Omega’s Gamble by Claire Cullen

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Sleepingand waking were an endless cycle for Darien. He was distantly aware of people at his bedside—his father, his brothers, Etta. And Raine, of course. The omega was a constant presence by his side, usually accompanied by a cool cloth to his forehead. His body burned with fever, his leg hurt terribly, and more than once he heard the doctor murmuring spells above him. At some point, his fever broke and the pain eased from agony to a dull ache. His mind quieted, and he finally drifted into a deep sleep.

It was dark when he woke. Who knew how many hours or days had passed since he’d reached home? He lay on his side, feeling well-rested, a sense of peace within him. There was a warm presence behind him, and he turned until he could see the outline of Raine, the omega curled against his back. Raine’s eyes opened, his sleepy voice a murmur.

“You’re awake.”

“Hi.”

“They weren’t sure you’d wake up.”

“Did they really believe I wouldn’t open my eyes just to see your face?”

He eased onto his back, and Raine settled against his side. He cupped the omega’s cheek.

“You did it, Raine. You saved the kingdom.”

Raine held his gaze, content in his arms. “For you, Darien. I did it all for you.”

* * *

Darien was deemedout of danger once his fever broke, but he was far from recovered. Raine divided his time between maintaining the shield machine and sitting by the alpha’s side as Darien faded in and out of sleep. The few moments Darien was actually awake were usually a frustrating repetition of what they’d already discussed, the alpha’s tired mind unable to commit it to memory.

Etta brought them food a few times a day, keeping disruption to a minimum. But as the days passed, Raine found it harder and harder to keep anything down. He stuck to the plainest stuff he could get his hands on—bread, potatoes, broth—but nothing helped settle his stomach. By a stroke of bad luck, the doctor arrived just as he was losing his breakfast in the bathroom for the fourth day in a row.

When he stepped back into the bedroom, the doctor raised an eyebrow.

“Sit down, let me take a look at you.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re sickening for something, and no wonder. When was the last time you had some proper rest?”

“There’s too much to do…”

At the doctor’s insistence, he perched in a chair, letting the man take his pulse and murmur an incantation under his breath.

“Once I’ve had some sleep, I’m sure I’ll be fine. You have other people who need your attention.” There were plenty of wounded among the guards who’d held back the armada.

“True,” the doctor said, his gruff manner almost reassuring. “But you are the only person who can keep that shield up. We need you.”

Raine gave in and submitted to the doctor’s examination.

“Well, what’s the verdict?” he asked as the doctor packed his bag again. “Will I live?”

“Undoubtedly. I prescribe rest, plain food, and plenty of liquids. Some ginger tea should do the trick.”

“Ginger tea? Why? What’s wrong with me?”

“Nothing’s wrong with you, Prince Raine. You may well be carrying the future king.”

Raine, halfway to his feet, sat down heavily. “I’m expecting?”

“Congratulations. I’m sure Prince Darien will be very happy when he wakes.”

Still shocked by the news, he stuck to their normal routine and asked the doctor the same question he asked every morning.

“And he’s well today?”

“You know he is. His wounds are healing, his strength returns. He’ll be back by your side soon enough.”

“Then I’ll stay by his until he’s ready.” At the doctor’s stern look, he added, “With plenty of rest and sustenance, I promise.”

“Good. It’s not just you that you’re looking after anymore. You must think of your child.”

The doctor departed, and Raine stayed sitting, trying to get his head around the news. He was happy. At least, he thought he was. A baby was good news, especially in a marriage like theirs. Everyone would think so. Everyone in Stormshield, anyway. His father, if and when the news finally reached him, would have a conniption. The thought made him smile.

Darien slept through the morning with Raine stretched out on the bed by his side. Near midday, a knock on the door revealed Etta, carrying a tray of lunch. There was enough for two, and Raine would do his best to get some into Darien if he could wake the alpha enough. Etta didn’t stay, hurrying off to help at the field hospital. Raine was glad for that because he wasn’t sure he could keep the news to himself, and he desperately wanted Darien to be the first person he told.

He examined the contents of the tray, lifting a lid and catching the smell of cabbage soup. That was enough to turn his stomach, and he fled to the bathroom, falling on his knees as he lost what little was left in there. When he was done, he wiped his mouth and pushed to his feet, stumbling as he did.

A strong arm wrapped around him, pulling him against a broad chest.

“I’ve got you.”

“Darien?”

“Hey, there.”

He turned in the alpha’s arms, still weak-kneed, staring up into Darien’s eyes.

“Hi.”

Darien helped him back to the bedroom and into a chair.

“You’re sick. I should get the doctor.”

He took a step toward the door, but Raine caught his hand to stop him.

