When Kamari raised a brow, Meeko offered it to him to try. Kamari hesitantly gripped the hilt. Slowly, the silver color fizzled out, replaced by stark black-and-white, just the belly of the orca Kamari shifted into.
"I'll be damned," he mumbled.
"Now try handing it to Zak," Meeko suggested.
Kamari gave the sword to his mate. Zak puffed out his chest and grabbed the hilt the way Kamari did. Instantly the sword shrank, turning brittle and lifeless. It didn't even look like the same weapon.
Zak gawked at the pathetic thing in his hand. "What the hell?" He sounded hurt, like the sword personally offended him by making him look uncool. "Give it here," Farley said.
Zak handed him the sword with a grumpy expression. When Farley gripped it, the blade roared back to life in an earthy-reddish shade of brown with cream highlights, resembling his finch form.
Farley whistled. "This thing's pretty cool. You try, Ashe."
When it passed hands this time, the blade never dulled or shrank. From omega to omega, it remained in its true form, staying that way when Ashe passed it to Castor. Just for a final data point, Castor let River take it.
But as soon as his alpha mate's hand was in control, the sword fizzled out. My twin huffed and returned it to Meeko with disinterest.
"Okay, I believe the sword only works for omegas. I'll even concede that I can believe Animus forged it," Kamari said, crossing his arms. "But why? He's a spirit."
Meeko met Kamari's gaze evenly. "He's also an omega. And we both know how hard being an omega can be."
Kamari's jaw tightened in silent agreement. I knew he'd seen his fair share of omegas who needed help. That was why he ran his sanctuary.
"But what does any of this have to do withus?" River asked impatiently. "Does he just want fellow omega buddies or something? If so, he can come and talk like a normal person instead of doing his whole mysterious act."
Quinn shrugged. "Maybe he doesn't know how. Anyway, I say we just let him be. He's better than some other spirits, that's for sure."
"Yeah, like Mistral," Farley said with a snort. "Fuck that guy."
Although I didn't say anything, I was inclined to agree with him after all we'd been through with the irritating air spirit.
Meeko looked deep in thought. I wondered what my mate was thinking.
"There has to be a reason he keeps coming back tothisfamily," he finally murmured. "I just can't figure out what it is."
Although Kamari seemed to have a small flicker of sympathy towards Animus after finding out he was an omega, his arms were still crossed. "Because we keep feeding him magic. It's that simple. I'd assume we have the highest concentration of fated mates... well, anywhere."
"Has he ever come back and demanded more magic?" Meeko asked.
Everyone who'd agreed to his terms and given up the magic of their union said no.
"And he never reallydemandedit," Ashe said. "He just kind of... asked. And we said yes. Most of the time, he used that magic to help us."
"Then he's not harassing anyone," Meeko mused, shaking his head. "I don't know. I feel like there's something we're missing."
I wondered if Meeko's sudden interest in Animus had to do with the sword. Meeko was a man of honor, and knowing that the spirit had forged his prized possession—specifically to protect omegas like Meeko—changed the way he felt about him.
I put my hand on Meeko's shoulder. "Don't push yourself thinking about it. Whatever will be, will be."
Meeko faced me with a smile. "You're right. Thanks, Cloud."
His eyes moved past me and travelled to Jace. He was in mouse form, sneaking around in Leveret's hair like he'd found the perfect secret hideout.
The hare shifter looked wholly content.
19
Epilogue: Meeko
