Chapter Three

Iris felt remarkably good, considering how she had felt an hour earlier. She waited until she heard footfalls on the steps before she went to the bathroom and changed the shower head to a gentle rain.

The shirt was dropped to the floor. Towels arranged for her and she stepped under the soft spray. The water ran pink for quite a while, but the temperature remained warm. She really appreciated the house and its predictable plumbing. It had come in handy dealing with making school projects with the boys. So much glitter. She grinned into the spray and gently moved her fingers along the injury site. A few clumps of blood and some grass fell out of her hair.

Her father. She didn't have a bio father. She had a dad. He was the guy who married her mom when she was little There had never been any doubt that they weren't related. His family came from the islands, and he had fallen for a librarian in a city where winter chilled the bones. Her mom had clung and cuddled with him every chance she got, and the cynical part of Iris thought it might have been for heat in the cold winters. His family had adopted Iris, and her name had changed from Emery to Killington.

It was almost time for a trip to the island. Her siblings and cousins were astonished when she got even whiter, and now, she was going to look bleached. The purple in her hair washed out with the shampoo that wasn't designed to maintain coloured hair. She put in the conditioner and looked at the nearly clear stuff as she slicked it on. It smelled like nothing. She checked the bottle, and it was some kind of weird scent that catered to alphas.

She squinted and snorted when she saw the mention of pheromones. Well, it might buy her some time. Male pheromones on a female person made alphas tilt their heads.

She watched the purple continue to course down the drain and sighed. Her hair couldn't hold colour anymore. Everything she put on was a one-day transformation.

Iris finished scrubbing her knees and palms and then worked under her nails. Dirt stuck in weird places, but all the bruises were gone.

Her mother had warned her this day might come. Not the trio of dark elves, but her bio father showing up. Her mother didn't have his name, but she did know that he was one of the Elite and a bit older than most of the ones that appeared on the news.

Her mom had been at a research symposium on population evolution and ratio alterations, and that is where she met the Elite. Consent was up for debate. Her mom said it was a nice evening, and the enormous necklace he left her as payment confirmed that it was a one-time thing. He'd paid to play.

Iris sighed and towelled her hair dry. Only the lightest lavender was still clinging to her strands. Another use of that shampoo and she would be back to snow white.

"Well, Juno? What do you think?" Iris looked at the enormous dog.

Juno huffed and smiled.

Iris pulled the clean shirt on and sighed at how deep the neckline went. It was as subtle as a shout. The best part was that it hung to her knees.

Jupiter was waiting outside the bathroom, and Iris started braiding her wet hair into a thick column that touched the base of her spine. She whipped a few loose strands around the base to hold the braid and walked back into the kitchen.

A low whistle made her turn her head. They were in the dining room, and there was an empty chair next to Ymer, directly across from Brexel.

She looked down at Jupiter. "Hop on up. I think that's for you."

Brexel snorted. "Funny. Jupe, get down."

The dog looked sad as he hopped out of the seat he had eagerly acquired. Iris smiled and said, "Sorry, buddy. He's being a bit of a bitch."

Oren was howling with laughter. Ymer had a slight smile on his lips, and Brexel looked astonished.

"It figures that the vet gets the joke." She rubbed Jupiter's ears, and he closed his eyes blissfully. She slid onto the chair he had just occupied. She put one hand on each dog's head and massaged their ears.

Brexel looked at her with raised brows. He was back to his dark elf appearance. "Did you just call me a bitch?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because Jupiter was having a lovely time, and you ruined it, plus I am a little irritated by the bleaching that I have been treated to. I liked being a brunette, and these eyes are light-sensitive." She looked at him with raised brows.

He blinked. "It was a hug and a kiss on the cheek."

Iris smirked. "So, sex would morph me into the third puppy the boys wanted if the scale is anything to go by?"

Ymer said, "Your evolution is complete. Physically, at least."

Iris turned her head to look at him. "There's more?"

Ymer grinned, exposing a lot of teeth. "Of course, there is."

