And hungry, I realize as the scent of melted cheese touches my nose.
I look down, half expecting to find pizza. But instead, it’s… it’s… “What is this?” I ask, not recognizing the meal he’s prepared. It’s various bowls of what looks like melted cheese on one side and a large array of fruits, vegetables, and breads on the other.
“Fondue,” he says, shifting forward to pick up a metal prong. “You stick this into one of the items on this tray and dip it into one of these three pots.” He points to the bowl farthest from me as he says, “That’s sharp cheddar. This one is a more traditional swiss-and-gruyère blend. And that one is my own creation.”
I eye the three options. “Okay.” I take the prong as he holds it out for me, stab a piece of white bread, and opt to try his “creation” first.
Flavor instantly bursts on my tongue, causing my eyes to widen at the smoky tendrils twined with sweet notes. “Oh,” I moan, not caring at all that my mouth is full. Because wow.Wow. “This is really good.”
His lips twitch, probably because my words come out muffled from the food I’m still chewing. At least I blocked the view with my hand.
“Try the cheddar with the green apple,” he suggests.
“Is that one of Persephone’s favorites?” I guess after I swallow.
He frowns. “No, actually. It’s my favorite.”
“Oh.” Rather than say anything else, I try what he suggests and nod my approval. “It’s good.”
He doesn’t reply, just watches me as I pick up a third item—a piece of broccoli—and dip it into the cheddar. After it’s in my mouth, he says, “I realize things between us are tense, Serapina. However, I’m going to try to explain a few things. I don’t know if it’ll help, but hopefully it’ll be a start.”
I finish my vegetable, then reply, “Okay,” since it seems like he wanted my agreement before continuing.
His responding nod confirms it.
I pick up another apple piece instead of broccoli and try it in his cheesy creation while he observes.
The cheddar is better with it,I decide. But I don’t voice that opinion out loud because he starts speaking.
“I’m going to begin with an apology,” he tells me. “I should have come to you the moment I knew you existed, and explained all of this to you then. As I’m your Alpha, it was my responsibility to prepare you, and I failed you. I’m sorry.”
I’m in the middle of eating another piece of bread, so I can’t respond to that.
But he doesn’t seem to expect me to, as he continues by saying that most Omegas learn their distinctions around thirteen years of age—something I already knew because of Alina’s comments about Thea.
And then he says most Omegas go into their first heat between eighteen and twenty years old.
Which clearly wasn’t the case for me.
“I suspect Demeter did something to you after saving you from Monsters Night,” he goes on.
Savingseems like an incorrect term, but I don’t comment. Primarily as I don’t know a better word for what she did. She set it up to ensure my name was picked from that chalice, then kidnapped me and put me in a garden. Or a dream. Or whatever she did to me.
Regardless, his assessment that Demeter may have altered my heat seems to be founded on truth.
“I think Maliki pleasuring you fractured whatever Demeter did,” he continues. “I just wish I understood more, but nothing about this is precedented.”
“That’s what I keep hearing,” I mutter as I stab a celery stalk with a little too much force. Then I dunk it in the cheese before popping it into my mouth.
All while Hades observes me with an expression I can’t quite read.
He clears his throat. Then starts explaining what a “normal” estrus looks like.
“The Omega may feel some stomach pains. Exhaustion. A need to nest. Or become increasingly interested in sensual play. But eventually, an instinct takes over that inspires the Omega to run. Because she wants to be chased. So I created this maze to satisfy that desire.”
I swallow, my throat suddenly dry. I knew this part already, obviously. But somehow him reiterating it makes the experience more real.
“It’s about testing an Alpha’s strength before the fog of lust sets in,” he explains.
