Omega’s Gamble by Claire Cullen

Chapter Seventeen

Darien foundRaine difficult to talk to, at first. He got the sense that the omega was used to self-censoring, using platitudes and pleasantries with ease. The more he learned about Raine’s father’s attitude toward him, the better he understood. Raine had learned to survive in a hostile environment. It made sense that he’d developed a façade, a mask to hide behind. It would take time for him to learn that he didn’t need to don a mask here. Darien and his family would accept him for who he was, who he wanted to be. He worried it wouldn’t go both ways though. So far, Raine hadn’t asked Darien about his ability to shift. Darien was in no hurry to bring it up. Ludinia, like many of the alliance kingdoms, had oddly fixed ideas about what was or wasn’t proper for their alphas. That Darien spent so much of his time out fighting pirates was already a strike against him. Add in his talent for shapeshifting, something he considered as much a part of himself as his fighting skills or his fondness for his brothers, and it might just be a step too far for Raine.

They agreed to start having breakfast together in the morning room and meet there again for an hour in the evenings. Darien had thought the early hour of their breakfast might be a problem for the omega, but Raine didn’t seem to mind.

The first morning, he missed breakfast thanks to an early pirate attack, sending a servant to Prince Raine’s rooms with apologies. He got back to the castle just in time to change hurriedly out of his clothes and head toward the morning room. He was right outside when he realized that he hadn’t put any thought into his outfit. He wore an old, worn tunic and pants that had seen better days. But he was already late, and he didn’t want to disappoint Raine twice in the one day. He pushed open the door and stepped inside. Raine was curled up in an armchair near the fire, a book in his hand. He glanced up with a soft smile.

“Hi.”

“Hey. Sorry I’m late. I just got back.”

Raine’s smile became a frown as he took in Darien’s appearance. Darien started to wish he’d taken the time to choose something more appropriate. He could feel the omega’s judgment from across the room.

“You’ve been out all day?”

“The pirates landed on the other side of the island. It took time to rout them.” He knew he sounded defensive and just about managed not to cross his arms. “I’m sorry I missed breakfast.”

At the mention of a meal, Raine became more animated.

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet. I’ll have something later.”

Raine uncurled and stood, stretching. Darien’s eyes were drawn to the light of the fire as it played across his skin.

“Nonsense. You’ve been out all day. You must be starving.” He crossed the room and rang the bell, admitting, “I skipped dinner so I’m kind of hungry too.”

Despite himself, Darien was instantly concerned. “Why didn’t you eat dinner?”

“I got distracted.” Was it Darien’s imagination or was Raine the one on the defensive now?

“Distracted?”

“I was… reading.”

He wasn’t sure he believed that, despite the book in the omega’s hand, but he let it go.

A servant knocked on the door and stepped inside.

“My princes?”

Raine seemed to hesitate so Darien took charge.

“Mica, good. Can you go to the kitchens and bring us some food? Leftovers from dinner, cold cuts from lunch—whatever’s left. We both missed this evening’s meal.”

“Prince Darien hasn’t eaten all day,” Raine added. “He’ll need something filling.”

Mica looked between them and smiled. “Very good, Prince Raine. I’ll be back shortly.”

He stepped out, closing the door behind him, and Darien felt a little at a loss for what to say or do next.

“What are you reading?”

“Uh…” Raine glanced down at the book in his hand. “The geopolitics of the island kingdoms.”

Darien distantly recalled reading that as a teenager. “How do you find it?”

“It’s a little dry, truth be told.”

“That’s how I remember it.”

Raine settled back into his chair again, and Darien crossed the room to sit near him.

“I thought perhaps you’d be…”

“Embroidering a cushion? Painting a watercolor? Reading a romance novel?”

“You did mention they were your hobbies. Though Etta said you have some other interests?”

Raine paled, and Darien hurried to reassure him.

“The winters are long on Stormshield. It’s good to have ways to keep busy.”

“You don’t seem to have that trouble,” Raine pointed out.

“I think I’d enjoy being bored,” Darien said. “At least for a week or two. Beyond that, I’m sure I’d start to go stir-crazy.”

“I like to work with my hands,” Raine admitted. “I’ve never been much for traditional omega pursuits.”

“You won’t find many kindred spirits among the omegas here. There are a few dominant personalities among them, with very traditional ideas, and everyone else toes the line lest they be…”

“…ostracized,” Raine finished. “Yes, I’ve gotten a taste of that.”

Darien didn’t like the sound of that.

“If they’ve said or done something…”

Raine glanced toward the fire, his grip tightening on the book in his hands. “I don’t think you can blame them for not making me feel welcome.” He seemed to tense, as if waiting for Darien’s reaction. Darien could read between the lines to what the omega wasn’t saying.

“They’ve been taking their cue from me,” he surmised, guilt surging through him. “So has everyone else, I imagine.”

“Etta and her friends have been kind. They’re good company. I was never much for the company of other omegas anyway.”

