

When he came back, there was a pile of melons on the table. “So, Shavore, you are worried about me in combat? Is it because of my work injury?”

“Yes. You were nearly killed.”

“Um. There were two attackers. One kept me busy upfront, and the other crept around the back. That is why I harp on my back being covered.”

“What happened to the first attacker?” He scowled.

She held her hand out toward the melons, and every other melon turned to dust while she held the water in a growing orb at the end of her fingertips. “This. I am very precise, which is why I only did every other melon. I have eight defensive deaths on my record at the port. That is why all the cameras.”

He stared at the floating ball of water. “You did that to living beings?”

“I did.”

“You didn’t do it to me.” He was smiling.

“I didn’t.”

“You liked me when you saw me.” He nudged her with his hip.

Vallu and Etgar were laughing.

She flicked her fingers, and the water splashed on his face. “Maybe. You do look good in a tux.”

He was dripping wet but still grinning. “You wanted me.”

She pulled the water up and sent it high through the kitchen and out the back window. He was dry and still grinning.

He pulled her against him. “You wanted me.”

She snorted. “You have said that.”

He leaned in and whispered against her lips, “But you wanted me.”

“Yes. And now, I have you, and I have to live with that lapse in judgment.”

He kissed her, and she heard Vallu and Etgar laughing. Her stomach growled. He lifted his head. “It seems you need to be fed again. I thought your belly was full.”

She blushed. “Yes, well, parts of my appetites know no bounds. The part that likes squash soup, roast chicken, and pavlova is definitely ravenous.”

Vallu chuckled. “And with that hint, dinner is served.”

Sabine squawked when she was hauled onto Shavore’s lap, but Etgar did the same with Vallu, and dinner was served.

It wasn’t the weirdest meal she had ever had, but it took a while because Etgar was even more careful with Vallu than Shavore was with Sabine.

When they finished working out stipulations, Shavore just acknowledged that she could become the first member of the Daycross team. She was only going to have four months of active service until she was showing, and then, she would have to step back until the baby was six months old and take time off for her next heat. She would barely be on duty for one hundred days. Fine. She would take it. She would make it the most notable hundred days that she could.

She patted her belly where the speck was starting. This kid would have a mom they could be proud of, just like she had.

Author’s Note

Okay, so here is the first book from The Wedding Hunt—Sabine. The next book is The Wedding Hunt—Brittany, followed by the one that freaked out and started it all. The Wedding Hunt—Ylara. I was going to try to wedge them all into one book... but it didn’t work out that way.

Thanks for reading,

Viola Grace

About the Author

Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, keeps her writing.

An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around, and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.

In real life, she is now engaged in beekeeping, and her adventures can be found on the YouTube channel, Mystery Bees Apiary. Just look for the cartoon kittens.