Omega’s Gamble by Claire Cullen
Epilogue
For an island nationlike theirs that prided itself on its independence, being under siege was more an exercise in patience than a real challenge. Darien’s life didn’t change all that much as the months passed. Not as a result of the siege, anyway. Impending fatherhood and his time spent supporting Raine in his quest to keep the island shielded were his new challenges. It was an everyday struggle to get Raine to poke his head above ground as winter turned to spring, spring to summer, and finally, the leaves began to fall as they welcomed the autumn.
“I’m telling you, Darien. This is beyond an alchemist’s expertise.”
Raine paced back and forth in the central chamber, a hand pressed to his back, his pregnant stomach rounded and heavy. Darien winced just looking at him, wondering how receptive he’d be to a backrub just then.
“I heard you the first time, and the second, and the sixteenth. You’re sure there’s nothing you can do?”
Raine rolled his eyes.
“Like I told you the previous sixteen times—I’ve optimized the machine and the seams. They’re as strong and reinforced as I can make them. The problem isn’t the celestial silver. It’s the sigils. The runes are old, they’re fading. They need to be redrawn by a scribe.”
“Which we don’t have.”
“Well, we need to find one, and soon. Best I can tell, the north-northeast spoke is going to fail in the next few months. The west spoke won’t be long after. And then the southeast. Once that goes, we won’t be able to maintain the shield. And even if by some miracle one of those sigils doesn’t fail, there’s a dozen more ready to die next year. We’re running out of time.” Raine winced, rubbing hard at his back.
“We know all this, Raine. Even as we speak, we have people searching for a scribe to help us.”
They were hoping one of their allies—the few they had left—would have a scribe on hand they’d be willing to let them borrow. Even a few months might be enough to allow them to protect their kingdom for years to come.
“Well, they need to look harder. The shield…” Raine winced again, bending at the waist.
Darien couldn’t watch him any longer. He crossed the room and slipped behind him, pressing his hand to the omega’s aching back.
“The shield is holding. And even if it fails, the full armada is long gone. They’re no longer on our doorstep, waiting for an opportunity to strike. They’ll need to regroup, plan a new strategy. All that takes time. We have time.”
He rubbed the omega’s back soothingly, feeling the muscles cramping up beneath his palm.
“Raine, how long has your back been hurting?”
“Since last night. It comes and goes. It’s there more than it’s not now, though.”
“What did the doctor say when you told him?”
Raine threw a look at him over his shoulder. “Um…”
Darien hid a groan of frustration. “You’re supposed to be looking after yourself and taking it slow.”
“How can I, when…?”
“Let’s get you back to the castle.” The last thing he wanted was their first child delivered far underground.
He carried the omega most of the way, using his touchstone to alert Thorne, who came to meet them. By the time they reached their bedroom, the doctor was waiting for them and the extended family was gathered outside.
Thorne caught his look and moved to shepherd the others away. “Let’s give them some privacy. You can wait for news in the great hall.”
Darien laid Raine down on the bed, moving aside to let the doctor see him.
Rex, Etta, and their father remained by the door. “We’ll be in the next room if you need us,” the king said, clapping Darien on the shoulder.
They left, but Etta remained. “I have some midwifery experience,” she offered.
Darien turned to check with Raine, but the doctor interrupted. “She can stay. You should go, Prince Darien.”
Raine tried to sit up, shaking his head.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Darien insisted. “Raine, do you want Etta here?”
The omega nodded frantically. “Please.”
The doctor glanced between them, a little exasperated. “You’ve attended births before?” he asked Etta.
“A year shadowing the island midwives. Twenty-two babies delivered.”
“Then I’ll wait next door with the king. If there are any concerns, come fetch me immediately.”
Just like that, the doctor was gone, leaving the three of them alone. Darien felt a rush of panic that disappeared the moment Etta stepped forward, rolling up her sleeves and opening up the bag the doctor left behind.
“Darien, we’ll need warm water, soap, and towels. Raine, this is going to be hard, but I promise you, it’ll be worth it in the end.”
Etta’s calm manner was immediately reassuring, and Darien hurried to do what she asked. When he returned, Raine was sitting up, listening attentively to Etta and nodding along. Darien joined him on the bed, held his hand, and did his best to support his husband.
The next hour was one of the hardest he’d ever lived through. All the effort Raine put into delivering their child into the world and there was nothing Darien could do but hold his hand and mop his brow. At least Etta had a job to do, a focus. Half the time, Darien felt like he was just there to get in the way.