His unfamiliar glee was shocking. A polite smile was usually the height of mirth he exhibited. The predatory look in his eyes when he focused on her was new as well.

She looked away from him and stared at Oren. He was leaning back, his arms out in front of him, hands flexing on the table.

She kept petting the dogs and looked back to Brexel. "Fine. What's what?"

Brexel sighed. "We need you with us or close to us."

"Why? We have gotten along so far with no issues."

Ymer answered, "Because now we know you are out there, and the magic has confirmed that we work with you. If you think you can return to work without me having you summoned to my office every twenty minutes to attempt a seduction until you give in... I have been told I am charming."

Iris stared at him and blinked slowly. "Oh. Not the descriptor I would choose."

He grinned, his fangs shining.

"Dude, you aren't venomous, are you?" She slowly crossed her legs, and Oren snorted.

Ymer blinked. "Somewhat. It's not a toxin. It's like a mating pheromone that takes up residence inside you."

Oren said, "It also allows for faster information exchange."

"Oh, like the cleavage thing."

Brexel sighed. "Yes, like that. Now, I already have a house and guestrooms for you to set up in, but we will need a larger home for all of us."

Ymer nodded. "I have a place, but it needs some renovations."

Iris muttered, "Of course you do."

Oren asked quietly, "You want to tangle with all three of us without appropriate protections to keep two curious little guys from walking in?"

Iris blinked. "Oh. Oh, boy." She pulled her hands away from the dogs and folded them on her lap. "That's... complicated."

Brexel smiled. "Diligent alphas have large families all the time. Packs make it easier."

"It's still a pack if it's elves?"

Oren nodded. "Pack or troupe."

Iris nodded. "Okay. Right."

Brexel sighed. "What are we going to do about her father?"

Iris paused. "Oh, right. I forgot about him."

Oren stared. "How can you forget about your father?"

"Because I have never heard of him, seen him, or met him. I don't even know his name because my mom didn't know his name." She shrugged. "But I have a dad. He married my mom when I was six and adopted me. So, now I am a Killington."

Ymer cocked his head. "Can you stay with them?"

"No. They are back in the islands right now. My brother is getting a degree in marine biology and sitting his final exams. Mom and Dad are out there waiting for his results. If he passes, I am supposed to head out for a visit."

She smiled. "We have a family house there, but I don't think you three would fit."

Brexel frowned. "You don't think they will accept us?"

"No, I mean you physically won't fit. I have a bedroom there, and putting you all in it, plus the boys, would be physically impossible." She shrugged. "If I am happy, you will be family. And it is one very big family."

The three men looked at each other and grinned.

Iris asked, "What?"

Ymer smirked. "You have declared that you will allow us to make you happy. That is acquiescence to our offer."

She waved that off with her hand. "There is a weird urgency in me right now. I don't know what that means." She looked at Brexel. "But if the boys don't want me back in their lives after I left, that's it. I am done. I don't know what would happen, but this would be over." She gestured to all of them.

Brexel smiled. "I believe they will be fine with you as an actual parent."

"How are they doing? Their birthday is coming up. Are you doing a party or an event at the trampoline and climbing park?"

Brexel smiled. "I am leaving it up to them. They have yet to decide."

Iris blinked. "You are kidding, right? Gimmee your phone."

A bemused Brexel slid his phone over. She unlocked it and heard Ymer chuckle. In three minutes, she had the reservation for the private room on the Saturday after next, using his credit card number.

He stared at his phone like she had violated it. "What did you do?"

"I put the reservation down for the party room at the adventure park. You can cancel it up to forty-eight hours before the party, but if you need it, you have it." She shrugged. "I will put a note in my phone to cancel it if they aren't interested."

He looked at her. "You remember my credit card information?"

She looked at the other two and their astonished faces. "Uh, yes, but I have never used it."

He nodded. "Fair enough."

She felt her cheeks get warm. "Sorry. Other options depend on you or on them and how many kids they want to invite." She paused. "Do they have friends?"

"Some. Yes. Not as many as they did when you were around, but yes."

