Chapter Five

Amby put on a skirt and loose shirt for the dance class that afternoon.

Her body felt a little less tight and hot as she walked into the living area of her suite.

Ohno was sitting with Dorian, and she sighed. "If I were a regular guest, this would be hella weird. Who am I kidding? It's still weird."

Ohno smiled. "If you would like, I can arrange a massage for you this evening at the spa nearby."

"How nearby?"

"Other side of the manor."

She sighed. "Fine. We are going to lunch. Are you free?"

He grinned. "I have excellent staff and good recommendations. Yes, I would be glad to." Ohno said, "I don't remember that outfit from yesterday."

"Neither do I, but it was on my made bed, so I took the hint."

Ohno chuckled. "I would say Illu sent it, but it was the royal beta who did it."

"Of course. My cousin is really excited that I am here."

Dorian smiled. "I know I am. Ready for lunch?"

She nodded and grabbed her phone.

Ohno smiled. "I will warn Illu that you might not be up for a class."

"I am going to try."

"A warning just prepares her. She might also adjust the song she's teaching." He smiled. "May I join you for lunch?"

She looked to Dorian, and he nodded. "Sure."

Ohno grinned. "Excellent. The table is waiting."

Amby smiled. "Of course it is."

Dorian got up and put his hand on the small of her back. The loose shirt she was wearing let his palm touch her back, and the manta ray tingled.

Ohno turned toward her and smiled.

She exhaled. "Oh boy."

Dorian slipped his fingers up her back and touched the waterfall. A full-body shiver went through him, and Amby took a quick step forward to get away from the contact.

She had her phone clutched in her fist and caught up to Ohno. Dorian took a few long steps, and his hand remained above her clothing when he touched her again.

They walked past the market area and over to a restaurant that was an open building facing a number of very cozy-looking tables and chairs sized for alphas.

The server grinned and brought them to a table where the lazily moving population of the village was visible.

Amby sat and held her phone up, taking footage of the gentle and late waking of the visitors compared to the purposeful moves of the locals. She wasn't going to comment on the visiting betas and alphas who looked a little sore.

Amby covered her mouth. "Oh, damn."

Dorian looked over. "What are you seeing?"

"Um, never mind."

Ohno had watched her gaze. "She's noticing how many visitors over-indulged last night."

Dorian nodded. "That happens. The alpha that they respond to might be a little rough with them if the match isn't precise."

"As a punishment?"

Ohno shrugged. "A learning tool. Many of the guests try and bite off more than they can chew, so to speak. They weren't injured, but they are feeling a little delicate and may give their cuff a rest tonight."

Amby blushed. "Right. So, it wasn't to be mean or anything? Or to laugh at them later?"

Dorian cocked his head. "I don't know what kind of men you have been hooking up with, but that isn't what happens here at all."

Amby paled. "Oh. Right. Sorry. I am still working this out. They don't give betas etiquette pamphlets."

Ohno grinned, and when the server came over, he said, "When you bring the drinks, can you bring an etiquette pamphlet?"

"She's already wearing a cuff." The female beta was smiling, but it wasn't unkind.

"There hasn't been a closed contract. She was just wondering if the information was available."

"Oh, sure, Ohno. I will get those drinks in and be right back with the pamphlet. Oh, we have it available as a QR code on the edge of the table."

Amby couldn't get her blush down, so she looked at the edge of the table and saw the small sticker. She scanned it, and when the page popped up, she started reading.

The pamphlet was frank but not crude, and it mentioned that the ideal situation would be a match above ninety percent for the best experience.

The rest of the document was all about anatomy and how to report an injury in case of a sex-sprain.

She looked up, and an appetizer she hadn't ordered was sitting in front of her. "Where did that come from?"

Ohno smiled. "Try it; you might like it."

She washed her hands in the bowl next to her with the towel and picked up the small, wrapped thing that shattered when she bit into it. Spicy, meaty, and melted cheesy, she finished the mouthful quickly.

"What did I just eat?"

Dorian smirked. "Mini taco."

She reached for a second one, and they were both smiling. "What?"

They looked at her and shrugged. "Nothing."

She paused and took a quick picture of the platter and the stuff that arrived for the guys. The pamphlet had been slid in next to her. She ate another one of the teeny tacos, and the guys got into their meals. The small bits really hit the spot, and the dipping sauces were great.

