Page 6 of Citius

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My thumbprint unlocked the loft’s front door, which opened into a two-story foyer lit by a frosted lamp on the entryway table, with an open-plan living area beyond. The walls alternated between exposed brick and a hazy shade of charcoal gray paint. Natural oak floors ran throughout, with the same wood tone as the exposed ceiling beams.

On my way to the kitchen, I closed the blackout curtains, rejecting the warm September sunset and riverfront views. A trio of wall-height arched windows spanned the length of the living and dining rooms.

Dinner was in the oven, something I inferred from the sound of the vent fan. I set my work bag and other daily essentials on the island.

My beloved chunk, Tenny, purred like a rusty motor as he wound himself between my legs, a furry mess of asymmetrical black and white splotches.

His brother, Kip, perched on the stairs to the second floor. He was a far more dashing fellow with a trim build, four snow-white paws, and a black domino mask covering his left eye.

“Headache?” My younger sister Kelsey emerged from the pantry, holding a loaf of Italian bread—a context clue. Dinner was likely lasagna, one of her go-to recipes for busy weeknights.

Papa, our omega father, passed on a mellower version of his radiant softness to Kelsey—all the best omega assets in a heat-free beta package, with a gentle upturn to her freckled nose and caramel blonde hair.

A stylish package, too, with the ability to make fussy retro pieces seem fresh. Today’s sweater was a perfect example, with puffed sleeves and frolicking foxes embroidered along the bust. Leaf-shaped enamel earrings glinted on her ears, sourced from a trendy resale shop downtown.

“I’m fine,” I said as I started unpacking—a water bottle to rinse and refill, ultrasound course notes to review and suggested reading from myfellowship director to finish. “Just hate having to deal with heat nonsense.”

“You’re still wearing your sunglasses.”

Ah, so I was. I swapped them for my regular pair.

Kelsey began buttering slices of bread. “Have you heard from Jacobi?”

“Yeah, he just called. Closing went fine. New neighbors imminent.”

“Do you think they’ll have kids?” she asked, sounding a touch hopeful. She loved having people to bake for.

“I don’t know, but if they do, it better not be the noisy, crumb-laden variety. I donotwant to find sticky mystery substances on the elevator buttons.”

Kelsey snorted, waved the butter-laden knife at me, and put on a ridiculous, faux-Southern accent. “Why, doctor, you’re such a woman of the people.”

Tenny made a messy landing on the island, almost knocking my tablet onto the floor. I guided him to a clear spot and indulged in some chin scritches.

“It still feels weird,” Kelsey said, returning to her task. “I keep planning meals for three people instead of the two of us.”

“At least we’re saving money on hot sauce.”

“Barely,” Kelsey scoffed. “You’re just as bad as he is.”

I pulled a face at her and fished out the most recent prospectus for my fellowship research project. Partnered with Designation Sciences, I was trying to integrate PheroPass—a new state-of-the-art health monitoring patch—into clinical care. It’d been touted as a fitness tracker on steroids with a brain, but in reality, it left a lot to be desired.

Kelsey set the knife down and moved the tray aside, leaning across the island, a gentle hand cupping my fist. “Sure you’re okay?”

“Jacobi’s happiness is more important than my reservations about his love life.” I slid out of her grasp and down onto a barstool. “Think of it as a sort of experiment. How long can two omegas stay joined at the hip without killing each other?”

“You make it sound like you’re a pair of poisoned twin popsicles.”

My laugh came out more like a half-grunt. The ever-present threat of a headache turned sharp, digging in behind my eyes.

“Youdohave a headache. Did you eat lunch?”

“Of course.” The truth was mandatory with Kelsey. I owed it to her.

She was my rock.

For the first three months after my accident, I was a delirious and unreasonable mess. Later, when the fog cleared, I had no choice but toaccept the ugly truth. I could not function without help.

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