Chapter 29 #2
D’Angelo doesn’t glance around at me but strides confidently down the painted yellow brick road, which leads onto the dance floor.
I peek at Shay, whose eyes are glassy.
He’s slipping into subspace.
“I’ve got you,” I whisper.
Shay smiles at me gratefully.
Careful to walk slowly and not yank Shay, I stroll after D’Angelo onto the dance floor with my beautiful Omega crawling at my side.
My skin prickles with the awareness that I am being stared at.
It’s different being in the club as a Mistress, rather than as a sub.
Yet I am staring around me too at the dancing, laughing, and relaxed groups of Glindas turned bad, subs in nothing but emerald latex, Scarecrows who are enjoying playing with the fear effect, and a naked Wizard of Oz in nothing but a cloak.
Electro music pulses with warped The Wizard of Oz samples.
I am used to everyone greeting D’Angelo like he’s as much a star in this BDSM world as he is in the hockey one.
But I am shocked how many subs nod their heads in respect to me now, as well as the number who look at Shay with a mix of joy and jealousy.
They seem to be happy to see that D’Angelo has a sub crawling at his feet but also wish that they could take Shay’s place.
Shay notices too.
He lifts his head and crawls more proudly. If his tail was real, then he’d be wagging it.
I notice Fleet, dressed in black with a DM band around his arm, weaving through the crowd. He is working as a Dungeon Monitor tonight to make sure everyone is safe.
When I glance over at the bar, I glimpse Noah deep in conversation with Garcia.
Noah is unsurprisingly also dressed in a lion costume. Except, unlike D’Angelo’s, his is sweet, rather than dangerous. He is wearing a velvet bodysuit, fur cuffs and collar, which compliment his shock of mane-like hair.
Garcia is acting like a bodyguard for him as a Winkie Guard in an intimidating ornamental military uniform, which suits him.
It makes him even more intimidating.
Noah is laughing.
Did D’Angelo encourage Garcia to support him? Or are they friends?
“It looks like Cas isn’t innocent.” D’Angelo glances over his shoulder at me. “This road is a trap. It leads to the wicked witch’s lair.”
I stare around me at the area in front of the raised stage, which has been decorated like the Wicked Witch of the West’s castle, if she was into kinky shit.
It is decorated with cages and Gothic arches. Cauldrons spill dry ice in the corners and broomsticks are stuck to the walls.
A twisted metal perch, platforms of different heights, hanging chains, and aerial hoops are arranged over the stage.
The Wicked Witch of the West herself, Kay, stands in front of the stage with such unspoken dominance that she commands it.
Kay’s outfit is spectacular, created out of feathers and leather. It is Gothic like her makeup, sharp green nails, and the thin leather riding crop that she is tapping against her thigh.
She is also holding loosely in her hand the leashes to her two flying monkeys who are obediently (not at all like my own leashed pet), standing behind her.
Cassian and Everett wear matching feathered trousers, leather harnesses, which are attached to large feathered wings, and dramatic makeup. I grin at the sight of their long, swinging tails, which are made of rope.
“Am I sleeping? I’m having nightmares again.” D’Angelo stumbles to a stop in an impressive impression of the Cowardly Lion. “Ev and Cas as Flying Monkeys? Where’s Axel?”
D’Angelo spins on the spot, as if he’s terrified of being ambushed and expects Axel to fly out of the crowd and carry him away.
The Wizard of Oz has traumatized too many kids.
Shay can’t hold back his laugh. “Sorry, this Puppy has to talk again. Toto is mischievous, right? You shouldn’t be kink shaming, darlin’.”
D’Angelo points at Cassian and Everett. “Those flying monkeys haunted my childhood.”
“They were the best bloody thing in the movie. Didn’t you want a flock of them at your command? You could set them on your enemies and… Just me then?” Shay ends, sheepishly.
“Your Eden is showing.” I pat him on the head. “Your brother said the same thing.”
“Sometimes twins do think the same.”
D’Angelo crosses his arms. “Trust my little horror fanatic to like the frightening part.”
“Don’t worry.” Shay cocks his head, deliberately making his leather ears flop over his eyes. “You’re with me, the cutest character in the movie, yeah? Why don’t we continue our adventure and find somewhere safer?”
D’Angelo glances down at the yellow brick road, following it away from the stage. But then, the lights lower, before the emerald spotlight illuminates the stage.
“What…?” I gasp.
Unexpectedly, an entire flock of flying monkeys sweep onto the stage led by Axel.
My breath catches.
Axel’s outfit matches the other subs’.
But he isn’t tamed.
Axel is the leader of an army of flying monkeys, who are swarming menacingly over the pulsing, eerie tribal house music. He dramatically extends his wings, balancing on a platform, while the dancers perform acrobatics on the hoops and chains daringly high over the stage.
