Page 28 of Fire and Fate
"That doesn't mean the prophecy can't be wrong," I say, still analyzing the scents. There's something compelling about the Beta's smell as well, something that makes my dragon purr with interest rather than jealousy. "Or that we haven't read it completely. Prophecies are notoriously vague and open to interpretation. What if the golden Omega was never meant to come to us alone?"
Alessia is quiet for a moment, clearly processing this. "Do you know how close they are? Can you sense their location?"
She shakes her head, frustration flickering across her face. "I know our race can sense the magical signature of our match long before we ever meet them. I've been tracking her through the Shadowlands for days now. But they were here, in our bed. Not physically, of course. I would've known if someone had actually entered our chambers. But..."
She trails off, clearly struggling to put into words what she experienced. I set the sheets aside, taking her hands in mine, grounding her.
"Tell me what happened. From the beginning."
She takes a breath, collecting her thoughts. "I went to our chambers to rest between meetings. The moment I entered, I could smell it. Smell her. The scent was so strong I thought someone had actually been in our room. I searched everywhere, looking for an intruder, but there was no one. Nothing had been disturbed. It was only when I examined the bed that I realized the scent was embedded in the sheets themselves."
"Magic," I say, understanding beginning to dawn. "They weren't physically here, but their magical signatures were. Somehow, they projected themselves into our space."
"But how?" Alessia asks, desperation creeping into her voice. "I've never heard of magic that can do that. Not even the most powerful seers can physically manifest their presence in distant locations."
"No, but they can enter dreams," I point out. "What if this is something similar? What if our Omega, perhaps unconsciously, reached out to us through whatever connection is forming between us? And that connection manifested in our bed because it's the most intimate space we share?"
Alessia's eyes light up with understanding. "That would explain why the scent is so concentrated there. She reached out, and the magic brought her to the place where our connection would be strongest."
"And the Beta came with her because they're already bonded," I continue, the pieces falling into place. "Whatever connection exists between them is strong enough that it carried over into the magical projection."
"So what does this mean?" Alessia asks. "Are we supposed to complete a bond with both of them? Is that even possible?"
"I don't know." I release her hands, beginning to pace, my mind racing through possibilities. "Traditional triads consist of two Alphas and an Omega, or two Omegas and an Alpha, or various other combinations. But I've never heard of a triad that includes a Beta. Betas are usually stabilizing forces within draconian packs, not primary bonding partners."
"But you felt it too," Alessia presses. "The rightness of that Beta's scent. The way it complements the Omega's rather than competing with it."
"I did," I admit. "And that's what confuses me. My dragon recognizes both scents as potential mates. That shouldn't be possible, but I can't deny what I'm feeling."
Alessia moves to stand in front of me, stopping my pacing. "Then we need to understand what's happening. We need guidance."
I know what she's suggesting, and I groan. "The royal physician."
"Yes." Alessia's expression is sympathetic but firm. "Elara has studied the prophecy for her entire life. She's one of the few who still holds fast to the belief that it'll come to pass. If anyone can help us understand this, it's her."
"Elara is going to lecture us about patience and faith," I mutter, but I know Alessia's right. We need answers, and Elara is our best source of them. "She's been telling us for years that the prophecy would unfold in its own time."
"And she was right," Alessia points out. "You can admit that, at least."
I sigh heavily. "Fine. We'll consult with Elara. But if she says 'I told you so,' I can't be held responsible for my actions."
Alessia laughs, some of the tension draining from her shoulders. "Deal. But Zara, this is real. Our Omega is close, and somehow she reached out to us. That has to mean something."
"It does," I agree, pulling her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "It means everything's about to change. The question is whether we're ready for it."
"We've been waiting for centuries," Alessia murmurs against my chest. "I think we're as ready as we'll ever be."
I hold her for a moment longer, breathing in her familiar scent, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me. Hope is mixing with fear, excitement with uncertainty. We're on the precipice of something monumental, something that could either complete us or shatter everything we thought we knew.
"What do we tell Torvin and Mira?" Alessia asks eventually. "They're still waiting outside, and they'll want to know what this was about."
"Nothing, for now," I decide. "This is too uncertain, too delicate to share with the war council. If word gets out that we believe our Omega is approaching, it'll cause chaos. Some will be overjoyed. Others will be skeptical. And we don't need that distraction right now."
"So we keep it between us?"
"Between us and Elara," I correct. "At least until we have a better understanding of what's happening."
Alessia nods. "When should we speak with her?"
