Chapter Twenty

She was breathing through a mask while Dr. Kritz ran scan after scan. Her skin had been scraped, her blood analyzed, and now, her metabolic activation was tested. She was being gone over with a fine-toothed comb.

Drin listened to the order, and then, she produced a pulse of energy. And then she did it again. She continued a steady throb of energy on command until she started to get weak. Ekron and Vikor shouted and thudded against the glass. Remark flew up and reached down into the tank, pulling her up gently by her hair until he could reach her shoulders. From there, he lifted her up and out, handing her to Ekron. He pulled the mask from her, and she was pressed up against the wall.

There was rushing in her ears as he entered her. He thrust rapidly until he groaned, and she filled with heat. Her mind woke up as she absorbed what he had left, and she looked at the surprised expression on Kritz’s face over Ekron’s shoulder.

He checked his readout. “Can you do that again?”

She stared. “What?”

“Your biochemistry. Your entire system had a ripple effect. I would like to observe it again.”

“Remark, could you? The other two have legal standing that I don’t want to mess with.”

“Of course.”

Ekron lifted her off, and then, Remark slid into her. The stimulation set her off before he came, and she held to his shoulders as he pressed himself into her until he was empty.

Kritz chortled. “Excellent. This is excellent. It is a small sample, but we haven’t seen this kind of symbiotic behaviour before. Wonderful. Drin, you are extraordinary.”

“What am I, and can I get dressed yet?”

Kritz nodded. “You can get dressed, and Klauz is kicking himself for not being here to see that suit in person.”

“I can wear it tomorrow next to the pool.”

Kritz chuckled. “He considers that acceptable, but he is angling for you to do some kind of sex-related penance.”

She sighed. “Let me address that when I have some clothes on.” She leaned into Remark and asked him to pull out. She adjusted the swimwear and returned to the curtained changing area to put her dress on. She returned to the lab when she was suitable for public viewing again and had the suit in her small purse.

Zera was there with Torun, and they were discussing the findings with the others. She entered the conversation and asked, “So, why do human women hate me to the point of violence?”

Kritz smiled. “Did you have a head injury as a child?”

“I was six and jumped off the dock into shallow water. I spent a few days in hospital and then was sent home. Why?”

A three-dimensional image appeared over a scanner, and part of her brain was lit up. Kritz smiled. “You have scar tissue on the part of your brain that creates the impulse for your protective pheromones.”

“Protective pheromones?”

“Yes, similar to the ones that Vikor puts out. His are for attraction. Yours are for defence. I can create some nanites to target that zone if you like.”

Zera smiled. “No charge.”

Torun stared at her. “Love, are you sick?”

Zera elbowed him. “Funny. The information we have just gained into how Drin works is priceless. Plus, it is a chance to try out some new tech.”

Vikor growled. “We don’t want her to have body mods beyond the removal of the scar tissue.”

Zera cocked her head. “Really? Kritz has done amazing work on Arcady, and the funds I can offer Drin for becoming an experimental subject would be considerable.”

Ekron chuckled. “She doesn’t need it.”

Zera paused. “What do you mean?”

Drin smiled. “He means that I finally got Vaka’s inheritance. It was passed on to me.”

“I thought you would give that to Shisha and Vaken.”

She paused and linked her hands together. “For six years, I gave them everything, bought them a house, paid for all medications and schooling. It cost me so much. I just want to have a little security for a few days. I need that much. Just a few days.”

Zera looked at her and sighed. “I am sorry. Metabolics are the best for these implants, and you seemed ideal.”

“Give us a few weeks. Once they are sick of me jumping them, they might be more amenable to some changes.”

Zera smiled. “Did you want to go live on the BDC again?”

Vikor growled. “No. She stays with us.”

Arcady chuckled. “She can still be with you, but if you want her for a specific night or to dress a certain way, it is an ideal framework.” She smiled. “It removes the group aspect of the agreement and makes her yours alone for the night. Salat has Khytten booked for ten years.”

