Page 31 of Dream Mates (Into The Parallel Omegaverse #2)

“Here, I can turn it on for you.” I grabbed it and enabled the com-system and handed it back to her.

“On?” She blinked and put it on.

I put mine on. “Can you hear me?”

“I didn’t know it did that.” Her voice was soft over the coms.

I guess she and Jett hadn’t talked during their ride.

“In case you want to talk–or just tell me something. Would you like a short ride or a long one?” I helped her on.

“It doesn’t matter. It would be nice just to get out. This is a big seat.”

“Evan sometimes rides with me.” I got on in front of her. “I should look at some stuff at the estate before Terrance gets pissed at me. It’s a nice long drive and then you can see where Evan wants to marry you. Or we could just ride around town a bit, then go bug Jett.”

Either one would be fine. Jett had mentioned wanting to take her to the outdoor market.

“You’d take me to see the estate?” She put her arms around me, holding on tight.

“I could use your opinions on stuff anyway.” Why the fuck did that feel nice? She was tiny and boney, and not someone I could fall in love with.

Care about. Take care of. But never love.

We set off for the estate.

“Is it okay that Evan marries me? He didn’t marry you and Jett, right?” her voice finally said over the coms.

“Please, marry him. Legally, a mate bond between two omegas doesn’t count like it does between an alpha and an omega. It would be good protection for you, since you fall under omega law,” I explained as we merged onto the freeway.

Omegas could bond with each other, creating a connection, just like an alpha did. Their bites just didn’t leave a permanent mark. Apparently, she was close enough to an omega that she could bond Evan and Wes back.

“Jett and Evan have a civil partnership, and Jett and I are married for the same reasons. I did bond Jett, but alpha-beta bonds also don’t have legal standing, and he can’t bond me back.

Evan and I have a registered mate bond, which for an alpha-omega pair legally means the same thing as being married,” I added.

She and Wes were registered, but I wasn’t sure if she understood what everything meant.

“Oh. Okay. So that’s why no one’s married Evan? I… I’m just trying to understand. Where I’m from, your options are marriage or living in sin.” She laughed.

Yeah, I didn’t want to touch that.

“Jett and I had been through a lot together, so it felt appropriate to have a ridiculous wedding, and I’d recently acquired that resort,” I said, keeping an eye out for cars, since it was busy this morning.

“Which is where you met Evan,” she added.

“Yes. And part of why we didn’t have an actual wedding with Evan.

Don’t get me wrong, we had a giant mating party with all the things a wedding does, except for the legal officiant.

We brought out his sisters, grandparents, and family.

A great time was had by all,” I explained.

“I have a great picture of little Riley in a ruffled dress. The three of us do wear rings. When we went to have a party for Evan with Jett’s family out on the West Coast, he dressed us up and hauled our asses off for some ceremony in a temple, that was just us, some old temple guys, and the ancient omega matriarch of his family.

I’ll show you pictures because those two looked so hot in his traditional clothes. ”

It was very beautiful.

“That sounds nice. Wes and Evan just never got around to it, because it’s not legally necessary for them, right?” she added.

“Exactly. They mated and registered their bond, which is all you really need to do. Wes’ dad threw them a party.

Jett and I attended, and Spencer brought in Evan’s family.

Between you and me, I think Evan wasn’t ready for a wedding, because it meant facing the death of his parents.

Weddings are a huge part of beta culture, and he grew up in a beta family in a mostly beta neighborhood,” I added.

“To me, him wanting to marry you means that he’s ready to face things–like having a wedding without his parents there to see it. ”

“Oh. That makes sense. It’s also really sweet when you put it that way. I figured he just wanted to see me in a pretty dress and have a party,” she said softly.

He didn’t need a wedding for that.

“Weddings are important where you’re from?” I asked, trying to ignore how comfortable it felt to have her behind me.

“Very. It’s considered one of the most important days in a woman’s life. I’ll have to read up and see what traditions are different, but everything Evan’s mentioned sounds good to me,” she replied.

Things would be different. Important in a woman’s life? Not the man’s?

“Just to warn you, after you and Spencer actually bond, a party will be expected. It’s a society thing,” I said.

“Oh. I guess someone like him would be expected to have a big party.” Her voice went guarded.

