Page 125 of The Other Omega

“A new light to you, Lady Stormforge.”

“And to you,” I said absentmindedly.

“A new light to you, Elowen.”

Eira was waiting near the entrance hall and somehow looked perfectly cheerful.

“I am glad you are ready for the day. The masters began work much earlier than usual.”

“What happened to our home?”

“We will come to that in a moment. I thought you might prefer to hear the masters’ arrangements for the next few days first. Their secretaries are still making changes, but I have been rather firm about preserving what time I can.”

“Preserving?”

“Master Lucien’s secretaries believe one hour a day constitutes adequate Pack time.”

“One?”

“It was seventeen minutes yesterday. We are making progress.”

I laughed despite myself.

“Their secretaries are attempting to fit everything in, and I am making certain they leave sufficient time for the Pack. You need not worry. I have no intention of allowing them every hour.”

“Thank you?”

It came out as a question because what else could I say? Was this really part of Eira’s job? Fighting five lots of secretaries for pieces of my mates’ schedules so I could actually see them?

“Master Alaric and Master Lucien are both on call at present,” Eira continued.

“What does being ‘on call’ mean for them?”

“It means they are the first to be called upon when matters relating to their duties require attention. Master Alaric and Master Lucien are both actively overseeing several matters at present, so their secretaries have allowed very little time for Pack life beyond the minimum periods necessary for rest.”

She paused.

“Or so their secretaries believe.”

“So... you're arguing with their secretaries about how much time they should spend at home?”

“Naturally. I represent your interests within the Pack. Someone must ensure the masters remember they have a Pack while they are attempting to manage everything else.”

I couldn’t decide whether that made me feel better or slightly terrified.

“Eira, I never had a companion before, but now that you're here, I don't know how I'd manage without you. I didn't even know I was supposed to remind them to spend time with me. I thought that was a common-sense sort of thing.”

“It is not that they require reminding of you, Elowen. Their duties are extensive and demanding, and they must balance them. Before you arrived, duty was often their first consideration. Their secretaries are accustomed to arranging their lives accordingly.”

“Still... I feel like they could make more of an effort themselves.”

“They do, Elowen. Who do you imagine instructed their secretaries to work with me?”

“Oh.”

“The masters cannot personally negotiate every alteration to their schedules. If Master Alaric is commanding an operation, he cannot stop each time his staff wants to add another meeting to his day and debate whether it should take precedence over dinner with his Pack. He has made his priorities clear. It is our responsibility to arrange his schedule accordingly.”

So they had thought about it. About us. I didn’t need my mates beside me every minute of the day. I had my own life, and obviously they had theirs, but I still wanted to spend time with them. I’d only just got them.