Take Me

6JAIDE

I was feeling stronger,finally, and the pain in my head had faded to a twinge every once in a while. I could live with that. The nest of blankets on the cave floor was nice too, making it easier to rest. I didn’t know where Elliot had come up with them, but he and the others had gone out of their way to make me comfortable.

All it took was almost getting splattered. No big deal.

It’s not like I could sleep anyway, even in a nest beside the fire. I should’ve dropped straight off. The stress of everything coming at me all at once should’ve been enough to knock me out, but instead, my brain wouldn’t stop buzzing with questions.

Like why anybody believed my brother would try to kill me? Why wasn’t it enough that I was sure Jett didn’t have it in him? So what if Healynas and Theon and whoever else had put ideas in his head? All it would take was one look at me for him to remember what mattered. The two of us, against the world. Just like the old days, which suddenly seemed very far away.

“What do you mean that she isn’t fully bonded to us?”

Parris’s question made me open my eyes. I stared at the cave wall and the shadows moving across it as my three companions had yet another discussion as if I wasn’t lying just a few feet away. How deep did they think Omegas slept, anyway?

Elliot sighed. “I don’t think this is a normal Alpha-and-Omega situation. Normally, the bonding would be complete once the Alpha’s knot was present, but she isn’t any ordinary Omega. I think we’ve established that."

Who didn’t want to hear she was different from the other girls?

“If the prophecy is to be believed, and she’s the fated Omega who will return the Synian kings to power, a simple knotting won’t be enough. You need to bind her to you more thoroughly. And when she accepts your knots, you must make sure there’s an understanding on her end of what this entails,” Elliot said.

“What does it entail?” I rolled over, tired of waiting for Elliot to get to the point.

“Don’t you ever sleep?” Garret asked, wearing an affectionate smile.

“Who could sleep while their fate is being discussed like they have no say in it?”

“Respectfully, there are certain aspects of your fate which you have no control over.” Elliot gave me one of his patented smartass grins. “That’s why it’s called fate and not choice.”

“Hilarious. Are you always this funny, or is it only when you hold all the cards and only dispense wisdom when you feel like it?”

That struck him a little harder than I’d meant it to. He sort of flickered a little, like he wanted to blink out and swoop around but couldn’t decide if he should. “I’m piecing this together as we go along. Sorry if I’m not an open reference book.”

“All right.” Garret said, trying to pretend he was still super pissed at Elliot, but the concerned look he shot him told another story. “Let’s stop snapping at each other. Elliot’s experience is invaluable. Where would you be without him?"

I had already done enough thinking about that. “Fair enough. It’s frustrating, is all.”

“For all of us,” Parris confirmed. “Even with all our years, we’ve never faced anything like this.”

“You were talking about the bonding ceremony,” I prompted. “Why? What did we miss?”

“If you are the fated Omega mate they’ve been waiting for, then you must consent to the bonding with the understanding of what your connection will mean for everyone.” He looked around solemnly. “Breaking Healynas’s hold on our world forever. Reuniting the Synians with their Witch Omegas. You were unaware of all of this before your first knotting. Now, with this information, the question is: do you accept the responsibility, knowing your bond can never be broken?”

Oh. Heavy.

I sat up, since this didn’t seem like something I could decide lying down. It was too important. “What do you guys think? You must have a say in it, too. Are you okay with bonding yourself to me forever, even if I’m this supposed prophesied savior?” I made air quotes around that last bit because, honestly, I found it hard to believe.

Impossible, even.

“Absolutely.”

The way Garret answered without taking a beat surprised me.

It surprised Elliot, too, though I had a feeling his reaction came from a different place. It couldn’t be easy seeing someone he cared about pledging himself to another so easily.

“I couldn’t leave your side if I wanted to.” Parris shrugged when all eyes turned his way. “I’m being honest. There’s no denying our connection. It goes far beyond anything I’ve ever known. I want nothing more than to be by your side, whatever comes.”

My eyes quickly filled with tears as my chest swelled with emotion. “Wow. That’s sort of huge, huh?”

“So you’ll accept the bond?” Elliot asked.