Page 42 of I Dated Dark Resonance

The hands carefully dripped warm water across her lids, and the cloth wiped until they were finally ready. Ysma opened her eyes, and Xeva was sitting next to her on the bed, and another woman with dark green hair was standing with a series of wet clothes and other bowls.

“Yukaro found you, contacted Jeron, and got you here so you wouldn’t panic when you woke. Thoughtful.”

She sat up and pressed a hand to her head. “Water manipulation takes a lot.”

Xeva nodded. “It definitely does. Do you want to take a shower and change clothes?”

“I don’t have anything else.”

“Yukaro has sent something along. He says it will shift with you if you need it.” Xeva rubbed her ankle. “And I have contacted Nelith, and she is looking forward to meeting you. And I told her about Zella, who is making quite the scandal. Losing power without being injured. Wow.” She smiled.

Ysma looked around and started to shift herself to the edge of the bed. “So, where are these clothes?”

Xeva grinned and pulled out a set of clothing in black, green, blue, and silver. “Here you go.”

She groaned. “Do you think he had those just lying around?”

“They are tailored to your size and will make you look all matchy-match. Plus, you were with him for two hours before Jeron could come and get you. First thing tomorrow, we are getting you a com. Jeron’s mom is adopting you.”

“What?”

“Oh yeah. It is going to be a really cool thing. You will become a citizen, a member of a solid family, and Revakka’s family will be added to your tattoo.” She smiled. “Right next to Nelith’s blades.”

Ysma said, “Do I get a say in this?”

“Well, it is a suggestion by your sister. I am really playing into the new acquisition of family. It is a comfortable feeling for me, and there will be no mention of Zella on your tattoo.”

“Oh, I am in.” She eased herself out of bed, grabbed the clothes, and headed to the bathroom.

Getting the uniform off was easy, and she soaked the uniform in the sink while she scrubbed all the blood off her in the shower. When she was clean, she dried off and put the outfit on. Her breasts were held snuggly, there were straps around the back of her neck for support, and the wrap had a scarf that went over the top of the waist and looked like flower petals.

She walked out, and Leaf clutched her hands to her chest. “You’re adorable.”

Xeva looked at Leaf. “If you tell her that she looks like a doll, I think you might get smacked.”

Leaf tried to compose herself, but Ysma waved it off. “I remember the comments of the guys in the lab. I was always smaller than Zella, and I am fucking adorable. I look like a doll for pre-teen girls. Some kind of tea party kitty cat.”

Xeva asked, “Your appearance has changed a lot since the tattoo shop.”

“Oh, yeah. If they try and use Zella’s talent for espionage, they are going to be disappointed. She turns her targets into her. Basically, just used the person as a meat suit for the talent they could offer her. She used me for strength and healing.” She snorted.

“How did that work out?”

“Oh, I took the pain and the damage, but because she was in me, she blocked my repair abilities. I healed a lot more slowly than normal. But, on the outside, I looked like her in perfect shape. Inside, I was recovering from a lot of hits and rough sex.”

Xeva winced. “Is she an omega as well?”

Ysma chuckled. “Nope. She’s standard. My heats were bleeding through and causing her behaviour. So she didn’t smell like an omega, so the alphas left her alone, but she was dealing with a rioting libido, so she jumped anyone that could hammer her into the sheets. I do feel a bit bad about that. She had no idea what was driving her.”

“But you knew what was driving you.”

Ysma nodded. “I was taken aside when we were teens, and it was explained to me. My destiny was to be traded for concessions to the Sethir if there were areas of contention. There were fewer omegas around in those days. And then they sent out Nelith against the Sethir border towns, so that particular avenue of diplomacy was closed.” She shrugged. “So, possible vectors for a useful occupation have always been rather short for me.”

Xeva asked, “Would you have taken it?”

“If it would have gotten me out of the lab, I would have done things that would boggle your mind.” She smiled.

“Well, I worked for the BDC, so very few things boggle my brain.” Xeva chuckled.

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