“Shit,” Shay breathes. “I didn’t know that he was this good.”
When the music becomes darker and heavier, Kay raises her hands like she’s now part of the performance, commanding her army.
The speed of the flying monkeys’ acrobatics increases in a synchronized choreography.
Green silk tumbles from the ceiling. Axel grabs hold of it, swinging effortlessly onto it.
He’s beautiful.
When he climbs the silk, my heart is in my mouth.
He hangs upside down with his wings spread wide.
The spotlight focuses on him.
Unexpectedly, the other monkeys burst into the crowd to pull them into the dance.
“Fuck, no. That’s my limit.” D’Angelo stumbles backward.
“Don’t worry, your Omega is here to save his Alpha.” Shay bursts up from his knees.
He kisses me, before twirling to D’Angelo.
Shay’s eyes are dancing with a light, which I wish was always there. He grabs both our hands, and I drop the leash.
Together, we run down the yellow brick road, ducking between the crowd and then behind the booths.
We’re laughing and breathless and alive.
D’Angelo pushes aside a drape to reveal a corridor that is lined with private rooms.
“We’re home,” Shay declares through his laughter. “I’ve found our nest.”
He drags us down the final length of the painted road, which ends in front of a door.
Excitement rushes through me.
I can’t wait to see Eden’s surprise.
Shay simply shoves open the door, and we fall inside in a tangle of limbs and laughter.
The room smells of intoxicating opium incense.
A soft red lighting gives the space a dream-like quality. Oversized silk poppies hang from the walls between spanking and play implements. Plush scarlet cushions have been arranged in relaxing piles around a leather swing at the back of the private room.
Eden is standing at the back wall, adjusting a giant poppy.
He turns to stare at us unblinkingly for a long moment.
My cheeks flush, as I study his costume.
Eden is the most gorgeous Tin Man I could have fantasized in my darkest dreams.
He is dressed in nothing but a pair of metallic leather trousers and chrome body paint. His pierced nipples gleam, and he has deliberately left his tattoos uncovered.
Who knew that I had a cyborg kink?
Or is it just an Eden kink?
My expression softens, when I notice that he has drawn the outline of a heart on his chest with a robin inside it.
Joy takes wing inside my own heart.
I may once have been Dorothy. But I have found my way home.
Eden was himself once the Tin Man alone, unable to speak or feel emotions. Yet I believe that he had his heart all along.
He’ll never be alone again.
“Alpha Tin Man.” D’Angelo attempts to extricate himself from Shay and me, adjusting his mask. He’s still grinning. “We have just had a narrow escape from a flock of horny flying monkeys.”
Eden stares at us for a moment longer. “Scary.”
Is he being sarcastic?
“See? Someone who understands my pain.” D’Angelo shuts the door, in case Axel decides to hunt him.
I shift from foot to foot.
“Do I need to chop anything off them for you?” Eden offers.
“No chopping,” I say, quickly. “We’re safe now. We’re home because we’re here with you. Three Alphas and their Omega.”
I pointedly wrap my hand around the leash, dragging Shay into my arms. He whines and leans his lips up to mine, hopefully.
I reward him with a kiss, deep and claiming.
I am going to thoroughly own him tonight, just like we both need.
D’Angelo’s shoulders straighten at the sight of Shay and me together.
He grabs Shay by the neck, pulling him away from the kiss. He tightens his hold to the point of pain.
Shay melts.
“Be our good boy tonight, cucciolo,” D’Angelo leans in to murmur.
Their lips graze. Their gazes intensely meet.
“I love how eager you are to serve your Alphas. Tomorrow, on your birthday, we’ll replace this play collar with a real one.
We’ll fucking own you. Tonight, don’t you want to show why you deserve it? ”
Shay’s eyelashes flutter. “Yes, Alpha.”
He’s dropping fast.
“I know that you will. I’m addicted to how you make me feel. I won’t give it up. I love being seen with you collared as my sub in public. You’re mine forever.”
Shay collapses against D’Angelo, trembling. “Fuck, Sir, I am.”
D’Angelo smiles, gentling his hold on Shay’s neck. “Also, how could I give up the feeling of your tight little hole? Or the most talented mouth in the fucking world?”
Shay flushes. “I’ll put it on my resume.”
“Next to how amazing you look in silk suspenders,” I point out. “Alpha Icefang isn’t the only one who is owning you tonight.”
“Yes, Mistress.” Shay adds the Mistress without thinking.
The way that it slips out does something funny to me.
I like it.
Although we’re still playful, which I love, this time there is something different in the tone that he calls me Mistress.
He means it in the same way that he calls D’Angelo Sir.