“I don’t need the doctor. I’m not sick. I’m just fine.” He stood up pressed Darien’s hand to his stomach. “We’re both fine.”

Darien’s eyes widened, and a smile lit up his whole face.

“You… You’re…”

Raine nodded shyly. “I’m expecting.”

The alpha’s arms engulfed him, hugging him tightly. “You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that. Are you well? You look tired. Have you been resting? Eating enough?”

“Darien.” He shook his head as he tugged the alpha back toward the bed. “I’m fine, I told you. You should be resting. You’re still healing.”

“I feel good,” Darien told him, but he didn’t object when Raine slung an arm around him and helped him across the room. “A good night’s rest was all I needed.”

“You’ve been asleep for almost two weeks.”

Darien stalled, staring at him in shock. “The kingdom? The armada?”

“The kingdom is safe,” Raine assured him, helping him sit and settling down next to him. “The armada has anchored south of here. A few ships continue to patrol the shield boundary, but the shield itself is holding.”

“So we’re besieged,” Darien said heavily.

“More or less. Rumors are flying in the world outside about what happened. The royal alliance is making all sorts of accusations, everything from we attacked them first to they’re actually here to protect us from the pirates. A few people have suggested you’re holding me hostage and they’re here to rescue me.”

Darien paused, a frown on his face, before he chuckled wryly. “I’m glad to see the world hasn’t gotten any less crazy while I slept.”

“If it helps, it hasn’t got much crazier, either.”

“Good to know.”

Whatever energy Darien had mustered up seemed to fade fast.

“Let’s lie down,” Raine suggested. They lay side by side, hand in hand, staring at the ceiling.

“How long have you known? About the baby?”

“Just a few hours. I just thought I was sickening for something.”

“Father always says he knew I’d been conceived the day our omega father wouldn’t eat the honey apples laid out at breakfast because he insisted they were sour. He says it was one of the happiest days of their lives. I never really understood before, but I get it now. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than I am at this moment.”

Raine’s heart soared at the words, the alpha’s happiness reflecting his own.

“I thought I’d never be as happy as the moment you woke up. But this, a baby? I want this for us. So much.”

Darien laid a hand against his stomach, and Raine pressed both his hands to the alpha’s.

“When I woke up, out on the ocean, I wasn’t sure I’d ever find my way home.” Darien’s free hand went to his neck and the amulet there. “You led me back.”

Raine sighed. “I wasn’t sure it would work. You were so far away. I didn’t think the magic was strong enough…”

“Well, it was. Which is no surprise to me.”

The door burst open, and Rex charged inside. “You’re awake! I thought I heard voices.” He was gone just as quickly.

Darien groaned. “I guess that means the cavalry is coming.”

Raine expected the alpha to get up. Instead, he cuddled closer.

“Better enjoy this while we can.”

He let his eyes close, resting his head against Darien’s shoulder. There was a lot of work to do, a kingdom still to save, but he had his husband and a new family. People who loved him and accepted him for who he was. Respected him, too, which was something he hadn’t expected or known he’d wanted until he had it.

“How did you know?” he asked softly as Darien’s chest rose and fell, reassuring him with every breath that the alpha was well.

“Know what?”

“That day, with the shield. The south-southeast spoke. How did you know that was the one?”

“It was a guess. The pull of north to south is stronger than that of east to west.”

“Of course. The magnetic poles.”

“Exactly, I thought that might be a factor.”

“It wasn’t, as it happens. You were right the first time. There’s a critical mass. Once you have the four major spokes—north, south, east, and west—and the four median—northwest, southwest, northeast, southeast—the shield will activate. The other eight spokes are redundancies in case one of the primary eight fails.”

“Then why didn’t it work?”

“The southeast spoke was fractured in several places, and the map had been altered to hide that fact. Once the two minor spokes on either side were active, it compensated. I spotted the problem later and fixed it.”

“So my lucky guess was just that? Lucky?”

“Very lucky.”

Darien grinned.

“We make a good pair, don’t we?”

“Together, we protected the kingdom. It’s a start.”

Darien stroked a hand along his arm. “I get the sense we’ve only just scratched the surface of Stormshield and its purpose. Don’t you?”

“I sort of thought you knew most of it, if not everything.”

“Before you came, we couldn’t even turn the shield on.”

“Well, that was hardly your fault. You needed an alchemist.”

“And you just walked right into my arms. Fate is a fickle beast, but it seems to like us.”

Raine relaxed in Darien’s arms and let himself be cuddled. Already, he could hear footsteps coming their way. The family here to welcome Darien back properly. Would they share their good news now? Or maybe they could keep it just for them a little while longer. Their secret. Raine thought he’d like that.