Chapter Five #2
Hara was fascinated by the fabric of Rache’s shirt. “Oh, wow. This is amazing.” She looked to the elf. “Can I get one?”
The woman smiled. “Certainly, Lady Haravin. I can probably find one before the porters take off, if you like.”
“Yes. Absofuckinglutely.”
The elf smiled and walked to the transport, quickly diving into a box and coming out with a length of soft gold in her arms.
She walked back to Haravin. “Here you are. Let me know if it needs alterations. I don’t sleep much, so I can do them tonight.”
Haravin was purring and rubbing the fabric against her cheek.
Narro cleared his throat.
“What? Oh. Ladies, this is Narro. He’s a dark elf. Narro, this is Rache, my friend, Eden, also a dance buddy, and my newest bestie, Moira. This feels amazing.”
“Thanks. I had the fabric made up specifically for tactile fixation.” She grinned. “I have some daily-wear designs, but I have heard that Mickey had snagged a bunch of Elite designs from her time at the Stronghold and wanted to know if she wanted to team up.”
A loud feminine voice called out, “Fuck yeah!”
Moira laughed and turned to watch the elf with the chest markings coming toward her.
Mickey smiled. “We need to talk.”
“Cool. At the shop or my grandma’s place?”
“At the shop. Wait. Your grandma’s place?”
“Yeah. We have met before, Mix.” She held up her phone of their beta selves holding each other and laughing.
“Mimi?” She shrieked and spun her around. When she set her down, she said, “Oh, I love this fabric.”
Moira laughed and turned to Hara and her friends. “Ladies, I have to get organized. I am sure that Narro and Haravin will help you settle in. If not, tell folks you are looking for Mickey’s shadow or Mimi. They will find me.”
Hara watched as the shy woman got more upright and graceful as she spoke. “Right. I’ve got them. You and Mickey go wreak destruction. I think you two are dynamite in a bottle.”
Moira laughed, and they sprinted past the transport with all the bolts and boxes and charged to the location of the new shop. Mickey was right next to her.
Narro blinked. “Wow. It’s a good thing their alphas aren’t here. That would lead to a riot.”
Eden asked, “What?”
“Laughter and running. It would make them want to join in, and... participate.”
Eden blinked. “Oh. Right.”
Aeryn chuckled. “I think you are underselling their self-control.”
“Why?”
“Because there are a whole bunch of very dark elves over there, and only two are staring after Moira. The other three are focused on my companions.”
Eden and Rache turned and stared at the men with dark skin, black hair, and dark eyes. Rache blinked. Xeti and Terus were positively lithe compared to the other three. The one looking at Eden was broad but at ease with it.
Hara blinked. “Yikes. I thought Kekoa was bad, being a giant statue. Where are those guys from?”
Narro laughed. “Another world and another time.”
She looked at him and blushed. “Oh. Right.”
He hugged her. “Come on, let’s put that new dress on you. I confess to curiosity. Ladies, please come with us.”
She laughed, and they made their way into the afternoon bustle of the port town of the Wonder Islands.
It was the only island suited to receive larger vessel traffic and still have a place for folks to disembark.
Cruise ships didn’t arrive at Wonder. There wasn’t enough room for more than a few hundred visitors at a time.
Haravin held the dress in her hands. She was eager to see it on, and the first place with a change room was Ahheel’s. This was going to be fun.
* * * *
MINUTIA WATCHED HARAVIN come into the shop, and she smiled. “Hiya, Ahheel is out grabbing a snack.”
Haravin smiled. “I just wanted to borrow the change room. Kekoa has gotten weirdly possessive about casual nudity since I passed month seven.”
“Oh, go ahead. Um, who are your friends? Well, I know Aeryn. What is that dress? It is gorgeous.”
“And so comfy. Here. Have a feel.” Aeryn extended her arm.
Mini grinned and looked at the others. “Hello, I am Minutia or Mini. My mates are Ahheel, the alpha who owns this shop, and Exeter, who has an affinity for blue whales.”
