CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Tavish greeted various betas around the estate with enthusiasm. The interactions were always the same. The beta’s face initially lit up when they saw him, then they schooled their expressions into suitably respectful ones.

“Good to see you back, sir, you’re looking well. Nice to meet you, ma’am,” they said with eyes on their boots. The first ma’am set Mir’s teeth on edge, and every subsequent one had their smile getting a little more forced.

A little verbal dance ensued with Tavish telling them he was the same person he’d always been and that they should call him Tav. The betas eyed him with suspicion until, after about ten minutes, Tavish finally won them over. All the time, Tavish kept a hand on Mir’s back or arm, and Mir tried to act like a dutiful, quiet, obedient omega. Scrubbing chicken shit off the bottom of the coop was more fun than this.

Mir was about to call time when they walked into the stable yard. Now this was more like it.

A short, red-haired beta was grooming a stupendous chestnut stallion. The beast had muscles on muscles, but stood sleepily in the sun, eyes half closed and head drooping as the groom used a soft-bristled brush to burnish the already glowing coat. Apart from a bridle, the beast wore no other tack.

The groom straightened, and Mir decided that life was indeed unfair. The beta would have made an attractive omega, with his pale skin and scattering of freckles. The bugger even had dimples.

“Taven!” they exclaimed, then the poor sod’s face clouded over and they seemed to shrink down. Mir suddenly understood why Tavish found it so annoying when they did it.

“I’m sorry, I mean…” the beta started.

“His name is Tavish. He doesn’t want you to call him sir unless his Pa is around, and I’m Mir. If you call me Ma’am, I’ll knock you on your ass. You are?”

The beta stared at Mir as if they’d grown another head. Tavish sounded as if he was choking as he tried to contain his laughter.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen Ramen at a loss for words,” a voice came from behind them. “Can I steal him away for a while?”

Mir turned to see Langish standing a few feet away and flinched. Even though they knew it wasn’t Zepish, the sight of him still set their heart racing. Tavish pulled Mir into his side and stood a little taller. That Tavish was as tall as his older brother had pride swelling, but with his protective instincts all haywire, if Mir didn’t pull themself together, a fight could break out. Tavish might be as tall, but unless his older brother didn’t have a clue about fighting either, Mir’s daft, over-protective alpha would get a pounding.

“Time to go hang out with the other alphas and boast about anything and everything.” Langish leaned in closer, and Mir steeled themselves not to pull away. Not Zepish.

“I’ll give you a hint, our father always wins, much to his joy. It’s not quite a literal pissing contest, but it’s close.” Langish’s appraising gaze ran over the burnished stallion. “Doing a fine job there, Ramen. When we start the ‘my horse is better than yours’ part, I think Father will win hands down. Blaze the Third is as good as his sire and grandsire, although he will have some serious competition in the ‘who’s got the best omega’ contest. Natelle has been out of the running for years. Perelle usually wins. It’s why he keeps her around, but this might be the last time. Speaking of getting fancy, our wonderful stepma is looking for you, Mir, something about a dress, but I can say I couldn’t find you if you want?”

“Oh, hell yes. I wouldn’t want to punch the hostess twice within twenty-four hours of entering her home; people might think I’m uncouth or something.”

Langish didn’t bother hiding his grin; although Tavish tried for a disapproving expression. His twitching lips gave him away.

“Oh, go on. I’ll be fine,” Mir said. “Ramen here will keep me company, and then I’ll plead pregnancy exhaustion and hide out in our room until the ceremony. That way, she can’t offer me a dress, and I won’t piss her off by refusing.”

“You’re sure?” Tavish asked. His body remained tense, and his hands kept forming fists before he consciously relaxed them. His emotions were definitely still out of wack but his attempts to control them earned significant points. Mir knew how hard it could be to fight hormones.

Mir raised their eyebrows, and Tavish held up his hands in defeat before turning to Ramen. “If Mir so much as breaks a nail…”

“Got it, sir,” the redhead replied, and with a last searching glance at Mir, Tavish walked off with his older brother.

“Looking a bit stressed there, brother,” Langish said. “I thought, as the groom, that I’d be the one sweating today, but you’re stinking up the place, and we haven’t even….”

Their voices faded as the brothers started on the ten-minute walk back up to the house. Mir still waited until they were out of sight because omega hearing might be crap, but alphas could hear a pin drop twenty feet away.

“So, what can you tell me about Tavish that I don’t already know?” Mir asked the pretty, green-eyed beta.

Ramen shrugged, clearly more comfortable now that the alphas had left. Mir knew how they felt.

“I don’t know Tavish, but I knew Tav and Taven quite well. I got here at eighteen, just before their Ma died, but I didn’t see any of the Grabar pups much, apart from the twins. Even at that age, they were flexing their proto-alpha muscles with any beta who stayed still long enough. Tav spent all their time in the school room or shadowing the local doctor.