Darien wondered at that. Omegas usually clung together like ducklings, seemingly never wanting to be separated from the pack.

“I take it you enjoy walking and the occasional cliff climb,” he said, wanting to distract from the darker turn their conversation had taken.

Raine’s gaze shot to his before he snorted with amusement on realizing he was being teased. “I don’t like being stuck inside. I feel… confined.”

The quiet admission was painful to hear somehow.

“Then perhaps I could offer my services as a guide? There are quite a few walking trails nearby, ones that won’t lead you astray across cliff edges.”

“I’d like that,” Raine said hurriedly, as if afraid Darien would take back his offer. “Rock climbing isn’t a hobby I want to explore a second time.”

Darien grinned. “I hear you.”

There was a knock on the door. Mica returned with one of the servants from the kitchen, each carrying a tray. The food was set down on the table and there was plenty of it.

“Will there be anything else, Prince Darien?” Mica asked.

Darien looked to Raine but the omega shook his head.

“No, thank you, Mica. We have everything we need.”

The servants left the room, and Darien jumped to his feet, ready to make a beeline for the food.

“Would you like me to serve you?” Raine asked hesitantly.

Darien faltered at that, turning to stare at the omega. It took a moment for him to remember that, in some cultures, it was expected that an omega would do for their alpha when it came to things such as meals.

“I was going to make you up a plate,” he said, wondering if Raine would be insulted by that. “But if you’d rather…”

Raine’s eyes went wide. “Oh.” He was silent for a moment, as if he just couldn’t get his head around it. “We could… make up a plate for each other?”

“That’s a great idea,” Darien said with a grin, turning back to the table and waving Raine over. It would be a good way for them to find out what the other enjoyed where food was concerned.

He handed the omega a plate.

“How hungry are you?” Raine wondered. “Will one plate be enough?”

“Depends how high you pile it.”

“I’m not sure what you like.”

“Your tastes are just as much of a mystery to me. If it helps, there isn’t much I don’t like. Pickles, Brussels sprouts, and creamed rice.” He shuddered at the mere thought of that congealed monstrosity people called food.

“Um… do you like… whatever this is?” Raine asked, gesturing to a bowl.

Darien leaned over him, brushing against his arm as he took hold of the spoon and brought it to his mouth. He made a sound of appreciation at the taste.

“Pork and cider stew. Our chef’s favorite dish for chasing away the winter blues. Here. Try some.”

He refilled the spoon and offered it to Raine, holding it an inch or so from the omega’s mouth.

Raine leaned in and parted his lips, tasting the stew. His cheeks turned pink as he pulled back. “It’s good.”

Darien was suddenly aware of the intimacy of the gesture. Sharing a spoon just wasn’t the done thing unless you were… well, married. While they were married in name, up until now, it had been in name only.

“I’m sorry,” he offered. “That was very forward of me.”

Raine’s eyes were wide, his cheeks still flushed.

“That’s okay. I… um… I kind of liked it.”

He took the spoon from Darien’s hand and began to ladle the stew onto his plate.

“With grains? Or mashed potato?”

“Definitely mashed potato,” Darien said. “Do you like soda bread? It’s fresh—still warm. Probably baked for tomorrow’s breakfast. Paired with some of this coleslaw and ham, it makes a pretty delicious sandwich.”

Raine nodded enthusiastically so Darien made him a thick sandwich that took up half the plate and filled the other half with the stew, mashed potato, and vegetables. He scooped up a small portion of spiced potatoes and hesitated.

“This one packs quite the punch,” he warned.

Raine glanced his way and laughed.

“I’ve tried it. Three glasses of milk and my mouth was still burning.”

Darien went to set the spoon back in the bowl.

Raine’s hand pressed to his arm, stopping him. “Don’t. I like to live dangerously. At least when it comes to my food.”

“Good to know. We usually catch a giant squid over the winter months. We get weeks of eating out of that. Baked squid, curried squid, fried squid…”

Raine grinned. “I can’t tell if you’re joking.”

“I’m not, but we only catch them every few years. We joke about eating squid far more often than we actually eat it.”

He put the finishing touches to Raine’s plate and poured the omega a pint of ale. It was the weaker stuff and wouldn’t do more than leave either of them with a pleasant buzz even after a few glasses.

Turning to the omega, he held out the plate with a flourish. “Dinner is served.”

“As is yours.”

They exchanged plates, Darien’s piled twice as high as Raine’s.

“You certainly know an alpha’s appetite,” he joked. “Shall we sit?”

By unspoken agreement, they opted to forgo the table and sat side by side on the settee facing the hearth, the fire warming the air around them.

“Our first meal together,” Raine said softly.

“We’ve eaten together before.”

“But never just you and me. Never as a couple.”

“No,” Darien conceded just as softly. “Never as that.” His fault, of course.

He lifted his tankard. “A toast to us and new beginnings.”

Raine’s smile was bright as he hurried to lift his own mug. “To new beginnings.”