Chapter Six #2
Zera nodded. “Yes. Please wait outside.”
He caressed the mark softly and left the room.
Zera sighed. “Wow. He’s a lot.”
“Yup. He also can shift into a dragon, and he’s kinda big.”
Khytten smiled. “Salat is drawing images of you and the sand dragon already. He’s guessing at your hair.”
“I don’t remember meeting him.”
“You didn’t. He’s going off the videos and the projections from the party on Friday.”
“Oh. Good. I managed to get the footage together.” She smiled.
Khytten grinned. “It was amazing. When the Hyreno were going at it, and you covered the moon with your hand so it couldn’t see, that was hilarious. And all the footage of the island and Xeva riding her horse down the beach.”
“That was a fun one to make. Creating the footage was easy. The guys were harder, but I managed a few good shots mixed into each video.”
Zera was running scans and said, “I don’t believe it, but aside from your skin being completely new, you are fine.”
“I was fine but scarred and missing an eye. That was a shock.”
Zera smiled. “I didn’t realize your eyes were green and that you and Hemma look like siblings. We ran your genetics, and it is just a coincidence.”
“Thanks. Stuff around here is weird enough.” Ival grinned.
Khytten said, “Salat still wants to know if you are willing to write some comics for him.”
“Right. Forgot about that. Busy week.”
Zera smiled and nodded. “Torun was shocked when he saw you, but he was the one who figured that the ones attacking Hemma were after you instead. You have way more enemies. Hemma just had a stream of blowjob encounters, and I can’t see that causing hostility.”
“How many applicants is she up to?”
“Twenty-eight. I may ask her to teach a blowjob master class.” Zera shook her head.
“Yes, but she’s looking for a singular relationship. She wants stability.”
Zera nodded. “I know. I am taking finding her the best match seriously. Now that her body is all connected and properly aligned, her heats are going to start. She will need an outlet, so seeking her match is going to be an urgent matter. At this point, I am leaning toward Hyreno. Her gills are looking good, and all signs are that they should open no problem. A water breather would be best, I think. Fortunately, that is over sixty percent of the applicants.” Zera chuckled.
“The patron numbers are getting quite a large bump from this.
“Sorry, I couldn’t add to the roster.” Ival smiled.
“Are you good with Riimal? He has quite the vicious reputation.” Zera said it softly.
“Zera. So do I.”
“Oh. Right.”
Khytten reached to her thigh, and her black leather suit creaked a little. A vial was in her hand. “Here you go. You have a great head for being bald, but this is going to help.”
“What flavour?”
“Chocolate. We were able to get that into you even while unconscious.” Khytten smiled. “Salat played me the song about the pumpkin spice. I took the hint.”
Ival accepted the vial and tipped it back. It was definitely chocolate. “Thanks for that. So, is the hair going to be restricted to my head?”
Khytten chuckled. “Yes.”
“I thought I had to have more body fat before I got hair.”
Khytten blinked. “Oh, shoot. That’s this vial. Here you go.”
“Why do I have to drink so many?”
“Your chemistry fights me, so I have to do one purpose at a time.”
“Right. Got it.” She took the next vial and shuddered. “Damn.”
Her body felt strange, and she glanced at her chest. Her boobs were back. “I am going to be hungry as hell.”
Zera said, “We have been giving you high-protein drips. You’ve received close to five litres of supplementation.”
“Oh, good. I mean, I lost the largest organ on my body. Now, when can I get out of this bed?” She ran a hand over her head, and there was a soft fuzz starting.
“Are you really good with Riimal?”
“Yeah.”
“But he killed you.”
“I know. I was there. I am pretty sure that the Uraddans were into snuff films.”
“That is all kinds of horrible. Do you know who revived you?”
“Nope. She just has kind, brown eyes. They kept her head shaved.”
Zera nodded. “What colour was her skin?”
“She had Sethir’s golden bronze skin.”
“Why would you say Sethir?”
“Oh, because that is what she spoke.”
Zera blinked. “Right. Makes sense.”
“So, do I still need tests?”
“No, you are good. You just need to treat your skin regularly with oils and lotions for the first three months.”
“That won’t cause problems?”
“No. Part of the forced oils was that they were trying to keep your skin whole. That is why it spread so fast. Every crack had to be treated. Your skin was a mess.”
