11
Kassius
The dark, ethereal edges of the memory told me it was a dream.
“You’re pregnant?”
The words left my mouth like a strained whisper, as if speaking them out loud would invalidate them. But they didn’t. Halo laughed and said, “Yes, I am.”
My hands shook as I approached and took him into my arms. “You… I can’t believe it. Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure.” He stroked his stomach, which was still flat. “You can’t see it yet, but I can tell.”
“How?” I asked, baffled. “Did you check at a doctor?”
His grin widened. “No. I don’t need to. Look.”
Halo opened his palm and I watched first with curiosity as a tiny flame appeared in his hand, then surprise as it exploded into a towering pillar of flame.
“Gods, Halo!” I yelped, stepping back. “You’re going to burn the house down.”
He just laughed the way he always did. “No, I won’t. It’s fine. I’m completely in control.” With a flick of his wrist, he closed his palm and the flame disappeared into a wisp of smoke.
“But - how?” I asked, dumbfounded. “I’ve never seen you make fire so.. Big.”
At least he found my ignorance about magic amusing, because he chuckled again. “I’d heard rumors about it, but I wasn’t sure until now. When an omega mage is pregnant, their magical ability goes through the roof. It’s like your powers get amplified.” He put a finger to his lip in thought. “Maybe something to do with protecting your baby?”
“That’s incredible!” I exclaimed.
“Speaking of going through the roof,” a stern voice began from behind me, “you might want to put that out.”
I recognized her voice and instantly turned to nod to the armored woman in respect. “Commander Sterling!”
At the same time, Halo blinked and looked up. The edge of the awning was lit by a tiny scrap of flame. “Oh, shit!”
The Commander frowned as Halo quickly created a translucent bubble around the flame, extinguishing it by cutting off the air supply.
He laughed. “Good thing you saw that, or else the house would’ve burned down, huh?”
“Yes,” Sterling said in a level tone.
“So, what’s up?” Halo asked. I nearly balked at how casual his tone was; didn’t he know he was speaking to the Commander of the Knights?
She briefly glanced at Halo before turning to me. “Captain Kassius, you know it’s become… frowned upon for your mate to practice magic so openly.”
Halo crossed his arms. “Hello? I’m standing right here.”
I willed him to be quiet, but didn’t scold him. I didn’t want the Commander to think I couldn’t control my omega.
Even though I can’t.
“I’m aware, Commander, and I apologize,” I said with a bow. “He won’t do it again. Halo was just demonstrating how much stronger his powers are now that he’s pregnant.”
Sterling’s brows raised and she glanced at Halo with mild surprise. “Congratulations. But I didn’t know that was a… factor in a mage’s abilities.”
Halo tensed, watching the Commander warily. “Yeah. I didn’t until now, either.”
She gave him a stiff nod. “That trick you did with the bubble was interesting. I wasn’t aware you could create anything but fire.”
