Chapter 18

“So, that scoundrel actually suggested you bear his children?” Edifel asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

Several days had passed, and I found myself in the conservatory with Edifel and Vishu. Jekia was out, attending to some business in a nearby village.

I couldn’t say I was entirely upset about his absence. The past few days had been filled with tension, a result of the heated exchange between Jekia and Sage.

I decided to discuss it with Edifel.

“Yes, he did. I was taken aback. I never thought he wanted anything more than a casual relationship and friendship,” I admitted.

“Can foxes really maintain friendships with those they sleep with?” Vishu asked, her head and arms resting on my lap.

She had snuggled up next to me as we sat on the ground by one of the aqueducts, her curiosity piqued by our conversation.

“While I wouldn’t say it’s impossible for foxes to have friends, I think it might be too much to expect from Sage,” Edifel replied.

She made a sound of disapproval in her throat as she continued knitting. “To say such a thing to Lord Jekia, after all he’s allowed him.

“Sage doesn’t even need to have children with you. He already has plenty of full-blooded fox heirs.”

“Sage has children?” I asked, surprised.

Maybe I shouldn’t have been. Sage had been around as long as Jekia, and he had mentioned something about breeding before.

Edifel nodded. “Yes, he does. As I said, they’re all full foxes, and they’re grown now. But anyone who knows Sage knows he’s had his fair share of women.

“He’s always been a bit of a rogue, never settling down with a beta.

“It’s laughable that he thinks he could steal you away from Lord Jekia.”

As much as it pained me to admit it, I could believe every word. It seemed that many of these animal types were driven by instinct.

And I wasn’t entirely innocent in all this. I had wanted to sleep with Sage at least once, just to know what it was like.

“No, he won’t steal me away. I just wish Lord Jekia would understand that. I don’t like how on edge he’s been since that conversation,” I confessed.

“Lord Jekia does seem distracted by it. Does that happen often, Mama?” Vishu asked Edifel.

“It can, but men can be easily affected by matters of the heart, even if they try to hide it.

“Considering how smitten Lord Jekia is with Lady Lana, it’s no surprise he’d be upset by such comments, especially coming from his closest friend,” Edifel replied.

All of this was gnawing at me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Sage’s words. It didn’t add up.

He had never shown any interest in anything more than physical pleasure with me, and he had acted like we were becoming good friends.

Had he been deceiving me all along?

I couldn’t stand it anymore. I gently nudged Vishu so I could stand up.

“I’m sorry, but I just remembered something I need to do. Could you and Vishu let Lord Jekia know I’m talking to Emelio if he comes back and asks for me?” I asked.

“Of course,” Edifel agreed without hesitation.

“Is everything okay?” Vishu asked, concern in her eyes.

I gave her what I hoped was a reassuring smile. “Yes, everything’s fine. I just need to ask Emelio something. That’s all.”

That wasn’t entirely true, but I didn’t want to worry our little spider. I was sure Edifel had an inkling of what I was planning.

She had a knack for figuring out what I was thinking and feeling since I’d arrived.

I left the conservatory, navigating the labyrinth of hallways until I reached the southern parlor. It was far enough away for me to speak my mind.

“Emelio! I need to talk to you!” I called out.

In a matter of seconds, Emelio appeared before me. A small gust of wind blew over me as he materialized, a pleasant smile on his face.

That was typical of him. I couldn’t recall many times when he wasn’t smiling. But then again, he could be quite peculiar at times.

In the time I’d been here, I’d gotten to know Emelio as well as Edifel, although he was often at Jekia’s side, assisting with whatever needed to be done.

He was an efficient mage, always aware of what was happening in the northern lands and promptly reporting to Jekia if there was an issue that needed his attention.

But he wasn’t always serious. As I mentioned, he was often smiling, even when discussing serious matters.

He also had a habit of teasing Jekia, especially when it was just the two of them. I’d witnessed it myself when it was the three of us.

He found the situation with Sage particularly amusing, telling Jekia more than once that his jealousy made him seem like a sulking adolescent pup.

“Good afternoon, my lady. You called?” He greeted me with a polite bow.

