Page 158 of Fated or Knot

My old fears felt far away once I uttered them to my protector. I was about to manifest my omega mark, and then I would be fully claimed by Pack Sorles. I’d never have to worry about scenting Pack Ellisar on me permanently, which had once been an inevitability I’d dreaded.

Our time together was drawing to a close. Kauz was flying out to meet us at the inn by the afternoon for me to start my date with him. I remained cozy in Marius’s arms until then. Eventually, he drew me a bath and I washed alone, else we’d end up in another hours-long knotting.

Though when I emerged wet and nude from the bathroom, his lusty stare had me feeling weak at the knees. He watched me dress in my last set of clean clothes, knuckles white in the tangled sheets of bedding where I’d left him. “The rut will die down without me around, right?” I asked.

“I hope so,” he grumbled. “Go downstairs, before I rip those clothes off you.”

I drew breath to tease, but decided against it at the last moment. I’d learned thoroughly by this point what happened when he perceived a challenge. “Okay. Love you.”

“Love you more.”

I left the room with a giggle and a flutter of my wings, heading downstairs to meet Kauz when he arrived. Except, he was already here, seated and nursing a steaming cup of tea while listening attentively to a story Illia was telling. Her needles clicked away as she rocked in her chair, and a feather duster floated a few feet above them, flicking over the contents of a shelf.

Kauz twitched his hand and the feather duster ascended to the next shelf to clear away the thick layer of dust over the knickknacks there. His gaze seemed to shift, before he lit up with a broad smile. “There’s my mate.”

Illia didn’t look up. “Ah, aye, she’s been here with the strapping blue lad I was telling you about. Just like my Henrik in his prime.”

I bit my lip to hold in a laugh and made a mental note to add ‘strapping blue lad’ to my list of random compliments to whisper into Marius’s mind when he least expected it. Kauz put aside his tea and stood, catching me when I leapt into his arms. He enfolded me in his wings and our lips met for a long moment. “Hello, my Always,” I murmured.

“Hello sweetheart. I’ve missed you.” I soaked in his calm and gentle tone with a happy sigh. He put me back on my feet, but didn’t withdraw the privacy his wings. Purple nebulae danced in his eyes against a backdrop of darkness and stars as he took me in. I was helpless but to do the same, admiring him and running my hand through his hair. He’d had it cut back to starry white velvet again.

Illia’s chuckle interrupted what I was going to say. “She already has a room if you wish to make use of it,” she said.

His eyes literally twinkled in amusement while I watched, fascinated. “That is kind, honored elder, but I will be flying away with her shortly.”

“Marius will be right down,” I added.

“Will he?” Kauz chuckled and sat back down, taking me with him so I was resting across his lap. I laid my head on his shoulder and snuggled in while a tickle of warmth danced over my skin.

“Marius,” Illia echoed to herself. “Where have I heard that name?”

Kauz ignored her and turned over my wrist, making atisksound. “I should’ve figured,” he said under his breath. Over half the decorative loops marking the heat suppressant tattoo were gone, and I hadn’t even noticed.Whoops. The fertility blocker remained a bold “x” beneath it.

“Is it bad?” I whispered.

He petted my hair while we waited. I purred like a kitten and angled my head for more. “I don’t need this to tell me your heat is close. I have an idea to float by you and my brother, if he ever gets himself down here.”

He adjusted the feather duster again, and Illia tried to get Henrik’s attention. While I’d gotten used to the elderly couple yelling, Kauz winced at their back and forth, until the elderly kelpie shuffled out of the back room to see what his mate wanted.

Marius came downstairs a few minutes later, our traveling bag slung over one shoulder. He paused for a fraction too long when his gaze tracked to where I’d settled. This time, I felt his internal clash. Niall wanted to be territorial, but Marius reminded himself that his packmate and brother wasn’t competition. Kauz’s lips curled into his usual knowing smile as he waved casually to the kelpie.

“—Couldn’t possibly be royalty,” Henrik was scoffing. “One of them would’ve told us.”

“That’s our cue,” Kauz said in an undertone. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the feather duster to float over to its holder and gestured for me to stand.

“Honored elders, we’re leaving. What do we owe you for our stay?” Marius asked the elderly couple.

Kauz and I slipped outside. “He’s in rut,” I told him when we had privacy.

He nodded. “I figured it had to be something like that. You haven’t been sleeping much lately.”

I released a surprised laugh, though I hoped I didn’t have shadows under my eyes. I’d gotten as prepared for our date as I could, but I already knew I smelled of the sea. That saltwater tang was simply unavoidable, this close to the Doras.

Kauz kept talking, seeming thoughtful. “His side of the pack bond is…it’s interesting. I sense his lust and, well,pressure, but I’m not having a sympathetic reaction.”

“Because you’re a beta,” I said.

“Perhaps. But it’s still there, and I could reach out and accept some of it,” he mused. “Not that I think you need two of usthisworked up yet.”

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