Patchwork pixie, p.11
Patchwork Pixie, page 11
“I... when I pointed Tanner toward you, I knew he would go for you. You were small and shy. Just his type. He had a reputation for being rough and didn’t have a steady girl.”
“So, you got a discount on a security contract, and I got hurt. Now, do you want me to sue you for damages? You literally trafficked me for profit.”
“You could have said... oh shit.”
“Finally, you are beginning to understand. So, you tell me what you are going to do as reparations?”
He blinked. “What?”
“As I have proof in writing from both Tanner and yourself that you were the catalyst to us getting together. Confirmation from some of your associates that you knew of his violent tendencies with women, and you also knew of my particular mental set that stops me from defending myself. Then we have the assaults I managed to catch on video, including all the blood and sobbing that followed. Now, what do you feel is appropriate compensation?” She tilted her head.
“Can I consult with my lawyer and my wife?”
She shrugged. “Sure. You are family, like it or not. I will be around.” She laughed. “I will also be at dinner on Sunday.”
He swallowed and nodded. He looked to Marshall. “I don’t suppose you have anyone who could represent me in this?”
“Conflict of interest. My firm represents Ruby against Tanner, so we can’t work with you.” He squeezed her hand and lifted it to his lips.
“You can’t represent your mate.”
“He isn’t. Mr. Mayfield is representing me.”
Marshall chuckled as Dane paled. “He hadn’t met an omega of our kind before. She’s a very welcome client.”
Dane thudded back in his chair.
Ruby looked toward Rayden’s plate, and she snitched a piece of sausage before he could defend it. She nibbled at the stolen protein, and Rayden was grinning at her. Well, she actually had chosen his sausage first.
“Don’t you have to go to hockey or something?”
He grinned. “Not for a few hours. Watching you eat is surprisingly fun.”
Marshall added, “We are going out for dinner. I am thinking Italian or Chinese. I want to see her eat noodles.”
She blushed. “Geez.” She ticked her fingers off, and she sighed. “Damn. Twenty-one days until the performances are over. It suddenly feels like an eternity.”
Rayden smiled. “Solstice is the last one.”
Ruby paused. “You are kidding.”
“No. Very serious.”
“Oh, I really want to invite a friend to perform the finale.” She chuckled. “I wrote that part of the choreography with her in mind.”
Rayden tilted his head. “I have heard that the narrator has pneumonia. They are doing an emergency casting for it. Does she have a good voice?”
“Oh. Yeah. Her voice is amazing. It is to her what the needles are for me.” She chuckled. “She is also stunning to look at during a full moon.”
Rayden paused. “She’s like you?”
“Oh, no. Height, yes. Pearl skin, yes. Like me? Not a bit. We met when I was enrolled in school here. She’s excellent at concealment.”
Marshall asked, “Does she have a name?”
“Melany. I don’t know her last name.” She smiled. “We were kids. I can probably stalk her online using her hobbies, but I need my computer.”
He nodded. “Let me know. We can feel that there are a number of omegas around, but you all hide so well you are difficult to locate unless we bodycheck you in the malls and offices.”
Rayden grinned. “I can, but eventually, I would get arrested, and if the guys on the ice are omegas, they are well concealed.”
She snorted and finished her coffee. She looked at Dane. “So, sorry. What did you want to discuss?”
“I wanted to apologize for Tanner.”
“Acknowledged. You fucked up, and I will likely not forgive you for it.”
He nodded. “I guess I will see you Sunday then.”
“Yup. I have to let Uncle Leon know he will have extra guests.”
Dane stared. “It’s a family meeting.”
She smiled at him. “They are family.”
He blinked, got money out, and tossed it next to his plate. “Can you be pleasant to my wife?”
“I am always nice to strangers.”
He paled and nodded. “Right. Uh, bye.”
He left, and she looked around before embracing the fact that she had eaten everything.
Rayden asked, “Still hungry?”
