Page 78 of Sweet Omega
Ludiin turned. “Is Tarymn getting bonded?”
“He might. Hym found his mate. Why wouldn’t Tarymn?” Luci studied Ludiin for a long moment, before stepping closer. “Whatever was between you two is gone now. Don’t you think it’s time you went out there and tried to live a little?”
Ludiin barely heard Luci. He was still stuck on the fact that Tarymn might get bonded soon.
A strange ache bloomed behind Ludiin’s ribs at the idea. He wasn’t supposed to care. Wasn’t supposed to feel anything. Whatever he and Tarymn had been… he couldn’t even name it. A mistake. A fleeting dream. They were something that never should have happened but happened. Something he should have forgotten but hadn’t. Something he shouldn’t want, yet deep down… he wanted.
Ludiin rubbed his chest absently, trying to smother the achy tightness curling inside him. “I like Jamue,” he said softly. “Maybe I’ll like… whoever Tarymn brings home.”
“Ludiin!” Luci snapped. “I’m not going to let you do this. You promised me.” Ludiin opened his mouth to argue, but his connector chimed on the workbench.
Without thinking, he answered. Putting it on speaker like he always did while working.
A soft, eager voice filled the room. “Did you manage to fix our alpha? I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about it. I have some ideas I want to share with you!”
Ludiin froze.
Luci’s eyes widened.
Ludiin’s face flushed hot. “Nylune,” he choked, “my brother is here.”
“Oh!” The gasp on the other end was sharp and horrified.
“Our alpha?” Luci asked slowly, eyebrows climbing. “What is he talking about, Ludiin?”
“I…its… I… meant…” Nylune stammered, scrambling for something to say. Poor thing sounded like he wanted to melt into the floor.
When Ludiin first met the omega through the Omega Placement Agency, back when he was still testing out his pleasuring bots, the omega could barely string two words together without stammering. But that was then. Now, with the Alpha King’s scandal finally behind them, Nylune sounded likehe was slowly breaking out of his shell. “The, um, pleasuring bot. The one he’s working on. It’s calledThe Alpha Experience. That’s just the name, I didn’t mean, he’souralpha.”
Luci turned to Ludiin with a look that could peel paint. “It sounded like that’s exactly what he meant. Like you’re in here, making an alpha.” His eyes drifted to the workbench, really looking this time. “You’re not actually doing that… right?”
“What if I am?” Ludiin replied, chin tilting in defiance.
“Ludiin…” Luci’s voice faltered.
“What?” he said, arms crossed now. “There are omegas out there who ache for an alpha. Who craves that experience and can’t have it for a million reasons. Trauma. Fear. Illness. Not being wanted. And they still want to feel it. I want to feel it…again.” He sighed. “I’m trying to build something that can give us that. Is that such a bad thing?”
Luci opened his mouth, then closed it again.
“It’s…” Luci started.
“It’s a good thing,” Nylune cut in gently, his voice steadier now through the speaker. “I hope he succeeds. I need this too. Because of my condition, I can’t be with a real alpha. I’m terrified of what I’d turn into. I’ve loved everything Ludiin’s ever made, but this pleasuring bot… this one could change my life.”
“Mine too,” Ludiin whispered.
Luci’s patience snapped. “Stop.” He raked a hand through his hair, glaring at both of them—one in the room, one through the speaker. “Do you even hear yourselves? Nylune, don’t tell me you don’t want a real connection with someone. And you,” he pointed at Ludiin, “You can’t say you’re done with alphas when you haven’t even tried. This is insane.”
“Maybe to you,” Ludiin said coolly. “But to me, this is the closest thing I’ll ever get to normal.”
“Is this because of Tarymn?”
“No. It has nothing to do with him. I just feel that…”
Luci cut him off with a sharp shake of his head. “You’re not going to hide, Ludiin. I won’t let you. You’re going out there, and you’re going to find yourself an alpha. Or I’ll find you one.”
“Luci…”
“No.” His tone hardened, brooking no argument. “End of discussion. I’ve been patient with you for years, because I knew you had to work through this on your own. But listen to me, you’re not the first omega to fall in love and get rejected. You’re not the only one who’s ever felt clumsy around alphas, who didn’t know what to say or how to act. We’ve all been there. The difference is, we don’t give up at the first stumble. We get back up. We try again. And again. Until it feels less terrifying.” Luci’s voice softened. “It won’t just happen. You have to go out. Have a conversation. Share a meal. Go dancing. Laugh. Have fun. Learn what it’s like to let someone in. It doesn’t have to be with Baron. It can be with anyone. Just try.”
