10. Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
Ember
I wasn’t really sure where we were headed, but River seemed almost giddy as he led me down an empty hallway and then into a room where a spiral staircase led us down.
It felt colder the further down we got and if it wasn’t for my alpha’s calm emotions, I might’ve feared we were entering a dungeon soon.
The staircase finally ended and I looked around, noticing there was some dampness to the air, either because we were so far underground, or because they had water stored somewhere down here.
The walls were carved out stone, the floor tiled and comfortable for our bare feet.
It had a cozy feel to it, and not a dangerous dungeon like I’d feared, the stone walls held some sconces of warm light and there were paintings too, making it appear as though this area was used rather often.
Soft looking couches were placed along the walls as well as some wooden cabinets.
“Where are we?” I finally asked, my fingers laced with River’s as he tugged me along.
“We’re almost at the hot spring,” he announced proudly.
A hot spring?! That sounded fucking fantastic right now. “And you’re sure no one else is using it?” I wasn’t about to show myself to someone who wasn’t my alpha. Just the thought alone made me uneasy.
River’s soothing pheromones filled my nose and I sighed as the worry dissipated. “No one will be there,” he assured me. “We have one that’s just for my brothers and I to use and two others next to it that our staff can use as they please.”
“Oh, that’s nice of you,” I said, thinking back on how poorly the servants in my kingdom had been treated.
They didn’t even have their own rooms but slept in shared rooms with bunkbeds.
They also shared tiny bathrooms with zero privacy offered.
And here they could freely use something as luxurious as a hot spring?
“We like to keep our staff happy,” River explained, shrugging one shoulder like it wasn’t a big deal.
He stopped in front of a big wooden door and shot me a wide grin before opening it.
Steam billowed out from the open doorway, the scent of pine and cedar hit me, then the salty tang in the air.
“How are you managing to keep it this… maintained?” I asked, stepping further into the room.
The water was a turquoise shade, clear and inviting.
The stones were a mix of light and dark grey, all in one big circle with the water in the middle.
Several cabinets were placed against the walls and again the stone walls held small sconces which lit the room in a soft glow.
“Magic,” my alpha answered, looking smug.
“Our ancestors built it for their omegas. It’s the best treatment for your bodies after your heats and the water is infused with healing properties as well.
I use my water magic on it once a month to keep it clean and healthy.
The heat is my brother Ciris’ doing. He’s a fire dragon and he warms the stones under the hot spring, making it stay warm. ”
“That’s amazing,” I said, stepping closer to the water. “Can I go in?”
“Just a second,” he said, opening the closest cabinet. “Damn, we’re all out of candles and soap. I have to go back up to grab some for us.”
“Oh, I’ll come with you.”
“No, you need the rest,” River smiled, walking over to me and placing a soft kiss on my lips. “Just sit down and sink your feet into it while you wait for me. I won’t be gone for long.”
“Okay,” I grinned. I was excited to feel the heat on my cold feet. River hurried out of the door, leaving it open, which I appreciated. I liked hearing him approach once he returned so I wouldn’t get startled.
I made my way over to the water, carefully sitting down on one of the stones and dipping my cold toes into the amazingly hot water.
I sighed with relief as I felt my muscles begin to relax.
Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to just feel.
The scents mixed together alluringly, making all the tension I carried slowly melt away.
My body itched to get fully in, but I wanted my alpha to be here with me when that happened.
My alpha. I still couldn’t quite get my mind around it.
But my first heat had been beyond amazing, and that was all thanks to my alpha.
River had been so in tune with what I needed and allowed me to take what I’d wanted without issue.
He also hadn’t used his alpha bark on me, not even once.
I heard that was normal during heats, that when the omega got too needy or less docile, the alpha would make them pliant.
Not my alpha, though, he’d allowed me to be me.
I loved him for that alone. I didn’t care that we still barely knew one another, we were bonded and I felt his love for me as well.
Now that my heat was over, we could finally start to truly get to know one another and I was so excited for that part.
The sound of soft footsteps approached and my mood only brightened further knowing my alpha was already back.
The steps stopped and then a booming voice snapped, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!”
I startled, almost slipping into the water. I turned and found an alpha hurriedly approaching me, stomping with each step. He looked furious. Was this one of River’s brothers? Was I not allowed to be here?
I opened my mouth to tell the alpha that I was here with River, but I never even got the chance before I was grabbed by the arms and pulled away from the water.
“Hey!” I protested, then he slammed me against the stone wall.
“Kneel!” he barked, and for a second I froze with fear.
He’d used his alpha bark on me, but then relief flooded me.
He couldn’t control me, I wasn’t unmated anymore.
Only River could use his alpha bark on me now.
The relief dissipated as he growled menacingly, his eyes flashing green for a second before his hand closed around my throat.
Fear and instinct took over. No way in hell would I just allow getting strangled to death by a stranger. I didn’t care if he was River’s brother or not. No one touched me like that without my consent.
My knee connected with his groin, making him groan in pain, his hold only loosening a fraction before he tightened it, strangling me harder than before.
Should I shift? I could burn him with my feathers, but I also risked him pulling my wings off.
I was fragile in my bird form, but what choice did I have?
I shifted, my bird taking over and immediately allowing my feathers to harm. The alpha roared and then he shifted.
“Just my fucking luck,” I gasped as a green dragon stood before me, roaring loudly enough to make the whole room shake, dust floating down from the thankfully spacious ceiling.
Then, another roar came from the hallway and the ground shook as something approached.
I tried to fly up to the ceiling, hoping it would give me time to hide somewhere before whatever was coming reached the room.
The alpha’s tail swished and I was hit in the side, my wing snapping in multiple places as I was slammed against the wall.
Darkness flooded my vision and the pain took hold, so intense I couldn’t remain conscious.