A festive juice cocktail was put next to her, and Ohno smiled. "It isn't alcoholic. Is the aversion religious?"

"I am an extreme lightweight. One and I am flirting; two and I am napping. There isn't much in between."

She sipped at the beverage and smiled.

Ohno asked, "Did you drink when you were climbing? Well, when you rested?"

She shook her head. "I forgot. The mist was nice at the top of the world, though."

Dorian smiled. "Thank you."

Her phone chirped, and she checked it. "Oh, another vlog has gone up."

She watched the shopping at Ahheel's shop and blushed. "I thought I cut that out."

Ohno thumbed his phone. "Oh, the shopping trip. Yes, that was fun. The suits were great on you."

Dorian quickly tried to catch up and fast forwarded to the swimwear. He whistled softly. "Please tell me you got them all."

"I got the sports suits. That's it." She muttered, "That's all I need." She continued eating, and when she was full, she lifted her head and shifted the plate toward the centre.

Ohno shrugged. "It was a pity. May I?"

She waved at him to finish her food. To her amusement, Dorian partook as well.

The tacos disappeared.

The plates were cleared, and the server came over. Amby finished her juice and set the cup down. "It was lovely, thank you."

The woman smiled. "I am glad you enjoyed it. We have selections divided between local and mainland if you want to venture out a little next time."

The woman extended the paypad to Amby, but Ohno extended his hand and paid, much to the woman's surprise.

"Oh. It's like that."

Amby blinked. "Is it?"

Dorian nodded. "It is."

Ohno smiled.

The server grinned. "It's about time."

He chuckled, and Dorian smirked.

Amby's phone alerted to a text, and she sighed. "Illu is ready to work me over. Thank you very much for lunch."

Ohno grinned. "Do you need to grab any equipment?"

Amby groaned and thudded her head to the table. "Yes."

Dorian held her chair. "Come on. Let's get you set up."

She grunted as she got to her feet, and he held her arm. She looked up to thank him, and he kissed her softly.

Her head spun, and when he lifted his head, she was pressed against him, and his hand was on his mark under her shirt. She was dazed and leaned out of his embrace slowly.

Ohno snorted and eased her over to him. "Come on. Illu is waiting."

She really wanted to kiss Dorian again and looked over at him as Ohno led her away. He smiled and joined them as they got her equipment from the manor.

The studio still smelled of wax and oil, and Illu was waiting. "So, you have had a rough morning?"

"Yeah. The waterfall was taller than I thought."

Dorian chuckled.

Illu froze. "You went to the top of the falls?"

Amby smiled. "Yes, and now, I have regrets."

Illu wrinkled her nose. "Stiff?"

"Oh, yeah. I could barely lift my arms to eat."

"Well, we will warm you up slowly. Are you going to get your camera set up?"

"Yup. I will be with you as soon as I can."

It was like moving underwater, but she got the phone tripod up and angled it to catch the dance instruction.

Ohno and Dorian sat in a corner, and Illu served them tea.

"You are kidding."

Illu shrugged. "They both have an interest in you."

"Yeah, but my dancing is going to be a Frankenstein stumble today."

"Well, let's raise the dead. Come on."

Amby started the recording, and Illu started the music.

The instructor focused more on posture and correct movements.

"Dorian, you are a better dancer than Ohno. Come up here and help her."

He grinned at Ohno, got up to Amby's side, and wrapped an arm around her, his hand low on her belly and hip.

Illu smiled. "You two look so adorable."

"Auntie!" Ohno was shocked.

"Oh, relax. She has three marks, and you are one of them. She and Dorian aren't in as close quarters as you and she are."

"Yes, but he needs to be careful."

Amby looked at him in surprise. "Aw, that is so sweet, Ohno."

Illu said, "Of course he does. She's a beta."

Amby moved in step with Dorian. "He's referring to the FGM that I underwent. I have been repaired, but no one knows how it works, including me. Mind you, Hara had the same situation, and she's doing fine."

"FGM?" Dorian murmured like he should know the phrase.

Illu spoke weakly. "Female genital mutilation. A religious group is finding girls that exhibit omega indicators, and they sew them shut."

Amby looked at her in surprise.

Illu shrugged. "Haravin and I talked."

"Right. Well, victims were identified after Haravin was discovered, and I was one of them. It makes sense as we are family."

Illu leaned forward. "Didn't you know?"

