Ruffled Feathers (Once Upon a Harem Book 5)

by Stephanie West

  “I heard you!” Cygne railed at the males.

  “How?”

  “I was listening at the door,” she admitted in shame.

  “You are wrong. We were discussing what it would cost to free you, and take you back to Olor,” Kaede replied.

  “We thought you didn’t want to go home because you were ashamed of what happened to you. We hoped to convince you otherwise, but never imagined you grew up on Braccio. What happened?” Meir took her by the hand.

  They were only being kind. She frowned at the realization.

  “So, you didn’t even want me that way.” Cygne broke away from Meir and attempted to get out the bath.

  The idea that they sought her out, out of loneliness was far preferable than the pity they felt toward her. Cygne was suddenly mortified as events of last night played through her mind. She had it all wrong when she offered herself up.

  Kaede snagged her around the waist before she could escape.

  “Are you kidding me?” he rumbled incredulously. “We were shocked when you offered yourself to us. And that honor only multiplied when we learned we are your first. It’s unfathomable. I could only dream of pleasuring a stunning creature like you.”

  “I’m not stunning,” Cygne retorted. “I’m pale, and lifeless, and nothing like—” She waved at their magnificent wings.

  In the span of a day, they stripped her of the mask she’d spent years building, making her feel naked down to her very soul.

  “Did those Braccio tell you that?” Severin scowled.

  “I bet they did,” Tynan growled.

  “She grew up around them, comparing herself to those flashy females.” Akiva shook his head.

  “Cygne, you haven’t met any Olor females. You have no clue how unbelievably gorgeous you are,” Meir solemnly said.

  “But you are so colorful.” She frowned in disbelief.

  “We are,” Kaede admitted. “But among the Olor, our females possess more subdued markings.”

  “I sympathize with being judged by how you look. I hate being called pretty bird,” Tynan rumbled as he shook his variegated wings. “Personally, I don’t really care how you look, because you have the sweetest voice, and we saw how kind you were to that homeless male. But it’s true, you are beautiful.”

  “Olor females are more rare than males, and they tend to be spoiled,” Severin explained. “But you must be the strongest female we’ve ever met. You survived being abducted, found a way to take care of yourself, then were brave enough to leave when you didn’t feel safe. I’m just sorry we were the ones to make you to feel that way.” Severin looked stricken that they caused her to leave Braccio.

  “It’s not really your fault. I no longer trusted the barrow dame.”

  Tynan huffed in agreement.

  “I’m sorry, Cygne. We treated you no better than those people,” Kaede growled.

  “What do you mean?” Confused, she tilted her head.

  “We knew what kind of place you left, and yet we still let our desires overrule our better judgment last night.” Kaede cringed at himself.

  “And when you admitted you’d never been touched, I nearly lost my mind,” Tynan husked, hovering close to her, his large hand ghosting over her bare shoulder.

  “I blame imprinting. I was instantly enslaved the moment I heard your sweet song,” Meir whispered as he leaned in and nuzzled her wing.

  Cygne cast them an awkward smile. She wasn’t quite sure whether or not to believe them, but they were being so sincere. The idea she incited such strong desire was foreign, exciting and distressing all in the same breath. And it was sweet they felt remorseful for the giant misunderstanding.

  “Last night was very nice.” She blushed. It had been better than nice. It was glorious.

  “Good,” Kaede brushed his lips against her shoulder. “You have no idea how much I want to do that again, but I think we should feed you before we land.”

  “Good idea,” Akiva agreed, but then lowered his head and wrapped his lips around one stiff nipple.

  Cygne gasped as he sucked hard. Akiva’s stiff cock grinding against her hip sent a flood of desire coursing through her. The thrilling turbulent sensation was all that more intense after hearing these new revelations. Her feet were planted firmly on the bottom of the pool, but she felt like she was soaring.

  “As good as that looks, Kaede said no, you brute.” Tynan flicked Akiva in the head.

  Cygne was disappointed when Akiva released her nipple with a pop, then giggled seeing his petulant frown. Her giggle turned into a squeal of delight when Severin ensnared her and leapt out of the pool.

