Page 29 of Fire and Fate
"As soon as possible," I say, making the decision. "This afternoon or evening if we can bother her. Whatever magic brought our Omega's scent into our chambers is powerful and unprecedented. We need to understand it before something else happens that we're unprepared for."
Zara
The council chamber finally empties as the last of the advisors file out, their voices fading down the corridor. I lean back in my throne, exhaustion settling into my bones. It's been a long day of diplomatic meetings, trade negotiations, and endless discussions about border security. The kind of tedious but necessary work that comes with ruling a kingdom.
But through it all, I’ve been distracted with this meeting looming over us as I watch Alessia.
She moves through the day with her usual grace, guiding the staff with gentle efficiency, reviewing supply reports with the steward, discussing garden renovations with the groundskeeper. To anyone else, she appears perfectly composed, the picture of a queen managing her household. But I know her better thananyone. I see the tension in her shoulders, the way her eyes keep drifting to the windows as if she's searching for something. The slight distraction when someone speaks to her, as if she's listening to a conversation no one else can hear.
She's anxious for our evening meeting with the royal physician. The scents on our sheets, the magical signature that appeared in our bed, the possibility that our Omega is finally, finally close. It's consuming her thoughts, and I can't blame her. It's consuming mine as well.
"Are you ready?" Alessia asks, appearing at my side. The last servant has just left, closing the doors behind them, leaving us alone in the chamber.
"As ready as I'll ever be." I stand, taking her hand in mine. "Are you?"
"I don't know," she admits quietly. "What if Elara tells us it's nothing? What if those scents were just... I don't know, some strange magical anomaly that means nothing?"
"Then we'll deal with that," I say firmly, squeezing her hand. "But Alessia, you smelled her. I smelled her. That wasn't an anomaly. That was real."
She nods, but I can still see the fear in her eyes. Fear that this hope, this fragile, precious hope, will be snatched away from us like so many times before.
We make our way through the palace corridors, our footsteps echoing on the marble floors. The evening light streams through the tall windows, painting everything in shades of gold and amber. Servants bow as we pass, but we barely acknowledge them, too focused on what awaits us.
Elara's chambers are in the older part of the palace, where the stone walls are thick and the ceilings lower. It's quieter here, more removed from the bustle of daily palace life. We knock on her door, and her voice calls out immediately.
"Enter."
We step inside to find Elara seated in her favorite chair by the fire, a cup of tea steaming on the table beside her. The room smells of herbs and old books, comforting and familiar. She gestures for us to sit on the cushioned bench across from her.
"My queens," she says, her violet eyes twinkling with something that looks suspiciously like amusement. "I've been expecting you." No doubt Alessia briefed Elara on what has happened up until now so I just start in.
"You said the prophecy is unfolding," I say without explanation, settling onto the bench with Alessia beside me. I keep hold of her hand, needing that connection. "What did you mean?"
Elara takes a sip of her tea, clearly in no hurry despite our obvious anxiety. "I meant exactly what I said. The golden Omega approaches, and she brings with her what the prophecy foretold."
"But the Beta," Alessia interrupts. "The prophecy didn't mention a Beta. It spoke of two Alphas and an Omega, a sacred triad to rule Embrath and usher in a new era of prosperity."
"Did it?" Elara asks mildly. "Or did we interpret it that way because that's what we expected to hear?"
I frown. "I've read the prophecy a hundred times. It clearly states—"
"It clearly states that the golden Omega will come bearing gifts," Elara interrupts gently. "That she will complete what has been incomplete. That she will bring balance to the kingdom and unite what has been divided. It never specifically stated that she would come alone, nor did it state that your triad would consist of only three."
Alessia and I exchange a glance. "You're saying the Beta is part of the prophecy?"
"I'm saying the Beta is part of your Omega," Elara corrects. "And therefore, part of your future. The magic doesn't makemistakes, my queens. If both scents appeared in your bed, if your dragon recognizes both of them as mates, then both of them are meant for you."
"But that's..." I struggle to find the words. "That's unprecedented. I've never heard of a bonding that includes a Beta as a primary mate."
"Perhaps that's because you've been looking at the wrong histories," Elara says. "There are old texts, ancient records from before the Great Divide, that speak of bonds that transcended traditional hierarchy. Bonds formed not by designation but by magic itself, choosing those who were meant to be together regardless of whether they were Alpha, Beta, or Omega."
"But our people," Alessia says slowly. "They won't understand. They'll question it."
"Your people will rejoice," Elara says firmly, setting her teacup down with a decisive click. "You should be sharing this news with all of Embrath immediately. Throw a feast, make an announcement, let them know that the prophecy is finally coming to pass."
"We're in the middle of the newest wave of Alphas trying to break into our city," I point out. "Trying to steal our wealth and slay our dragons. This hardly seems like the time for celebration."
"Exactly," Elara says, leaning forward with intensity. "It would give the people hope and something to look forward to. They're tired, Zara. Tired of defending, tired of waiting, tired of wondering if the prophecy was ever real. This news would energize them, unite them, remind them why we've held fast all these years."