“But we lived together in the junior beta dorm for a few months before Tav left for university. Tav became Taven and got chucked out of the main house at sixteen because only official adults can go to medical school in Malthus City. They only came back a few times after that.

“Telish acted like a bear with a bee up his ass when Taven refused to affiliate.” Ramen winced at the memory. “We all suffered for a while, and no one dared to mention Taven’s name for a few years. But when I lived with Taven in the junior beta house, they kept themself to themself, did every chore on their list without moaning, but they never joined in the bedroom antics, more’s the pity. I go for cute, shy ones every time.”

Mir huffed out a laugh. “We never would have hit it off then.”

Ramen shrugged. “I don’t know. I bet we would have been great partners in crime. What’s your story, anyway? Did you miscount?”

Mir frowned. “Miscount?”

“Yeah, you know, did more receiving than by accident? You’re clearly not a natural omega. We keep an eye on each other here; we’ve got a chart we mark up when we…” their face paled, and Mir guessed they’d remembered who they was talking to. “So nobody ends up in danger of manifesting either way.”

No, no miscounting. Try injected with a manifestation drug, kidnapped by a Grabar, kept in a brothel, raped, abused, and experimented on for eight years. How is your day going?

Voicing their thoughts probably wouldn’t be too helpful, and Mir refused to lie about something that hadn’t been a stupid error, so they changed the subject.“It’s getting a bit hot out here. Is there anywhere I can get a drink?”

“Sure, it’s time for a bite of lunch anyway. Sayen only cooks breakfast and dinner for betas. Do you want to join me for a snack or go back up there for whatever fancy stuff Sayen had made?”

Mir shuddered at the thought of all those pastel and bejeweled omegas trying to outdo each other. “Not in a million years. Last night was quite enough pinky-pointing and cutlery choices to last me a lifetime. I don’t know if you noticed, but I don’t really fit in.”

Ramen chuckled as they led Blaze a few feet into the shade and shifted the bucket of water near enough for the beast to reach. Caring for the horse before themself earned Ramen more points. “Neither did Tav as a kid. You two kinda fit. I’m happy for you both. Tav was always a decent person while they lived here. And going into omega medicine? Bloody epic. Out of all of them, Taven was always my favorite. The twins were focused on growing balls, and Clay is an attention whore like you wouldn’t believe. I like them, though. It’s always fun when that Grabar visits the beta house.

“It’s funny how many different personalities can come from the same two people. Telish has my respect, but I really liked their ma; she never treated us betas as anything but people.”

Mir imagined Tavish going on about how all people were equally important, no matter their gender. The church spouted the same thing, but Tavish had never been treated as lesser because of their genitals. Mir bet Ramen knew all about it.

At least the betas on the Grabar estate watched out for each other. The omegas, Natelle and Perelle, would have no one in their corner when their lord and master decided to move them on, not even each other.

The building next to the stable block Ramen guided Mir to dripped money. Art adorned the walls, and fancy rugs lay between the sumptuous sofas in the living area. As in the main house, everything seemed to be a shade of blue, like the Grabar tartan. The gulf between Mir and Tav felt wider than ever. Even the beta workers lived like kings in the Grabar world.

“Tav lived here as a teenager?”

“Nah, this is the senior beta dorm. I’m now head groom, so I moved over here five years ago. Tav spent a couple of months in the junior dorm after being kicked out of the main house. It’s not quite as fancy as this; there’s only one sleeping room over there, and it’s right across the yard from the main house. So it’s the first port of call if there are any issues out of hours.

“Here in the senior dorm, we’re farther from the hubbub of the main house, and we have a few bedrooms upstairs, even some individual ones for the unsociable fuckers.” Ramen’s face dropped.

Mir assumed Ramen had just realized they’d sworn in front of a Grabar alpha’s omega.

“I am so sorry,” they started.

Mir pursed their lips. “Does it look like I give a shit if you swear?”

Ramen’s eyes widened so much that Mir thought their eyeballs might fall out. Mir burst out laughing, and Ramen reddened as they gave a rueful smile. Mir discovered another reason why Ramen might be a popular bed partner, apart from their bright personality and attractiveness. Ramen blushed like a tomato, and even though Mir didn’t have the slightest interest in bedding the beta, they still wondered how far down the redness went.

They’d be damn popular as an omega in Hell. The thought dumped ice water on Mir’s good mood. How many betas had gone missing from this estate? If Zepish had a habit of stealing omegas off the street, maybe a few had vanished from his home too. Mir had never asked the origins of the other omegas in Hell, probably because they’d never wanted to reveal their own pathetic past. But as Tavish had said, Mir didn’t have anything to be ashamed of.