Drin looked as Ekron, Remark, and Techor spoke softly to each other, and Ekron had his com open. Drin turned to Vikor. “Go and join the chat. I know what I want to do. I just need you guys to figure it out.”

He looked at her, touched her cheek, and headed to the meeting.

Zera chuckled. “You two are such a good match.”

Kritz snorted. “You have no idea. We found out the purpose of her activation. She needs semen to survive and offers the creative boost in return. It keeps her chosen energy source coming back for more, so to speak.”

Drin stared. “That would make me...”

Kritz grinned. “The identifying term is a succubus.”

She swayed, and he caught her.

“Don’t worry about it, little sister. I am demon-shaped; your primary is demon-shaped. There is a gargoyle on the agent team. We are as nature has shaped us. No less, no more.”

Zera nodded. “Yeah, that. What he said. So what if you need men to survive? At least you are aware of it, and now, you have the cushion to land on.”

“It is embarrassing.”

“I have done any number of embarrassing things in worse outfits. Lots of edible paint.”

Arcady grinned. “Oh, tell me more.”

Zera laughed. “No.”

The conference concluded, and Drin was encouraged to rejoin the BDC.

Zera had reactivated her account the moment she nodded, and Vikor had claimed hours alone with her, beginning in fifteen minutes.

She looked at him, and the others were grinning. She accepted with the caveat that no fancy clothing was required.

He grinned. “Acceptable.”

Just like that, she had her first date.

“Do you want the mask?”

He chuckled. “No, if I want you blindfolded, I will do it myself.”

The folks in the room chuckled, but Arcady and Zera looked at her with sly expressions. Group situations were not rare for either.

Her com chimed. Vikor grinned. “Looks like our date has begun. Good evening to you all.”

He offered her his arm, and she nodded shyly to the others as he walked her to the elevator.

He kept her close to him as the elevator descended.

“Um, Patron, where are we going?”

He chuckled. “My little escort, I am taking you to Hell.”

And he did.

The crowd of women and men out front begged him to let them in, but Vikor ignored them and escorted his prize into the door held open by the shocked bouncer.

She heard someone call her name, and it sounded like Jeanie, but she was on a date, and Vikor was her focus.

He led her into the back office and his private space, and together, they fell together on the wide couch of his office, and they explored that togetherness for hours until their date was over.

She kissed him softly and got up. “Thank you for the evening, Patron.”

He watched her put her dress back on and step into her shoes. “You don’t have to leave.”

“According to protocol, I have to at least leave the room for form’s sake.”

He lay back on one arm, delightfully naked. Drin kissed him once more, ran her hand down his body, and then sighed and left the room.

* * * *

Vikor frowned when the door didn’t open again. He got up, put on some of his normal loose leggings, and went in search of his mate.

A ping on his wristband got his attention, and he bolted for the door. One of his bouncers had escorted the woman out and left her on the sidewalk. There was now a riot starting in front of the building. He was guessing that he knew the centre of it.

He skidded to a halt when he saw Drin with the bride from the party the other night in a headlock. Drin had one bright cheek, and it was enough to make him furious.

“What’s going on here?” He heard his voice thickening and felt the spikes rising.

Drin glanced at him. “Just a chick fight. My soon-to-be sister-in-law is blaming me for the fight she and my brother are having about being written out of my will.”

“You pay for everything for that other bitch!” Jeanie growled. “You wouldn’t even get me into the club.”

“Drin can invite anyone she likes to Hell. She and her friends can take over every single level for private parties, dancers, servers, drinks, all on the house. But she has to invite them.” He growled as his spikes calmed and dissipated.

Drin straightened. “Go away, Jeanie. I already agreed not to come to your wedding and embarrass you. Just forget you ever knew me.” She let the woman loose and pushed her.

Jeanie staggered forward and tried to round on Drin when a golden hand stopped her. Ekron stood there and shook his head disapprovingly.