“Oh, I am Rache, a waking Elite omega, and this is Eden, who has been in service to her brother for years and is finally free.”
Mini smiled. “Thank you for the description. My imagination is already galloping along. I am a writer, and Ahheel set a desk up for me so that she can fuss over me all day.”
Hara’s laugh came from behind the screen. “She never expected a beta. Mini definitely didn’t expect to find two alphas while she was out here on a bachelorette for her sister-in-law.”
Mini snorted and touched the fabric. “This is lovely. Where did you get it?”
Eden smiled. “You will probably meet her soon. She’s setting up a dress shop somewhere nearby.”
“On Wonder?”
Rache chuckled. “Yes. She came to run away from the fact that she’s a giant elf who can’t go back to beta. I am here because I wanted a vacation, and I just found my mates, but those buggers got here first, so now I get to play dodgeball for a few weeks.” She paused. “Well dodgeballs.”
Mini snorted. “I could see how that would be tricky.”
Eden smiled. “You found love on vacation?”
“Um, they found my tattoo on vacation. Flowers and a blue whale. I am one of the marked betas. Haravin’s marking is a little more obvious.”
“Ha! Oh, I like this. I really like this.” Haravin came out wearing the gold dress, and it clung to every inch of her, outlining her belly and thighs with a short bodice that gave her breasts a very decorous look.
Narro cleared his throat. “You look like an icon of motherhood.”
“Aw, you say the sweetest things.” She smiled. “I love this. It feels like I am naked, but the mirrors tell me I am definitely clothed.”
Narro chuckled. “You look clothed but also like naked is a second away.”
Eden said softly, “If you like, I can arrange your hair to flatter your dress.”
“Please.”
Mini watched as Eden walked behind Haravin, and she ran her fingers through her hair, except for the twist. Eden piled the hair on top, and her fingers made a twisting motion. The curl cascade went over Haravin’s shoulder and rested on her breast before bouncing down to elbow length.
Eden pulled her hands away. “There. What do you think? It will hold until you get it wet.”
Haravin smiled. “It’s gorgeous. Thank you. How did you...”
“Magic bleeds out of me. I can use it to do hair.” She chuckled.
Aeryn smiled. “She tried to do mine on the boat, but Loken likes it straight so he can wrap it around his fist easily.”
Hara laughed. “I hadn’t pegged him for that.”
“We have discussed pegging, but we aren’t up to that point yet.”
Narro covered his mouth to laugh. Mini could only stand there with her eyes wide open.
Of course, Ahheel chose that moment to come back with some takeout boxes. “Mini? What’s going on?”
“Um, the royal beta had need of the change room. Doesn’t she look gorgeous?”
Ahheel stared, and Mini saw the flare of lust. “Um, yes. Gorgeous, but nothing compared to you, treasure.”
Mini snorted. “She is almost twice the woman I am. You definitely are. I don’t have a problem with it. Without variety of the female form, I wouldn’t be me, and you wouldn’t be you, pookie.”
The crushing hug came next. “I love you so much, Mini!”
Mini stroked Ahheel’s arms. “I know, babydoll.”
Ahheel giggled and pressed her forehead to Mini’s. They kissed, and then Ahheel lifted her head and said, “Haravin, where did you get that dress?”
“A friend made it. Isn’t it lovely?” Haravin turned from side to side. “It feels like the cheek of an omega.”
Ahheel walked toward her. “May I?”
Haravin leaned forward and let the shopkeeper stroke the fabric of the split sleeve.
“Okay. I can totally sell that.”
Aeryn chuckled. “I think Moira is hoping that you would say that. The crafting is a compulsion for her right now, but Mimi just wants to live quietly for as long as she can.”
Ahheel blinked. “Mimi? About this tall, brown hair and eyes?” She held her hand out at her shoulder height.
Aeryn nodded. “She was. Now she is Mimi or Moira.” She raised her hand to a few inches above her own head. “Pointy ears, all white with gold or red eyes, depending on her mood.”
Ahheel whistled. “I would not have guessed she was an elf.”
Rache said, “Neither did we, and yet, here we are. On vacation on a quiet island.”
