Page 22 of Omega Sanctuary

I stared at the one candle that remained lit. I wanted to get up to snuff it out, but my legs hurt and I knew I would be sore tomorrow.

Sabine sat down in a chair. "You did nothing wrong."

"Apparently I did." Tears fell from my eyes, even though crying was the last thing I wanted. There was a crater in my chest.

Sabine looked down at her hands. "I should have made sure you two were compatible. I was so concerned about you going into heat."

The candle flickered in the small room. I reviewed the evening, wondering where I had gone wrong.

"This is my fault. My hubris."

I glanced up at the Priestess. "It's not. I wanted him, for so long."

Sabine stood up and went to the corner of the room where a large tub sat. She touched the levers that controlled the flow of water. Steamy, fragrant water poured out of the wooden chute.

"I should have spent more time preparing you." Sabine looked away. "You can bathe. Stay here tonight. I'll make arrangements."

"Arrangements?"

"I should have sent you to the Omega Sanctuary right away. Especially after yesterday." Sabine looked grim. "But I wanted you to be with your family."

"Where is the Sanctuary?" The sweat on my body turned cold.

"Near the Capitol. In the Southern Region."

I blinked. That was a two-week journey at best. "I'll be fine here."

Sabine shook her head. "We'll talk about it in the morning. You need your rest."

She left the room. The sound of soft water filling up the tub filled the room, but my heart was pounding too loud to enjoy it.

I stared at the candle, resentment filling me.

I wanted the scent of him off me. I dragged myself to the tub and scrubbed until my skin was raw. My hands shook, but I managed to wash off and get into the large bed. I stayed to the opposite side we had made love on.

I was an idiot for wanting him. For thinking he would want me for more than being an omega. He'd looked at me with such disdain, my heart clenched all over again at the memory.

I curled up on the bed, my chest hurting. Tears pricked my eyes until they started to fall. I buried my face into the pillow and started crying harder.

Light flared in the room, interrupting my crying. I sat up and watched as Kivai materialized.

It started as a large glow, and then he appeared. Now I knew where stories of angels and messengers from the gods came from.

"Oh, honey." Kivai closed the distance between us and hugged me.

Bliss. I sagged against him. "I tried," I started.

He stroked his hands through my hair. "I'm sorry. I'm here."

I snuggled against him. My energy entwined around his until there was nothing else but the two of us.

Relief washed over me. He pulled me against him tighter. "I thought I would set you off."

An echo of lust curled through me, and he laughed. "Not like that."

"This is really weird." I rested my cheek on his shoulder. "How are you...solid?"

"This is a temple. It's very confusing to get through the channel of power going into the temples, but once I managed it, I don't need to use as much of my own power to manifest."

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