Page 62 of The Dragon's Perfect Omega
"I say that, but honestly? I'm going to be ecstatic either way." He grinned. "I've got a good feeling, though."
"I'll keep my fingers crossed for you." I took a sip from my glass. "I take it you're not finding out the sex before birth?"
"No, I like the suspense."
I nodded. "Can I ask when you're due?"
"A month or so before you, I think." His eyes rested on my stomach. "Though yours will probably come a little early too, with them being twins and all."
"As long as they don't cometooearly," I tried to joke, but some of the humor faded from Adrian's face. "Is something wrong?" I asked.
He licked his lips. "I have to admit, I didn't come here just to introduce myself. I also kind of wanted to warn you, because I've been in your place."
"Warn me?" He sounded so serious. What was going on?
"This pregnancy is going to be hard on you."
"So I've heard. The doctor told me it might be dangerous."
"I know. I was told the same thing, but I didn't really take my doctor seriously and I'm not sure if you do either. I'm worried, to say the truth." His brow furrowed. "I nearly died trying to pull through that pregnancy by myself. Iwouldhave died if Ty hadn't bonded me to himself before it was too late."
That was the second time he'd mentioned a bond now, but I had no idea what he was talking about. "I'm not sure I understand."
"Oh, Lowen hasn't told you about bonding rituals." For a moment, Adrian looked at me as if he wasn't sure whether he should go on or if he'd already said too much. "I guess it's not an option for every couple, but it's what saved me. I wouldn't be here today if Ty hadn't figured out how to perform that ritual."
"What sort of ritual is it? What does it do?"
"It only works between fated mates, which I'm told you guys are." He raised an eyebrow at the end of that sentence as if it was a question.
I gave him a half-shrug. "Lowen says we are. I don't really know anything about these things. I don't really care either. I just want to be with him." And preferably alive.
"I'm sure Lowen knows what he's talking about. He wouldn't say anything like that lightly."
"Tell me more about the ritual," I reminded him.
"Right. I don't actually remember too much about how it is performed. I was kinda out of it at the time, but I'm sure there's plenty people who can tell you about that part if you really want to know. As for what itdoes, Ty and I have shared our life force ever since we've been bonded. This saved me because I could draw on his energy when I was exhausted. I still do it when I'm pregnant now." He gave me a sheepish smile. "Ty hardly notices. Dragons have a lot more energy than we do, anyway. And it allows me to go about my life normally while I carry his children. I figure it makes up for all the times he doesn’t take the trash out," Adrian added with a little laugh.
I had to smile at that. "Sounds great." But also very intimate. Beingbondedto someone like that. Sharing a life force. There had to be downsides to it, and Adrian enlightened me about those too.
"It's notallsunshine and roses, of course," he said. "Sharing a life force basically means that the moment one of us dies, the other dies too. I imagine I don't have to explain how deals like this usually put the dragon at a greater risk than the human. Ty didn't mind, but his family wasn't super happy about the choice he was making." For some reason, this seemed to amuse Adrian. "I'm sorry, it's just funny because his mother who was so against us bonding is getting together with his father now and I'm pretty sure they'll follow in our footsteps sooner or later."
"I see. Looks like there's a lot of stuff happening on this small island."
"You could say that. I rarely get bored. You'll love it here. Youarestaying, aren't you? We really do need more omegas in our ranks."
"I guess I will," I said, grateful that Adrian was so friendly, even if some of the things he'd told me worried me. Was this pregnancy really going to kill me? No, Lowen was going to find a way to change that future. He was looking for it even now.
But he wasn't seeing anything that could help.
He will. You just have to be patient. Trust him.
"This ritual you talked about. Is there any way to reverse it?" I asked Adrian, still needing more information.
He shook his head. "No."
"Do you ever regret it?" The question left my mouth before I had a chance to consider that it might be too personal. After all, Adrian and I hardly knew each other, and here I was, asking him if he regretted being bonded to his husband. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have—"
"It’s fine," Adrian waved me off. "I don't regret anything. There's no way for two people to be closer than we are. It can be a bit hard to get used to, but I'd do it all over again, given the choice. I love my mate, and I love feeling connected to him at all times." The smile that accompanied his words seemed genuine. "It's not a choice to make lightly, though," he added in a tone of voice that gave me pause.