  “You’ll starve if we don’t get you dressed fast,” he chuckled. The sound was deep, warm and wonderful.

  7

  Enveloped

  “The whole world is a series of miracles…but we’re so used to them we call them ordinary things.” Hans Christian Andersen

  * * *

  “That’s where we’re landing?” Cygne stared at the brown planet that loomed larger and larger in the observation lounge windows. This was the first foreign planet she’d been to, and the excitement had her vibrating in her seat.

  “Aye. Meritum is a mostly desert planet where the Stilio live.”

  “Who are the Stilio?” She looked quizzically up at Kaede.

  “Lacerta, the pilot, is Stilio.”

  “Ah.” Cygne recalled the bald, scaly pilot that let her onto the vessel.

  “He and a few of his crew are going to remain with us on the Sejle, but others are planning to stay on Meritum.” Akiva stood at her back, his green wings reflecting in the glass.

  “Lacerta wants to show off his home-world,” Meir, the rotten prankster, commented.

  She smiled remembering the shocked expression on his face when he was violated by the lavo.

  He deserved that.

  Cygne surreptitiously stared at their reflection, a smile twisting her face. She shook her head in disbelief at what the males told her.

  They really do think I’m beautiful.

  Cygne sighed as she focused on the approaching planet. Meritum didn’t have the cloud cover that surrounded Braccio, so the view was clear as they landed. The planet was a mix of red and browns, which stood out against the clear blue sky.

  “It’s so hot!” She squinted in the intense sunlight when they exited with a bunch of other passengers.

  Braccio was hot and humid at the height of the warm season, where Meritum was arid, like the inside of a baking kiln. The desert planet only had one sun, but it was an immense, scorching ball of fire. Instantly her mouth was parched.

  “Get down from up there, Severin,” Cygne called out overhead. The males surrounded her, like they had on Braccio, with Severin hovering just over her head. “You’re going to have a heat stroke.” She frowned.

  “It is our duty to guard you from all sides,” Severin called down to her.

  Cygne would’ve snorted, if it wasn’t such a sweet gesture. She’d never been guarded before. It seemed ridiculous.

  “Awe, fittich,” Kaede mumbled from ahead.

  “What?” Akiva pulled her close to his chest, concern lacing his deep voice.

  “The male Lacerta is talking to is looking at me funny.”

  She peered around Kaede to see a scaly male in a long robe gesturing emphatically to Lacerta as he pointed their way.

  “Do you think they know?” Tynan asked.

  “Possibly.”

  “I don’t think it matters now.” Meir looked pointedly at Cygne, as if she were the piece to some cryptic puzzle.

  “You are right.” Kaede nodded and smiled at her.

  Cygne was about to ask what they were talking about, when Lacerta approached wearing a funny, shocked expression.

  “Are you the Kaede?” Lacerta questioned as if seeing him for the first time.

  “Does that change our friendship, or your desire to work for me?” Kaede retorted.

  “No.” Lacerta’s thin-lipped mouth twist
ed into a smile as he shook his head incredulously. “Although my uncle currently wants to sever my tail, since he wasn’t able to make better preparations.”

  Cygne didn’t understand the exchange. There was a lot she didn’t understand about the vast universe and its inner workings, never having travelled far from her valley on Braccio. That was all changing fast, and it was hard keeping up. She quietly listened to their conversation, trying to soak it all in.

  “It was not our intention to cause strife. We had good reason for not advertising our voyage.”

  The five Olor grunted in agreement and shifted closer to Cygne.

  Lacerta’s uncle hurried forward holding an armful of fabric.

  “I am Ascella. My deepest apologies to you and your broodmates.” The bald male bowed low to the five Olor males.

  Kaede was just beginning to bow, when Akiva wrapped his wings around Cygne, cocooning her in their verdant plumage.

  “What are you doing?” She was still getting used to being wrapped in someone else’s pinions.

  “While the others show respect, you are vulnerable,” Akiva husked into her ear as he held her close.

  “I’ve survived this long,” she countered, even as she snuggled into Akiva.