And then Raine turned to him during a break in contractions, sweaty and breathing hard.
“I’m so glad you’re here. I feel like I could survive anything just as long as you’re holding my hand.”
Darien’s feelings of uselessness faded, a new certainty taking their place.
“There’s nowhere I’d rather be right now than by your side.”
Another pain came, even stronger than the last, and Raine’s grip tightened.
“Push, Raine,” Etta demanded. “Push.”
Raine gave it his all, Darien whispering encouragement as the omega squeezed his hand with all his might.
“I see the head!”
The next few seconds seemed to stretch out forever, with Raine panting and wide-eyed while Etta calmly talked him through the last few steps. And then their son was there. Etta lifted the squalling baby and laid him on Raine’s chest. Raine’s hand came up, pressing to the baby’s back as he nuzzled the tiny head.
“He’s here,” he said to Darien through tears. “He’s ours.”
“He’s perfect,” Darien told him. “And so are you.” He pressed a kiss to Raine’s forehead, staring down at the baby, the alpha son. He’d be their pride and joy. The kingdom’s heir.
Etta wrapped the baby in a blanket and handed him to Darien while she tended to Raine. Darien peered down at the tiny infant, marveling at each finger and toe, the way his little eyes looked around, curious about this new world he’d found himself in.
“Welcome, little one. Stormshield will be your home, and we will keep you safe. Always and forever.”
Raine rejoined him, pressing up against his side.
“Do you think he’ll take after you?”
“I’m sure he’ll take after both of us. Those eyes are all yours.”
“I mean… do you think he’ll be a shapeshifter?” Raine’s voice was hesitant.
“It’s in his blood like it’s in mine.”
“But what if it’s not in mine?” Raine ventured softly. “My father can’t shift…”
“Our baby is a shapeshifter, Raine. Of that, there is no doubt. Shapeshifting is in my blood, and it’s in yours too.”
“But that’s not—”
Darien pressed a finger to the omega’s lips.
“I had Tennant do some investigating after our talk about shapeshifting and the royal families. He has contacts among royal librarians all over the world. We believe one reason King Uldar so desired an alpha son from your omega father is because he did carry shifter blood. Since it seems none of your alpha siblings can shift, the king wanted to ensure at least one of his progeny could.”
“But why?”
“It’s not clear yet. Perhaps questions were being asked, perhaps ceremonial roles were going unfilled.”
Raine looked bewildered, and Darien didn’t blame him.
“Right now, it doesn’t matter. Our son will be everything we want him to be. And you are everything I could ever have dreamed of.”
The worry faded from Raine’s face as he glanced down at their baby once more. “Then my father really did have it wrong. About my being a curse rather than a blessing.”
“Very wrong,” Darien agreed. “What he failed to understand was that you weren’t his blessing, you were ours.”
A knock on the door revealed his father and brothers, eager to meet their grandson and nephew. Raine waved them in eagerly, taking the baby from Darien to show him off.
“He’s beautiful,” the king said, smiling at them both. “Have you chosen a name?”
Darien looked at Raine, who gave him an eager nod. “Maxim. Max for short.”
“Prince Maxim,” his father repeated. “I’ll go to the great hall shortly and make the announcement. A joyous day for the kingdom. Congratulations, Raine. Darien. The road of a parent is never easy, but it is always worthwhile.”
Rex canted his head to the side, peering at the baby. “He’s got your nose, Darien. That’s unfortunate.”
Thorne laughed even as he elbowed Rex in the side. “Congratulations, you two. Mostly you, Raine, for all the hard work.”
Raine smiled, pleased despite their gentle teasing.
“Well, it’s your turn next,” Darien told them.
“Hah,” Rex said triumphantly. “You say that, but what omega airship is going to land here now?”
“Oh, your day will come, Rex,” Raine assured him. “But I think Thorne is first, right? Seniority and all that?”
Rex doubled over with laughter even as Thorne choked out a denial, his eyes widening in horror. “You told him,” he said, staring at Darien accusingly.
“We’re married,” Darien argued, unable to hold in his own laughter. “There are no secrets between us.”
They didn’t need secrets, not anymore. They were each other’s shadow, the part that completed them. Darien never believed he’d find that, especially not when he was forced to marry the first omega to step off the airship and into their world. But he hadn’t counted on Raine and everything the omega would bring to his life. Darien’s duty was no longer a burden, but a privilege. And all because of Raine.
Whatever challenges their kingdom faced, they’d face them together.