Except it’s becoming my reality.
Because I can’t help but observe as Serapina wanders through the cabin, admiring my creation with an expression of interest.
“You realize that manifesting all of this is another version of creating life, right?” she asks when she reaches the kitchen. “You keep calling it dead, but it’s alive with energy.Yourenergy. And while you may be the God of Death, you’re not exactly dead.”
“Why do you sound disappointed by that?” I ask, somewhat teasing.
She stills. “I… I didn’t mean to… I… I’m just trying to make conversation since you’re being all broody.”
“Broody?” I repeat, amusement flirting with my lips despite everything. “I think you meanthoughtful.”
“Maybe,” she replies, clearly missing my attempt at lightening the air between us.
I sigh, aware that I have a lot to answer for here. “How about a tour?” I offer. “It’s not much, but I can… show you around.”
“The igloo or the maze?”
“The cabin,” I say, correcting her term. Though, I suppose it is reminiscent of an igloo with the icelike walls. “I can’t show you much of the maze. It’ll ruin your fun later.”
She looks at me. “You mean… during my heat.”
I nod. “You’ll want the space to play, and if I show you around the labyrinth, it’ll defeat the purpose. You need to learn the area yourself and decide how you want to play.”
“I don’t… I don’t think I’ll want to play in the maze you made to punish Persephone.”
“The punishment is about the cold surroundings, which don’t seem to bother you,” I tell her. “The maze itself is harmless.” I would never hurt Persephone in that way. “You’re very safe here.”
“Yeah, until I go into heat… and you make me run through your maze.”
All hints of my previous amusement die in a breath. “I’m not going to make you do anything, Serapina. Your inner Omega will be the one in control, as it should be.”
She stares at me. “And you think my Omega is going to want to play in the labyrinth?”
“Yes. Your inner Omega will want to use it as a way to test your potential mates. It’s how Alphas and Omegas bond. And given that this will be your first heat, the setting is quite important.”
The way she’s looking at me right now tells me this is all news to her.
Another failure for my list, I think.
I run my fingers through my hair and debate how to handle this. “When was the last time you ate?” I blurt out.
She gives me a startled look, likely because I just abruptly changed the topic. But I did it with a purpose in mind. “Breakfast,” she says slowly. “I don’t know when that was. Hours ago, though.”
I dip my chin. “All right. How about I make some food, and then we’ll… talk?”
“Talk,” she echoes. “Like we’re doing now?”
I smile. “No, likereallytalk. I’ll tell you more aboutOmega heats, how the mating hunt works, and we’ll go from there.”
Her nose crinkles. “I…” She trails off as her stomach grumbles, maybe in outward disagreement with the refusal she may have been about to voice.
Or perhaps she was going to accept and the hunger pang distracted her.
Either way, her belly just agreed to my plan.
My lips twitch. “Go get comfortable on the couch. And I’ll conjure up something for us to eat.”
“Couch,” she repeats. “What?—”