  “Now I know you weren’t raised on Olor. A female back home would pluck my pinions if I failed to properly guard her. Do you think you can humor us?” he chuckled.

  The warm sound vibrated through Cygne, making her smile.

  Akiva unwrapped his wings, and her view of feathers and tall Olor males returned.

  “You do realize I still can’t see anything this way.” Unless she counted the orange, rocky mountains in the distance.

  “Just a moment,” Meir replied with a smile.

  “I was not aware that you brought your Gallina,” Ascella exclaimed, sounding even more flustered.

  Gallina?

  “Please do not apologize. We intentionally did not make ourselves known. I look forward to seeing the Painted Sands,” Kaede spoke, sounding more commanding than Cygne was accustomed to hearing from him.

  “I am honored and humbled to have you as my guests. I have brought you these. I will acquire another for your Gallina before we head out,” Ascella replied, passing Kaede the pile of capes.

  “Here, Uncle.” Lacerta jogged up with another cape for her.

  “Good. This way.” Ascella led them past the myriad of ships on the tarmac, through a market.

  She was questioning why the males were acting so strange, when a series of tall, white fabric tents came into view. Layers of bleached material were stretched across upright poles. As they got closer, her eyes widened. Past Kaede’s wings, she caught snippets of something wholly unbelievable. The tents weren’t tall, they were perched on the backs of massive beasts. The scaly six-legged creatures were encased in a shell, with all but their legs, head and tail sticking out.

  “Hyloo,” Ascella barked, and all at once the beasts lowered to rest on the hot sand. He then gestured toward the ladder mounted on the side of the creature.

  “Severin,” she eeped when he swooped in, scooped her up, then placed her inside the tent high on the beast’s back. It was an amazing structure with a padded bottom and piles of cushions. The others joined them a moment later, along with Lacerta and Ascella.

  “Garump!” Ascella barked.

  “Winged wonder,” Cygne exclaimed as the beast jauntily stood. “This thing is amazing.” She stared over the rail to the ground far below.

  Ascella glanced questioningly to Kaede, who nodded.

  “Gallina, I can introduce you to Zimock,” Ascella offered, pointing at the beast.

  “My name is Cygne.” Her brow furrowed slightly, hearing the strange name again.

  “It’s a title of respect,” Kaede whispered to her.

  Ah, like Dame.

  “Oh, well, thank you. And it’s very nice to meet you.” She bowed her head in greeting, hoping she hadn’t offended their Stilio host by not understanding such a simple thing. “Yes, I’d like to meet Zimock.”

  “Zimock,” Ascella chirped.

  The beast swung around, its giant snout snuffling as it neared the fabric tent on its back. Her eyes widened with nervous excitement when the bulbous, scaly head practically filled the tent. The males chuckled at her reaction. Ascella passed Cygne a giant handful of greens. Zimock’s gaping mouth followed the bundle.

  “Oh, wow.” She tossed the greens in, then quickly pulled her hand back, before Zimock’s giant muzzle came chomping down.

  “You can touch her. I promise she won’t bite,” Ascella encouraged.

  Cygne rubbed Zimock’s smooth, bony forehead, while Zimock contentedly chewed her greens. When the beast was done, she snuffled for more. Zimock’s broad nose snorted, finding Ascella’s bundle of twiggy treats.

  “That’s enough, you greedy gallump.” Ascella shoved Zimock’s massive head.

  The beast’s tongue lolled out and swiped the male, before turning back around to continue following the caravan.

  “Ugh.” Ascella mopped his face.

  “Amazing,” Cygne chuckled, amused by the overly affectionate gargantuan beast.

  “And slobbery,” Meir added, and everyone laughed. Their happy expressions filled her with joy.

  Zimock and a dozen other shelled beasts travelled in a long caravan across the sandy earth. The dunes grew in size the further they got from the landing strip. Lacerta adjusted the curtains on the tent to block out the worst of the sun, while still leaving most of their view unobscured. Though it was hot, it was comfortable in the shade, and there was a slight breeze high on Zimock’s back. Cygne relaxed, resting her head against Meir’s arm. Her gaze darted this way and that, till something captured her attention.

