The cold hiss at her neck with the flick of pain and then nothing. She was trapped and could see herself in the mirror, which was the worst part. The blood dripped down, and the scent filled her nostrils, and inside her, she screamed and screamed...
“Heraina. Wake up.” Her hands were held in a warm grip.
She fought to move and twitched. Her eyes opened to see Syrn crouching in front of her. She let his presence solidify, and she blinked and said the first thing that came to her mind. “Sorry. Nightmare.” She sat up, and he sat next to her, rubbing her back.
“The attack?”
“Yeah. From the beginning but with none of the giggling and threats he gave.” She shuddered. “He was a chatty fucker.”
His hand was making wide, slow circles on her back. The low-backed nightgown’s construction came to her mind.
He looked around the dark room. “It is cool in here. Was it cool that night?”
She nodded. “I was wearing my suit jacket and blouse. I could feel the cold through them.”
He nodded and picked her up. “This room is all wrong if Misker isn’t in it.”
She blinked. Syrn walked back to the guestroom, pulled the blanket and sheets down, and tucked her in. He dropped onto the covers and pulled her against his body. “Now, if you have a bad dream, we don’t have to commute.”
She chuckled and saw the clock. “I was only asleep for two hours.”
“I was asleep for thirty minutes when the screaming started.”
“Sorry.”
“It isn’t a problem, but you might want some PTSD therapy.” He kissed her temple and pulled her close. “That has helped me tremendously.”
She blinked. “Really? What did you go for, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Trapped under a landslide for an hour. I lost my coms and was crouched under half a mountain, wondering if my team could find me. Flashbacks happened when I heard thunder and when I took off for missions. My activation began to fail. I went to therapy, and after a few months, I was functional and trustworthy again.” He pressed a kiss on her ear.
“Trustworthy?”
“Oh, yes. I am very trustworthy.” He chuckled.
She turned toward him from her warm burrito. “How trustworthy?”
“Oh. Very.” His red eyes were earnest and glowing in the dark room.
The scent of warm brownies was thick in the air. He had her arms trapped at her sides, or she would have pulled his head to hers. She whined and wiggled.
He chuckled. “You make cute sounds and are moving against me in a delightful way. It’s a good thing I am out here, or you would have me inside you by now.”
She gasped and huffed. She settled, and he snorted. “You give up easily.”
“I am actually tired and warm, and the adrenalin has worn off, so I am shaking a bit. I am content just to sleep. Plus, Alejandro and Misker have made you an authorized lover, so there is time.”
He blinked, and she snickered when the room went dark and then was lit red again. “So, they really meant that. Huh. I thought he was just teasing me.”
“It probably was going to be a bit of a joke, but when you fell within one of my food groups, he changed his mind.” She shrugged. “You truly don’t want to get between an omega and the guys who set off her senses. He knows that. He went to classes.”
Syrn was startled. “Classes?”
“Alpha classes. They have to learn all kinds of weird stuff about dealing with emotional little tarts like me.” She smiled brightly and yawned into the duvet.
“You describe yourself as a tart?”
“Well, yeah. That’s what all the growling was about.”
“Huh?”
“If you had gotten within contact distance, I was going to jump on your lap and press my nose into your neck to memorize your scent up close and personal.”
He blinked. “Why would you do that?”
She shrugged. “Instinct? The more alphas I can collect, the better the chance my kids will be successful and protected, I guess. I don’t know. I didn’t go to omega classes. Family issues.”
He frowned. “You had to go to classes?”
“I was supposed to go to classes. I wasn’t allowed to go, so that was that. It’s all fixed now. The party involved has been arrested and sentenced.” She smiled smugly.
He chuckled. “I am still trying to guess how classes will go for omegas.”
“Lots of tilting heads and exposing necks at strategic times. Part of it is the art of submission, which means throttling more aggressive instincts. Alphas meet that head-on. Not what you want when the muscled bastards outweigh you twice over.”
He laughed and stroked her back again, tucking her against him. “Well, I did wonder how he fit.”
“Oh, that is a different thing.”
“Really? Tell me.”
She buried her face in the bedding. “I don’t want to. It’s messy.”
“Is it related to the bite on your neck?”
“Sometimes. Sometimes it is other stuff.”
“So, what happens?”
She licked her lips. “I make room and send out an invitation.”
“How?”
“If we ever do this without the blanket between us, I will show you.”
“Well, we do have hours before dawn.”
“Nope. I just remembered that I am going to be scanned and swabbed from head to toe, and I don’t want cum from multiple donors in me. I am going to get mocked enough about Misker’s mate marks.”
“Oh, that is what the bite is. Is it mandatory?”
“No. Alejandro doesn’t have one, but I know he’s mine.” She yawned again, and he continued slowly rubbing her back.
