Page 21 of Flying Blind

“Yeah, I figured. I am glad you took my advice, though. The lace is an excellent signature.”

Zara chuckled.

Roane shifted in her chair. “Have a seat while I make sad faces at those around me to get a chunk of that cake.”

“Chunk?”

“Yeah, slices are for those who are carrying one child. Pieces are for twins. Once you hit triplets, it’s chunks of cake.”

“Good to know.” She navigated to a chair, and soon enough, a Book Club member came by and got Roane her cake.

“Roane, you and I haven’t really talked. Would you tell me your story?”

“Oh. It’s pretty standard. I met Adil at work. Shook his hand and started growing scales. Grew a second vagina and uterus. Spent six months crying from the pain and going to work every day. My mom’s cancer kicked into high gear. And then I met Adil after he found out about my scales. I am wearing his pattern. It is literally on my skin. At least it doesn’t hurt anymore. He gives me rubdowns, oils the scales and skin, and I have a big hot rock to sleep on when I want it.”

“Oh. That’s a lot.”

“Yeah, well, I was at a con, and Adil went into rut and swept me away. I found out what the second vagina was for, and we spent thirty-two hours together. After that, I checked my phone, and I had a message from the hospital. I got dressed and escaped without saying anything. My mom passed without knowing about any of the scale stuff. She would not have approved. Anyway, I was ill, I told my boss I was quitting, and I had to take care of the business of death. No one had noticed that my mother had died, despite me announcing it to my direct supervisor. So, I talked to Antonio—”

“Dell’s Antonio?”

“Yup. He was my boss. So, I told him I was leaving, and he asked me to come by to talk about things. His pack house was on the way, so I went. Antonio called Adil, and Adil called Simon and Tyr. They had a crush on me. They convinced me to let them become my den, and I headed back to my family home to get ready to sell it.”

She forked up some cake and groaned. Zara smiled.

“That is really good cake. Well, after that, the guys met me at my place. Simon made a comment about birth control, and I took a test. That was Adil’s little one. The boy. Then my father-in-law tried to have me killed because he didn’t think Adil’s beta could survive a pregnancy, and he didn’t want him to have a sad. His men shot me twice.”

“Geez.”

“Yeah. My guys came for me, and things eased up from there until my rapist from when I was eighteen started stalking me again with messages on my birthday.”

“Wait. You were raped?”

“Yeah. Scarred up so badly that I didn’t even qualify as a female in the most basic sense. Claw marks, bite marks, they all healed into rigid skin. When I changed into the scales, my body smoothed itself out. Now I have three mates, a nice truck, and three babies on the way.”

Zara felt like hell. “I had no idea.”

“I know. I taught myself to look past the moment to figure out what would help future me.”

“And you tried to do the same for me.”

“Yeah. I realized what it sounded like the moment it passed my lips, but it was still solid advice. We can’t un-hurt ourselves, but we can plan for any future we want.”

Zara paused. “That’s... what future do you want?”

Roane rubbed her belly. “All three of these little ones out safe and sound, and my plans for games to make it full circle. I have a dream of seeing all of my creations out in the world.”

“What about your mates?”

“What about them? They are big, tough guys. Even the omega is a bully. They had lives before I showed up and will have lives if something happens to me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Triplets are a high-risk pregnancy. Nothing is sure until they are in their fathers’ arms, and I am having coffee again.”

“Wait. You don’t mean until they are in your arms?”

“No. Children were never in my grand plans. I will love them, but they won’t be my focus. The guys are way more excited than I will ever be, which is not what every good partner is supposed to say.” She chuckled. “Don’t worry. They know.”

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