"How? I was given something to make me sick as a teen and brought into a clinic, and when I left, everything hurt. I got used to the physical restriction, but this is my first time being free. No stitches."

Dorian froze and slowly withdrew his hands. "So, they mutilated you."

"Yes." She nodded. "And I have gotten better, but I am still lacking a few social benchmarks."

Ohno walked up to her. "Which is why your friend sent you here?"

"Well, there aren't any of the indicators for my marks back home. Not a lot of waterfalls and even less giant rays."

Dorian frowned. "But you climbed..."

"Yeah, being able to stretch my legs that far apart is new. Weirdly fun, but new." She chuckled. "If you are wondering what I think you are wondering, the ache is all in my arms and shoulders. A little bit on my inner thighs, but that is why Ohno is booking me a massage."

Ohno contacted with her and hugged her close. To her surprise, Dorian pressed against her and made a little sandwich with her in the middle.

She inhaled and then slowly exhaled as she relaxed. "You guys are cutting into my instruction time."

Illu chuckled. "Dorian can help you keep up after your massage. Tomorrow, you go to the island of butterflies?"

"Yes."

"Then, we will resume when Ohno tells me you are available again." Illu grinned. "At least the studio has been used."

Amby reached one hand forward and one back. "Uh, guys? I really need to shut off the camera."

She wiggled and was against both of them more firmly than she had assumed.

"Guys?"

Illu laughed as she left the space.

Dorian sighed. "I didn't know you had been injured."

"Neither did I until some police and a lawyer arrived at work to escort me to the medical facility. They knocked me out, and there are way too many videos of my genitals in the public forums now. I had never thought of me being a legal exhibit before, but I was the only one who agreed to let them film all the details of the stitches." She sighed. "Testifying to the impact was interesting, but I feel horrible for the girls who didn't even make it through puberty."

"How many?" Dorian murmured.

"In our grouping? Eight. Fourteen of us in total. They got better at hiding the stitches as they went. I have met what we hope is the first case, but she has come out of it all right. Hara was in there somewhere, and so was I."

She wiggled a little more. "Can you guys let me out? This is warm and all, but it is odd by anyone's standards."

"It won't be odd later."

"Later is later. Now, I smell like you guys a bit."

Ohno chuckled. "Not enough. And folk from Wonder depend more on visuals than scent. It's all the water washing scent away."

"Oh. Got it. So, then there is no point in this current exercise."

Dorian chuckled. "Is the heat therapeutic?"

She paused. "It actually is. Darn it."

They both chuckled, and when the door opened, Hara's voice said, "Hey, guys. Oh. Amby, are you in there?"

Amby waved. "Yup. I am in here."

Hara laughed, and Narro said, "Interesting technique with all of them standing and fully clothed."

Amby answered, "Well, we can't all just wiggle our ears and have the opposite sex running."

Narro snorted. "I caught Hara with my fancy footwork. The wiggling came later."

Amby sighed. "Hara, can you throw a fish or something to get one of these guys off so we can leave you to your practice?"

Ohno sighed. "Fine, but this isn't over."

He stepped back, and she staggered. Dorian caught her and helped her stabilize. She got her phone and collapsed her tripod.

"Okay, back to the manor, and I am going to crash while this thing uploads."

Ohno wrapped an arm around her waist. "We will get you that massage. Promise."

Hara snickered. "Have fun, cousin. Are you up for dinner tomorrow?"

"After I get back from the butterfly island? Yes."

"Your matches are welcome as well."

"Oh. Sure. Uh, guys, if you have time..." She looked at them and shrugged.

Ohno laughed. "Yes, we will make time. Come on."

She should have expected what happened next. They returned to the manor and entered the spa, and she was stuck in a room with both of them as Ohno covered the massage table with a pristine sheet and lay another on top.

She got under the sheet and wiggled around while they tried not to look, but her clothing dropped out from under the top sheet. When she got herself to her stomach, Ohno had warmed some oil and guided her hair to one side with one finger. He began to massage her shoulders and hissed. "Damn, you must be in agony."

"Yeah, the mortification isn't helping."

"I own the hotel, and I train for this. This far out, you have to be able to step in to take over for any of your staff."

She grunted, and he kept massaging. The room was quiet, and Dorian was politely sitting so she could relax. When Ohno got the knots out of her shoulders and moved down her back, she was out.