Page 186 of The Other Omega

“They are attempting to force pregnancies,” he continued. “They know Elowen conceived outside a heat, but we have found no indication that they know about the twins or that she has delivered. Lucien’s team is beginning its interrogations with the professionals who knew about the pregnancy but had not been told about the twins.”

“Good.”

It was the only protection their ignorance could still offer Ivy and Nora. Confirmation that Elowen had delivered two living Omega daughters would give their captors another reason to continue.

Caius released the chair, then closed his hand again.

“They are her sisters, Leon. I have returned without them again.”

“You saved others.”

“Not the ones that matter the most.”

“That is not how she would see it, and you know it.” I held his gaze. “We shall provide whatever Lucien needs to find them.”

At the door, I looked back. “Take the time you need.”

He nodded, and I left him to steady himself. We were careful about what we allowed through the bond, especially when we came home. She should not have to wake from a peaceful afternoon nap into a horror she could neither understand nor relieve.

Darius was already working when I entered the office a few minutes later. Beyond him was Elowen’s office nest, beneath the main window. She had begun with a blanket on the broad bench, and I had since commissioned a fitted mattress. Now she and the girls could rest comfortably near us.

“Will they be joining us this afternoon?” Darius asked as I took my seat opposite him, his eyes still on the display.

“I’m not sure. They are in the nursery.”

He grunted, and I had barely opened my reports when a notification appeared.

Seren & Vaela Juicy News

Elowen had created the channel for images and recordings of the girls.

“Why juicy?” Lucien had asked, studying the title. “I understand news, but news cannot be juicy unless it concerns something wet.”

“It means interesting.”

“I fail to see the connection between⁠—”

“Oh, Lucien. When I say I’m horny, it doesn’t mean I’ve grown horns. It means⁠—”

“My darling, our daughters are within earshot.”

“They can’t understand, darling. They’re babies.”

Lucien had looked almost aghast. “Our daughters are highly intelligent.”

“All right, all right! But we’re keeping the title. Juicy means interesting, and that’s that. Okay?”

“Understood.”

I opened the recording.

“Hello, Daddies. We’re having story time.”

The girls lay in the reclining seats Elowen called bouncers, watching Eira move two soft animals through a conversation. I had commissioned the seats from Elowen’s sketches, with the physicians approving the supports before either daughter used one. The feeding cushion, the rattles and half the nursery had followed a similar route.

Elowen had chosen pink and lilac fabric. Against the dark stone and enormous furniture, the two small seats were impossible to overlook. Darius had ordered a second pair in the same colours for the office.

Caius entered as the recording ended. He stood beside my chair to watch it again, his attention fixed on the girls. I let it play to the end before returning to my reports.