Dripping fire, p.2
Dripping Fire, page 2
“Do you want me to keep an eye out while you change?”
“Yeah, but you might want to look up because Nikolai is perched in that tree, and Alexi is coming back from the house with a camera. Thanks for the roses. All I can offer you is a little honey.”
Lexa looked at her brother-in-law and yelled, “Niko, get out of that tree. You aren’t fooling anyone that you’re an owl.”
Niko looked at them and gracefully dropped the fifteen feet to the ground before he bowed low and walked away.
Alita caught his scent and felt a shiver deep inside. She hadn’t felt arousal stirring in quite a while. This was going to be a very long day.
Chapter Two
Dressed in the princess outfit with her hair braided and tied with tiny pieces of leather, she ran into Hailey again, and the little girl squealed in excitement.
Hailey handed her a handful of ribbons and chains. “Can you use this?”
“I can. Do you want to wrap them around the braids?”
Hailey grinned. “Yes!”
Alita sat in her froth of skirts and let the seven-year-old play with her braids, wrapping them in chain and ribbon. She took one of the chain-wrapped braids and twisted it into a coronet. She had six thin braids that confined the cloak of hair. When Hailey pronounced her done, Alita got to her feet and limped back to the horses. It was time to start warming up, and her boys needed to run.
Alita felt her gait loosen up a little and knew it would be better after a ride. Something about riding evened out her balance and everything else from the waist down. She felt better afterward. It was as close as she could get to flying. She got a saddle and whistled for Thunder. The Percheron came, and she flipped the pad and saddle onto his back. She tightened the buckles and straps and got the reins before she pulled back her skirts and put the tip of her booted toe into the stirrup before she pulled herself up and smoothed her skirts. She patted Thunder’s neck and smoothed the black hide. “Hey, baby, let’s go for a ride, shall we?”
He nodded his head, and she squeezed him with her calves, and he started to move. He checked the ground before he walked, and once they had walked the path, she smiled and let Thunder roll. They moved as one, and she jumped the villager-shaped obstacles that her brothers had set up. She finished a circuit, and then, she saw Hailey next to Alexi. She sighed and shook her head, letting Thunder walk to the little girl holding apple slices on flat little hands.
“Hales, you are going to contribute to making Thunder fat. All the apples I give him are going to do the rest.”
Hailey giggled when Thunder snuffled at her, searching for more apples.
Alexi lowered his camera. “Lexa says that if Hailey would like, she can go for a ride with you.”
Hailey smiled. “Can you come down so I can get up?”
Alexi said, “I can boost you up. Come here, little treasure.”
He dropped his camera onto its strap, and he lifted her up, and Alita brought her the rest of the way. She set her on the saddle in front of her, and then, she whispered in Hailey’s ear.
“Thank you, Uncle Alexi.”
He inclined his head. “You are welcome, little treasure.”
Alita steered the horse away from the photographer. “Little treasure?”
“Papa Grigory calls Mom treasure. Dad calls her petals. Papa Arthur calls her rose when no one is looking.”
“Ah. So, she is a woman of many names now.”
“Yeah, but to me, she is still Mom. To you, she is still Lexa.” She looked around. “Can Thunder go fast?”
“You want to do fast? We can do fast. Keep tight to me, and don’t let go.”
“Yes, Alita. Hanging on.”
Alita grinned and eased Thunder into a canter with heavy hooves shaking the ground. They continued on until they had a straightaway, and then, she let him run. “Here we go.”
It was like clinging to the back of a locomotive. Thunder loved straight lines, but Lightning loved everything else. She crouched low and held Hailey with one arm and then sat up to cue Thunder to slow. She looked at Hailey when they slowly began to turn back toward the rest of the gathering crowd.
“Do you want to run back toward the crowd?”
Hailey said, “Can we?”
She chuckled. “I wasn’t asking you, but good.”
