Page 32 of The Sad Omega

“He did, you know,” I chuckled, enjoying being included in their playfulness. “We were going to see how much we could eat before you got here.”

He gave me a reproachful look.

“No ganging up on me, guys! I can see I’m going to have to keep an eye on you two.”

My heart sank. Perhaps he wasn’t as on board with having me stay as I’d thought. Maybe Talius had insisted and he was just going along with it. I knew Talius desired me, though previously he’d always maintained a careful distance, and I definitely was attracted to him. But Irian was my friend and I treasured that friendship, it had been a lifeline to me when I most needed it. As much as I wanted to be close to Talius, to belong to him, it couldn’t be at the expense of my friendship with Irian or their bond.

My thoughts must have been reflected on my face, because Irian reached over and hugged me, making me splutter and nearly choke on a mouthful of food.

“Noooo,” he howled, frantically. “I was only joking. I love that you’re with us. It’s going to be so good.”

I hugged him back, though not with the same bone-crushing intensity, because, well, bones.

“I don’t want to cause problems between you and Talius,” I whispered against his ear.

“You won’t, trust me,” Irian pulled back and looked me earnestly in the eyes. “I’ve wanted you to join us for a long time, but well, it wasn’t an option while you were still with Zarbius. Talius and I had talked about it though…” He was almost bouncing in his seat as he spoke.

I brightened. They’d been thinking about this even before all this happened? Maybe there really was a place for me here, and not just a sympathy place.

I felt the heat radiating from his body as Talius came to stand close behind me. A firm hand landed on my shoulder, his other hand resting on Irian’s left one.

“Speaking of Zarbius,” he said solemnly. “There is something we need to discuss.”

He rubbed my shoulder soothingly, as he said, “I know you probably don’t want to talk about him, but we really do need to discuss this. We need to make sure you’re safe.”

Thinking about Zarbius inevitably caused me to go on high alert, but not this time. With Talius standing so close to me,radiating alpha pheromones, I couldn’t find it in me to be worried about my evil mate. Reassurance washed over me. I waited calmly to hear what the handsome alpha had to say.

“When I found you in the forest, Isca, you’d been left for dead.” Talius’ voice was low and gentle, almost apologetic, as if he felt guilty reminding me about that night. But I felt safe. He didn’t need to be concerned.

“…and you were unconscious for several days,” he continued, “so Zarbius would have assumed you were dead. But now you’re awake, he would know you’re still alive, and he may even be able to track you here.”

“How would he know I’m alive? Did... did somebody tell him?”

Talius shook his head.

“No-one told him, but he'd detect it through your mating-bond,” Talius said, eyebrows raised. “Once you were conscious again, he would sense you through that.”

I was puzzled. “I don’t know what you mean. You mean he can tell I’m alive just because we're mated?”

“Through the mind-bond,” Irian piped up. “You know, that connection in your head where you project to each other.”

I still didn’t understand what they were talking about.

“We’re mated, but I don’t know about a mind-bond. How does that work?” I asked, frowning.

“You sense each other through your bond, or even communicate through it,” Irian supplied, helpfully. Or, as it turned out, not, since I still didn't understand what they were talking about.

Talius sat down in the chair beside me, swivelling to face me. Since he was still close, although I was perplexed, I was still unbothered by the problem of Zarbius. It must have been the alpha pheromones, but I was ridiculously unworried. But Talius was frowning, a curious expression on his face.

“You do have one, don’t you?” he said, “a mind-bond?”

“I don’t know. I… I don’t think so. Unless one exists but I don’t know about it.”

Talius and Irian looked at each other.

“Are you saying you don’t ever sense anything from him in your mind?” Talius asked. “Sort of like talking, but without words, more like feelings that you project to each other.”

“No, never,” I assured him. Ugh, that would have been terrible. I couldn’t imagine sharing a mind with that cruel brute. He’d tortured my body enough, imagine if he had been inside my head too. “Thank the Goddess!”