Chapter Seven
J ennika smiled at the breakfast that Vine had laid out. “What is all this?”
“Xiroth and Xao are coming for breakfast. Xletl is coming for dinner, and I have already started the slow-roasted ribs. Pull them out at one, and put them in the fridge. I will grill them for dinner, or if I drown, ask Xiroth to finish them on the grill.”
“Drown?”
“That is what I will be doing with Kazuya. His other form is ocean-based. So, I am going swimming this morning. I already ate just in case the one-hour rule is an actual thing.”
Jennika stared at her. “You are actually going?”
“Despite what folks rumour about, I don’t like pain. I pulled my courage together five months ago, and it didn’t pan out. This time, he doesn’t promise a cure but a slow treatment. I can work with that.” She shrugged. “The worst thing is that I go swimming. I used to like swimming.”
Jennika was face-first in a waffle with strawberries and cream. Her tea was standing by. “This is amazing.”
“Yeah. Well, I didn’t sleep. All I could think about was waffles.”
“You were outgoing last night.”
“Well, I have met more of our people. It makes me cocky and gives me ideas for more enchantments. Tuvel needs better sound filters. She’s getting more confident, and it takes a toll on her filters.”
“Uh-huh. So, we didn’t talk about it last night, but you and Win were talking about something, and I think it deserves to be discussed.”
“Oh. I ended up in the shadow realm. The shadow mages were attracted to power in pain. They pulled me from the garage floor and into their realm. Moving broken limbs to make room was painful, but I didn’t even notice the assault for a while.
I was told about it when I was back in the emergency room.
After they left me, I screamed for help, and the vines came.
They wrapped around me, protected me, and helped me move.
I found their archive, and the wood of the building welcomed me and hid me when they came looking.
I read their magic texts and learned what I could, which, it turns out, was quite a lot.
When I could make a portal, I went home, put myself outside the locked garage where they had left me, started the car, and tried to remember how driving worked, but the car took over and drove to the police department for me.
I loosened the vines around me and screamed in the parking lot until they came to get me.
” She shrugged. “I learned about the assaults after the fact. When you are in that much pain, it all blurs together.”
“And there were no effects?”
“No. Thankfully. I wasn’t in heat, so it didn’t take. That would not have been great.”
Jennika looked at her and sighed. “That would not have been great. I have seen photos.”
“Yeah?”
“You were small, even for an omega.”
“Yup.” She held up a hand. “The shadow mages who hurt me met the vines. They can get in anywhere and just break things apart, you know. Strong and determined for something that is made of delicate materials. It can still kill, despite its life starting as a delicate little shoot that drops and then climbs again.”
“Which is why you chose it as a name.”
“It’s my legal name now. Vine Lane.”
“What about Apricot?”
“My colour at birth. They thought it was cute.”
Jennika rubbed her bump.
“Don’t worry. He’s going to be human-coloured until he’s an adult.”
Jennika exhaled. “Oh, thanks for that. I didn’t want to insult Xiroth by asking. The wings, too?”
“If he gets them, he will have them around thirty.”
“Nice. What are you thinking for names?” Jennika laughed.
Vine checked her phone for her car service’s arrival. “If he looks like his father? Xerox.”
Jennika laughed, they hugged, and Vine headed out to her car. “Call me if you need me for anything; Kazuya’s number is on my fridge.”
Jenn said, “So, this is business.”
“It has to be because I don’t know what pleasure feels like. Is it like a warm hug? I have started letting people hug me, and it’s nice.”
“It starts as a nervous feeling, and then it gets warm all over, right to the soles of your feet, and from there... it varies.”
“Ah. Thanks for that vague description. And here I told you your baby would look normal. You are mean.”
Jenn blinked. “It actually varies. Just like physiology. Some guys are bigger, some smaller, and some pay attention while others don’t.”
Vine felt understanding hit her. “Oh, right. Different.”
Her phone chimed, and Vine huffed. “See you later. Leave the ribs alone until this afternoon. I am hoping to be back by then.”
Jenn finished her waffles and nibbled at the grilled turkey bacon. “Give him Sable’s number in case you need anything. She still has your tracker and the portal charm.”
Vine smiled. “Get Ivy in on that if necessary for accuracy.”
Jenn blinked. “Right.”
Ivy wandered in sleepily. “Have fun with the squid.”
“I think he is more octopus. See you.” Vine waved and headed to the car that waited for her.
