[COMPLETE] [[**Sequel, The Hybrid Harold, is up!**]]
The first generation past the war has settled and the result is something no one from the past would recognize. In the United Human Alliance, the human run country that takes up much of the land m...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Same place- the roof. Where we always seemed to end up. Though afraid for mating, or not, the idea of going to the roof, where I could stretch out my wings wide and wave them freely, was a nice one. Once Michael was gone, and I was safe from seeing him, I let my eyes begin to wander around. "Can I go?"
"We need to check your wings," Bale said. "I don't know the impact of them being inside the runes for so long, especially with the additional rune."
"So the rune is still a problem?" I asked, nervous. The emotional breakthrough, letting my wings out, hadn't that been the solution? I'd known that beforehand, of course, but after everything, I'd forgotten that it wasn't over yet.
"We won't know until we look at it," Bale said through a yawn. "Sorry, anyway, how does it feel?"
"They were really tight when I first felt them, but now they're... not roomy but not quite as cramped," I said, thinking about the best way to explain it, and fluttering my wings slightly in their runes. "That isn't to say I'm not looking forward to stretching them out again, but I think that's because they are still a little sore."
Bale nodded, "They were confined for a long time."
"I can feel that," I grumbled lightly, wishing again for the roof, where I could stretch out my wings to my heart's content. No one could see me. Except Michael, but for some reason that didn't bother me.
"Well, let me see," Bale said, walking up to look at the runes. I pulled my hair out of the way while he investigated, pushing the straps of the tank top out of the way with a clinical touch. "It looks like it is fading, that is great news."
I let out a sigh of relief, "Thank god."
"We'll figure out what is going on with the rune, just focus on feeling better." Naomi smiled, "Bale will come back if anything happens, so let me know."
I nodded, "The only thing that should happen now is..." Naomi nodded, knowing I was talking about Michael. God, I was obvious. "What is it like?"
"It is a connection," Naomi said. "You're not going to suddenly change, and neither is he. Until you accept the bond, you're simply connected by potential mating."
"Accept the bond?" I asked, confused.
Naomi nodded, "When mates have sex with each other, a mark is branded on both, and the bond is solidified, a magical connection that grows with time."
I felt my chest tightening, "So like soul mates?"
Bale laughed, at my scandalized face he explained. "My brother calls it soul mates, dragon's call it mates."
"Soul mates are different," Naomi said, sounding like she'd explained it many times. "Mates are compatible people, they're rare, and they're special, but you're not suddenly thrust into a serious relationship. Sam says soul mates are, it's a flipped switch and suddenly you're in love. With mates, you'll have the certainty of connection to help the normal timeline of a relationship flourish."