“It doesn’t have to be big, it could be a very exclusive, lavish party. Think about what you want, because you might as well have fun at your own party,” I told her.

Suburbs gave forth to grass and trees, though soon enough this would probably be built up too, between Redstone’s new research complex, the Space Authority, and the expansion of the nearby military base.

“Oooh, yeah. I think I’d like that–no, it’s not small, it’s exclusive. ” She laughed again. “Tell me about your wedding? I’m having trouble visualizing a week-long wedding.”

“It was fun. Ridiculous, but fun.” And exactly what Jett and I needed to celebrate us, our journey, and the strength it took for me to choose living. Also to celebrate him, his patience, and persistence in helping me through that process.

As we continued our ride, I told her about the activities, location, and meeting Evan.

Finally, we got off the highway and made our way down the winding, tree-lined road to the estate.

“This is beautiful. Even wild, I can see how this area could make for a great venue, think of the pictures,” she breathed. “Oh, there’s something for your website–availability for people to book parts of it for photos.”

“That’s a good idea. Even if people don’t have a party when they mate, they often get photos and send them out.” The giant iron gate stood open, and it was evident that renovations were in progress.

I parked at the house and helped her off.

“Oh. Oh.” Grace took off her helmet and turned around, taking it all in. “When you said old estate and that it needed renovations I was thinking something like a gothic haunted mansion, something mysterious and spooky. But this…”

She eyed the elegant stone home, with the large front staircase and sprawling front with a fountain.

Grace curtseyed. “I’m so sorry, but the duchess is not in residence right now,” she stated, adopting an accent. “If you’d like to leave your card, I will let her know that you called. This is straight out of England. At least my England.”

“It is. When the family was kicked out of Britain, back in the day, they had it relocated stone by stone out of spite,” I replied.

“The upkeep on this is enormous and it’s been neglected for some time–not just the grounds but the infrastructure.

The plumbing, electrical, and roofing all need upgrades. ”

“Of course it’s expensive to keep. Ten thousand a year isn’t nearly as much as it used to be.” She giggled.

Then I got it. “Oh, yes, very Tea-Time British. I suppose you like dramas from that era.”

She seemed like the type.

“Terrance thinks we should just fix what we need to bring it to code,” I told her. “But I think that it would be better to gut it to the bones. Then of course, do we match the interior to the exterior or go modern?”

“Restore it, if not to how it looked then, to at least the time period,” she breathed.

“There’s your hook right there. You could go the school visit route, showing them what life was like then.

Or perhaps cater to recreationalists or LARPers–live action role play.

Think of the costumed balls you could have here. ”

Grace hummed and started swaying, eyes closed. Her eyes snapped open. “Or be wild and make it a themed resort. Like an expensive one, where you’re immersed in the era. I have that movie on my laptop–from my world.” She laughed. “Might be a little too out there.”

I thought for a moment. “Terrance might not be on-board with an immersive resort, and school visits sound like a lot of work, but I love the theme angle.”

A man in a construction hat came over to me. “Mr. Morris, we weren’t expecting you.”

“Hi Reg. Is it still safe to enter? I wanted to take a look around, also see how things were going with the gardens.”

“Yes, of course. Always a pleasure to work for the family,” he said, then left.

I turned to Grace. “The company Reg works for does a lot of work for my parents but is also well known for being on time and budget. I’ve known him most of my life. I tried to get Wes’ dad on the project, but he was already on something else.”

“Oh, that’s nice.” She smiled then offered me her arm. “A tour m’lord.”

Why did that sound so nice from those little lips?

“Absolutely, m’lady.” I escorted her up the stairs then used my access to get inside. I’d been here enough times to feel comfortable showing her around. Taking hard hats off the stand, we each put one on. Just for safety.

“This was once so beautiful. Even though it would cost more, I think a complete restoration would be perfect if you can swing it. Wait,” she stopped in the foyer. “Why were they kicked out of England?”

“For being extremists. You see…” I grinned, knowing she’d like this detail. “They thought that omegas should have rights. Like the right to be educated, the right to have a voice in choosing their alphas, and, gasp, the right to have a job–or at least money or property of their own.”

Her hand went to her face in mock horror. “Oh, the horror.”

“I know.” I laughed. “England has always been behind in the omega and beta rights department. Even now they’re not quite as progressive as here.”