Thunder began his heavy run, and the group watching got nervous. All but Alexi. He remained poised, taking pictures of them as the heavy plow horse reached deadly velocity. She sat up, and by the time they were at the crowd, he was back to a normal canter, and they turned and ran along the edge of the group.
They got to where the other horses were being tacked up, and she gave a whistle. Sanders helped Hailey down and introduced her to the other horses. Alita patted Thunder and dismounted, walking around and enjoying the feeling of her legs and hips moving properly. She did a few moves from her early ballet classes and paused to see Hailey looking at her. “What is it, Hales?”
“Are you an omega like my mom?”
“Um, not exactly like her, but sort of, why?”
“When you danced there, it was strange, like you were extra soft. I don’t know how to explain it.” Hailey smiled. “You should dance more and not just the funny dances you do with Mom and Olivia on the video shoots.”
“It is hard for me to move some days, Hales. So, I dance when I can and do riding and sword fighting when I can’t. Today is a good day, mostly. I might be limping later.”
“That’s okay. I will bring you cupcakes tonight. The aunts make good cupcakes.”
Alita smiled and smoothed her hand over Hailey’s cheek. “We are going to be long gone by tonight. It is hard to travel with the horses after dark.”
“I bet some of the cousins could help.”
“Probably. I don’t know, but I will have to be in bed by ten, or I turn into a troll.” She tickled Hailey, and the little girl shrieked.
Lexa walked up and hugged her again, getting more scent on her. Alita was amused at how she would have to get help to generate that scent. “You are looking happy, Lexa. You are glowing.”
“That would be the first month of pregnancy and all the vomiting. It’s sweat.”
“Then, you are a sweaty blonde goddess. The fabrics that they are using on you make you look all sweet and soft. Are you comfy?”
Lexa sighed. “At long last, I am.”
Alita hugged her and sighed. “And so cozy for cuddling. Which one of your mates do I thank for helping with my camouflage?”
Lexa made a fist and punched Alita in the arm. “Don’t be so accurate. Grigory was willing to fall on his sword on your behalf.”
Alita hooted and did not mention the jokes she could make. Lexa groaned and got her in a headlock, mimicking punching her in the head.
Alita was giggling uncontrollably when she regained custody of her head. “Hey, don’t mess with the hair. Hailey spent a lot of time and ribbons helping me with this.”
“Mom, can you make Alita stay for the party tonight?”
“Oh, sweety, Alita has to get the horses to bed.”
“Can’t her brothers do that?”
“Do you like it better if I tuck you in or if Illyana tucks you in?”
Hailey sighed. “Fine. Can she come back?”
“Ford asked for her to be here today, so you would have to ask him.”
Hailey sighed. “Not her with the horses, just Alita.”
Lexa smiled. “Alita is welcome any time.”
Bill came over and gave her a nod.
“Okay, you get a good seat. We are about to start.”
Lexa looked at her and frowned. “Did you get enough to eat?”
“Yeah. I have a stash of energy bars to keep me going.”
“Okay, but there is always food around, and I will tell Yorgi you have free run of the kitchen.”
“Thank you, Lexa, but we are here doing a job. I don’t want to overstep.”
Lexa hugged her. “You can never overstep, now go and play with your horseys.”
Alita snorted and checked Lightning’s saddle. It was loose as usual; he held his breath when her brothers saddled him.
She checked the watch she carried in her bodice and blinked. They had five hours of performing, and it was already three. It was showtime.
They did dances, capture the flag, jousts, and the final—the fight for the lady. Each side tried to claim the lady and her money while she waited for them. When it was down to the last two contenders, she whistled a certain sound, and she waited.
* * * *
Hailey leaned forward, and she whispered, “I like this part.”
Alexi murmured, “She summoned her horse?”
“Yeah.”
“That monster will have trouble getting past those lighter horses.”
Hailey smiled. “Uncle Alexi. Not Thunder. Lightning.”