“So, what do you want from me?”
She relaxed and felt the world going fuzzy. “Whatever you want to give me.”
* * * *
Syrn looked at the woman in his arm and heard her even breathing. He sighed and smiled. His niece would be proud of him, and his nephew would call him an idiot. His sister would just smile softly and shake her head but give him a cinnamon-glazed bun and pat his hand.
He looked at the woman who would more than likely become his lover and wondered if she could make cinnamon buns. If she could, he was hers forever. He was easy.
He stroked her dark hair away from her face and smiled. When Misker had offered to let him take his place for a few days, he had not dreamed that it was in his woman’s bed. But that is exactly what Misker had meant. When Heraina had confirmed that he was suitable for her, blood had rushed through him, but simply hauling her to bed did not seem appropriate. The terror and rage in her scream had cut through him. He had recognized that scream and knew he would hear it from her again.
He kept stroking her back, and she slipped deeper into sleep. He would be here when she woke, whether it was morning or in panic. He would be there.
* * * *
“Heraina, Heraina, time to wake up.” The low voice in her ear irritated her. She zapped him with an energy orb.
He laughed and kissed her cheek. “That doesn’t work on me, baby.”
She zapped him again.
“And now I understand why Misker called me. It seems you are not a morning person.”
He got out of bed and peeled off her cocoon. “Up you get, Heraina.”
She didn’t open her eyes. “Fuck. Off.”
He snorted, wrapped an arm around her waist, and lifted her out of the comfy bedding.
“Nooo... I was so comfy.” She looked at the bed wistfully. She turned her head and blinked at Syrn. “Oh, right. Red.”
He laughed. “Not exactly flattering.”
She pawed her hair as he set her in the shower and shrieked as the cold water hit before the warm did. She shivered and huffed.
“You are very noisy.”
She flipped him off, yanked the silk gown up, and dropped it to the floor. She shampooed on automatic, rinsed her hair, and slathered on the conditioner. While the conditioner did its thing, she washed the rest of her. Everything was rinsed off, and she turned off the shower two and a half minutes after she got into it.
“Your turn, Syrn.”
Naked and wet, she passed him and grabbed a towel and one for her hair. He was still watching her. She looked past him and said, “Whoops, forgot my nightie.”
She wrung out the fabric and took a few steps back. “There you go. Hop in.”
“You just took a shower like I wasn’t even there.” He was dazed as he stepped into the shower.
“Yeah, if you ever want me to take a shower like I am being watched, it is a whole different thing.” She laughed and towel-dried her hair. She walked to the vanity, brushed her hair, then towelled it a second time. She kept the towel on as she headed into the bedroom. That was when the shower went on again.
She smiled and got an outfit to go to a medical appointment in. Yoga pants, it would be.
She got dressed before Syrn was out of the shower and headed downstairs to find something that wasn’t coffee.
Meemer was there in a tank top and sweats. He slid a mug in front of her. “Decaf.”
She beamed and cradled it in her hands. “Thank you.”
Syrn’s eyes lit with relief when he saw her at the counter with her precious.
“Where did you think I was going?” She laughed.
“I have no idea. You might have been climbing the gate again.” He smiled, relieved that she was sitting and waiting. She could tell.
His nostrils flared. “Decaf?”
She nodded and looked at her empty mug. “It was.”
Meemer laughed and filled her mug.
This one she sipped at while Meemer made a solid breakfast. She ate and enjoyed the calm breakfast without anyone sliding a hand anywhere. It had only been a few days, but that part of having a mate was going to be difficult. She had lived her life alone except for the time at the BDC. The first few dates had been a shock to the system, but Torenne had jolted her out of her hesitation. The doc and she had been a close fit but not exact, and they both knew it.
Going from Torenne to Alejandro had been an adjustment, but from Alejandro to Misker was a major shift. She had avoided anything to do with alphas from the time she had realized they were an option as patrons. Sneaky bastard. She was pretty sure that Alejandro had signed up for her because he knew what lurked behind his eyes. They would have that chat one day, and Misker would probably be the one to comfort her.
“What just happened to your face?” Syrn asked her softly.
“Oh, just thinking about how I ended up here.”
“It doesn’t look like a good memory.”
“I feel like there was a bait and switch.”
Meemer looked at her, and Syrn finished his breakfast. “How?”
“My patron was kind and sweet. We developed what I thought was affection, and then he handed me over to someone who terrified me. He watched and kept Misker under control, but... I haven’t seen him since, and I miss him.” It wasn’t an accurate telling, but it was what her heart was telling her. “Alejandro just comes out to calm me down.”
Syrn nodded. “Who gets more respect among the Sethir?”
She shrugged. “Misker. They are scared of him.”