“What are you doing to my mate, miss?”

Jeanie stammered. “You’re... you’re...”

Drin walked to Vikor and muttered, “She will find a noun eventually.”

He chuckled. Ekron looked over. “Did she hit Drin?”

Jeanie stammered, “She’s an active. She was attacking me.”

“I doubt that. My mate is very polite and just wanted to get away from you.”

Jeanie stared at him in fascination. “But, she’s Vikor’s mate.”

Ekron chuckled. “He and I have been friends for a long time. As she is amenable, we are willing to share her time.”

Vikor admired his restraint for not mentioning the other three.

A figure landed in front of them, and Remark looked at the injury and kissed her there in front of the club-goers in line. The injury on her cheek glowed hot and then faded to her lovely golden skin tone.

Remark stroked her cheek. “Are you good, pet?”

Drin nodded. “I am fine. I have been slapped worse when I play with Ekron, but he aims lower.”

Ekron snorted. “As if I would raise a hand to you, ass or not. I would never endanger those curves.”

Drin hid against Vikor’s chest, and he stroked her softly. “Let’s head to level two.”

A vehicle pulled up, and Techor and Klauz exited, coming toward them. Vikor chuckled. He had had an amazing time with Drin, and she was truly his for hours, but now, they were part of the sextet, and when Drin figured that out, she was probably going to file off his horns. His inner teen thought it was way too funny.

They headed inside through the private entrance and had their pet safely ensconced in three minutes.

Techor reclined on one of the couches, and Drin went to drape herself over him. He tucked her against him and pressed his lips to her neck.

When she had relaxed, she kissed Techor and then moved to where Klauz was standing, and he kissed her, sliding his hand into the bodice of her dress.

Vikor felt the easing of tension as she slowly went around and properly greeted them all. When she sighed and wrapped her arms around him, he grinned. A succubus. Yeah, that made sense. From the moment she activated, she had caught his soul, and he didn’t want her to ever let it go.

* * * *

Sitting against Ekron and sipping a cocktail, she watched him working with his com. When hers went off, she smiled and put her glass down. Her BDC app lit up, and she saw a stream of dates that Ekron had put in. She chuckled. “Is this all of it?”

“This is everything that I have on the schedule for six months. Including some movie premiers that I have been invited to. The type of dress will be added closer to the event.” He grinned. “My mother is having fun with your dress, so she will be on top of your wardrobe. And I will be on top of you.”

She chuckled and leaned against him. “Of course, you will, pretty boy.”

He chuckled. “To everyone but you.”

She sat up and looked at him. “You are pretty to me. You are also sweet, sexy, funny, and mine.”

“Possessive little pet, aren’t you?”

Drin wrinkled her nose. “I am. Very. What is mine will thrive, but I will not let it go. You all walked into my trap.”

Ekron laughed. “I was shoved into your trap by Vikor. All those images of your sad eyes were plastered all over our room. My soul was yours, and we hadn’t even met, and then I was stuck passing rolls to you at a holiday meal, and your hand touched mine. I was a goner. Your skin was so soft.”

“That sounds sweet. Vaka probably got it on video. He recorded everything. I often wonder where all of that data ended up.”

“You were really just friends?”

She gave him a sideways glance. “Yeah. He didn’t taste right.”

Ekron paused. “Didn’t taste right?”

“His energy was the wrong frequency. After all the years as his buddy, there was never one stirring moment of interest on my part. I just didn’t want him.” She sighed. “So, I hid this face from him. That hurt us both, but we got through it.”

She turned to him and pushed him back against the loveseat. “You taste right.”

He rested his hands on her hips. And she kissed him with the tiny laps of her tongue that he liked while she squirmed against him. She lifted her head. “See? You taste right.”

Ekron gave her a heavy-lidded gaze. “Thank goodness for that.”

She chuckled. “That seems to be how Zera picked my patrons. By how they taste.”