She pointed, and a black streak charged out of the shadows and came straight for Alita. Alexi took shots through his zoom lens, and he saw the excited anticipation on Alita’s face. The horse charged toward her and didn’t stop. She reached out her hand and grabbed a loop on the saddle, using the momentum to swing her into the saddle, and then, she bolted away from the idiots. Alexi grinned as the crowd cheered. Niko was scowling.
“Niko, what is it?”
He frowned. “She’s injured. Beyond the old injury. She hurt herself tonight.”
Alita was riding her pursuers on a merry chase, and then, she bolted into the woods.
She emerged, and her face was pale as she rejoined the group. They bowed from their horses, she dismounted, and with a whistle, the other horses came for their bows. Everyone took a bow, and then, the horses moved toward the trailers.
The cousins with horse experience went to help take care of them.
Alexi watched Alita stagger out of the area around the trailer, and as he watched through his lens, he watched her hook her arm against a tree and reset her dislocated shoulder. “It was her shoulder. She just popped it back in.”
Niko nodded. “I saw. And now, she is retching from the pain. I believe she needs something to eat.”
Lexa grabbed him as he passed. “Niko, if you scare her, I will think of something horrible.”
“I cannot help her fear, but I can show her it is unfounded.”
“She isn’t used to people touching her.”
Niko raised his brows. “She will have to get used to it.”
Alexi just grinned. You literally could not say no to Niko. His lips silenced any words he didn’t like, and then, you just forgot about denying him.
* * * *
Alita bent double with pain. The loop had been in the wrong position. It needed to be on the side of the saddle, and someone had connected it to the top. That was it. She was going back to school and getting an office job as soon as her heat was over. She could smell the food being prepared for an all-night party, and her stomach growled. She washed her mouth out with water and spit it out. She hated getting sick.
“You are hurt.”
Nikolai. Fuck. She straightened and smiled brightly. “Of course not.”
“I don’t know why you are lying, but you are lying. Your entire body is on fire with pain.”
She shuddered. It was a fair assessment. “You recognize fire?”
He smiled, and his eyes glowed. “I do. I have a talent for it. Will you accept help?”
He held out his hand.
She stared at his long, strong fingers. Without asking what he meant, she slid her fingers along his, and he closed his digits around her hand. He pulled her to him and slid a hand around the back of her neck. He brushed his lips against hers, once, twice, and when her lips moved with his, he stroked her lips with his tongue.
Alita was supported by the hand at the back of her neck, and when his tongue touched hers, she gasped, and her good hand pressed against his chest. She was about to apply pressure when he breathed into her, and fire ripped through her veins. This wasn’t a kiss. This was an attack.
She whimpered and tried to push away, but a hand held her across her hips, and the other controlled her head. The fire kept coming, seeking out the pain and the aches and exhaustion and burning it. She hurt all over, and there was too much for the fire to do, so Alita fainted.
* * * *
Lexa watched him coming toward her, holding her friend like a limp offering. “What did you do?”
He looked a little sheepish. “I meant to alleviate her pain, but I underestimated what her standard level of pain is, and she overloaded when it stopped. I brought her here, so you would know I have not stepped out of line. I would leave her with Alexi while I get her something to eat, but he is taking pictures of the little treasure.”
Lexa smiled. “Leave her with me and bring her something to eat. Start with fruit when she wakes up. She’s hypoglycemic. She burns through food and gets tired fast, and if I know her brothers, they ate the snacks she set aside for herself.”
“They don’t take care of her.” He frowned.
“She has been ill for a few years. It wears on the caregivers.” She stroked Alita’s hair when Niko set Alita down. “They expect her to keep mentioning her distress, and she gets better at managing it and falls further down the hole.”
Lexa smiled at him. “Not that I know anything about that.”
He inclined his head to her. “I will be back shortly.”
Lexa cuddled Alita against her and kissed Grigory when he came to her. “What is wrong with Alita?”
