Page 13 of Dreaming of an Omega Christmas
Traviel nodded once. “Exactly, but that same curse also wandering elves from traveling together or even with other people. It kind of keeps them alone.”
“How does it prevent them from traveling with someone?” I asked.
“It just… forces you apart. Maybe something causes an argument. You fight, then you leave.” Before I could protest, he said, “Or maybe it just finds a way to separate as you travel. Maybe you're both running to catch a train and one of you gets on and the other doesn't. The doors close right in your face.”
“We'd meet at the next station,” I suggested.
“Somethingwould happen. You wouldn't get there, or he wouldn't get there. Maybe the train blows right by the next station for some reason. You would both just suffer from a series of travel mishaps and setbacks until… well, until you get frustrated and give up, really.”
“So, wandering elves just travel by themselves forever?”
Traviel smiled sadly. “Yeah.”
“Wait, so where do wandering elves come from then?” I asked.
“Oh, a long, long time ago,” Traviel began. “The King of the Fae...”
“No,” I interrupted. “I meannow. If they can't be together, or even traveled together, how are they how are they even born?”
“Ah,” he said. “A lot of wandering elves are half-bloods. They mate with humans or other elves and then they move on. Sometimes the offspring end up cursed, sometimes not.”
“Is Falkanar a half-blood?” I asked.
“He looks full-blooded to me,” Traviel said. “It’s the same either way. A couple of wandering elves happen to meet up. It’s not common, but obviously not uncommon either. They have a little one-night stand of their own. They split up. Most of the alphas probably don't even realize they've had a child. And…” He shrugged. “Off they go. The curse, I suppose, isn't so cruel that it would split the children from their parent. But, sooner or later, I guess they're drawn apart.”
Elarian returned, before I could ask about the term alpha. “Thanks,” I said softly. Traviel nodded somberly and we continued our tea.
I headed back home with my thoughts whirling. For a little while, I was mostly just upset. Upset that I couldn't be with Falkanar, even if I decided to give upeverythingand follow him. My disappointment turned to questioning just what Falkanar thought of me. He obviously knew as much about his curse, if not more than, Traviel did. Which meant he knew full well that the few days we would spend together here would be it. HeknewI wouldn't be able to come with him. Just like he knew that once he left, there was no telling when he would be able to come back. So, how did that affect what he felt about me? Ireallyliked him. Maybe even more than that, if I was honest. Obviously, I must have, if I was seriously considering packing up and living the life of a wandering elf just to be near him. But maybe he didn't feel the same way about me. Maybe I was just a fling, a one-night stand like Traviel said. Maybe he frequently stayed with random friends of friends and hooked up with them and then blew out of town, fully knowing he'd never see them again,andthat they'd never be able to find him. Hell, maybe he even had a few kids of his own running around!
It seemed like the ideal life, if you were into that kind of meaningless sex. Was that all I was to him? The question continued nagging at me long after Falkanar was home and we settled back into our new evening routine.
He stayed for four more days.
Sometimes I found it easy to forget that I wondered about how he felt about me. Especially when we were cuddled up on the couch next to each other, watching Christmas movies, or when he took my hand, or the way he cuddled with me after we had sex. Even the way he broke into a smile when he saw me. It sure seemed like someone in love. Despite having no idea how he felt about felt about me, I was increasingly convinced that I was actually in love with the guy. Someone I had absolutely no future with.
Now, closing in on the end of his third week here, he went for an evening walk. When he returned, he had a very serious, somber expression. My stomach twisted and I felt sick. This was it. He was going to tell me it was time.
“Can we talk?” he asked.
“Of course,” I said, forcing a smile, as if I didn't know what this was already about.
We sat across from each other in the living room. For a long time Falkanar just stared at the tree and stockings. Probably trying to memorize how it looked, I thought. He cleared his throat, looked at me, then looked away.
“It's time,” I said softly, hoping to make it easier for him. “Isn't it?”
“It should be,” he said.
After a lengthy pause, I tried to smile. “I kind of figured it was coming.”
“No,” said Falkanar. “I mean, itshouldbe time… but it isn't.”
I frowned. “What?”
“I've never stayed anywhere longer than sixteen days withouthavingto leave. It starts to make you sick. You get headaches, and insomnia and, stomach aches… and I have none of that. And it's been almost twenty days, and I don't even feel…” He shook his head slowly. “The urge to move on. I'm… content here.” He said the words as though he couldn't quite believe they were coming out of his mouth.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
He answered with a question of his own, one that I did not expect whatsoever. “Are you sure you're human?”
