Page 143 of Run Little Omega

The little ones shift beneath his palm, their movements gentler now, almost peaceful. Through our claiming bond, I sense their satisfaction—as if the magic flowing from their father through me has eased some essential hunger.

"They're calmer," I observe, placing my hand over his. "They've been restless for days."

"They needed this," Cadeyrn confirms, his thumb tracing idle patterns on my skin. "The magic that nourishes them. That sustains you."

I feel the truth of it in my bones—the bone-deep fatigue that's plagued me receding like tide going out, replaced by vibrant energy that pulses through my veins. My body feels stronger, more resilient, nourished by whatever essence transferred during our claiming.

"The ancient texts were right," I murmur, turning my head to meet his gaze. "Carrying fae offspring requires regular claiming to sustain the magical drain."

"They were right about many things," he agrees, his expression thoughtful as his fingers trace the cillae along my collarbone. "About the original purpose of the Hunt. About the balance between alpha and omega, not just dominance and submission."

His knot pulses inside me, still fully swollen and showing no signs of receding soon. Each subtle movement sends aftershocks of pleasure rippling through my body.

"We should probably do this more often," I suggest with deliberate casualness, fighting a smile at his immediate look of interest. "For the little ones' sake, of course."

"Of course," he agrees solemnly, though his eyes dance with humor rarely displayed by the Winter Prince of old. "A purely practical arrangement."

"Purely practical," I echo, pressing closer against him as another pulse of his knot draws a soft gasp from my lips. "Nothing to do with how good it feels or how much I might actually enjoy your company."

His laugh is warm against my hair, his arms tightening around me. "Heaven forbid you admit to such weakness."

"Exactly," I agree, finding myself smiling despite everything. "I have a reputation to maintain."

We lapse into comfortable silence, our bodies still joined in the most intimate way possible, our cillae pulsing in synchronized rhythm across our skin. Outside our chambers, court politics and ancient traditions continue their dangerous dance. Four combined courts still hunt us. Birth chambers still await our children's arrival.

But in this moment, in this bed, none of that matters. There is only this connection—this claiming that goes deeper than biology, this bond that transcends mere instinct. Whatever names we give it—love, magic, destiny—it burns between us with undeniable power.

"Rest," Cadeyrn murmurs against my hair, his hand protectively covering our unborn children. "But only for a moment. Your heat isn't fully sated yet."

The promise in his voice sends a renewed pulse of warmth through my body. He's right—the edge has been taken off the desperate need, but there's a banked fire still smoldering beneath my skin, ready to ignite again at his slightest touch.

"How can you tell?" I ask, feeling his cock twitch inside me, still hard despite his release.

His smile is pure predatory satisfaction. "Your scent. It's changed, but not completely." He inhales deeply against my neck, teeth grazing my pulse point. "You need more of my seed. More of my magic."

"Greedy alpha," I tease, though the idea sends fresh heat coiling through my core.

"Insatiable omega," he counters, his hand moving to cup my breast, thumb circling the sensitive nipple in a way that makes me gasp.

His knot has barely begun to recede when he suddenly pulls away, leaving me empty and aching. Before I can protest, he flips me onto my stomach with effortless strength.

"On your hands and knees," he commands, voice rough with renewed rut.

Heat surges through my veins at his dominant tone, my body responding instantly despite recent satisfaction. I raise myself as instructed, presenting to his hungry gaze.

"Perfect," he growls, hands gripping my hips with bruising intensity. "I want to take you like this. Want to fuck you until you can't remember your own name."

"Big talk for someone who just came," I challenge over my shoulder, deliberately provoking him.

His laugh is dark and promising. "I've been in rut for weeks, little deceiver. One release barely touches the edge."

To prove his point, he enters me from behind, filling me with one powerful thrust that has me crying out in shocked pleasure. The angle is deeper than before without my swollen belly in the way, his cock reaching places inside me that send stars exploding behind my eyelids.

"Gods!" I gasp, fingers clawing at the bed beneath us as he establishes a ruthless pace.

"Not gods," he corrects, hand fisting in my hair to pull my head back. "Just me. Your alpha. Your mate."

"Cadeyrn," I moan, arching my back to take him deeper.

---