Page 21 of No Potions Needed

“I already said I would,” I added but neither of the omegas looked at me.

I tried to think of what my carrier might say to them, but Marsin was right. Mum had been dead long enough that she would’ve grown so much as a person in the decades since she’d been dead if she were still alive. I no longer knew what she’d have said or done or even wanted from me except in broad strokes.

“Are you okay?” Both omegas asked at the same time.

“I wasn’t trying to be mean. I’m sure it bothered you too,” Mori said.

“I was trying to think of something to say,” I said. “Then trying to think of what my mum might’ve said about it all.”

“Freddie, get the gun,” my dragon chimed off into my thoughts and I almost laughed.

“Your mother would’ve been mortified,” Mori said. “I don’t even need to have known her to know that. Any normal person would. I’m not surprised that he wasn’t willing to tell it twice. Though, I have to get him finesse points for wanting you there first, Teddy. He really wanted you to meet Othoni.”

“He told Astral he only helped him meet Marsin for his own selfish means,” I shrugged. “He gets something out of it.”

“No, he doesn’t,” Mori shook his head. “From how it was explained to me he did it all for Ormund and whatever promise he thinks he needs to keep.”

“Don’t make me shoot anyone if you die first,” Othoni said, meeting my gaze.

“I’d eat them myself.”

“Ormund probably could,” Mori said as the server sat down his food in front of him. “Anything else?”

“Bring me another plate, please,” I said because seeing Mori’s food made my stomach growl for more than cake.

“Me too, please!” Othoni grinned at the server.

“Feels like I’m at home,” Mori laughed, and it was good to hear him laugh.

Chapter Thirteen

Othoni

That night I fell into bed too stuffed to think about doing anything more than snuggling with my mate. If he minded the lack of pre-sleep orgasms he didn’t say anything. Instead, he petted my hair until I fell asleep with my head resting over his heart. I hated to admit it but Mori’s version of Dern’s story clung to my thoughts as I dozed off. Who discovers someone is different and then wants to literally hack away the difference? Was that why my carrier didn’t want outsiders around? I almost poked him over the family link to ask what he would’ve done if I met Teddy with the potion’s aid? Would’ve he have tried to force me to take a chosen feline mate? Would’ve he have disowned me like he did my brother?

“NO! NO! NO!” Mori roared.

“Huh?” I sat up ramrod straight and patted around for him. We didn’t always share a bed but sometimes we fell asleep talking.

“He’s having a nightmare,” Teddy said, squinting at me through the dark.

“I’ll be back,” I stumbled out of bed, feeling around for my shirt and deciding that it wasn’t that important anyway. I blushed at opening the door to a corridor full of guests all staring at Mori’s door. I pushed my way through them and tried the knob. It was locked. I poked at Mori as gently as I could over our little link and prayed to the ancestors he’d hear me over his own fears.

“Mate,” Teddy’s voice reached my ears a moment later.

He was once again out of the room in only his underwear. This time he squatted down at the knob with some sort of pin and wiggled it around until the door opened. The bird man from the front desk appeared in his robe mumbling about how he had the key.

“Go on,” Teddy said, opening the door slowly.

“You too,” I said, taking his hand and pulling him inside the room with me. I wasn’t about to leave my mate standing in his underwear surrounded by strangers. Most shifters weren’t prudes, but Teddy was good looking and if one of them did anything more than look, I’d have to claw out their eyes and eat them. I wouldn’t have said no to a midnight snack but I wasn’t in the mood for eyeballs.

“Mors,” I whispered, crawling into bed with our friend and gently rubbing his shoulder.

“NO! AH! Ni?” he blinked, holding a hand over his heart. “You scared the bear shit out of me!”

“I scared you? We heard you calling for help all the way down the hall! We had to pick the lock,” I whispered.

“I’m sorry,” Mori sank onto his back and glanced at Teddy. “Sit down somewhere. It’s weird. All of us half dressed and you standing down there like you’re gonna get a show.”

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