“He needed to remain with you there in case you needed him.” Syrn nodded with understanding. ”And how many days have you been together?”
“Eight, ten? I don’t know.”
“He has been reacting in battle mode, and Misker is the best one for that. When things ease, you will see Alejandro again. Why do you prefer him?”
“He is relaxing and fun? Misker is very... intense.”
“You don’t sound sure.”
“When you are used to one lover, and someone else appears in their place, it is difficult, and as you said, we have not stopped since.”
“And this is giving you the moment that you need actually to reflect on events.” He finished his breakfast.
“Yeah.”
“And since it is coming off a trauma wave, it is all rolling into that, right?”
“Something like that. For a while, I thought that Misker might have hired him. Now I know it wasn’t him.”
“Oh. So, I will look around for that therapist now. That is a complicated dynamic.”
She shivered and nodded.
Meemer frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“Just dealing with the events that brought me here. Even using my activation is part of it. I’m a mess.”
Syrn touched her jaw. “You will get better. It won’t take long. You just have to start by letting it all out, and then you have to pull the pieces back together. That is the part that takes time. I will brief Misker, and until you come to him free and clear of doubt, you shouldn’t be together.”
She frowned. “I get it, but is there somewhere I can go so that my nightmares won’t wake folks up?”
He snorted. “You can still sleep with him but avoid sex. It muddles things.”
“How do you know all this stuff?”
He laughed. “My niece is the counsellor that I went to. She’s very good and practicing here in Aksalla.”
“How old is she?”
“Twenty-five. My sister is older than I am by a few years. Decades.” He grinned. “Our parents married young. I was a last-minute surprise.”
She smiled. “Oh. How good is your niece at privacy?”
“Excellent. She is certified and enjoys working here. She will do nothing to endanger her status. She will not tell me anything.”
She exhaled and picked her coffee cup up again. “Can you call her for me?”
“I can and I will. Now, how do you want to arrive at Z-Corp?”
“In one large piece? Still breathing?”
He grinned. “I can manage that. Some ladies don’t like to be flown. It fucks with their hair.”
“If we are flying and something fucks with my hair, I will consider us engaged.”
He arched his brow.
“I mean me and whatever... aw geez.” She blushed and started to braid her hair into a thick rope. She stuffed it down the back of her shirt and said. “There. No problem.”
He grinned and made a call, talking in a relaxed and cheerful tone. After three minutes, he nodded and ended the call. “Right. We can go see her after your physical.”
“Really? How far is her office?”
“She works in the Z-Corp building, so not far at all.”
Hera snorted. “Of course, she does. She specializes in active issues?”
“Of course.” He smiled. “Our family is full of them.”
She smiled, and he brushed crumbs off his uniform. “Ready?”
He nodded. “Ready.”
She waved farewell to Meemer, and they walked to the backyard. Syrn held his arms out to her, and she walked up to him, lifting her arms until he bent and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He held her for a moment and sighed softly, and then he straightened, and they rose smoothly in the air. She didn’t like looking around, so she just hung on for the ten minutes his leisurely flight took them to reach Z-Corp.
She heard traffic and looked around when they landed. “The street entrance?”
“I am not sneaking you in. This is where you work, so you can go in the front.”
She dropped and landed on her feet. They walked into the building, and to her shock, one of the security guards teared up. “Miss Tender! It is so good to see you. Is this your escort for the day?”
She smiled. “Hey, Jim. It is good to be back. Yes, this is Syrn.”
He broke protocol and came around the desk, handing her the pass and then fidgeting. “Can I give you a hug?”
She nodded and heard him sniffle. “Oh, you were the one who found me.” She felt him nod and wrapped her arms around him. “Thanks for being on time with your rounds.”
He laughed shortly, released her, and smiled. “I am sorry I wasn’t earlier.”
“Oh, Jim, you were doing your job. You were there in time, and that is what mattered.” She squeezed his hand and smiled.
Arcady came out of the elevator and grinned. Her white hair and purple eyes made her stand out in any crowd. “Heraina! You look casual. Are you okay?”
Heraina got another hug and said, “You know Syrn?”
“We have met. Oh, is he part of your collection?”
Hera said, “No.”
Syrn said, “Yes.”
Hera looked at him. “No.”
Syrn smiled and said gently, “Yes.”
“Fine. Not yet.”
She exhaled in a gust, and Arcady laughed. “Right. So, off to the labs for your exams.”
“Aw, I didn’t study.” A large hand pressed in the middle of her back and steered her toward the elevators.
Arcady skipped ahead and opened the secure elevator. She bustled them in, then used her ocular scan to select the secure biology floor. Important stuff was down, and commercial stuff was up. The scanners went over the elevator occupants, and then it started to move.
They were heading down.