“Yes. I wanted to talk to you about something, but I don’t want Jekia to know. Is that okay?” I asked.

“I don’t see why not. I would only tell him if I thought you were in danger,” Emelio agreed.

I looked around nervously before continuing. I wasn’t used to speaking my mind.

I’d never been allowed such a luxury, even though Jekia had repeatedly told me I could do so here.

“I get that it might sound crazy to you, but I’ve been worried about what’s been going on between Jekia and Sage because of me.

“I didn’t see Sage’s outburst coming the other day, and I can’t figure out why he’d act like that. Do you think I’ve been misreading him?” I asked.

Emelio didn’t seem shocked. “I can see why you’d be upset, and yeah, if you want my honest opinion, I think you’ve been misreading a lot of things.

“But maybe it’s not my place to explain. If you want, we can go see Sage and you can get your answers straight from him,” he suggested.

“You can take me off these grounds?”

I didn’t think Jekia would let this mage do that. The only person he’d ever allowed to do that before, at least that I’d heard of, was Sage.

But then again, Emelio might have had the right to do as he pleased.

He wasn’t just Jekia’s right-hand man, but also the one who handled minor issues and liaised with the Higher Ones.

“I can do and say as I please with you and Lord Jekia,” Emelio replied. “But for this, I’ve left a lot up to Sage, given his involvement for so long.

“Given that, it might be best for him to start explaining some things to you now. I worry that we’re already pushing boundaries as it is.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t overthink it right now. Let’s get going before Lord Jekia gets back.”

A knot formed in my stomach, but I did my best to ignore it as I agreed.

Something else was going on here. I was sure of it, especially after what Emelio had said about Sage. That fox had been up to something for a while now when it came to me.

Emelio offered me his hand, and as soon as I took it, we were enveloped in a cloud of soft, white smoke.

I blinked and found that we were standing outside in a beautiful glen I’d never seen before.

There were several large, earthy mounds rising from the ground. I guessed they were some kind of homes.

Emelio led me to one of these mounds, stood in front of it, and raised his right hand.

“Is now a good time for a visit?” he called out.

“It’s fine. Come in,” I heard Sage reply.

The dirt covering the front of the mound opened up for us, and Emelio let me hold onto him as we jumped down inside.

We landed about five feet down on a dirt floor, the soft glow of crystals lighting up the tunnel around us.

I followed Emelio through the tunnel, which was about ten feet long, to an archway that led into a large room.

It was about the size of the house I used to live in, furnished with wooden furniture. There was even a fireplace for cooking.

Across the room from us was a hollowed-out section of the wall, reminding me of what I’d seen when Jekia had shown me where his family had lived.

The curtain of that large section was pulled back, and Sage was sitting there on the bedding, apparently reading, dressed in nothing but dark pants.

He set the book aside as we entered, looking amused.

“I figured you’d bring her here soon,” he said with a knowing smile.

“Yes, you’re usually right about these things, although this time, she was the one who asked for this meeting,” Emelio corrected him.

“Really?” Sage didn’t move from where he sat, but his amusement faded a bit. “Should we take this as a good sign or a bad one?”

“That depends on your answers to me. I wanted to talk to you about what’s been happening lately.

“You know that what you said to Jekia was never discussed between us,” I told him.

“Yes, that’s true. But as seems to be the pattern, you’re still misreading a lot of things. It’s a bit disappointing,” Sage replied.

“What do you mean?”

Sage stood up, stepping in front of me. As he did, Emelio sat in a nearby chair, not saying a word. He just crossed one leg over the other and listened.

“Oh, my dear,” Sage sighed after a moment of looking at me.

“While I can’t say that it’s been disappointing to bring you over here, for the most part, this hasn’t been going as smoothly as I thought it would.

“While I still trust my own visions and intuition, this one has been more challenging than I anticipated.”

“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say. I was the one who stumbled into this world, and Jekia found me when that happened,” I reminded him.

“Yes, that did happen, but it wasn’t by chance. You were destined to come into this world long ago. I made sure of that,” Sage replied.

“What?” I whispered.

