Page 28 of The Omega Thief

“You don’t want me,” Attiker said as gently as he could. “I’m a street rat. I might not have pickpocketed the day you arrested me, but I’ve been desperate enough to do it before.” He swallowed. “I’m a thief. I’m probably the worst person you could probably pick.”

But Raz was shaking his head. “We’re bonded. Our wolves—” But then he broke off.

“But can’t our wolves be persuaded otherwise?” He actually thought his must be asleep or something because he couldn’t feel it at all. “Is that why you’re in here with me?” Because Attiker couldn’t think of any other reason. He looked around and worked out by the equipment surrounding them, the vials, the assorted glass jars, the pouches, and stoppered jars that they must be in some sort of medical area.

“You weren’t just sick because of what they gave you,” Raz said and tucked one of Attiker’s loose curls behind his ears. “Our wolves cannot be apart. It’s especially important immediately after bonding. If I hadn’t found you, you could have died.”

Attiker’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know that.”

“It’s a closely guarded secret,” Raz admitted. Attiker was speechless at the trust Raz was granting him.

“And this is why you’re in bed with me?”

“Skin contact is vital.”

Attiker wasn’t sure how he felt about that. It almost sounded like Raz was here because he had to be. That there was no free will involved. But before he could ask, the door opened, and an older man walked in. Attiker recognized his dark gray healer robes.

He smiled when he saw Attiker awake.

“This is Master Healer Laronne,” Raz introduced him. “Responsible for saving your life.”

Laronne waved a hand as if that was in doubt. “How do you feel, Your Highness?”

Attiker searched for the words available. He wasn’t sure how popularembarrassedoroverwhelmedwould be, so he went with saying he was hungry. “And could I possibly…” He really didn’t want to use a pot. Present royal company and all that.

Laronne chuckled and looked at Raz. “Your Highness, why don’t you stretch your legs while I check His Highness over? A brief separation would be safe, and I’m sure you would both like a few moments. Thakeray is outside as usual, and I can instruct the kitchen to serve you both when you return. They’re eager and waiting. I would, however, prefer you both stay in here another night.”

Attiker flushed as Raz bent and brushed a kiss on his lips like there was no one watching, then wanted to hide when Raz stood up gloriously naked and slipped on one of the robes. “I won’t be long.”

Attiker watched him until he left, the door closing behind him. “Why do I need to stay in here a second night?”

“A fourth,” Laronne corrected him, and Attiker gaped. Four? Laronne busied about him, checking his heart, peering into his eyes, then passing him another robe and showing him where he could relieve himself in private. Attiker hurried. His legs were a little shaky, but he was grateful everything seemed to be working, and he wondered if he had a chance of a bath before he left.

Laronne was still on his own when he got back, and Attiker gulped down the flagon of water that had been provided.

“Can I ask a question, umm, well, in confidence?” He knew royal healers took an oath, but it wasn’t quite the same as the palace priests. They were supposed to hear the royal confessions. Although, he’d never met a priest he would trust a secret to. Not, admittedly, that he’d met many royal priests. If any.

“You can ask me anything concerning your own care.”

Good. That was good. “This wolf thing. Raz, umm, His Highness, said we have to stay together. That it’s worse at the start, and that’s why I got sick. It wasn’t just the fever white.”

“That’s correct,” Laronne confirmed. “The omega will not survive the separation unless he bonds with another Fenrir.”

Raz had told him that. Or that he was the omega anyway. Then he picked at what Laronne had said. The omega wouldn’t survive. “Did it take a lot to heal me?”

Laronne smiled. “I would like to claim credit for your recovery, but we just kept you both comfortable and tended. His Highness and his Fenrir healed you.”

Attiker absorbed that. They healed him, not the other way around. “Not both? I mean, His Highness wasn’t sick? Was I that bad because of the fever white?”

“No,” Laronne said simply. “It’s only the omega that’s at risk after initial bonding. And your wolf had already rid you of the poison.”

Which made him think of his other worry. “Why can’t I feel him? I mean, shouldn’t there be something? I don’t feel like there’s a wolf in me.”

For the first time, Laronne hesitated before he answered, and Attiker noticed immediately. “What’s wrong?”

“Thank you, Laronne, you may leave us.”

Attiker jumped at Raz’s voice. Seven hells, but the man was quiet. Laronne bowed and left immediately. Suspicion curled like a thorn in Attiker’s gut. “What is it?”

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