"Well, I was busy with all the school committees to give them a smooth introduction to the new environment." She shrugged. "I am guessing that your day job didn't allow for the same."

"No, it didn't, but I keep my evenings free." He smiled.

"We do homework and make dinner. If homework is done, a movie is an option."

She smiled. "You took notes."

"I did. I still hate science projects though. They complain about not enough glitter."

Iris laughed.

Ymer murmured, "That explains why you settled in at the strip club. Everything is glitter."

She shrugged. "I play to my strengths. I only use the eco-friendly stuff."

Iris saw Brexel check his phone and then remembered, "What time is it?"

"Five thirty."

"Oh, shit. I have to go home and get some clothes."

Ymer shook his head. "It's here. All your things are here."

"Where?" She blinked slowly.

"There was room in the large bedroom. I put it in there."

Iris's eyes got huge. "Uh, sorry, Brexel. I will get the stuff out of there."

Brexel raised a brow. "Why did you choose that space, Ymer?"

"Because she was in the shower, and her apartment is a danger to her. It is definitely being watched, and there are glyphs all over the door. So, I brought it all here and let the dogs remain free of bustiers."

Iris pinked. "Work outfits."

"Oh, I recognized many of them. There was much that I didn't, and I would like to get familiarity with."

She blinked slowly. The stuff that she didn't wear was the stuff that had gotten her the nickname Pet. Lots of leather with leashes built in were given to her by generous patrons of the club. She did wear the ones that were on the more decorous side, but there were still collars and loops of chains involved.

Oren perked up. "Like what?"

Ymer chuckled. "I think Pet is about to burst into flame."

Iris whispered, "I didn't buy that stuff."

Ymer nodded. "I don't doubt it. I bought three of them."

Her jaw nearly hit the table.

"It was trial and error until I found one you would wear to work in your rotation."

Her mouth closed with a snap. "What? I mean, I know that the bouncers take off all notes and security trackers, but why would you send me one of those?"

Ymer smiled. "To see you walking around in something I had given you, Pet. Your figure was harder to fit than I thought."

She blushed again. "I run into that a lot. That happened after the changes started as well."

He nodded. "I suspected. You were not nearly as tempting four years ago, but about two years ago, I looked forward to late-night coffee."

Oren snorted. "Take it as a compliment. Ymer is extremely fussy."

Ymer shrugged. "I prefer particular. Fussy implies an infant or a small dog."

Brexel sighed. "Iris, do you accept us as candidates for your mate?"

"Um. Given the long line of others? Sure." She looked at them one by one. "Will you deal with my father so that I don't have to?"

Brexel and the others grinned, and as one, they said, "Absolutely."

Iris looked around. Wow, that's a lot of fangs. They looked eager for the conflict.

Ymer stated, "So, these terms are acceptable to you?"

"Um, oh. Right. Yes. I suppose that my standard options are limited."

Oren chuckled. "I will take that as a resounding agreement. I suppose we just need to ratify the connection."

"What?" Iris stared as they got up and walked around the table to her. "What's going on?"

"We need to seal the agreement. Sex is traditional, but you have had a rough night, so we will settle for a kiss." Brexel smiled. "Each."

"Nice use of specifics," she muttered. She stepped onto the chair seat, and Brexel grinned as they were face to face.

His hands cupped her face. "Speaking of specifics, there will be a tiny little blood exchange."

Her eyes went wide as he pulled her in for a kiss, and it started fast, sending her pulse pounding and making her gasp. He tasted hungry. All food and water were gone, and Brexel was all that was left.

His hands cradled her head, and their eating kiss went on and on, hot, wet slides of his tongue and her frantically trying to press herself against him. Something was holding her arms.

She felt mouths on her. Not just the kiss. There was slow licking on her left wrist and hot sucking on the right side of her neck, just below Brexel's fingers. She whimpered and listened to the humming of her body as she was crowded with heat on all sides. The sharp tang of blood joined the heat of the kiss, but it wasn't hers. The needle burn against her lip matched with two hot piercings at her wrist and neck.