“Yeah. Nervous. I made an appointment at the doctor’s to discuss the situation and figure out the best way to minimize withdrawal. I have to be there in an hour.”
Marshall perked up. “I can take you.”
Rayden snorted. “I have time.”
“I can go on my own.”
Marshall held her hand. “Alone isn’t your default setting anymore.”
She looked at him and nodded. “Right. I am going to need some cheesecake. Dr. Oriel means well, but she can be a little forceful.”
The server returned, and the cheesecake and more coffee were ordered. She ate dessert and was pleasantly full when they got up, paid the bill, and filed out. Marshall kept hold of her hand, and Rayden snorted. He asked, “Where am I going?”
She called out the address. He nodded and said, “I will be waiting when you get there.”
Marshall held the door for her. “Let him race. I have the most precious cargo.”
She blushed and was about to shrink back to beta form, but he asked, “Can you hold that shape?”
“Sure. It’s my actual form, after all. And I wore spandex, so clothes aren’t a problem.”
He smiled. “I am glad. I don’t want you uncomfortable.”
She slid into his car and buckled up. He closed the door, and ten minutes later, they had arrived.
Rayden was outside her door, and he opened it with a grin. “Hello, Ruby.”
“Hello, Rayden. I have never seen a man so eager to get to a gynecologist.”
Marshall snorted. “He is an alpha of many interests. He nearly chose the occupation of
a physician when we arrived, but he thought it would be too restricting. Playing a game lets him travel.”
“I feel retirement and medical school coming on.” He smiled. “I am not missing a moment of this.”
He helped her out of the car and hugged her carefully.
“Well, hockey is only winter, right?”
“Yeah. But I do travel during playoffs.”
“Not every day?”
“No. A dozen games a year, but I fly home in between.”
She patted his chest through his sweatshirt. “Then you can continue to play games, and I will just cuddle up with Marshall while you are gone.”
He froze, and she looked up at him. His eyes were red and glowing.
Her phone started to alarm, and she looked at him. “Time to go to the appointment.”
He growled softly at her, and she blinked. “Wow. That isn’t winning any contests. Either we go in, or my chances of having any reason to have these things extracted go up in smoke.”
He sighed and let her go.
Marshall held her hand as they went into the building and registered before going up to the floor where her doctor was waiting to do a consult. It was only when other patients in the waiting room stared at her that she smiled as she embraced being herself in public. It was fun. She had missed the relaxed feeling and air of pride that came from just being herself.
Marshall was working on his phone, and Rayden was reading a magazine on early childhood education. When they were called, he brought the magazine with him.
Ruby had a deep giggle inside her that was hard to quell. He looked so serious that she felt sorry for any kids he had. It was a bit shocking when her mind whispered that any kids he had would also be hers. Her pulse was pounding, and her skin was clammy when they were in the exam room and waiting for the doctor.
Reality was thudding into her hard.
Chapter Nine
Dr. Oriel walked in and stopped. “Oh, my.”
Ruby smiled. “Hey, Doc. I forgot my makeup today.”
“Uh, right. I didn’t realize you were an omega. I just thought that you had a mutated reproductive system.”
Rayden inquired, “Mutated how?”
“Her hormone levels are off the charts. I have never seen anything like it.”
Marshall nodded. “We understand she is on several means of birth control. How can she safely reduce or remove them?”
Dr. Oriel frowned. “You want to breed her?”
“No, we want her to clear her system and reset, and when she is ready, we will be, too.”
“Well. That’s different. With the weekend looming... Ruby, do you have a few days to recover?”
“Yeah. I mean, I have to go to my family’s home on Sunday, but things should be pretty calm tomorrow.”
“Well, take time off work and only go back when you feel up to it. Doctor’s orders. Right. Well, I will remove the implants and IUD today and give you some patches to use to decrease the crash.” She looked at her seriously. “I want you to call me if there are any complications. Got it?”
