Page 55 of Pregnant With Their Babes

Oz chuckled. “Indeed. Although, my fatherisgiving me a chance to choose my bride, so at least I am being given some semblance of choice. Too bad your father refused to give you the same.”

“A bride? So you’ll marry a woman?”

“Humans aren’t quite accepting of men who lie with men,” Oz answered. “Some turn a blind eye… but it’s frowned upon by many.”

“That’s sad. In my world there is no difference. Male, female—alphas have their choice. Well, unless a mate crosses paths with another mate. Then the choice is made for them.” Llyr frowned. “Usually.”

“Mates?”

“In our past it was thought that everymerhad someone who was theirs and theirs alone. They would meet and instinctively recognize they belonged to one another—or so they say. Something changed hundreds of years ago, and now they’re a rarity. Most omegas are bound by their parents to another family—one who will give them more power. More wealth. My father’s treasury isn’t what it once was. He’s not poor, by any standard—but many years of warring with another realm has depleted his treasury.”

“A war under the sea. That would be something to behold. I wonder how it might impact humans—would we be aware of what was going on down there?”

“Likely not. You’ve all thought us a myth for how many generations now? Our nation has been at war with the Atlanteans for as long as I’ve been alive.”

Oz smiled. “It’s inconceivable to think there’s another world under the water I’ve spent practically my whole life on.”

“Will you miss it? When you return home?”

“I’ve always heard the call to the sea. When I was a boy, it drew me like a moth to a flame. I’m a strong swimmer and can hold my breath longer than anyone I know, besides my own brothers when they were alive. After I ran away from home, I knew I’d found my place in the world, here on the water.”

“Why didyourun away?”

Oz tensed. He’d run from that question for so long. He was tired of running. “I blamed myself for my mother’s death.”

“Wereyou to blame?”

Oz shook his head. “No.” A tremor shook him. Violently. The air was sucked from his lungs.

Llyr reached up and brushed some of the hair away from his forehead, his caress whisper soft. “You say ‘no’ but I see ‘yes’ in your eyes.”

Oz held Llyr’s gaze, drawn into the undertow of those swirling colors. They were like the water themselves. Sometimes peaceful. Sometimes raging with emotions. Now, there was a serenity he sensed there and he allowed it to take over.

“I was blamed for my papa’s death,” Llyr murmured. “My birth. His death. I never knew him.”

“How could anyone blame you? Women here die all too often in childbirth. It’s difficult on the body.”

“Yes… and more difficult for a male omega than a female.”

“Does it scare you? The prospect of giving birth?” Oz shook his head. “It still seems odd to say… a man with child.”

“The prospect of giving birth to a child created with a man I don’t love—thatI fear. The birth itself? I suppose there’s hesitation there, after what happened to my own papa. But the thought of having a little piece of me in my arms.” Llyr smiled. “That sounds wonderful.”

“I suppose it does sound wonderful. The world needs more souls like yours in it.”

Llyr smiled up at him before sighing. “Soon I’ll return there and you’ll have your own homecoming, and we’ll be drawn in separate directions.”

Oz smiled. “I’ll miss this life tremendously. Fortunately, my home is on the coast and I can see the shore from my bedroom window. I’ll never be too far away.”

“Maybe someday I can visit you on the shore.” Llyr’s smile faded. “If my fatherevergives me any freedom.”

“Do you really think he will after you escaped?”

“Not sure. Hopefully this will end the troth to come, but who knows? Even if it does, another might come at its heels.”

“I have no desire to be wed myself.”

Llyr tilted his head. “Do you enjoy the company of women?”

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