I sit up and pull my shirt on, and carefully ease myself out from beneath Nilak’s wing, leaving a naked Zenevieve curled up fast asleep in my cloak.
Outside the cave, the breeze is cool and fresh compared to down in Lenhale. Summertime has made the mountainside colorful with flowers, and I follow the sound of water trickling toward a stream.
In my mind, I call to my dragon.Is Zenevieve all right, Nilak?
Stesha’s mate is asleep.
I smile as I walk along. Stesha’s mate. I love the way that sounds.
Over the next two days, Zenevieve sleeps a great deal, and so does the Omega dragon, Calyx. My mate needs her rest after everything that’s happened, but the dragon has no such excuse. I think he’s just lazy. Sometimes I wonder if he does anythingbutsleep. I watch them snoozing together and I wonder if they will bond, but I doubt it. They like each other just fine, but there is no spark between them. No dragon could replace Minta, not even Shar could have done that, but Zenevieve will fly again. Her dragon will be as lively and spirited as she is.
I expect Zenevieve’s false heat to fade in less than a day, but two days later she’s as feverish and sensitive to light as ever.
I press the cool backs of my fingers to her brow. “If this is a false heat, it should have ended by now.”
“Maybe it’s a true heat.”
“I don’t think so. You’re lucid and your fever isn’t very high.” She’s not begging me to fuck her, though I have made her come several times to ease her through it. In a true heat, her desire would make her desperate and unable to think of anything else. I’ve seen it with the dragons. “How long have you been feeling like this?”
“Days. Weeks. I think I’m stuck. Maybe this is never going to end.” Her face creases in a sob. “I knew it. I’m broken.”
I cradle Zenevieve in my arms. “Aash’lin, I’m sorry this is so upsetting.”
“Because…because…” She suddenly looks terrified. “If I’m not a proper Omega, you won’t want me. I know it’s all you’ve wanted.”
“Zen, listen to me. I have never said that I want an Omega. I have only ever wanted my mate. Do you understand the difference?”
She searches my eyes. “You may not have said it out loud, but I know that’s what you crave in your heart. All Alphas do.”
“I don’t give a damn what your designation is. You could be an Alpha like Nilak and boss me around for the rest of my life, and I would worship the ground you walked on.”
Zenevieve smiles a little at that, and I do everything I can to reassure her, but I know that she doesn’t believe me. She’s seen the way King Aylard, Emmeric, Zabriel, and Kane obsess over Omegas. It didn’t help that I rejected her for an elusive Omega, even though it was her I was seeking all along.
I squeeze her hand. “Shall we go home,aash’lin? Our home, together.”
Zenevieve looks terrified. “If you’re sure…”
“I’m not in a rut. My head is clear. I promise that your heart is safe with me.” I press a kiss to her lips, and whisper, “I want to take my mate home.”
My mate. How I love to call her my mate.
Finally, she nods and lets me help her to her feet. I had hoped that when we left this mountain, she’d feel secure with me and know she could trust me, but I can see that it’s going to take longer than two days to undo all her fears.
When we emerge from the cave, the light is upsetting for her, but I keep her close to my chest as I carry her up onto Nilak. All the way home, I kiss her and murmur soft words to her. After we land at the dragongrounds, I keep a tight hold of her.
“How does my mate feel?” I ask. We’re out of sight of everyone behind Nilak. No one needs to know our business until Zenevieve feels secure.
She holds me tightly around the waist and thinks for a long time. “I will go to theHratha’len. I want to know what’s wrong with me.”
“There’s nothing wrong with you, but I hope they can suggest some ways to ease your distress. Would you like for me to go with you?”
She thinks for a moment and then shakes her head. “It’s all right. You see to the dragons because they have missed you. I will seek out Mother Linnea. She knows me better than any of the other temple women.”
I’m sure Mother Linnea will be delighted to hear that Zenevieve spent several days alone with me, naked with me, and being touched and kissed and held by me. To Mother Linnea, my name is mud. Lower than mud. But Zenevieve is right, and she is the best person to counsel her right now. “All right. When you are finished, I’ll be with the dragons, or I’ll be in our rooms. Iwon’t be anywhere else. Look for me as soon as you’re finished at the temple, and if you are too long, I will seek you out myself.”
“I will find you with the dragons or in your rooms,” she promises.
“Our rooms,” I insist. “Ours.”
