Prologue
Viktor
“I’m sorry,” I say, the words coming out slowly. My mind is reeling and my hands clench around the ends of my sleeves so tightly they shake. “I don’t think I understand,” I manage to say despite the sentence being the understatement of my life.
“That’s okay,” the man in front of me says, giving me a kind smile. I don’t want his kindness, I want all of this to start making sense. “This is a lot to take in. It can take a moment for it all to sink in.”
“Right. It’s just, I thought you said that I’ve had an awakening and that I possess magic. Also I’m something called an omega? That can’t be right. There’s no such thing as magic.”
Doctor Flemming sits back in his chair. Is he even a real doctor? Have I stumbled into some sort of prank? No real doctor would be saying shit like this, right?
My heart hammers in my chest and I feel breathless. My head is spinning a million miles per hour. I feel like I can’t think straight! None of this is making any sense. I came here to figure out what the hell has been going on with me and now some guy is telling me I have magic?
About six months ago, things started getting weird. I would have these strange sensations in my finger tips, almost like static electricity but instead of it coming from touching carpet or something, the zaps would come frominsideme. Or at least, that’s what it felt like. To make matters worse, these zaps would happen during the worst times, like when I was upset or sad or umm…excited.
I also started having these wild temperature swings. One second I would feel like I was on fire and the next I would feel ice cold. Nothing was making any sense.
The more I would think about what was happening, the more blocked I felt. It was like my desperation had built up this wall. I needed help pushing it down but no matter what I tried, nothing helped.
Everything came to a head one night. I woke up from a bad dream and part of my blanket had been turned to ash. Sure, I woke up covered in sweat but there’s no way I got so hot I caught something on fire! And if that’s truly what happened, there’s no way I would have survived being at that temperature.
A part of me knows that what this guy is saying has merits. The more rational side refuses to believe it.
Magic? Inside of me? That I can use?
Also what’s all this about being an omega? Doctor Flemming gave me a brief overview. Apparently I’ve gone through a second puberty of sorts since my magic manifested. I have a uterus inside of me, capable of carrying children, and I’ll start to go through something called a heat after I meet the person my body wants to mate with.
This is all so overwhelming.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying, Viktor.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“I know it doesn’t. This is a lot to take in but it’s going to be okay. I can answer any questions you might have. We’ll give you resources and help you as much as you need as you transition into this new world.”
I swallow thickly. “This new world?”
“The paranormal world.”
Chapter One
Duncan
I run my hand down the front of my shirt, making sure my tie is straight. Then I sit down across from my mother and father. This is one of those places you have to make a reservation for months ahead of time yet somehow, my mother and father always have a table open for them in the back. I guess that’s what happens when you have the money to invest in businesses before they can really get on their feet.
“Mother. Father,” I say in greeting, nodding to each of them.
“Darling! I’m so glad you could join us,” my mother says, picking up her glass of wine and taking a sip.
“Sorry I’m a little late. I had a meeting with a new client that ran over.”
My father flags down the waiter, ordering a scotch on the rocks for me. I would have much preferred anything else but he’s got itin his head that scotch on the rocks is my favorite and no matter how many times I correct him, he doesn’t seem to really get it. That’s beenhisdrink for as long as I can remember, not mine.
“A new client?” he asks once that’s done.
“Yeah. I’ll be painting a mural in his living space for him.”
“Oh, how lovely,” Mother says, almost absent-mindedly. She picks at the bread on the table.
