Page 7 of Lost in the Fog

G ia asked, Why are you a solo act?

He paused. I am and am not. I collect the souls of the fallen.

They were walking into the large entryway, and the whole space smelled like lemons and beeswax.

What?

When we die away from home, our souls are collected and held until our bodies can be repaired and returned to active duty.

So, my mates are...

Gone. Their bodies wasted away. It is the one situation where I wish my skills weren t needed.

How long have they been gone?

Twelve years. When they died, you fell.

Oh. Right. So, you have them?

Ornolf nodded. I have them. I have them and all the others who passed. It s why I like the motorsports. It drowns out the voices.

Oh. Right. That makes sense. So, you can t release them?

No, but when the next generation has children, the souls will go to their new homes and become new people.

Boy, the alphas who become omegas are in for a culture shock.

He chuckled. There is a reason that we are so well-versed in male and female arts.

No way.

Yes way. He walked to the kitchen with her.

She looked around at the gleaming space and blinked. Your cleaner is no joke.

She s very efficient. He chuckled. Coffee? Tea? Other beverage?

Gia smiled. If a lemonade can be arranged, I would appreciate it.

He nodded and went from a dark-complexioned man to an elf with midnight skin and pointed ears poking past his hair. He glanced at her. Not surprised?

You remember the part when I said I was a disembodied spirit? I have seen dark Elite before.

He went to the fridge and got some ice and a pitcher of lemonade.

Was that there a minute ago?

He turned and winked. His crimson eyes were sparkling with amusement. I am not telling.

Because if you have a lemonade habit I should be aware of, it should have been in the prenup.

There wasn t a prenup.

Dad must have been super upset.

He was, but he needed funds to keep the life support operating. He poured her a glass and set it in front of her on the counter.

She touched the spot on her neck where the scar had been until it faded. He let his business go and just kept dumping money into treatments that might wake me.

His finances have recovered now?

Yeah. The cash injection you provided helped, and both his accounts and yours are doing well now. All expenses have been replaced.

He nodded. My accountant is astonished that the money has begun to accumulate. Have you always had skills with money?

Yeah. It always came to me easily. It still does. She shrugged and sipped the lemonade.

Your first impulse was to make him whole.

Of course. He did something for me that no one else would. He kept me alive until I could pull myself together.

He sat next to her at the kitchen counter. He did. He threw the world away to keep you alive. He looked for cures and medical research and held your hand every day. And then, when he was at the edge of his abilities, he offered me the honour of your care, and from there... here we are.

So, we have been married three years?

Nearly. Your first year was in slow recovery, and then two years ago you woke up and astonished everyone.

Me more than anyone. Pandora was persuasive. She had to reconstitute her body. Mine just needed a workout. She smiled and rolled the glass between her palms. So, she nagged me into learning to sit up, eat, and walk again.

Good friends are few and far between. Among my own people, I usually end up standing apart.

No one likes to get too close to death. It is also awkward if you contain the souls of those they had relationships with.

You have summed it up.

I have a similar situation. No one knows the exact reason I collapsed, so I am tainted by a mystery illness. She looked at him and took in the very dark elf nature of him. So, what do you want from me?

I want my wife. I have hoped and poured energy into our rings in order to keep you mobile, but I would like to seal our link and begin life as a couple and, perhaps, as a family in the future.

She bit her lip. You aren t joking.

I am not. The fact that you can consume the energy I am providing you with is proof enough. We are compatible on a very basic level.

The fact that I am a giant elf omega isn t a hindrance either?

You are? I knew you were compatible, but I thought you were simply an Elite-compatible beta.

Nope. I hang out with the queen because she called to me and got me thinking of my place in the world again. From there, I kept myself together until I felt my body getting stronger, which was your ring, I am assuming.

He nodded. Yes, but my desires and wishes have already been stated. What do you want?

Oh, well, I want to continue playing with money. I am good at it.

Ornolf smiled. Yes, you are. You are also an excellent socializer.

Well, Dad gave me a solid name, and I just kept going with it. Was it useful to you at all?

Yes. It has been. Your father photoshopped us into a wedding portrait, he murmured.

I know. It s in his study. It is also how I knew what you looked like.

He smiled. You looked lovely. I would enjoy having a vow renewal with us properly attired.

What is your definition of proper?

Ornolf chuckled. Leave that to me.

That sounds sinister.

He laughed. It will be private but pretty. Your father was despondent that you couldn t have a proper wedding, so it will be a gift to him.

I can invite Pandora and Regis and Ira. And Dad, of course.

You can invite anyone you like.

Who will you invite? When the words were out, she knew that she had settled with the idea, and it appealed. He knew what she was, and he was supporting her every step that she took.

Old friends and new friends. He smiled.

Okay. When?

After we consummate the contract? He looked at her with a calm expression.

Oh. Right.

Not tonight, Gia. I just wanted to have a private place to chat with you.

Well, this was that.

He grinned. So, what is your favourite colour?

She winced. Cherry red.

Your preferred vehicle?

One that someone else is driving. I like to work in the car.

I see. Have you driven a motorcycle?

Not on the street, but I have my license.

He smiled. Why is that?

It was a challenge at school. Out of ten of us, only two could do the bike lift.

Ornolf laughed. How old were you?

Nineteen. It was just before the... uh... unfortunate incident. She smiled. Dad kept up my credentials, though. Kept renewing my licensing. So, I have the license but haven t used it in ever.

Would you like to?

When I am wearing jeans and a jacket to reduce road rash? Yeah.

He grinned, and his joy was obvious. I am getting all kinds of ideas.

So, how is this going to go? I mean, we are already married, so I guess that courtship isn t necessary. Gia stared at her lemonade to stop the thudding in her heart at his smile.