“I never kissed Zera. I would have remembered that.” He chuckled then sighed. “But if this is any hint of how people who are supposed to like you behave, it is probably for the best that you surrender to Kritz’s nanites.”

“Yeah, they are made from his semen, so that is going to be a little weird.”

Ekron stared. “Seriously?”

“Yup. Ask Klauz.”

“Klauz! Does your brother use his cum to power his experiments?”

Klauz looked up from his conversation with Techor. “Yeah. He does. It made the high school science fair full of fun.”

She chuckled. “See? Told you.”

Ekron laughed.

She cupped his cheeks. “I am sorry that Vikor shoved me into your life. It wasn’t my intention to go where I was not wanted.”

“Oh, you are wanted. You are very much wanted. Sometimes you don’t know how much you need something until it is dropped into your lap, and then you can’t imagine how you ever lived without it.”

Drin wrinkled her nose. “Like Klauz’s cooking?”

Klauz was behind her, and his hands moved over her body in seconds. “Flattering little minx.”

She reached up behind his neck and linked her fingers together. His hands moved over her, and he was smiling against her neck. “Obliging as well.”

She chuckled. “Always a lot more morally pliable after I have been with Vikor.”

He laughed, and Vikor returned from wherever he had gone while she was curled up with Ekron.

He had a leather box in his hands, and he pulled a table to the centre of the space and set the case down on it. “Drin, I have something for you.”

Klauz sighed and put his hands on her waist. “Best go see what’s in the box, pet.”

She grumbled, went to the table, knelt, and looked at the box. It was a pretty box with ornate corners. She looked around at the guys, and they were all watching.

She opened it and was surprised. “Oh. I thought they would be a lot heavier looking.” Five bands were arranged in the lining, and each had an engraving on it. She picked up one of the bands and read it. “Remark?”

She picked up the other medium band and smiled. “Techor?” The smallest bands read, “Klauz and Ekron. That means this one is Vikor.” She held the largest band between her fingertips before she tucked it back in the custom resting spot. She looked at him and said. “It appears that there is nothing here for me.”

She closed the box and got up. Techor opened the box and grabbed the anklet with his name on it. “I think this is for you.” He lifted her off her feet and set her on her butt on the floor. He opened the link and clicked it shut on her ankle. His smile was smug. “I do love your legs.”

Remark was twirling the right cuff around his finger. He knelt, opened the cuff as he met her gaze, and locked the cuff around her ankle. “Oh, I like that sound.”

She shivered, and Techor chuckled.

“Huh. Looks like there is something leftover, and I am definitely not a fan of leaving things over.” Klauz picked out the one with his name on it. “Stand up, pet.”

She got to her feet, and Klauz took her left hand. He murmured, “Now, you are mind, and I am yours.” The click sent a shockwave through her body.

It was a very sober moment, and that moment was broken by the riotous purr of Ekron as he held up his bracelet. He stepped in close and took her right hand. He pulled her close and kissed her as his purr continued rioting in his chest. There was a click, and she touched him with her right hand as their mouths met and parted and met again.

She sighed when he backed up and lowered her hands to her sides.

Vikor stood straight and looked at her. She hadn’t realized how imposing he was until that moment. He had always just been Vikor. Vaka’s older brother, the object of her crush, and stoic figure when Vaka invited her over. That was the past. She watched him approach and remove the collar from the box.

She shivered as he got closer.

“Lift your hair.”

She pulled her curls up and exposed her neck.

“Now, do you accept what I am offering you, Drin?”

She kept her gaze locked with his dark blue eyes. “Yes, Vikor.”

He smiled and opened the collar at the hinge. He slipped it around Drin’s neck and locked it as he kissed her softly. “Finally.”

She smiled and stroked his cheek. “Took you long enough.”

He laughed and lifted her high. “You have bought yourself a whole lot of trouble with that statement.”

“Bring it.”

She ended the night in an orgy with one focal point. Her. They all learned one thing that night. They all liked the bands.