“If you ignore the bondage ropes, sure,” Jenna pointed out. The two women dissolved into giggles.
“Oh, look.” Grayson pointed. “Aureli.”
Their friend stood alongside a tall, elegant Mer with coppery orange scales. Her face was several shades darker than the rest of her body, and her tail came to two points. Ocher patterns marked her temples, matching the hue of her eyes. Grayson could see why Aureli was so eager to abandon them at the pub, though he was personally feeling very grateful that Mer genitals were concealed within a slit.
Aureli spotted them and waved. “Hey, guys!” he said as they approached. “This is Malukti.”
“It is nice to meet you,” she said, flaring orange ear fins. Her voice was rich and melodic, accented by her native Loaish.
“Nice to meet you too.” Jenna beamed. “Have you been to one of these before?”
“A singles event? Yes. A bondage workshop? No.” The Alpha laughed. “However, an old friend of mine is a regular at this establishment. She is quite popular with Omega men. I thought it could not hurt to try.”
“Only the men?” Tara asked. There was a note of hope in her tone.
“Mostly the men,” Malukti amended. She reached back and began winding her dark ginger hair into a bun. “You would have a lot of competition.”
“Damn. Well, maybe I’ll meet someone exclusively into female Omegas tonight.” Tara scanned the crowd. “But it looks like there aren’t that many Mer here.”
“I don’t think kink is a thing with Mer,” Jenna said. “It’s more of a weird human thing.”
“Yes,” Malukti agreed, weaving a stick through her hair and pinning it in place. “It was introduced not long ago by human Omegas on the islands.”
Tara heaved a sigh. “Oh well. Jenna and I can take turns tying each other up.”
“What about me?” Grayson demanded.
“Threesome?” Jenna suggested, then burst out laughing.
Even Malukti chuckled. “In my experience at these events, attendees are usually paired at random. There will be an optional partner exchange at regular intervals.”
Aureli glanced up at her. “Are you going to exchange me?”
The Alpha elbowed him gently. “We shall see how well you can tie a knot.”
“Welcome to Siren’s Rest, singles!” The short woman Grayson had spied earlier was on stage, a microphone in one hand. “If I could have your attention for a few moments, please.”
Slowly, the chatter died down.
“My name is Alyssa and today is a singles’ event, learning the basics of shibari, an artistic form of Japanese bondage. So if that’s news to you, you might want to clear out.”
A chuckle rippled through the crowd.
“In the spirit of a singles’ event,” the woman went on, “I’ll ask you now to move at least five steps in any direction.”
Shuffling feet, hissed curses, and muttered apologies filled the air.
“You should now be standing side by side with total strangers. Pick one to be your first partner.”
Grayson’s face was already flushing as he glanced around at the people in his vicinity. Two women, a man with his eyes on a nearby Alpha, and—
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” a low voice said from behind him. “Seems like we’re going to be partners.”
Dread washed over every fiber of Grayson’s being as he slowly rotated to meet the eyes of the Alpha behind him.
Keld Vihinu. Again.
Chapter 14
