21. Epilogue
Epilogue
River
Six months later.
Dusty was fanning himself as Ember and I strolled into the Dusty Lusty, giving Ember a look just to incense me.
I was certain they’d made some sort of deal behind my back, because Ember always winked back and then seemed all too happy when we ended up fucking in the woods afterwards.
I wasn’t going to say anything, though. There was no need to ruin a good thing, and a huge part of why I now loved to eat here once a week, was for the claiming part after.
A thing my omega loved as well, always wearing something sexy underneath.
“If it isn’t my favorite customers!" Dusty exclaimed, approaching us rapidly, his apron billowing to the sides. He’d cut his hair recently and I was certain it was because he wanted his own omega soon.
My own brothers had even seemed less enthused about helping out random omegas through their heats lately, a thing that hadn’t gone unnoticed.
Many omegas were even sour about it, hoping for more attention from the princes and king.
“Hey, Dusty,” Ember grinned, letting my best friend embrace him in a hug.
“Coco promised me you’d do the red soup tonight?
” The red soup was a favorite of Ember’s and it didn’t really have a name.
It was filled with vegetables and spices.
Ground beef was the main protein and the chunks of potato at the bottom were a delicious addition.
“It’s simmering away in the kitchen,” Dusty assured him. “And the garlic bread is ready to go into the oven as soon as you’re both seated in your spot.”
“Perfect,” Ember grinned, tugging me behind him as he led our way through the tavern. Dusty just laughed behind us and went to fetch our food. We never really ordered anymore, pleased to just let Dusty give us whatever he thought we would enjoy.
“So,” I said, smiling at my omega as we sat. “Does this mean we’re staying for dessert this time?”
“What do you mean?” he teased, hiding the folder with the dessert listed.
My omega was nearing his second heat and had begun craving sweets.
It was funny really, how he craved both spicy food and sweets at the same time.
He liked to pretend he wasn’t close to his heat, but as his alpha, I could smell even the tiniest changes in him.
The biggest question this time was regarding my rut.
Mine had started before his heat last time, shocking us both.
Now, my omega could take me even outside of his heat.
There was a little budding desire in me to fuck him in my rut before his heat took over, mostly because he would feel tighter around me.
“What dessert do you want?” I rasped, ignoring his innocent act.
He grinned, showing me the folder. “I think ice-cream!” he wiggled a little where he sat, looking eager already. “I’ll need something cold after the hot soup.”
“Hmm,” I agreed, looking over the options.
Coco had spent a month in a neighboring town, learning new recipes from a newly claimed omega that was brought here by her alpha.
The omega had worked in a bakery and had a lot to teach everyone in our kingdom, which was why Dusty had sent Coco off to learn.
He’d been the only one manning the kitchen and had done a marvelous job of it.
To everyone’s surprise. He’d even been the one to create the famous red soup.
“I want the chocolate cake with whipped cream,” I decided, closing the folder and placing it back on the table next to us.
“Here you go!” Dusty placed our steaming bowls of soup in front of us, making a big deal over how lovely Ember looked tonight, ignoring me completely.
Yeah, they definitely had some sort of deal going on.
“I’ll be back with the bread!” He hurried back into the kitchen leaving us with our warm soups and the amazing aroma that followed.
My omega sighed dreamily as he took in the scent of his soup, blowing carefully on his spoon before tasting it.
This was true comfort food, and I loved seeing the calming effect it had on my mate.
I was pretty much in awe of him and how quickly he’d adapted to his life here, but something kept bugging me.
“Do you ever miss your old home?” I asked, making him look away from his soup.
“No,” he said, keeping it simple as he sipped more of his soup.
“Not even a little bit? Your family? The food? The places?” I hedged, hoping for something.
If he wanted to visit, we could. Some of the residents here in our kingdom flew out once or twice a year to visit those they loved, but Ember hadn’t once mentioned the need or want for it, so it had simply turned into one of those things we never discussed.
“No, no, and no,” he said, this time holding his gaze on mine. “My family never wanted me. The food was what we could afford, which meant stale bread and boiled veggies. I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere really, and the closest town was nothing special.”
“So, you’re really okay with us staying here and never visiting?” I asked.
He nodded. “I honestly fear what would happen if I showed up. Technically, I belong to the crown prince, according to my home kingdom.” I growled at that, making him smirk.
“It’s best to stay put and not tempt fate, don’t you agree?
” I did. I hadn’t even thought about the whole thing with the fae prince.
Dusty then came over with way too much garlic bread, but the way Ember salivated at the sight told me he might need the carbs. “Enjoy!”
We dug in, moaning at the perfect combination of garlic, salt, and butter. Then shot each other heated glances all through dinner. When we finally reached the part where we needed to order dessert, we were both squirming in our seats, ready to get back home and taste one another.
“Dessert?” Dusty asked, giving us a knowing smirk. He must’ve smelled our arousal from the bar, the perv.
“No thank you,” Ember smiled, dapping his lips with his napkin. “I think I’ll have my alpha for dessert tonight.”
Dusty threw his head back on a laugh, then bid us goodnight. We left the tavern, walking back out into the darkening street. “What do you want to do now?” I asked, lacing our fingers. “We could take a stroll before heading home?”
“I have a better idea,” my omega said, his tone holding a bit of mischief to it. He then spun away from me, winking. “Catch me, alpha.” He shifted and flew up towards the stars, our bond singing with anticipation.
I shifted into my dragon and followed my omega. He was going to be caught and then fucked senseless. I couldn’t fucking wait.
Grinning, I gave chase, soaring over town as I followed my phoenix.
The end