“Nikolai kissed her. He was trying to help, but he shorted her out.”
A soft voice said, “Not really, but he wasn’t going to stop until something happened, so I made something happen. I woke up the moment he lifted me. Playing dead was just easier.”
Alita looked up at Lexa and gave a weak smile. Grigory hooted with laughter.
Lexa chuckled. “Good girl.”
Grigory picked Lexa up and kissed her softly, and Lexa forgot that she was Alita’s watcher.
Alita slipped away and headed for the nearby woods. Something was calling her. Something small.
Away from the party, she heard the tiny mewing and saw the white speck about twelve feet up. She wrangled her skirts up and tucked them in her belt then climbed up to get the tiny kitten and tucked it in her bodice for the climb down the tree. The climb down was worse than the climb up, but the kitten was comfy and warm. She could tell by the heavy purr between her breasts.
She smiled and walked back to where another small creature was upset. Hailey was sobbing to Grigory that her kitten got out, and it was lost. Alita walked up and smoothed a hand on Hailey’s head. “What does the kitten look like?”
“It’s white.”
Alita looked in her bodice. “Check.”
“With big green eyes.”
She looked again. “Check. Any other distinguishing features?”
“Um... it’s a kitten?”
“I just found one up a tree. Hold on a second. He’s in here pretty good.” She reached into her bodice and pulled out the kitten. Hailey shrieked, sobbed, and hugged her.
Niko handed her a fruit plate and smiled as she ate it. “Aside from the obvious, what else is in there?”
“Usually car keys, my cellphone, and a lip gloss.”
Hailey headed for the house, lecturing the kitten as she went.
Alita ate the fruit, and then, she realized that she had just climbed a tree with an arm that had been near to useless a few minutes earlier. So, that was what he had been doing. Whatever it was had removed the pain.
He brought her a plate covered with dumplings. “I have no idea what is in them. Some are from Delun’s family, and others are from Grigory’s.”
Lexa smiled. “We need to go out for a girls’ lunch one day. I will ask Lady Fen for a recommendation. What are you up to tomorrow?”
“Um, I am going to be making a massage therapy appointment with a nice beta in town. He’s good, but it isn’t a fun process.”
Niko frowned. “You pay someone to touch you?”
He made it sound like she was hiring a hooker. “A trained therapist. Yes. He goes looking for the knots and nothing else. Nothing arousing about the process at all.”
“But he touches you.”
“Yeah. He has to. It is part of the therapy.” She huffed. “I can’t move if he doesn’t.”
He was glaring at her, and she glared back, and the music started up. Lexa’s ex-boyfriend and now mate, Arthur, stepped forward and held his hand out. “They are playing our song.”
The strains of the music of the song Lexa had written to expose the worst night of her life began to play. She smiled and took his hand, walking to the dance floor with him. She swayed, and then, their dance began to take on a controlled energy that was fascinating to watch. Alita started to nibble at the dumplings, eating the ones she liked and putting aside those she didn’t. She slipped away to get more while everyone watched Lexa and Arthur dance.
“Does my son know you have slipped away?” A male voice accented with more Russian than she had heard at close range spoke to her.
She turned and blinked at the older version of Nikolai. “Um, maybe. He seems to be watching me closely.”
The man bowed gracefully. “I am Vrenko. Father to Nikolai and Grigory via the beautiful Olyna. Our daughter is a law unto herself. She has omegas and betas weeping to have her, and the alphas stay out of her way.”
“I try and stay out of most alphas’ ways, so it usually works out for me.”
He smiled, and the corner of his eyes crinkled, the only indicator of age in his face. Nikolai was going to look hot when he got old. “It seems our treasure has marked you as hers.”
“She wanted to get Nikolai to take it down a few notches. He was a little focused.”
“Your heat is less than a week away. There is a reason for her caution. Now would be the perfect time for Niko to steal you, and ten days from now, you would be carrying his child.”
