Page 65 of I Dated the Lost Song

“I was. You couldn’t see my scars, and I felt pretty. That’s been shot down.”

She was plastered to his chest and frowning to stop from crying. She was normally big and tough and someone for her friends to lean on. Now she was stuck because someone figured out Cadence was a harmonic.

Leska slid down and sulked in Sarel’s lap. “You can lose the grip. I give up.”

She sat and looked at Cadence. Her friend was blushing furiously and speaking to Raek. “Oh, she’s trying to get out of showing him her photos. She did hers in a full gown and robe, but they are still sweet.”

Sarel was zooming in on an image with her back highlighted. “Those are prod scars.”

“They called them persuaders.” She shrugged. “The marks are gone now. Khytten is good at regeneration.”

“How old were you when they started with the prods?”

“Dunno. Two? Maybe three? I know I was walking on my own.”

He scowled.

“So, eternal omega? How old are you?”

He smiled. “Ninety-three. Same age as my twin, Aluhara.”

“Damn. I should move. I don’t want to break a hip. Yours, not mine.”

He chuckled. “I am fine. I got to maturity, and I stayed in maturity. It is the same problem my sister has. Her body doesn’t age, so it took superhuman efforts to harvest her eggs. Because my biology is static, I am sterile. Same problem as my sister. Can’t get an egg to do its thing and can’t get the sperm to cooperate.” He smiled. “So, pretty but useless for the Sethir. So, I went to my mother’s people, and now I am in charge of a small island where I am king of all I survey, but I spend the time puttering in my workshop.”

“What do you putter with?”

“Sex toys.”

She jumped off his lap, but he held her. He pulled her back against him. “You are fun, Leska. No, seriously, I design coms.”

“What?”

“I design coms and apps and other entertainment options. Someone has to do it. I also own the international patents.” He smiled. “So, I have enough finances to keep you in pretty outfits.”

She snorted. “I will audit you for fun. No spending on me without authorization.”

“Why not?”

“Because I am not fussy about fashion.”

“Oh, it won’t be for fashion; it will be just for me.” He grinned. “Maybe a bit for Vinul.” He stroked her back. “When is your heat, Leska?”

“Three weeks?”

“Birth control?”

“Oh. No. It makes me feel funny.”

“Fair enough. Vinul will be excited. He’s never had an omega in heat before.”

“Oh. Yay. I haven’t been anywhere near an alpha at all, so new for me, too.”

“What if the reapers want to kill me?”

“Then, we will have to convince them that it isn’t a good idea.” He chuckled. “I can be very persuasive.”

She snorted.

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