“There has to be a practical explanation.” She cocks her head. “The purr. It does something to me.”
The rumble in my chest increases in volume. “It affects you. As you affect me. No, don’t argue. Relax and let yourself be.”
She sighs.
“I will not leave you wanting long, little one. But first, your gift.”
I urge her forward. She’s half walking, half leaning back against me by the time we reach the doors. The rich moonflower fragrance hits my nose first, along with the sound of running water.
“What…” Her head falls back against my chest, her mouth open. The giant space before us is bigger than any ballroom. Two sets of stairs curve away from the doors, leading to a crystalline lake. A waterfall crashes from an invisible platform into one side of the pool. Glowing moonflower vines grow in lush groves around the water. Above our heads, the ceiling stretches in a vast black expanse, deep as an endless pool, dark as the midnight sky. Tiny lights twinkle everywhere like jewels.
Rose stares, drinking in the sight. “How is this possible?”
“Magic,” I whisper. Thewhispsrace around the room, stirring the vines. A few tendrils climb to reach us, bursting into bloom at our feet.
“It’s a garden… inside the palace.”
“My mother spent most of her time here. She cultivated the moonflowers.” I pluck a tiny, purple-toned one from a nearby vine and tuck it behind her ear.
“It’s forbidden to pick the moonflowers,” Rose says.
“For all but the king. Or queen,” I add.
Her mouth snaps shut.
I wait a few moments while she looks her fill. “Do you like it?”
“It’s beautiful,” she admits.
“It’s yours. And there’s more.” I usher her onto a platform and call thewhispsto carry us past the waterfall. There, in a secret grotto, is the queen’s study. It’s much like mine, with a large work table and chair, and heatstones built into the wall. A fire in the corner roars to life as we enter.
Living moss and hanging plants are woven into the walls. Rose pauses to absorb it all, her fingertips hovering inches away from the dark green leaves. “There must be specimens of every type of Ulfarri flora here,” she breathes.
I chuckle. “Not every type, but many. More importantly, this library holds mountains of rare knowledge and treatises on Omegas.” I wave a hand at the scrolls and books arranged neatly on their shelves. “I have borrowed some of them for my own study. The rest are here. I can teach you what I know of Omegas, but you might want to learn more on your own.”
“I can’t read Ulfarri.”
I frown. “You have a translator chip.”
“It doesn’t work on the written word.”
The Beta magicians who pulled the humans through the portal must have turned off some of the translator chips’ functions. Whoever ordered these Omegas must not have wanted them to read. “The chip should have visual functionality,” I say. “With your permission, I will have thewhispsexamine it while you sleep. If there is a simple way to modify it so you can read, they can do that.” The silence stretches between us until I offer, “Or, if you prefer, I can simply teach you to read our language.”
Her eyelashes flutter. Her scent mingles sweetly with the pervasive fragrance from the moonflowers. I can’t tell what she’s thinking. “You would do that?”
“It would be my honor.”
“Tell thewhispsthey can examine the chip. If they can't get it to work, then you can teach me.” She offers me a small smile. “I’d like to know more about being an Omega.”
I step close. I’m going deeper into rut, and can’t keep myself from touching her any longer. My hand goes to the back of her neck, kneading lightly. “In the meantime, I can tell you what I know.” My voice is gruff.
“All right,” she says.
“When an Omega goes into estrus, it can last for days. Weeks, even. Then it will fade for a time before returning—”
“Kind of like a period,” Rose interrupts me. “Humans have something similar,” she adds. “But not nearly as intense as this… thank god. Anyway, sorry. Please continue.”
“Thank you. As I was saying, the estrus cycles continue for the duration of an Omega’s fertile years, only stopping when she is successfully bred and gestating.”