Mini snorted. “That’s what you think. We are about to have a free-running competition. Alphas are coming in from everywhere to run around the island collecting icons.”
Eden sighed. “Well, fuck.”
Rache laughed. “Maybe we can convince the guys to participate and sneak away when they aren’t looking.”
Mini looked toward the door, where a group of dark men were listening. “Can I help you?”
One of them said softly, “Just listening for their plan of action.”
Rache turned slowly and said, “Oh, hiya Xeti, Terus. Who’s manning the club?”
“We have employees for a reason, Rache.”
“Oh. Right. Well, I am here on vacation because I have never committed to one before. I am not going anywhere.” She crossed her arms and glared at him.
Eden chuckled. “I think we should check into our cottage.”
Aeryn nodded. “Good idea. You can come back here and get a cuff if you want to try anyone on for... I was going to say size, but never mind.”
A broad, quiet man stepped forward and walked up to Eden. “I would be happy to escort you anywhere you wish to go. On this island or elsewhere.”
“Um, thank you? But I don’t know you.”
“My name is Krossos, and I am at your disposal. And your companion as well.”
Rache smiled. “Thank you, but we don’t even know where we are going.”
“We arrived early to scout out things and be of use. Please allow me to show you to your cottage.”
Aeryn grinned. “I shoved both my guys overboard so we could have some girl time. They have hit the shore, so that time is coming to an end anyway. I will catch up with you later. Go have fun.”
Ahheel looked worried. “Loken had better have control of himself. He’s too big to shift in here.”
Rache asked, “What is he?”
“T. rex. Sokar is just a poisonous island. He doesn’t shift on land.” Aeryn smiled casually.
Haravin chuckled. “If we send you an invitation to the palace, will you come for dinner?”
Rache smiled. “Yes. Absolutely. We will bring Moira as well.”
“Oh, yeah, please. Kekoa is fascinated by the new elves.” Haravin smiled at Narro. “It’s the only reason he accepted Narro. Well, that and I would have died without him. That would have blown his dynastic plans.” She patted her belly.
Rache blinked. “I would love to hear that story.”
“As soon as our omega drags Kekoa off, I will tell you. He hates that story. He’s the villain.”
Narro chuckled. “And I got to be the gallant hero arriving just in time to save the fair lady.”
Haravin smirked. “We just won’t mention how.”
He laughed and hugged her. “Come on, my lady. I think you need a nap.”
“You need to stop checking on my emotional state.”
He chuckled and had her previous clothing over one arm. “Never. Let’s go, my lady. I will rub your feet and tell you stories about horny elves who prey on heavily pregnant women.”
Haravin pinked. “I think I know that story.” She linked her arm with his. “Tell it again.”
He laughed, and they walked out of the shop, past the men who were waiting for their ladies.
Mini knew the story of Haravin and the blocked mark.
She had already used it in a book. Well, a version of it.
She wanted to interview the dark elves. They all had different stories.
Some had lived through time the long way, others escaped, and the rest were set free and thrown back in time.
They all had different stories, and she wanted to hear them, analyze them, and turn them around to weave into her stories.
It was greedy, but she could only write so much about Ahheel and Exeter.
They tended to read over her shoulder and then make her stop for inspiration breaks.
Ahheel laughed when Loken walked in, picked Aeryn up, and walked out with his mate in his arms. “Sokar didn’t want to put pants on.”
Aeryn roared with laughter as she was taken back to the launch.
Ahheel looked at Mini. “They really need to buy a place in the islands.”
“I think they are buying something on Breakridge.”
“Good. It will be nice being able to go over to see the baby.”
“Speaking of... any signs yet?” Ahheel stroked her waist and hip.
“No, but Exeter is really trying.” Mini blushed furiously. “You two will probably figure it out before I do.”
“Probably, but we will be very excited by an announcement.” Ahheel smiled. “We will do all kinds of celebrating.”
“That’s what is making me a little wary. You two celebrate hard.”
Ahheel smiled. “You have two alphas, my little darling. It is what we do.”