Sage put a hand on his hip, looking a bit annoyed. “I guess now’s the time to start explaining some things in more detail.

“Things aren’t going that well, and I’d rather not risk much more with them breathing down our necks over this.”

“Very true. There’s been some added pressure here, including displeasure over the prospect of no heirs ever being born,” Emelio added, sounding a bit annoyed too.

“I don’t understand. What are you both talking about? You make it sound like I was supposed to come here and become Jekia’s bride and now I’m not fit,” I said.

“Well, you’re at least somewhat perceptive. There may be hope yet,” Sage sighed. His many tails flicked a bit before he sat on the side of his bed near me.

“Let’s start from the beginning so we can make everything perfectly clear for you.

“First off, although you probably don’t remember it, you and I have met before in your world.

“You were pretty young at the time, and I admit I’ve been annoyed that your memory of it is so hazy, but yes, it did happen.”

My eyes widened as that vision flashed in my mind, only now I could see it clearer.

He was the one. The man who had emerged from the forest and spoken to me all those times, though he had chosen to appear more human than he was.

“But…why? Why reach out to me so long ago?” I managed to stammer out.

“I admit, initially it was just curiosity.

“I was used to seeing young human girls working with their families, but yours seemed so indifferent to you. It didn’t sit right with me.

“To be honest, my first thought was to whisk you away with me and bring you here. Once you grew up, I thought you might make a good human wife for me.

“But that idea vanished the moment I looked into your eyes for the first time.

“That’s when I sensed what was dormant within you, and I knew your destiny was far greater than just being mine,” Sage explained.

“You see, my lady,” Emelio chimed in, “humans who cross over to our side and stay often have something more than just their humanity.

“Beings like Sage can sense that immediately, even if the human is very young and hasn’t had any exposure to our kind.

“It’s no accident that you transformed so quickly into an omega. You’ve always been one. The trait was just dormant within you in your world.”

I stared at Sage. “So, you’re saying you knew I would become an omega here, and you guided me into the forest when I was older because of that?”

Sage smiled. “You’re catching on quickly. That’s a good sign. But as I said, it might not be enough at this point,” he replied.

His smile faded as he continued. “You are the only known omega in this world, so it’s only fitting that you should become Jekia’s bride.

“The Higher Ones agreed with me on this long ago when I brought it up.

“As you can imagine, being one of the first chosen rulers, Jekia is often seen as a favorite by them, and they liked the idea of him having strong heirs with a real omega if he chose her.

“But they feel they’ve hit a roadblock with you. While your body has certainly evolved to be a good match to bear him pups, your mind hasn’t awakened at all.”

“My mind?” I echoed. “But I’ve acted as a wife should, and he seems to trust me a lot. What am I not getting?”

“You’re not getting a lot of things, but most importantly, you’re not getting yourself.

“A true omega wouldn’t settle for being just a wife, nor would she settle for just providing pleasure for alphas or herself.

“She would demand respect from everyone, including her alpha, and make sure she’s well-educated so no one could walk all over her.

“In that sense, you haven’t awakened at all. Your mind is still that of a poor peasant girl who’s resigned herself to being a man’s toy.

“As you can imagine, that doesn’t sit well with the Higher Ones, especially Lacula.

“A woman like that wouldn’t be able to raise strong children with Jekia, even if she is loving and attentive to them,” Sage explained.

His words were a sobering reality check, but they rang true. No, I wasn’t strong, especially not mentally.

There was so much I hadn’t considered. It was no surprise that those who oversaw the rulers wouldn’t want me to be anything more to Jekia than a distraction.

It took all my strength to find my voice again.

“If that’s the case, and I can’t awaken my mind to be a true omega, does that mean I have to leave here and never see Jekia or any of you again?”

“Well, that could have been an option before, but it wouldn’t work now,” Emelio admitted.

“Why not?” I asked.

“It’s how the worlds work in relation to each other. Much more time passes in your world than ours.

“Think of it like this. For every year that passes here, one hundred years pass in the mortal world,” Emelio explained.

I immediately turned back to Sage. “But you told me my parents were still the same! How could they be if so much time has already passed?!” I demanded.