“Juice, water, or milk?” Ramen asked.

“Apple juice, if you’ve got it.”

“Sure.” Ramen opened a cupboard in the kitchen area and plucked a couple of glasses down. To Mir’s approval, they were ordinary glass rather than the fancy crystal goblets they’d used last night.

In no time, Mir had chugged down juice so cold it made their teeth ache.

When it was gone, yet another smile bloomed on Ramen’s face. “Yep, definitely not a born omega. You drink like a field hand.”

“And I’ll take that as the compliment it is. But, if I’m a field hand, you’d better fill it up again.”

With the second glass also empty, Mir decided Ramen needed something in return for their hospitality, but the only currency Mir possessed was information.

“I grew up on a farm, the kid of a proving house alpha, and my ma was repossessed when I was six. My dear old Pa climbed into a bottle and left me to run the farm and bring up my twin baby siblings. Tavish might have spent his childhood with his nose in a book, but I spent mine wrangling beef steers, breaking horses, and beating the crap out of the posh kids in town for looking down on us. You might have to mind your language around the Grabars, but I’m not one of them, and I never will be.”

“You’re mated to one though.”

Mir glanced away, not willing to meet the accusation in Ramen’s eyes. “Yeah, well, things happen sometimes.”

“How the hell did you two meet anyway? Talk about chalk and cheese. You would not believe some of the rumors buzzing around here last night.”

Mir mustered a grin. “A lady has the right to a few secrets, doesn’t she?”

Ramen’s mouth opened and closed like a fish for a moment before clearly deciding that discretion was the better part of valor and shut it. Teasing this pretty but none-too-bright beta was fun, but getting details about Tavish’s family was far more critical. Pumping anyone else for information wouldn’t happen with Tavish hovering.

“So what about the rest of the Grabar alphas? I’m in need of a bit of inside information on what I’m getting myself into, and Tavish isn’t exactly the chatty sort. I’ve trusted you with some of my secrets, and I won’t pass on anything you say.”

Ramen’s eyes lit up with the prospect of gossip. “I won’t bother telling you about Natelle’s little shits. They’re beta cannon fodder, all of them. You’ve met Clayen, and the legend of your right hook when you met is growing by the hour.”

“Why, thank you, I try to please.” Mir performed a slight bow. “But the legend needs to grow. I also punched Natelle in her bitchy mouth last night.”

Ramen’s mouth fell open. “You did not.”

Mir shrugged. “Ask anyone who was there. Although don’t expect the betas who were serving to tell the truth. I bet they were sworn to secrecy. But you’re clever. You can tell when someone is lying, right?”

Ramen rubbed his chin. “Kenen was working. He can’t lie for shit.”

“There you go then. Now, details on Tav and his siblings, please.”

The beta looked around as if someone could have materialized behind them in the last few seconds. “As you’ve probably worked out, Clayen’s got the gift of the gab and always seems to land on their feet. They’ve even worked it so they get to stay in the main house despite being beta. It pisses Natelle off no end, so none of the rest of us, betas, mind. I guess they’ll eventually end up replacing Daven as Langish’s Prime beta when Telish and Daven step down. Perelle’s sweet, but she was an omega waiting to happen since her ma died birthing her.”

“What about the twins?” Mir asked nonchalantly, even though their heart knocked in their chest. Hopefully, Ramen wouldn’t pick it up with their beta senses.

“They might look the same, but they are very different. Langish is a good alpha, fair but firm. I think the family is in good hands with him, not that I don’t think Tavish would do a good job too,” they hastily added.

Mir kept their posture open and friendly even as their back protested standing up for so long. “Langish has got nothing to worry about. Tavish likes the quiet life. The thought of being in charge of this place gives him the shivers.”

Mir had never been happier about betas having a less acute sense of smell compared to gendered malthusians because even Mir could smell their own distress at the thought of having to interact with alphas and omegas daily. As for betas, the ones in Hell were evil bastards, but every single Grabar beta so far appeared to be a good person.

Trying to be casual, Mir asked, “What about the one who isn’t here?”

Ramen’s eyebrows almost met as they frowned. “Zepish? I haven’t seen the spare for nearly a decade, and even then, it was only a fleeting glimpse, thank God.” Ramen tapped their thumb against their first three fingers to draw the attention of the Three-Faced God to their plea.

“He might have changed, but as a proto-alpha, and after he first manifested, we all avoided him like the plague. Tav, Clay, and Per did too. But at least when he ambushed his siblings, he only beat them up rather than beating them up and then fucking them. Even if we put out without a murmur, he still used his fists or boots afterward. Because me and Kenen are short, we were his favorite targets. Luckily, the folks in the junior beta house were ok with balancing us. Otherwise, we both would have grown working channels. Alpha spunk is powerful stuff.” Their face reddened as they realized what they’d said. “Not that there’s anything wrong with being an omega,” Ramen blurted. “Really, it seems quite… relaxing.”

