Page 41 of Bliss & Her Idols

It’s devastating.

Because he really means that.

I snarl in order to bite back my sob.

I grab Cricket by the shoulders and roll him onto his back.

Careful of his ribs, even in my anguish, I settle myself over his waist, straddling him.

He stares up at me with his wide, amber eyes. His curls tumble across his cheeks.

Like this, I realize that I’m larger than him.

I lean over Cricket, pressing down on his wrists to keep him in place. “Why did Hudson say…? You know what he told us. I can’t get it out of my head. I’ve only just found you for real. I need you by my side forever. I need to know what’s wrong.”

There’s a whirlwind inside me, tearing me up. I don’t want it to escape outward onto my Omega.

I can protect him from many things.

I want to protect him from everything.

Yet I’m trembling that he’s hiding something I can’t fight.

It’s terrifying.

He hesitates.

“Please,” I whisper.

Cricket’s gaze slides from mine. “Why does it matter how long I have left? I just want to live for now.”

My heart leaps into my throat. “Why wouldn’t you…?”

“Omegaosis. A condition of the womb that’s particular to both male and female Omegas and stops them from bearing children, as well as having heats,” he says blankly like he’s reading out of a medical journal. “It also causes stabbing pains, but I’ve got used to them. They started when I was in my teens. Itried to tell my parents, but they only took notice when my heats didn’t start. The condition marks me out as defective.”

My heart is breaking.

“Wait,” I panic, realizing that I’m straddling him, “I’m not hurting you, am I?”

He shakes his head. “It feels nice. Your ass is soft and warm. Like a hot water bottle.”

I’m choosing to take that as a compliment.

“Omegaosis is rare,” I say, slowly. “I don’t know much about it but I didn’t think that it was life shortening any longer, if treatment—”

“If,” the word comes out sharper than Cricket has yet spoken. “If treatment is started in the teen years. I’m twenty-one. My parents didn’t waste money on sending me to doctors or buying medications.” When his gaze swings back to mine, it’s broken in a way that shocks me. “I looked my condition up one night. I wish that I hadn’t. But it’s okay. I accept it, as long as I can be with you now.”

“Fuck that.” My voice is tear roughened. “I don’t. Tomorrow, I’m taking you to the best doctors. I want a second opinion and—”

He stops my rant with a kiss.

“You’re not taking me anywhere,” he says gently against my lips, and this time, every gust of his breath against my mouth feels like a gift, “because tomorrow you told me that your mission to save our Beta begins. We’re rescuing my Dragon as the priority. Then, if you want to waste money on doctors, we can focus on me.”

“We will.” I nip his lower lip in retaliation. “And it will be the best money that I ever spend. Is there any way that I can help you until then?”

“The hot bath was nice,” Cricket says, tentatively like he’s asking for too much, “it helped the pain. This warm nest too. Theheat is good for me. If you don’t mind me having those things again.”

“Anything,” I say, meaning it.

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