Chapter Four #2
Dex paused. “She mentioned it being something my family was supposed to do. That won’t really be a thing, so I am just going to find something and get chewed out later.”
Etienne frowned, and then understanding hit. “Your brothers are omegas.”
“Yup.”
“What about Wizard?”
“I am not taking anything from her. Dad screwed her over.”
“He also tried to kill you, and she showed up when you needed her.”
“I hate asking her for things. I will figure it out.”
Etienne smiled. “We will figure it out.”
She wrinkled her nose, and he grinned and then kissed her slowly. When his lips were an inch from hers, he whispered, “Get used to it.”
She tried to meet his gaze, but her eyes crossed. “No.”
He chuckled. “Did you want to see a therapist?”
She opened and then closed her mouth. “That might not be a bad idea. My PTSD is extreme.”
He nodded. “Rightfully so. It is best that you address it now.”
“Like, right now?”
“Not today. By the way, that will be covered by our pack. It is part of maintenance.”
“Oh, so I am on your insurance?”
He nodded. “The moment we sign the contract and I forward them a copy.”
“Oh. Got it.”
They resumed kissing, and the vehicle turned and slowed. Tosh said, “Home.”
He got out, Etienne got out, and then she scooted across the seat and ended up in Tosh’s arms.
She was carried into the house and muttered, “This is embarrassing.”
“No one to see it but you and me and Etienne.”
She wrinkled her nose and leaned her head against his shoulder as they headed up the stairs.
Etienne flicked on the light, and to Dex’s senses, things started to move in slow motion.
Her new clothing was removed slowly, and it fluttered to the floor. Tosh knelt and took off her shoes, setting her clothing carefully to one side.
She sat on the edge of the bed and looked at Etienne. He was unbuckling his belt when her phone went off.
Dex found her phone and answered. “Hello?”
“Dex? This is Arwell. Your stuff is in the bedroom that is fourth on the left.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“We will talk soon. Have a nice evening.”
“Bye, Arwell.”
There was a soft laugh, and the call ended.
She turned her phone off and set it down. She looked at Etienne. “My friend transported all of my belongings here. I am gonna go look.”
She untwisted her hair as she walked and tried to get the feeling that this would be her home. When she got to the room, a half-naked Etienne was behind her. He said, “Good room to choose. It hasn’t been renovated yet.”
They opened the door, and a neat arrangement of boxes was tucked against one wall. Etienne said, “That’s it?”
“Yes. She even labelled the boxes.”
“Who did it?”
“Arwell Breaker. She’s a friend. She also played decoy.” She touched her boxes and felt the light vibration. She grinned. “I even got a moving gift from my other friend.”
She grinned and patted the box. This house would be safe, and any child she brought to it would be protected. It was a good way to start.
Etienne put a hand on her shoulder. “It will be safe here.”
“Yes, I know.” She smiled and looked at the box with the orb of protection in the centre.
Tosh came in and blinked. “Whoa. I have felt that once before, and it was a ward set by the imperial wizard.”
“Well, she isn’t imperial, but she’s pretty damned skilled.”
Etienne frowned. “It’s like standing near a warm fire. Comforting.”
Tosh said, “It feels like standing near a nuclear weapon that is leaking slightly. That leak is intentional, allowing for a rapid release of whatever is inside it. What is inside it?”
Dex smiled. “Protection for this house and the lives within it. All who belong to this house are protected. If we move, the protection goes with us.”
Etienne frowned. “How?”
“It’s another orb but a smaller one. Did you want me to dig it out?”
Tosh said quietly, “Yes.”
She moved the boxes and found the one that made her smile. Dex peeled the tape and opened her box with her favourite robe and super-soft bath towels.
There was a tiny figure of a ballerina elf, and it was glowing softly. There was a note that said, Put me in the wall.
Dex turned it over. There is another one that isn’t magic under the blue towel.
Dex laughed and picked it up, showed it to her link, and then walked to a bearing wall and pushed the little elf ballerina inside. The house hummed and then was quiet.
It felt safe. With that tiny figure in the wall, the house felt like it would defend her against all comers. Dex smiled. “That feels good. It feels safe.”
Tosh held his hand out to her and pulled her against him. “I am very glad.”
Etienne nodded. “I agree.”
She was walked to the pack bedroom, and the rest of their clothing came off. From that moment on, it was all about learning each other and not flinching when a hand reached over her.