Mir’s eyebrows shot up almost to their hairline. “Relaxing?”

Ramen got even redder. “Stupid thing to say, right?”

“Oh, yes.” Watching them squirm was quite fun, but this seemed a great time for a little education.

Mir waved their hand at their crotch, “What a person is here, is not necessarily what a person is here.” They tapped their temple. “I bet you’ve been told you look like an omega many times.” Ramen’s jaw clenched, clearly about to refute what they probably thought was an unfair accusation. “But you’re not, not where it counts in your mind. I was a proto-alpha as a pup, and my brain never really got the message that I’d manifested as anything else.”

Ramen’s eyes widened. “Oh shit, you were forced? Fuck, I’ve heard of that happening. I’m so sorry. And I bet Tav helped you, didn’t he? That must be how you met.”

Before Ramen’s imagination ran away with them, Mir butted in. “Tavish is pretty dominant now, but I didn’t know him when he was a beta.”

Ramen looked around again as if someone might be watching. “All of us betas who were here when those five were growing up are convinced that Zepish is the reason that Taven never came home and refused to affiliate. They really didn’t want to ever be under Zepish’s thumb again. And I didn’t blame them.

“If we’d lost both Telish and Langish, I think a lot of us would have been hunting for another alpha to affiliate to, even those who have genetic links to the family, like me. And I wouldn’t be saying any of this if I thought there was even a tiny chance of Zepish hearing it. Here, look at this,” Ramen turned and lifted their shirt, displaying a jagged four-inch scar above their right hip.

“Rusty nail. He pushed me onto it when I didn’t bend over quick enough.” Ramen pulled their shirt down and turned around. “I’m not ashamed of it. It’s him that should be ashamed. Telish knocked him down when he found out. But rather than calming him down, it sent him into musth, and he attacked Natelle. Daven and Telish dragged him off to some facility, and he’s only been back a couple of times since. Whenever he came home, the other betas covered for me, and I hid out in a hotel in town. I don’t know or care what he’s been doing, and I hope he never comes back.” The vehemence in the previously sunny beta’s voice touched a chord.

“I know what he’s been doing,” Mir whispered.

Ramen was beside Mir with their hand on their shoulder in a heartbeat. “Did I hear right, you know Zepish?”

Silently, Mir turned around, pulled their shirt out of their bib overalls and lifted the side of it up to expose their flank.

“Oh my fucking god, did he do all that?”

Mir pulled their shirt down, immediately regretting that they’d revealed it. “Tavish got me out of a horrible place, but yes, an alpha called Zepish, who looks just like Langish, was involved. I nearly wet myself at dinner last night when Langish walked in, but he doesn’t smell the same.”

Ramen took Mir’s hand, but it didn’t make them feel uncomfortable. It felt as if they’d finally found someone who understood. Tavish couldn’t, not really; he was from a different world.

“I won’t break my affiliation vow to Telish and Langish, but outside of that, if you need anything, let me know, alright?”

Mir nodded, amazed that they appeared to have made a friend, apart from Kevelle, back in Hell. They couldn’t recall ever having had one before. Clayen acted all friendly, but Mir didn’t trust the popinjay as far as they could throw them. They had met plenty of manipulative people in their life, and they suspected Clayen would be right up near the top of the list.

Running footsteps beat a tattoo on the path outside, and the door was ripped open. As if their thoughts had summoned them, Clayen stood in the doorway.

“Thank fuck for that,” they panted, out of breath, eyes on Mir. “You need to get out of here. Zepish has just turned up with Sakish. Tavish went nuts, trying to rip Zepish’s throat out. I think he’s in musth because I’ve never seen anyone that fucking angry. Pa got between them, but Lang had to help pull Tav off. He’s practically foaming at the mouth, totally off his rocker. The whole place is going up in smoke, and it won’t be long before they’re hunting for you to explain.”

Zepish’s name stopped time. Clay’s words stretched, deformed, and lost meaning, thudding in their ears along with their pounding heart. As if the words paralyzed their brain, Mir froze, not knowing which way to run, away from Zepish or toward Tavish.

“There’s something else.” Every pore of Clayen’s body radiated distress as their eyes pleaded for Mir’s understanding. “I recognized you as soon as I saw you. The paintings in Heaven and Hell’s bar? I did them. Zepish sent me photographs. I didn’t mention it as I assumed you didn’t want it publicized that you’d been a proving house omega.”

Mir’s stomach dropped, and they latched on to one detail, hoping against hope that it wasn’t true. They was sure that Telish and Langish could handle a crazed Tavish, but…

“Who’s Sakish?”