“Yes, alpha.”
Dr. Oriel shivered.
Ruby chuckled. “Wow, alphas are easy.”
Oriel sighed. “Omega tease. Get into a gown, and we will get started.”
The doctor got her a soft pink gown and stood waiting.
Ruby shrugged, pulled off her sweatshirt and insulated shirt, wrapped the gown around without putting her arms in the sleeves, slipped one bra strap off, put an arm in the gown while keeping her bra up, did the other arm, and then reached behind her to unsnap the bra. She pulled it off, dropped it on her shirts, closed the gown, and took off everything below the waist.
She smoothed the gown down to just above her knee and looked at Dr. Oriel. “So, where are you starting?”
“On the exam bed, feet in the stirrups.”
Marshall picked her up and settled her while Rayden got the stirrups ready. Ruby muttered, “Do not tell me to scoot.”
He got a cloth and draped it over her thighs and knees. “Better?”
“Yeah, Marshall can’t see anything now.”
Marshall snorted.
She focused on relaxing while the doc got into position. Marshall was holding her hands, and she breathed shallowly while the painful extraction took place. She exhaled with a moan when it was out, and she felt like she had just been hit in the abdomen with a bat.
She was shaking, and Dr. Oriel got a cold compress for her, lifting her head to press it against the back of her neck.
Ruby muttered. “Fucking hell.”
Rayden was shocked. “What just happened?”
“Because she hasn’t had a child, her cervix is fairly rigid. It took some doing to place it, but she was insistent. Getting it out is the same situation.”
Ruby shuddered and pulled her legs together. Marshall pulled her against him, kissed her softly, and murmured, “It’s over. No matter what happens, you don’t have to do that again.”
She sighed and felt a tug at one arm and then the other. The doc was busy.
“Have you stopped the pills?” the doctor quietly asked while updating her files.
“I have. I thought I would get started.”
“That’s what I thought you would say.”
The pain and throbbing eased, and the cramp ceased. She exhaled slowly and looked up at Marshall. “Thanks for the assist.”
“Any time. Can you sit up?”
“Slowly, please.”
She huffed a little as the pain kicked in. He sat on the edge of the bed and held her in his arms. The support was welcome.
Oriel drew blood and nodded. “Withdrawal should start in the next few hours. You shouldn’t be alone. There could be more pain and nausea.” The doctor paused and said, “Ruby, may I get your new stats for height and weight? Also, could I interview you about your senses?”
Ruby nodded and muttered, “Could have asked questions before that.”
Oriel sighed. “I didn’t think about it. So, how long have you known you were an Elite omega?”
“Since I was eleven. I bleached out on the school yard. They called my parents and the Stronghold.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah. My parents got me away, and I came to the city. The Elite couldn’t find me here.”
Marshall stroked her cheek.
“Well, the pasty bastards couldn’t find me here. The dark Elite just fell into my lap.”
“Not yet.”
“Shut up, Rayden.”
Marshall sighed. “We have it scheduled for after her recovery. She will need to do one clear heat?”
“It’s recommended. You can still have sex, but all birth control options will be up to you guys. She can’t have any chemical intervention, and I don’t have a diaphragm in her size yet.”
Ruby blinked. “Geez.”
“Sorry, but there is a two-millimetre difference. I will have to take a cast and get one made for you.”
“Cast?” she squeaked.
“It only takes a few minutes, but today, you are a little sore. When you come back for follow-up bloodwork, we will make the cast, and when it comes in, you will get a tutorial and spermicide.”
Marshall asked, “Can we come with her for that appointment?”
Ruby snorted. “Sure. Though I don’t see the point. Elite don’t have a lot of kids.”
“Oh. Right. I mean, there are no Elite omegas that have medical histories yet. This office is starting the first records. My other patient is a unique case.”
Ruby suspected that it was Keres from the art gallery.