Sage shrugged. “No. I just said that to calm you down, because that’s what Jekia asked me to do. But the truth is, they’re both already dead, and that ruler was killed too.

“There’s been a lot of change in the human world with the passage of time, and Emelio is right, you wouldn’t be able to fit back into it.

“But if things continue as they are, and they decide to end things between you and Jekia, I’ll step in and make sure you’re taken care of.”

I looked down, struggling to process this. No, I didn’t want to be forced away from Jekia. The mere thought was incredibly painful.

“However,” Sage continued as he stood in front of me. “I don’t intend for it to end up that way, nor do I believe that my premonitions were wrong.

“But for that to be true, Emelio and I felt we needed to be honest with you about this, and you gave us the chance.

“Either you listen to what we have to say and push yourself to follow it, or accept that your fate is going to be right here in this den with me.

“Given your reaction right now, I know that’s not what you want. You’d much rather stay with Jekia, wouldn’t you?”

I managed to nod. “Yes. If it’s at all possible, I don’t want to lose him.”

Sage patted my head, and I saw him smiling as I slowly looked up. “Good girl,” he praised me. “Now, listen and take to heart what I’m about to tell you.

“First, you must accept who you were, then bury her. That Lana Barnes is dead and gone, left in the mortal world to rot.

“The Lana here is the bride of a ruler, a strong-minded and strong-willed beautiful woman. She doesn’t let others walk all over her or tell her what to do.

“She does what she feels is right. That includes her husband. An omega’s place is beside her alpha, not under him.”

“So, you’re saying that I should stand up to Jekia when he makes demands that I don’t agree with,” I clarified.

“Exactly. And not just with Jekia, but with everyone else too. Like when I announced that I would impregnate you in front of him.

“In that situation, it wasn’t just Jekia’s responsibility to get angry and handle it. ~You~ should have been the one to speak up immediately and tell me I was out of line.

“As his omega, I would have had no choice but to respect your authority.

“As things stand now, if they lifted the ban on you having children, I could take you to bed and impregnate you right away. So, tell me, is that what you want?”

Something about the way he said that made my blood simmer. Yes, I wanted children, but I wanted them with Jekia.

No matter how attractive Sage was, or how much I enjoyed his company, I didn’t want anything more from him.

“No, it’s not,” I said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady.

Sage wasn’t satisfied. “Don’t suppress your feelings. Remind yourself that this isn’t the world you grew up in, and you’re a queen, not a commoner.

“If you’re angry, express it. Even if you consider me a friend, you must do so. Demand that I treat you with respect,” he commanded.

Could I really do that? Looking at the fox in front of me, I felt torn between anger and submission. He was one of my closest friends here, someone who had helped guide me.

~Helped guide me.~

With that thought, it felt like something was unlocking deep within me.

Sage was right. He wasn’t saying these things to scare or belittle me.

He wanted to see me grow and stay here with Jekia, just as he had intended.

He and Emelio had brought me here and explained all this to help me understand my weaknesses and how to overcome them. That was enough to motivate me to try to change.

“Alright then. I don’t want to be forced away from Jekia, and I don’t want to be pushed around anymore.

“I won’t lose him, and I won’t let you use me as you please. If I have to push myself to become more, then I’ll do everything in my power to do so,” I told him.

Sage chuckled. “That’s more like it.”

He tilted my chin up to look into his eyes. “If you can maintain that fire within you and nurture it, then I have no doubt that you’ll fully awaken the omega you’re meant to be.

“When someone pushes you, push back as you see fit, and don’t question your own judgment. That’s when you’ll be deemed worthy to be by Jekia’s side.”

His words stayed with me long after Emelio brought me back to the palace. No, I wouldn’t let myself be taken away from Jekia, or deemed unfit to be his bride.

Somehow, I needed to grow and change here, and I needed to do it quickly.

As soon as I got back, I went to one of the libraries, scanning the shelves for every book I could find about this reality.

I figured that if I wanted to change my ways here, the first thing I could do was start understanding this world better. And I would do that on my own.

Jekia had told me to make good use of my ability to read and write, so I would.

