Page 26 of No Potions Needed

Many years ago on Pharenos

That first week with the peck was like a fever dream. Kaladar and Ormund were the only constants. Whenever Ormund wasn’t around Kaladar worked on my wound and told me about true-mates. At first, I thought he merely told me stories to pass the time.

“It’s genetic but it’s also spiritual,” Kaladar explained one rainy afternoon. As water droplets pinged against the world outside his soothing voice explained once again when the hospital scan really meant for me. “True-mates choose each other before they start incarnating or perhaps in between lives. When that happens often enough in a population of already born people the Alpha/Omega gene starts to show up. It doesn’t care about assigned sex at birth or any of that. We’re not sure how it chooses which part of the pair will be which. Somethings are a mystery. Still,” he paused to flick my IV tube. “It means that if a man is born an omega he has the capability to carry his mate’s children. That is what they found inside you.”

I blinked up at him.

“So, it’s all about babies?” I asked a second later.

“It is more than that. So much more,” Kaladar chuckled. “Souls choose each other. Who am I to say I understand all the reasons they might choose each other but they do. It is about that choice – that commitment, Dern. It carries over from mortal life to mortal life. If you are lucky enough to find your true-mate, you will respond. Yes, that arouses most people under normal circumstances but it’s not just about sex. I think the Alpha/Omega gene evolved just to give everyone a chance at having a kid if they wanted one. Magic likes to give equal opportunities in its most unadulterated essence. At least, that’s my theory. That and from an evolutionary standpoint, children of true-mates are more likely to have two parents who stick around.”

“My shoulder bump hurts again,” I said, rolling my shoulder as red-hot pain spread out from it.

Kaladar flashed me a sad smile that made me one thousand percent sure I was going to die. Visions of the future or not, I was going to die. That’s why the healer was so kind. He wanted to ensure my last days were comfy.

“That is your claiming gland, Dern,” Kaladar said a moment later. “When you are ready, I will tell you more about it or perhaps you’ll ask Ormund.”

“I belong to me,” I growled, but whatever medication the healer added to my IV was already pulling me back under.

I dreamt of flying over the mountains and dropping flaming torches as Elke and his cronies ran from me for a change. If I caught them, I’d roast them or perhaps carve them open and see what made them tick. Ancient shifters scried using the entrails of their enemies. Maybe I could do that too. Though they were so full of shit I wasn’t sure I’d be able to trust any of their predictions.

It was Ormund’s warm hand running over my hair that woke me up. I blinked awake slowly. I reveled in those quiet moments before the bird man realized I was awake. He touched me so gently. So softly as if I might break into pieces under his touch. No one had ever been so kind and gentle with me. I pulled in a deep breath that gave my waking state away, but I loved his scent. I didn’t walk around sniffing most people because we were supposedly civilized shifters after all but I loved his scent. His feather chard scent was the best in the world. He smelled like incense and dried flowers all smashed into one. Ormund was perfect. How he stumbled into the hospital to save me was still a mystery to me at that time and I decided I’d probably die without knowing how he saved me. I came to terms with that slowly. Came to know I could live with that fact as long as he kept touching me.

“Oh, crap!” I swore under my breath and his big, warm hand jerked away.

“Mate, did I harm you?” Ormund asked and for a long second, I could only laugh. The vibrations shook me in places that ached and stung but I couldn’t quit. I was so fucking dense. I was a moron. I was --- In over my head. Perhaps I even had a concussion. I wasn’t sure anymore.

“Mate?” Ormund said, his scent turning worried as he looked over his shoulder.

“Don’t call him. I’m okay. It’s---” I said and broke out into laughter again. “It hurts so much! Oh, my ancestors! Oh me--- Fuck me! I’m laughing at myself.”

“What is so funny?” Ormund asked, his hand now over one of mine.

“You call me ‘mate’. Kaladar tells me stories of true-mates over and over. I have a womb. The scans showed it as clearly as the sun shines. I’m an omega,” I said, doing my best not to laugh because it made my lower stomach feel as if someone was cutting it open all over again but from the inside out this time. “We’re mates. We did that thing Kaladar was talking about in between lives.”

“We most certainly did,” Ormund nodded. “And I found you, but for the grace of feathers and I will protect you. I am sorry I did not know sooner enough to save you this pain and to spare your parents.”

“I’ll kill Elke when I feel better,” I said, letting my wolf growl inside his inner sanctum.

“I will bring him to you alive or dead. Soar has captured him, and he is ours now. He harmed you and your family. Therefore, he harmed the pecked and that crime against nature will not go unpunished.”

I nodded and tried to scoot over to make room for Ormund. He was too big to crawl into bed with me, but he leaned his arms on the edge and held my hand in both of his. That was the moment I became determined to get better. I’d kill Elke and then we’d live happily ever after.

“Can I ask you something?” I said, trying to ignore my dry throat. It stayed bone dry since the surgery as if they sucked my salivary glands dry when they cut open my belly.

“Of course,” he said, stroking the backs of my hand.

“What is on my shoulder?”

Ormund grinned at me and one of his hands disappeared from mine. He turned on a light on the wall that I didn’t know existed before then. I let out a long slow breath as his big brown wings came fully into view. I didn’t know it then but phoenixes changed colors throughout their lifetime seemingly at random intervals. They were as everchanging as the fire that fueled them.

“On my shoulder too,” he said, leaning in close and sweeping his dark hair out of the way. “They are claiming glands. Inside is magic. It’s the magic we created so long ago when we chose each other in the Other World. When you are better we will exchange bites and the magic will complete the cycle between us. The ceremony will bind us as thoroughly as any two people can ever be bound together. We will dwell within each other’s souls.”

“Can I ask another question?” I asked, my head spinning with a million thoughts. I took a long, deep breath and tried my best to sort them out. I could only ask one thing at a time, but I wanted to know everything about true-mates. Everything about Ormund and his peck.

“Of course,” he said and then a few moments later he was as flushed as I was explaining what my ‘fits’ really were. They didn’t even have heat shots back then. Though, my next heat wasn’t that far off, and it would be my favorite one ever.

Chapter Nineteen

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