Page 71 of Sweet Omega
“Fuck,” Tarymn mumbled, dragging a hand down his face as he tried to not to think about what was going to happen with the new law.
By the time he reached home, he’d made the decision to warn Ludiin and Luci before the news spread, so they weren’t blindsided. He climbed the narrow stairs, his heart pounding hard with each step he took towards Ludiin.
Halfway up, Tarymn stilled, his pulse stuttering as Ludiin’s soft voice carried down.
“I feel so much better now. It’s like a weight’s been lifted. I can finally focus on my work without my heat hanging over me. And… I’ve been thinking a lot about making those pleasuring bots. I’ll need someone to test them, of course, but I think I can do it.”
“So, you’re not going to work things out with him?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I think he was right.”
Tarymn’s breath hitched.
Chapter 14
Tarymn
“About what?” Luci asked.
There was a pause.
“About everything between us not being real,” Ludiin murmured, his voice sounding so fragile. “I think I was half in love with him before I even met him. Dad talked about him constantly, and I… I lived for those stories. Tarymn was the only alpha I ever wanted to meet, and when I finally did, he was everything I imagined. And Dad had just died… I think I needed something to hold on to, so I latched onto him instead.”
“Do you think that’s what happened?”
Silence, then… “Yes.”
“Okay,” Luci said softly, letting out a long sigh. “At least now you can deal with your feelings without your heat clouding everything.”
“Yes,” Ludiin whispered. “I just… I hope they fade soon. I don’t want to feel this way about him. It’s too hard.”
“It will get better, Ludiin.”
“I hope so.”
The quiet sadness lacing Ludiin’s voice sank into Tarymn’s chest, twisting into guilt he couldn’t shake.
Still, he had to tell them what was coming. Maybe, after hearing it, Ludiin would choose to stay somewhere else, far from him and everything that happened between them.
Tarymn dragged himself up the stairs, making sure every footfall was heavy so they’d know he was coming.
“Tarymn,” Ludiin said when he appeared, his voice catching ever so slightly.
“Hey,” Tarymn murmured, careful not to stare at the omega for too long, though it was impossible not to notice how striking he looked with his hair tumbling messily around his face even though his hands and cheeks were stained black with Lumina. For a moment, Tarymn’s chest tightened at the sight. “I need to talk to you two.”
“What is this about?” Luci asked, rising from the couch to stand protectively at Ludiin’s side. Tarymn noticed but decided not to take offence. After all, he’d managed to hurt Ludiin, whether he meant to or not.
“The council of alphas is going to pass a new law,” Tarymn said, his throat dry. “And it’s going to affect you.”
“What is it?” Ludiin asked, his wide eyes filling with worry.
Tarymn’s chest ached with the urge to go to him, to hold him and take away the fear he saw building there. But he stayed rooted where he was. “All omegas of age will be forced to move into commune houses.” His words fell heavy into the room. He could practically feel Ludiin’s anxiety spike, his body going rigid, his breath hitching. "I don't when Maxus will announce it, but just know its coming. I’ve made arrangements for you to stayhere… if you want,” he added quickly, desperate to ease the look in Ludiin’s eyes.
“If Ludiin is okay with it…” Luci said carefully. The weight in his tone told Tarymn exactly what he meant, that Ludiin might not stay, not with everything the way it was between them.