I spent hours in that library, sitting in a secluded corner and reading about the history of the Veil, even going back to when it was still part of the mortal world.

I found it fascinating. It was no wonder we had such strange legends and customs.

There was a time when humans lived side by side with these creatures and had to coexist to survive.

The shadows outside lengthened as I sat there reading, and eventually I heard the click of the oil lamp near me, bathing me and my books in warm light.

I looked up to see Edifel standing nearby.

“Are you okay, my lady? You’ve been in here reading since Emelio brought you back,” she noted.

“I’m fine. There’s a lot I want to learn now and a lot I need to work on for myself. You don’t need to worry,” I assured her.

Edifel bowed her head, but I saw a smile on her face. “Yes, I understand, my lady, and I won’t disturb you.

“But, if I may, would you like your meal served in here? I can arrange that for you,” she offered.

“That’s very kind of you. Yes, I would like that. I want to keep my momentum going.

“Please tell Vishu that I’ll spend time with her tomorrow if I can. I apologize for not keeping my promise this evening,” I replied.

“Of course. She’ll understand,” Edifel agreed.

I turned back to my book as she left, immersing myself in the pages again. As I did, I was filled with regret.

With what I was learning and what Sage and Emelio had told me, I realized that I had been a fool. I was still acting like a naive peasant girl.

If I was going to be Jekia’s wife, and a queen here, then I needed to start acting like one.

No, I wouldn’t become cruel or see myself as superior to others, but I also wouldn’t let anyone disrespect me or force me into doing what they thought I should do.

This world wasn’t a fairytale, as I had imagined.

~Besides~, I thought, ~fairytales often have tragic endings. I won’t let this end that way.~

Edifel did as I asked, bringing my dinner to the library on a tray a while later, which she placed beside me. I thanked her, eating quietly as I continued reading.

I was soaking up knowledge like a sponge. The Veil was home to so many fascinating creatures, especially here in the northern lands. I was engrossed in learning about them.

The library door creaked open as darkness fell outside. I didn’t bother to look up. Footsteps echoed across the room, stopping near me.

“Have you been holed up in here all day?” Jekia’s voice broke the silence.

“Yeah. I wanted to learn more about this world, so I’ve been buried in these books,” I replied, my eyes still glued to the page.

“You know you don’t have to do this. You’re enough just as you are. You don’t need to worry about all this,” Jekia said.

“I disagree. How can I be a good queen if I don’t understand the people I’m supposed to rule?” I countered, not taking my eyes off my book.

Jekia let out a weary sigh.

“I don’t know where this sudden obsession came from, but it’s time to call it a night. I’m tired and I want you to come to bed with me.”

I was a bit tired, but I didn’t want to stop reading yet. I was halfway through my fourth book and I didn’t want to lose my place.

“I get it, but I want to finish up here first. I’ll join you later,” I told him.

Jekia didn’t like my answer. “I didn’t come home just to have my wife turn me down. You’re coming to bed now.”

“No, I’m not,” I said firmly. “I respect that you want my company, but I’ve decided to finish my reading. Once I’m done, I’ll join you.”

“You expect me to wait for you, no matter how long you take?!”

“It won’t hurt anything.”

Jekia’s fist slammed into the wall, leaving a hole.

I flinched, but managed to keep my cool. I had to stand my ground. He wouldn’t hurt me, no matter how angry he got.

“Since when did you become so defiant?! Do you really think that’s going to get you anywhere with me?!” he growled.

“I don’t see it as defiance. I’m just saying what I want to do, and it’s not hurting you. I said I’d join you when I’m done. You should get some rest. You’re tired from your day. I can tell,” I said, keeping my voice steady and matter-of-fact.

We locked eyes for what felt like an eternity. Finally, Jekia backed down, though he still looked furious.

“Fine! If this is what you want, then do it!” he spat, spinning on his heel and storming out of the library.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them away. I didn’t regret standing up for myself, and I wouldn’t let myself slip back into subservience.

Even if it made him mad, I was going to do what was best for me. And maybe, in the end, it would be best for him too.

Because if I wanted to stay by his side, I had to become a true omega.