Jasper
As the owners of this private retreat facility, we used a secret entrance to reach our secluded bungalow. Even though Elias isn't an owner, he has been granted the authority to the facilities whenever he likes.
Soft lighting. Low ceilings. Soundproofed walls. Contained luxury meant for predators pretending to be civilized. The attendants were already bowing when we entered. I only noticed them so I wouldn't walk into any of them. Before entering the actual bungalow space, we each entered our own shower room.
The hot water eased the lingering tension in my body. The curse was quiet for once. It pressed against my ribs, but it wasn't painful. I haven't been without pain since before I was cursed. If even a whiff of this scent could ease me to this level, would acquiring the source cure my curse?
In a peaceful mood, I dressed in the provided black cotton trousers and loose shirt. When I stepped into the joint locker room space, I encountered it again. The scent of my possible cure. It was coming strongly from Lux's discarded dress shirt and Elias's folded training shirt and pants. After a quick check of my surroundings, I confirmed no one was nearby. Casually, I picked up the articles of clothing, as if I was going to put them in the laundry hamper.
I dropped everything but the shirts into the basket. After another quick check of my surroundings, I took a deep inhale of the scent that had been easing my pain and soothing my dragon. This time, I discerned something I hadn't before. Black tea. Dusk-bloomed sandalwood. Stabilizing essence. Female.
My core pulse was sharp, not violent but an indication that I had truly found my cure—my fated Velari. Mine. The one cure I never thought I would find because it was very difficult to find a person's fated Velari after Omega Demons stopped being born. I was fully prepared to either die or go to the demons to negotiate for a cure. I assumed I wasn't showing any signs of instant lust or strong possession because the scent was second-hand. My dragon was curious why we felt such a weak connection but did not become agitated at this deviation.
With a final check to make sure I wasn't going to have to explain why I was sniffing my friends' clothes, I quickly folded both garments with deliberate care, placed them into vacuum-sealed pouches from my pocket space, and slipped them back in the space. Time. We have time. My cure is attainable. I just have to make sure I do nothing to create obstacles between me and her. Whoever she is.
I entered the bungalow proper to find a table filled with incense options. It was agreed between us that whoever finished first could decide the first round of incense we burned. My hand hovered for only a second before choosing a combination that closely resembled dusk-bloom sandalwood layered with black tea resin. I had not consciously decided. I had simply… chosen.
My dragon approved of this choice. When the first curl of smoke rose, my dragon sighed, closing his eyes. He shined like a light in the darkness of my soul now. I wiped away a few tears of relief that escaped when I sensed his light pushing back the curse. Not entirely but enough that I could breathe easier.
Since this was an even paler substitute than the second-hand scent, my muscle aches did return but it was only at the level of having a good workout. I will take this over the feeling of my body being three snaps away from shifting. Lux and Elias soon joined me. Objectively, they both were very attractive men. I was not attracted to men but I could appreciate that I spent time with aesthetically pleasing people.
The attendants' scents made it very clear they enjoyed the image the three of us made. With a wave of Lux's hand, the attendants brought over trays of food. Then they moved to take positions beside us. The Omega assigned to me—Judy—approached with her usual practiced softness. Without thinking, I signaled her dismissal before she fully sat.
She froze mid-motion. I had never refused her before. She was one of the best at soothing, which was why she was always available for me when I came here. But now that I had found my cure, I would limit my interactions with any female until I secured my mate. I narrowed my eyes when she did not immediately remove herself from my presence.
Elias's Beta attendant was also dismissed. She immediately grabbed Judy, bowed, then departed. It was not unusual for Elias to not need soothing every time we came. He only required it after intense missions. Plus, he disliked unnecessary physical contact.
But when I saw Lux dismiss his Omega attendant, I knew something significant had recently changed for him. Just last month, he had enjoyed the soothing presence of this Omega attendant, but now he glared at her when she reached out to touch him. She instantly withdrew with a bow.
This was significant and unforeseen. Only when a shifter, male or female, has come into contact with their fated Velari would they reject compatible soothing from another. It is instinct woven into our DNA since the first of our race were created. I leaned back in my seat slowly. I brought a glass of blood-wine to my lips as I stared at Lux, who was piling food onto his platter, ignoring my obviously questioning gaze. Elias's facial expression stayed neutral, but his eyes hid mirth like he was amused by Lux's behavior and my silent question.
A thought crossed my mind, making my stomach twist. As much as I enjoyed and treasured my friendship with Lux, I would kill him if he were a potential Kaelin mate. The Creators and fate would not be so rude as to put the two of us into the same mating circle. His fated Velari cannot be mine. I will wholeheartedly lose my shit if I have to live in close quarters with this man for any length of time.
The beast inside me did not snarl or rage at this possibility. Instead, he huffed at my momentary spiral. He was confident and calm that the Creators would not fail us. This was our fated Velari, not a chosen Velari. At this point in our friendship, Lux and I knew we were not Kaelin. So I let my worry fade as I served myself a large portion of water buffalo and rice casserole onto my platter.
In the quiet of our eating, the incense thickened in the air, mimicking what I had smelled on them. Lux cut into his steak. Elias poured himself and Lux some hard cider. Neither of them said anything about the incense, so I too remained quiet, basking in the scent of my fated Velari.
The certainty of this revelation settled like law. I subtly observed the two men who seemed to be relaxed while occupied in their own thoughts. My gaze landed on Elias. He might tell me my Velari's identity if she isn't connected to a classified mission he is currently on. He is the easier avenue to get information from. Lux, on the other hand, would require compensation. His excuse would be that because he is Sun Court and I am Shadow Court, we must keep our interactions as balanced as possible. He is cunning and full of shit like that.
Just as I prepared to subtly start my interrogation, Lux leaned back in his chair with a grin after demolishing his first plate. "Elias," he drawled, gesturing toward the incense smoke. "You okay with this incense? I've been waiting for you to lose control and rush back to the complex, but you are as calm as ever. You're not suppressing your need to go into a rut, are you?"
Elias's reaction was immediate. With a raised eyebrow, his steak knife flew. Lux caught it, grinned, then threw it back. Elias caught the knife before launching his fork plus the knife back at Lux. From there, this ridiculousness escalated—silverware, coasters, a wine cork—each object arcing with precision. Essence flickered faintly around them, reinforcing their muscle memory and reflex. This wasn't anger. It was a testing of edges. A release of tension. A playful teasing game between friends. I watched them for exactly twenty seconds, then I intervened.
A subtle flex of my essence, and everything was paused midair. With precise control, I pulled all the innocent items from their current flight patterns to set them back on the table neatly. Silence returned. They both turned to me their gazes questioning. I typically didn't get involved in their play. Occasionally, I even joined.
This time, I ended it before a minute had even passed. I held their gazes evenly. Ignoring their silent question, I asked my own. "Lux…Elias, what has happened in the week since I last saw you?" I asked mildly. "You have both been showing signs tonight that big life events have happened for both of you. Tell me. What is new in your lives?" I tried not to sound accusing or demanding. I hoped I only sounded curious. The incense continued to burn between us.
It would soon reach its end. It would be Elias's turn to choose the incense blend next. If what Lux said has any truth to it, I'm curious if Elias will choose to mix the same blend as me.
I kept my expression calm, but beneath that calm—my dragon waited.