Page 232 of Fated or Knot

The pack bond vibrated against my omega mark. It felt like the twinging of Tormund’s nerves.

“I had the mothkins deliver this for you. It’s massage oil. You have to heat it first,” the kelpie continued. I looked over my shoulder to see him handing a bottle full of amber liquid to the redcap.

“Oh.”

Marius cleared his throat. “I figured someone else should know how to tend to her body. You know, if I can’t.”

“Aye, of course.” I could definitely hear the grin in Tormund’s voice. And I hid my face in the comforter, trying not to show that I was doing the same. Marius was smart and skilled, but this was the first time I’d heard him willing to teach and share. Especially with his jolly younger brother.

Plus, I was getting a massage. Tormund’s hands moved over my skin as he followed the kelpie’s instructions. They talked about muscle groups, or something. The gentle giant was always extra warm, so the oil he spread down my back lingered pleasantly. I relaxed for the first time in days, and purred like a kitten all the while.

Tormund started over from the top as he showed that he remembered what he’d just learned. As he worked, he said, “Hey, Marius.”

“Hmm.”

“Have you ever seen a shark? I’ve always wondered if that was a problem for kelpies.”

I imagined the annoyed ear flick that question received, as Marius didn’t answer for several moments.

“I’ve seen plenty of sharks. There’s more than one kind.”

My wings twitched nervously. I was probably envisioning the same kind of shark Tormund was when he asked the question. The big toothy gray ones that looked like they could swallow an omega in two gulps. There were more sharks than that? “Like, how many?” I asked.

I turned my head to look at Marius as he replied, and joined my gentle giant in fascination. There were apparently a lot of sharks. Small, spotted ones, shallow water ones, bottom feeding ones, and toothy ones all included.

“Be careful, he’s going to start showing you his sea bug collection next,” Fal put in. He was fresh from a shower and brushing his hair as he leaned against the wall indolently.

Well, it was nice to have peace while it lasted. I glanced at Marius, expecting annoyance. He raised a brow instead. “Seashells,” he corrected. “Also, if I start showing them my seashells, then you’re going to start talking about your rocks, and we’re going to be stuck here for hours.”

I was curious about both of these collections, actually. “For later, then. You’re teaching Tormund how to massage our mate, and not me?” Fal shook out his hair, then flipped it over one shoulder with his usual flair.

Finally, I saw the ear flick I’d been expecting. “When have you ever shown an interest in learning something from me?”

Fal rolled his eyes and twirled the hairbrush. “I’m sure I could teach you something else in return.”

“Whatever you were doing with your tongue, earlier, that drove Lark crazy.”

“Deal.”

I exchanged a glance with Tormund, who shrugged with both palms out.

Either way, I got massaged twice, so it was a victory for my sore body.“Next lesson time is with Kauz and me. I want to know this too,”I said to Marius privately. I was eventually going to get the kelpie to let me return the favor after he’d rubbed away my hurts so often.

“In exchange, I want to take you back to the sea. Apparently someone told Fal we didn’t fuck in the water.”

I giggled aloud.“Sorry. And deal.”

After we were done with massage time, Fal asked for a moment alone with me. We sat side by side at the foot of the pack bed. I tucked myself up against him. “While you’re still in heat, I wanted to ask for something,” he said. He took my hand and pulled it toward his groin.

While he was aroused, I’d learned it was an automatic reaction to my perfume. I’d been putting offfuck mepheromones for five days, but apparently they were tapering off. The house moths would still need to do a deep clean of my nest to get rid of the lingering perfume.

I expected him to put my hand on his shaft, but instead he placed it on his alpha mark. It was right under his belly button, a somewhat intimate place I’m sure I’d brushed dozens of times during the lusty frenzy of the early stages of my heat. My own mark tingled, especially in the healing spot where he’d bitten me. I could feel the resonant magic that connected me to him, and the rest of the pack bond.

“Will you claim me back? Your bite will strengthen our bond within the pack. I was hoping to do it during your heat, when your instincts are strongest, so we can be as tightly bound as possible.” His smile was without its usual mischief as he drew my hand up to his lips next. He kissed my fingers and looked at me with devotion shining in his eyes.

My heart skipped a beat, then pattered extra hard as I wiggled in excitement. “Oh…yes, of course. I would love to claim you back.”

“You’ve already bitten Marius, and now you have him around your li’l finger. I’ll take the next one, the ring finger.” He wiggled my fourth finger playfully. “This is where I want you to wear your stone match jewelry.”

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