Time to see if she could heal and accept help. She had a problem with both.
The specific architecture let her know she was in the right place. The car pulled into a long drive and up to a house that looked like it was from a Japanese historical drama.
She double-checked the address and slowly got ready to exit the car when the door was opened for her. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “No problem, miss.”
She stepped out and balanced for a moment before walking toward the building. She was right on time and slowly stepped up to the raised walkway. The door slid open at her approach, and Kazuya’s assistant was there, looking very nervous.
“If you are going to tell me I don’t have an appointment again, I am going to hurt you. A lot.”
He bowed low. “I am so sorry for the inconvenience that I caused you. I am desperate to make amends.”
She cocked her head. “Are you really?”
“I am. Lord Kazuya explained that I had done damage. I wish to make amends.”
“Huh. Bring me a pebble.”
“What?”
She walked in and kicked off her shoes. “Bring me a pebble. Any kind of pebble.” Vine looked at him. “Now.”
He scrambled and did as she said. She stepped inside and leaned on a pillar that was set up for a sculpture. He returned in a minute and put three stones in her palm.
She chuckled, “Oh, you don’t want me to do all three.
” She took a white stone and put the other two on the pillar.
“Right. I am loading this stone with about thirty percent of my pain when I move suddenly. I don’t want to cripple you.
So, you will carry this with you for one hundred fifty days.
That is the time between my original appointment and now.
So if you are apologetic, take the pain. ”
Kazuya had come in and froze.
“This stone is going to fuse to you and remain there until the time is up, or you accept that not everyone is trying to get into Kazuya’s pants.”
She held out the stone that was now shining and shimmering. “Take it, and I will forgive you.”
The assistant blinked and slowly extended his palm.
“You have to take it. It’s pain. You have to accept it, or you can’t learn to move through it.” She smiled. “It isn’t that bad, is it? I mean, you were willing to relegate me to it to get in something pretty and hot, is my guess.”
He flushed and snatched the pebble.
The stone flashed, and the energy wrapped around him.
He braced then smiled and bowed.
Vine watched as the flexing of back, buttock, and thigh muscles caused his body to scream. He screamed as well.
She crouched. “Only five months to go. Don’t worry. You will get used to it, and it will minimize when you are around Kazuya.”
Kazuya looked at her. “Only thirty percent?”
“Yes. Like most men, he has limited stamina and minimal resistance to pain.”
The assistant looked at her from his kneeling position. “How are you managing to move?”
“Practice. Now, just so you know what you are feeling, an alpha pinned me down with weight and drove back and forth over my legs when I was a child. I received no help for weeks, and the breaks and scarred skin are still there. It hurts to move; it hurts to breathe. I used to swim, but that was taken away from me as well when no further benefit could be gained.”
Kazuya smiled. “I am glad to know you can swim.”
“So am I. Shall we discuss what you were going to attempt with me?”
He nodded. “This way, please.”
She walked after him and turned back to say, “Use your arms. Push up and hold the weight up. When you can, start doing squats. The endorphins help with the pain. Medication just builds up in your system, and the constipation is incredible.”
Kazuya chuckled. “So are you really going to leave him like that?”
“One hundred fifty days or he accepts that not everyone is after your dick.”
“He... ah.”
“Yeah. He’s trying to curate your love life. I guess it makes him taller or something. I know he’s an enhanced alpha, but I don’t know what he is.”
“Ah, he’s an oni. They are infamous for their obsession with the female form.”
“Right.”
“Well, first, we get you changed into a light robe, and I will fully see what needs to be done.”
“Okay. Lead the way. Your assistant will be fine. He can crawl and get himself some tea or coffee. We all have to learn somehow.”
He walked through the halls, then they were out and facing the mountain with a lake so deep that the bottom was invisible.
She shivered. “That looks cold.”
He smiled. “It can be. Now it is cool.”
“Well, I am going to be missing an opportunity to cut glass today, but that is a crafter’s lament.”
He chuckled. “Have you scrubbed before bathing before?”
“Yes. At your spa.”
“Good. I will help you here. It will assist with the complete exam.”
“Delightful. Don’t scream, and don’t cry. Also, don’t look like you want to punch someone. I am feeling a little vulnerable with this procedure.”
He took her hand and walked her down the steps to the stone deck, where a set of spigots protruded from the wall, and buckets, towels, and brushes were available.
“Do you want me to go first?”