They were true to their word; they did all the work, but after she was sweaty, sticky, and pinned between them, she decided it was time for fun. She rolled Etienne to his back and took advantage of her mate. When she moved over to Tosh, they experimented with how flexible dance had made them.
Etienne was grinning and presented them with bottles of water. “That was like watching spider courtship.”
She was sitting on Tosh, and her legs were draped over his arms. There wasn’t even room for a thought between them.
Tosh asked her a question, whispering against her ear.
“Oh, um, three months ago. I have some time.”
Etienne smiled. “Good. I like the idea of settling first. We can also do the society thing that my parents demand. Mom is going to cover you in soft, shiny gowns at every opportunity.”
She got nervous. “She doesn’t have to.”
“She wants to. She really fucking wants to. She wanted a houseful of kids, but she and Dad only had me. She wanted a little girl so bad she could taste it. It would have been a diamond ballerina.” He looked at them and laughed. “Are you stuck?”
She flexed her feet over Tosh’s arms. “My feet went numb.”
Tosh chuckled. “And she’s so tight around me because of the position, my knot isn’t going anywhere.”
Etienne laughed and helped get Dex into a friendlier position that didn’t pull her sex tight around Tosh. She was kneeling on him and leaning to press against his chest. She exhaled. “Oh, that feels less tense.”
Etienne cackled. “I think I am more fully understanding why alphas mating in plural situations makes sense. It’s just safer for the omega.” He stroked her back slowly.
She relaxed and breathed slowly again, and then Tosh came loose in a rush. She eased up on him so she couldn’t be caught again.
Tosh kissed her. “We might want to keep the acrobatics to the barre.”
“Good plan.” She returned the kiss and then leaned over to be caught by Etienne. “Thank you, my gallant rescuer.”
Tosh said, “Thanks for the assist. I would have been willing to amputate if she were in pain, but she wasn’t, so this was the easiest means.”
Etienne smiled and stroked her back. “Shower and a nap?”
“Um, I am unladylike in that I am interested in food before anything else.”
Tosh lunged over and checked his phone. “We have been playing for about four hours, so yeah, it’s time for food.”
Etienne sighed. “I could feast on her forever.”
Dex looked at him with wide eyes. “But then there wouldn’t be anything left of me, dumbass.”
He grinned. “Oh, there you are. I had wondered where you were, you weird, little cobbler elf.”
Dex felt her eyes go wide. “Oh, wow. The elves and the shoemaker.”
Tosh chuckled. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
Etienne smiled. “Every time I have seen her muttering over shoes, that fairy tale has been in my mind.”
They got up and headed to the shower. She took turns leaning on them while they took care of her.
She was wrapped in her own soft robe when they went downstairs, and Etienne’s phone was used for the food order as he actually knew the address.
They took turns cuddling with her and set up a picnic area in the living room. Dinner was fun, and they talked about their histories and hopes for the future.
Dex grinned. “Does anyone think it’s weird that we are discussing this after?”
Etienne chuckled. “It is happening when it should.”
Tosh sighed. “I am sorry about your family.”
“Those that need to be safe are safe, including me.”
Tosh hugged her.
Etienne’s expression turned grim. “I am glad you feel that way. You have every right to be outraged at me for rejecting you.”
“Well, we weren’t mates. You were just a snobby asshole. You still have to power clean my workstation and anywhere else you fucked around just to teach me my place.”
He winced. “Right. First thing tomorrow.”
She smirked. “You are the main reason that I wear a mask in there. Oh, do you have any casually acquired kids?”
He blinked. “No. I am serious about protection.”
She looked at him in surprise. “I am dealing with something that begs to differ.”
He looked at her face and then her thighs and back again. “You are different. You are a partner, a link, a mate, not just temporary.”
Tosh added to the moment. “An omega like this you have to feed every day.”
She turned her head around to stare at him. “What are you going to feed me?”
He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her back against him with a hand on her belly. “Whatever I can get in you.”
“That is both intriguing and gross.”
Tosh chuckled. “Part of my charm.”
Her elbow caught him in the ribs, and Etienne chuckled. His head lifted, and he walked to the door wearing sweats.
He returned with three bags, settled down, and then handed out the food as per orders.
Dex looked between the two of them and felt a tension ease. They would be with her during the court proceedings, and after that, they might join her in a heat. That would be fun. She hadn’t shared one before.