  “It’s a forest.” Cygne pointed as she leaned forward.

  “That’s where we’ll stop to take care of your personal business, and water the beasts,” Lacerta replied.

  “It’ll be good to stretch.” Kaede nodded.

  When the caravan stopped amidst the stand of growth, Akiva hustled to be the one to fly her down to firm ground.

  “Thank you, Akiva.” She beamed when they landed.

  The silly, lopsided grin Akiva gave her made Cygne smile wider. It wasn’t a heated look, yet it warmed her up from the inside. She was grinning so much lately her cheeks hurt.

  “You are very welcome. Do you need to relieve yourself?” he asked, as the others joined them.

  “Yes,” Cygne replied, her expression shifting to embarrassment as she thought of relieving herself with the five males hovering near. As up close and personal as they’d been, she didn’t relish taking care of business in front of them. That was not happening.

  “You want privacy?” Severin rubbed her arm.

  “How’d you guess?” Cygne looked at Severin sideways, making the others laugh.

  “Let’s find a spot away from the caravan, and we’ll let you be,” Kaede chuckled.

  “Look at how these trees are all trunk, with nasty spines sticking out,” she commented as they ventured into the stand of odd, aggressive trees.

  “Careful you don’t snag yourself,” Tynan warned, as he untangled his cape from one of the spiky towers.

  “Oh, it got you.” Cygne grabbed Tynan’s arm when she noticed the thorn scraped his arm, leaving a bloody welt.

  “He’ll be all right. This isn’t his first scrape,” Meir commented.

  “That’s the truth,” Severin chuckled.

  “Tynan joined our band of misfits after we met him in a pub, and he nearly caved in Meir’s skull.” Kaede smiled at the memory.

  “He was smashed, and started calling me pretty bird,” Tynan interjected with a smirk.

  “It’s not my fault you can’t take a compliment.” Meir gave Tynan a snarky grin.

  “Sarcasm is not a compliment. And males aren’t pretty, plucked-wit,” Tynan retorted.

  “You like fighting. It’s not like it took much to raise your ire. Tynan’s the pretty
bird in our group, but with that scowl of his, he fits in well with the rest of us. We adopted him instantly.” Meir nodded.

  “After you regained consciousness,” Tynan laughed.

  The friends continuously antagonized each other, but they also appeared very close despite how they met. Cygne studied the scar on Tynan’s forearm, it was one of many. He had obviously been in a lot of altercations.

  “I suppose we have that in common.” She studied the colorful gruff male, wondering what he’d been like as a youth. “I used to get into a lot of fights with the other hatchlings in our little flock. They would gang up on me and call me names.”

  “Did you make them take back their words?” Tynan grinned down at her.

  “Yeah.” She smiled, then sobered. “But I eventually found it was better to take off. No matter how often I fought back, it never changed their minds, and I just ended up feeling bad for hurting people.”

  “You’re better than I am, little songbird. If I ever hear someone say something ugly about you, they won’t be waking up, like Meir did.” Tynan hugged Cygne close as they walked.

  Cygne soaked up Tynan’s protective gesture. It would’ve been nice to have a guardian like him while growing up. In fact, having any of the five males in her corner would’ve meant a lot.

  It gets old feeling like it’s you against the world.

  “Will this work?” Akiva pointed to the small clearing.

  “Yes, now turn around,” Cygne insisted. They made a wide circle around her and turned their backs. “This is so embarrassing,” she muttered, but after a moment she was able to relax and do her business. “Ow, ow,” she suddenly yelped.

  The males spun around as she batted at her cloak. She ripped it off and took to the air. Her eyes widened when a large segmented insect scurried from the discarded cape. Lightening quick, three daggers flew, decimating the offending creature.

  “Did it bite you?” Severin hovered in the air next to Cygne.

  “I don’t know?” She lifted her gown, attempting to look at her leg.

  All of a sudden, a lethargic dizziness overcame her, and she dropped out of the sky. Severin caught her wings, as Akiva captured her legs.