She sighed and started to stretch her legs. Marshall ran his hand down her thigh. “Would you like to get dressed, Ruby?”
“Yeah. It’s probably a good idea.” She moved slowly, and Rayden stacked her folded clothes next to her.
Rayden said, “I’ll help.”
Being dressed in a room full of alphas was weird, but the precise care they took of her, putting her clothing on in the reverse order it had come off, was amazing.
When she watched Rayden putting her shoes on, she smiled. “No laces.”
He looked up at her from his kneeling position. “No laces.”
She smiled. “No laces.”
He started to stand and kissed her softly on the way up. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Just sore.”
“If you don’t want to do the candy demonstration tomorrow, just let me know. I would be glad to spend time taking care of you.”
“You lead a weird fantasy life.”
He grinned and kissed her again. “You have no idea.”
Marshall snorted.
The doctor said, “Well, I have her bloodwork, and we should be able to track the drop. She should come in next week. If there are any dramatic mood swings, call the receptionist, and we will look into increasing the patch. For now, here are some of the samples to use if the drop is too sudden.”
Marshall took them and asked how and where they were to be applied. Ruby sighed and was going to wobble to her feet when Rayden just picked her up. She was not the same lift as she was in beta form.
He chuckled. “You feel just right.”
She snorted. “I am enormous.”
Marshall chuckled. “And yet, we are still bigger. A tiny creature would be no use to us. We don’t want a princess; we want a goddess.”
The doctor looked like she was overheating, and she muttered, “If you ever need a fourth for backup. Do keep me in mind. And legally, I never said that.”
Marshall laughed.
“Well, this is embarrassing.” Ruby covered her face.
Marshall said, “Not really. You have a pull for all alphas who are remotely attracted to you. That will change when we complete our circle, and until then, we are guarding you.”
Rayden nodded. “Either we go with you, or you come with us.”
She grunted. “Thought it might be something like that.”
Marshall stroked her cheek. “You are stuck with us, Ruby.”
She sighed. “I know. Not complaining.”
The doctor sighed and smiled. “Heavy pheromones are usually found in the males.”
“I showered; I swear.” Ruby peeked at the doctor.
The doctor’s eyes were warm. “I know, Ruby, but there is a scent that is more than you. It crosses the blood-brain barrier and makes me want to keep you close. Aside from that, I have no idea what I would do with you.”
“And that would cause frustration, which would be an issue.”
Rayden nodded. “No worries here, Ruby. You are safe with us.”
Ruby nodded and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Stop by the billing desk, and we can be on our way.”
Marshall chuckled. “I called in the car. The billing is set up.”
Rayden carried her, and she asked, “Wait. You can do that?”
“We are dark Elite. We can do wondrous and mysterious things.” He winked.
She snorted. “Well, now that I know that Elite is a fancy word for elf, I find things a lot less wondrous.”
“Ruby, we are just getting started.”
Marshall chuckled. “Nothing like a mate who wants to be impressed.”
Ruby smiled. “You two look like you need a challenge.”
They chuckled and were on their way. She was settled in Marshall’s car with the seat reclined for comfort and fell asleep on the way home.
Ruby woke feeling warm and relaxed but restricted. She looked around and saw Rayden holding her with his hand flat on her belly.
“Wow. Unexpected.”
He chuckled. “Marshall had to do something with his briefs.”
She smiled and settled against him. “So, you were confined at the Stronghold?”
“Yes. They built cells out of a stone that was enchanted to absorb energy. We just had to remain there and act like a solar battery. Passive power. They trained their new Elite to use the power of the foundations, and that is how they travel and move through the world.”
“So, you come to be dark Elite just by aging?”
“Some do, some just gain pigment in training. We are removed and put in confinement. They drained energy from us, and we were rendered powerless for a time. Then, Achilles’ mate spilled blood through the portal, which shattered the bonds that held us. Several of us left in that first break to make homes and possibly prepare to meet our own mates one day.”