“Well, good thing it all came off then.”
“Yeah, we had to work on you in the bio lab. Kritz couldn’t stand the unsettling factor of a skinned being.”
“So, how do I get out of here, and are there clothes for me?”
Khytten smiled. “They are coming. You need special fabrics, so Litha worked out some for you.”
“Special fabrics?”
“Super soft and keeps humidity in.”
Ival frowned. “Oh. So, I am going to be wearing air.”
Khytten grinned, showing teeth. “Opaque air.”
Zera chuckled. “Keska paid for the medical treatment and your clothing. And your special shoes.”
“I have special shoes?”
Zera nodded. “You need them until you get your feet up to taking your weight.”
Khytten nodded. “Riimal has gotten your care instructions, as have your grandparents.”
Ival looked at them. “Why did Riimal get the care instructions?”
Zera looked at her. “You know why. It might have something to do with the sex comment.”
“Oh. That. Well, Sethir-Nin are fairly blunt when they are interested, and he drove his teeth deep enough that even slipping my skin couldn’t shake it.”
Zera nodded. “His venom is still in there. It has been boosting your immune system.”
“Delightful.”
An elf with a cheerful grin came in with clothing draped over her arms. “Hello, Ival. I am Drin, and Litha made this fabric for you. Evali sewed it because she hates a half-done job. Did you want to wear the gold or the gold and black?”
“Uh, the gold and black.”
Ekron walked in with two boxes in his hands. “Kritz made these up. They should be right for you.”
She looked at the box and said, “That is bulky for underwear.”
He snorted. “Funny. Your skin can’t handle it. These are shoes.”
“Damn. Okay. This is going to take some doing.” She flexed her legs and got one foot in her lap. “Shoes, please.”
Zera cleared her throat. “We are going to be running a tutorial.”
“Oh, no.”
Zera leaned out, and Riimal came in.
Khytten smiled. “Have you ever put a shoe on another person?”
“No. I am willing to start now.” He smiled.
The next few minutes involved him learning how to put on her shoes and fasten them so her new skin wasn’t pinched or injured. She wiggled her toes, and he folded his fingers over them.
Khytten grinned. “It is easier putting them on you rather than one of my kids. They try to get away or kick me in the face.”
Ival smiled at the cloudlike feel of the sandals. She wiggled her toes and pivoted to hang her legs off the side of the bed. “Give me the dress, please.”
Zera pushed the guys out of the room and helped settle the cloudlike fabric over her, and it was belted under her breasts with a light band that didn’t put much pressure on her. The sleeves were long, and a light band at the wrists kept them attached but let her skin breathe.
She checked her hair and found three inches hanging.
She took a step and moved slowly on her very tender feet. The shoes helped, but she was still worried about tearing her skin.
“Thanks, everybody. Zera, how do you want check-ins?” She looked at the com on her wrist, which seemed extra gold and sparkly. “Did you change my com when I was out?”
“Daily, please. I will send info to the necessary parties and ask for specifics.” Zera said, “And yes. It was hampering the shedding, so we took it out. Riimal offered this replacement.”
“Of course he did.” She sighed. “You know, sometimes you meet a guy, and he bites you and crushes you to death, and you think... I think he’s the one.”
The others stared.
“Dude. It was him or me in the fight, and his beast made its choice, and then it freaked out when it tasted me. We are a fairly good match. No resentments.”
Zera looked at her. “You made those jokes about sex knowing that?”
“Sure. And they weren’t jokes. My previous spouse had a beast, and they think in a very linear fashion. I knew what I was seeing in the sand dragon’s eyes as I passed out. Panic, regret, and lust, all mixed together. I just want the lust. I have been lonely.”
“Damn. That’s honest.”
“Well, I write romantic fiction. There is so much time lost in a lack of direct interest. Besides, I am old. The body is in surprisingly good shape, so may as well have fun with it.”
Zera paused, “Do you want me to ask him to neutralize his fertility?”
“Why?”
“Because you can still get pregnant.”
“What?”
“Yeah, you are in your forties, but your body is in excellent condition. Children are possible.”
“But I didn’t have kids with Zukker.” Her voice was weak. She knew why. Zukker had other, very specific interests.
“Not every woman is compatible with every man. Drin can’t carry at all. Her activation prevents it.”