On the heels of pain was a rush of pleasure from three points, and she shook violently in their grip, the throbbing between her thighs hot and rhythmic. Weirdest path to an orgasm ever. If they had to do everything in threes, things would rapidly become ridiculous.

The pleasure was weird. It met, melded, and settled in against her bones and on her skin.

Brexel lifted his head, his chest moving rapidly. "How are you?"

She felt three men tense while they waited. "Fine. I might have sprained my tongue though."

Brexel slumped in relief and pressed his forehead to hers. "I think practice would help with that."

"My knees are a little weak. I think I might want to get off the chair. Ymer, do you want to unlock your jaw?"

He grunted and sucked again. Her fingers and toes curled. She felt the hot slick at the top of her thighs and sighed. She reached up, slid her finger into Ymer's mouth, and released the suction. "Thanks for the enormous hickey."

He slowly lifted his head and sucked on her finger. She felt his tongue swirling slowly around her digit, and she pulled free with a slight turn of her head toward Oren. "I am not a chew toy, Oren."

He rolled his eyes to her and released his bite, licking her skin softly. It healed while she watched.

She looked at Brexel. "So, nap or popcorn? Frankly, I am up for the nap."

Brexel chuckled. "So, you roll over and go to sleep?"

"After I have recovered from being shot in the head after five in the morning?"

He winced and picked her up. "Excellent point. Come on."

He carried her up the stairs and said, "The boys will be delighted to have you home."

"Will they? They were upset when I left."

"They talk about you every few days. Usually, when I am making dinner." He chuckled.

"Oh, yeah, I can see that." She leaned against his shoulder.

He got to the hall outside the blue room and turned into his bedroom instead.

"Wrong turn, boss." She yawned.

"We are going to take a group nap to solidify our connection."

"They don't seem like nappers. Ymer definitely isn't."

There was a chuckle behind them, and she recognized the sound. "He is laughing quite a bit though."

Brexel smiled. "Endorphins. You gave us quite a rush."

He set her on the bed and removed his belt, socks, and shirt. Brexel settled on the bed and pulled her over to drape her across him. She was still just wearing his shirt. She heard rustling, but Brexel kissed her lightly and distracted her. There were heavy thuds to either side of them, and they formed a dark elf triangle with her in the middle.

Ymer's hand slid from her knee to the juncture of her thighs under the tee, and she squeaked. Oren slid her braid through his fingers and unravelled it, spreading her hair out in a cape.

She lifted her head from Brexel's and asked him, "Where are the puppies?"

He chuckled. "Outside the door."

Iris exhaled and arched as Ymer slid two fingers inside. His hands were incredibly warm, and he used his digits to do a slow exploration.

She shuddered and turned to look at him. "Nap, my ass."

He chuckled. "Perhaps another night. Today, I am going to continue my very fascinating examination."

Oren had his face buried in her hair and started nuzzling her neck and shoulders.

Iris looked down at Brexel. "You are on board with all of this?"

"We all triggered to you, and you triggered to me, so compatibility is a feature."

She sighed. "I am going to have to work my last two weeks at the club."

Ymer paused. "No, you won't."

"Yes, I will. I have to say goodbye to a few regulars, don't I?"

Ymer growled. "Absolutely not."

She craned her neck to look at him. "Why not?"

"Because the more we are at you, the stronger your pheromones will get until we have sex. Considering the boys, we need to make sure logistics are taken into account."

Iris blinked. "Logistics?"

Brexel sighed. "First mating will take a lot of energy and possibly make a lot of noise. I will need to call in a sitter, and we will have to go somewhere else for the night."

Oren chuckled. "And day."

Ymer shrugged. "And probably the following night and day."

She pressed her cheek to Brexel's neck. "Mandated breaks?"

Ymer chuckled. "You won't be on the clock."

"Doesn't seem fair. What's actually in it for me?"

Brexel chuckled. "These are questions you were supposed to ask before we placed the initial links."

"I know. I was a little distracted." She pressed her lips to his neck and let herself relax. It shouldn't have been easy, but it was.

Warm and safe on all sides, she forgot the terror of being hunted and her desperate run to safety.