In times long before mine, humans had cast themselves into our flames as sacrifices. It was said that we ate them, though I doubted it. Still. If that was what it was to bring our children into the world...
Yet, Olivia had managed it with an accidental touch. Why? Why had our eggs stayed whole? Why, why, why?
There came a knocking upon my chamber door.
I wiped my face clean with the edge of the robe and sniffed to clear my nose. "Yes."
She stepped through the door and watched me, a mug of tea in her hands. The dark circles under her eyes were my fault and for nothing. She had been the one I had believed would bring me the eggs of my ancestors, the only family I truly had.
And yet.
Olivia walked to me and offered me the tea. She sat down beside me and waited until I'd had a sip. "I'm sorry I couldn't hatch your eggs for you."
"You did nothing wrong. I don't know what happened," I said. I recognized the herbs and spices in the tea itself; Iyadre's special soothing blend. I had no doubt he had sent it, and her, to try to work me into a better state of mind.
She shrugged. "It doesn't matter. I still didn't fulfill my end of the bargain. If you give me some time, maybe I can try again. Maybe it's just because I'm tired."
"Exhaustion should have nothing to do with it. Olivia, you made the attempt," I said, frowning at her. "You are owed your due. You did for us what no other human in this area could. I respect that."
"For all you're still disappointed."
I looked into the tea, refusing to meet her gaze. "It isn't something I can fully explain to you."
"You could give it a try?"
I drank the tea down straight and sat it on my side table, folding my hands over my stomach. She had done something she didn't want to do, for me. Though she had benefited from our deal as well, they were much smaller improvements than that which she had paid. The comfort of her mind, the use of her body, the work of concentration, were all exceptional for all she had failed. Humans do not come by magic in any easy way and the practice of it is often hard on them. It was likely why she had responded as she had.
"Would you think less of me if I said I wished to have a family?" I asked, hesitantly peering up at her.
She blinked at me. "Well, no. But you have one, right? The guys out there?"
"Well enough in general terms, but I have no mate. It is likely that I never will. There is a significant lack of draconic omegas in the world. That nest holds the future to the Nightflight. If an omega were to hatch-"
Her face screwed up in disgust. "It's a baby. You're trying to hatch a mate for yourself out of that nest?"
"No," I said, holding up a hand. "Let me finish. It is common to offer omegas to nearby flights. The omegas choose their alpha mate or mates from a pool selected by their birth flight. Should we hatch an omega, she or he would be allowed to choose a flight of their own in time. And then we would be due one as well."
"It still sounds like you're just selling them off."
I shook my head. "They choose to move on so they can make lives for themselves. Roving bands of alphas are common. Omegas are not. They have every choice to avoid such an arrangement if they desire it. No one forces them to do anything. But most omegas desire nests, comforts, and alphas to take care of them. No matter what sex they are, they are treated like royalty by those who love them. And who wouldn't want a life like that?"
"Me."
I frowned at her.
"I don't want to be a pampered princess. If I wanted that, I could have gotten married to some guy my mom picked out years ago. I want to be a contributing member of society," she said, continuing. "I want to do something with my life, even if my contribution doesn't have my name on it."
"Omegas aren't chained to a nursery," I told her. "They nest, but they find other things to do. Other hobbies. They have lives; they're simply never in need or worried for that which gives them comfort. Not too unlike our arrangement as it stands."
And I realized what I'd just said. My breath caught in my throat and I stared at her as if she were suddenly on fire.
"You just made it sound like they were just baby factories is all," she said and shrugged.
I watched her as if I'd seen her for the first time. How could I have been so stupid? When I'd told Iyadre that I thought she was meant for us, I hadn't meant it in that way. I had only thought she was to be the one who hatched the eggs. We could send her on her way afterward, each party pleased with the other.
The scent of her magic filled the room and I was intoxicated. I closed my eyes and leaned back in the chair, head tipping back. As much as I fought it, the harder it became to concentrate. I enjoyed material goods, I reminded myself. I enjoyed those items I could touch, cherish, the things that had value to others. The belongings that had the highest value were good simply because they maintained that value and offered it to further deals in the future, or to buy the power I required; when I required it.
Magic was different.
Imagine, if you would. You go to
