But Sage was quoting a version of me that I wasn’t even sure existed anymore, and I wanted him to understand that my outlook had changed. So much had changed in such a short time, really.
“I don’t want to get pregnant,” I said carefully, not knowing what the alpha currently knotting me might think of such a declaration, “but I love you, Sage. I have for hundreds of years. And parenting with you is something I would happily do, though I have never allowed myself to imagine the possibility of it happening. But now that we have the perfect third for us,” I craned my neck slowly, offering Serge what I hoped was an affectionate smile before turning back to Sage, “itisa possibility. At least, biologically speaking.”
Obviously, if Sergio didn’t want to have children, that might throw a wrench in Sage’s dreams, but I couldn’t imagine fate —The Magic— doing that to either one of my mates. Not to such kind people who only wanted to help other shifters, often to their own detriment. Fate wouldn’t create that kind of devastating mismatch.
Sage blinked at me in obvious surprise. It stung that he had such little faith in me, but—
“I love you, too, you know.” He said the words quietly. Reverently.
The me who existed before Friday would have scoffed at such a sweet moment on paper. But, in reality, with my wildest dreams on their way to certain fulfilment, I was the happiest, sappiest omega who ever lived.
Then Sage’s expression turned chagrined, and he cast an apologetic grimace over my shoulder. “I…I don’t know you well enough to—”
“It’s alright, beautiful,” Sergio interrupted gently. “It will come. I care very much about both of you, too, but even overcome by endorphins and mating urges, I know it is too soon for us just yet.”
I tilted my head back to nuzzle against him, lamenting the fact that my scales had receded already. Like Sage’s, they had made an appearance at the height of my arousal, and I understood why he had liked having them stroked so much while we had fucked. I couldn’t quite verbalize how intensely stimulating it was when my mates touched my scales, especially when I was already lost to the throes of passion. But it was addictive, and I wished I could bottle the feeling, or at least have my scales on permanent display.
“But…we are doing this, right?” Sage asked into the comfortable silence which had descended. “Us, I mean. The three of us. Bonding and…and building a life together?”
Some part of me was concerned that Sergio, a traveling shaman, might not want to settle down, especially not in a random small town in rural Iowa, of all places. But I had to have faith that fate wouldn’t do that to us, either. Or at least not to Sage.
Besides, we were often sent traveling for pack business: surely we could travel with Sergio, too. Assuming he wanted to continue with the lifestyle he had been living.
“Yes,” Sergio answered with the same certainty as earlier, adding, “The Magic sent me back here and I am certain that this” —he gestured over our bodies with a wave of his hand— “is why.” He paused. “However, I will have to go back to Budapest to terminate the lease on my apartment and arrange transfer of my belongings back over here.”
“Budapest?” Sage asked with wide eyes. “You moved back to Europe?”
I caught Serge’s nod in the periphery of my vision. “I told Eric I would research while I was there. But being here is more important. Being with the two of you is more important.”
His knot was finally deflating and I gave him a moment to withdraw, bracing myself for the unpleasant feeling of loss —and of trickling fluids— before I rolled over to ask him, “Did you want us to come with you?” I grinned. “We could bring life to some of the fantasies I had about the three of us while we were traveling back there the first time.”
Sage snorted. “Of course you did.”
I glanced over my shoulder and winked. “Are you telling me you never imagined some fun roadtrip shenanigans?”
“Roadtrip shenanigans?” he repeated with scorn, but his lips were twitching with amusement. “You never change, do you?”
“I would love for you to join me,” Sergio interrupted our banter before we could really get started, and when I gave him my attention again, I found that the look on his handsome face was also one of fond amusement. Then he sighed and shook his head, “However, with everything to do here, and with your brother out of commission” —his smile towards Sage was apologetic— “I think it’s best that you stay. I will only be gone a few weeks, maybe a month at most, and I can fly back if you need me urgently.”
“It’s probably best if we don’t bond until you’re back, then,” Sage said, and while I knew he was aiming to sound light and understanding, I could hear the disappointment and sadness in his voice nonetheless. “I mean, if you want to bondat all.”
“Of course I want to,” Sergio reached over me, and I found myself smushed in between my mates in a tight embrace. “I would bond with you both right now if I didn’t think it would hurt to be separated while I get my affairs in order. However…”
I didn’t like the hesitation there.
“However?” I prompted.
He cleared his throat, the sound vibrating through his sticky, naked chest. “However, I understand if you would rather not bond with me. I am a lot older than you both, and I will die—”
Sage gasped, then whimpered, while I growled, “You’re barely beyond middle-aged. You have hundreds of years left. And you are our fated mate, Serge. It would be more painful to lose you now than to experience the rest of our lives together.”
I knew that better than anyone. My own dragon had abandoned me to prove the point.
“But—” he started, and Sage huffed.
“I don’t say this often, but Dex is right. You’re our alpha. Bonding or not bonding with us, we’ll still grieve you regardless when you’re gone. Not that I want to think about that right now.”
There was a moment of silence before Serge smiled and cuddled us closer again. “The Magic has gifted me with two very wise mates. It would behoove me to listen to it.”