Drin nodded. “And I have five guys. They try and try again, but nothing. We have had six more dresses and three sets of shoes made for you. They have been given to your grandparents. Are you ready to travel?”
“Yes. Can I get a tablet?”
Zera nodded. “Riimal has all of the equipment from your home. You will have what you need.”
“Okay. Then, I should get going. Thank you all for your help.”
The ladies all hugged her carefully, and then they opened the door, and she walked out. When Riimal saw her, she saw his beast pushing for control of the body.
Her grandparents got weepy. “Oh, Ival. You are stunning.” Her grandmother smiled through her tears.
“Thanks. Khytten offered the hair. She’s on my holiday list. Nandy, do you still make those little cookies with the dates in them?”
Her grandmother grinned. “I certainly do and can again as soon as we get you home.”
“Well, then, what are we waiting for?”
Riimal held out his hand to her, and she took it, walking ahead of her grandparents with him to the elevator.
Riimal said, “We have all of the instructions to maintain you and emergency numbers, as well as the clothing they provided. You will be fine.”
“You sound like you are convincing yourself.”
He smiled. “I am.”
She squeezed his hand.
They were let out of the locks, and then the elevator took them directly to the roof. There was a shuttle waiting for them with the pilot and the others in fully Sethir royal livery.
She glanced at their black and gold and down at her black and gold. “I should have picked the other colours.”
He grinned. “I like this statement. It’s keeping him calm.”
She smiled. “Is he going to fly home?”
“No, I want to sit next to you, my thigh pressed against yours until you are capable of something more.”
“You have that kind of patience?”
“I have waited eight years, and I have you now. We know your scent and taste and what your smile looks like. We will not lose you again, but we can wait.”
He walked her into the shuttle and, instead of putting her in a seat, settled and eased her onto his lap. There was a soft curl of air under her, and she was held against him but not touching.
Her grandparents were settled, and then the vehicle lifted off.
Outrider vessels formed around them as they left the city, and Ival looked at Riimal. “Do I know you?”
He smiled and chuckled. “We met when you were with your parents in the court.”
“Ah. I would have been small.”
“You were. And I was a teen standing next to my brother’s throne.”
“Oh.” She thought. “Oh! You put me on the cookie table.”
He nodded. “You demanded up and then pointed to the table and looked furious when I didn’t do it immediately.”
“Yeah, that sounds like me.” She frowned. “Why was I there?”
“Omega assessment. You are not one, and your furious takeover of the treats was indicative of that. It was like a tiny monster movie. Your father was laughing, and your mother was horrified and helpless. The entire court came to a halt.” He smirked.
“I was blamed and did not care. It was hilarious.”
Her grandparents were smiling.
“Is this a well-known anecdote?”
Riimal nodded. “It is. It is the only time I ever laughed at court. You can eat a lot of cookies.”
“I like cookies, and Nandy and I had been making them, but I wasn’t allowed to eat them until the holidays. There was a whole table, and Nandy was across the court, so it was my chance for the ones with jam in them. You were just the elevator.”
He grinned. “Happy to be of service. My brother was stunned at my laughter, and you could have eaten the entire buffet, and he would have gotten a second prepared. I hadn’t been adapting well to my beast, and my family was worried.”
She frowned. “Why?”
“The sand dragon wanted to go to the wastelands and just burrow in until disturbed. My family wanted me to participate in Sethir-Nin society.”
“Oh. Interesting nap choice.”
“I did leave to guard our northern borders when your family was no longer with the court.”
She grinned. “Did my aunt try to get you interested in my cousins?”
He was shocked. “How did you know?”
“That has always been her move. Since I ended up in Thorassen, I was able to pay for Sethir court information. Apparently, my aunt always wanted a higher position than my uncle could manage. You were lucky you never found them in your bed.”
He stared. “That almost happened. I had an unbribable housekeeper.”
She laughed. “They were not original in their actions.”
“The king will need to hear your path in life for the records.”
“Sure, but I only have so much time on these feet until my soles thicken up.”
He nodded. “I will carry you.”
Her grandparents gasped.
Ival’s hair tickled the back of her neck, and she smiled. That breach of protocol was going to declare her his wife in front of everyone. She didn’t mind. The tie had locked in eight years ago, and she had gotten used to the feel.
It was time to go home.