I would like to move as much as you would like. There are guestrooms, and you are welcome to take one to get used to being in the same house as me.

She shrugged. I will have to put some clothing into a wardrobe here.

I can transfer your closet at home here in a matter of seconds. It s a bonus that has come with all of us being confined together for so long. Many exclusive skills were shared that our focuses would not normally have contact with.

Interesting. Um. I just need to warn my dad, and then you can move it over, as long as I can call my car service from here.

He is still worried?

Very. He struggled when my mother left, and I became the focus of his world until he needed to return to work. Now, I would like him to travel around the world, to come back when... never mind. She muttered.

When? His question was nearly a purr.

When things have changed, I suppose. She tried to recover from almost mentioning grandchildren for her dad.

He nodded. Is he available now?

Um, yes. He had already replied to her text about staying in Ornolf s guestroom.

Ornolf smiled. Just a moment.

He pulled out his phone and dialled her father. Hello, Maxwell. Yes, she is here with me. I would like to invite you over so that your mind is set at ease that she is safe. He smiled. See you shortly.

He glowed slightly and chuckled. You have a lot of gowns.

Yes, well, they are needed for all the events I am constantly attending. There are two fundraisers in town per week. I have to keep the clothing fresh or folks get gossipy.

You look lovely in everything you wear. What do you do after you wear them?

I donate them to charities that supply dresses to ladies who can t afford clothing for graduations and weddings.

That is thoughtful.

I talked to the organizers, and it apparently is a boost to some women who just want to fit in for one day. They want to feel pretty for one day. Since my beta body is a nice generic size, a lot of women have enjoyed the gowns.

There were more?

Oh, yeah. She laughed. The JN Foundation uses them for their galas so that their clients can feel part of society during their awards. Your company is a rather hefty donor, by the way. If you are in town, you are welcome to come with me. Do you dance?

Yes, ma am, I do.

Excellent. I like it. She looked at him. Thanks for inviting Dad over. I am getting the feeling that this is going to act as a hand-off for him. He needs to start backing off and living for himself again.

A new wife?

A relationship, if nothing else. He needs to start living.

You are using that word a lot. Living.

If it hadn t been for the equipment running through me, I would have been dead. My living was done without a body. That is how I met my friends.

So, since you stabilized, you threw yourself into activity?

Absolutely. Before the incident, I was my dad s hostess. It was a role that was easy to fall into when I was able to get on my feet again. Familiar activities gave me a grounding for the new rhythm of my life. I started to get files from your office, and I got to work on them as well. Now, here I am.

Does your father know you are an Elite omega?

Nope. Do you want me to tell him tonight?

It might be nice for him to know that you are stronger now and he doesn t need to worry.

I am more concerned that he will think it s a body snatcher or something.

Ah. I see. Well, I will be here to assure him that it is you.

She checked the time and then said, Where are my clothes?

Why?

If I am going to change shape, I need bigger clothes or, at least, looser ones.

Ornolf chuckled. Please come with me.

He took her by the hand and led her through the house, showing her the living room, the staircase, and the upper floor, including the library and study.

How are the dark Elite finding houses like this?

He laughed. As the exotic alphas began to emerge, the locals began to scatter. My kind has been moving into the gap in the real estate market.

Ah. Got it. So, you haven t been encouraging it?

Of course we have. Old manor and pack houses are few and far between. Of course, there are new builds as well. All around ten years old.

She chuckled.

He paused in front of a door. This is the guestroom. The next room is mine in case you get scared in the middle of the night.

Why would I get scared?

When I sleep, I release ghosts. Strange things can happen.

Okay. I will deal with that if it happens. Meantime, I need to change, and I know just the caftan.

She opened the door, flicked on the light, and looked around at the wide bed and the wall of closet doors. Gia walked to the doors and opened them, looking for her peach caftan. She found it and turned, noticing Ornolf in the doorway. Please close the door. I have to do a quick change.

He sighed and closed the door behind him.

She reached behind her and unzipped the gown she had on, shrugging out of it. The caftan simply slipped over her head and billowed around her as she moved.

Gia opened the door to the hall, and Ornolf was waiting for her. He grinned. That will work.

She smiled, and he took her hand to draw her toward his bedroom. Just in case you see something that scares you in the night.

Gia laughed. And walking into your bedroom will make that better or worse? If you are sleeping and they escape, you will be soundly sleeping. Waking you would not be a great idea.

He paused as he opened the door. Fair point. But do it if you have a need.

Okay. She looked past him and took in the bed, desk, dresser, and what appeared to be a meditation space. You meditate?

I contain the fallen. Talking to them keeps them calm.

Oh. Right. She checked the phone in her hand and tapped the tracker. Dad s almost here.

You have a tracker on him?

And he on me. He had a health scare last year, but it was just stress from fussing about me.

What kind of health scare?

Panic attacks that felt like a heart attack. He needs me off his plate. She sighed. So, shall we go back downstairs?

He smiled. You don t want to see the ensuite?

Nope. I will trust there is one.

There is also a nest hidden in the hallway.

I haven t had a heat yet.

He blinked. No?

I asked Regis, and she said that when I spent enough time in elf form, it would show up.

How much time have you spent in that form?

Total? About eight hours.

Why not more?

I don t hang out with the Elite, and I am usually only in that form when I am not in my body. Apparently, that doesn t count.

So, your soul is an elf.

Yup.

He grinned. I can work with that.

She nodded. He s close now. We should probably meet him downstairs.

Gia turned and walked down the hall, heading for the stairs. Her fingers lifted the edge of the caftan so her toes were clear, and she made her way down to the main floor with the soft fabric fluttering.

Ornolf chuckled as he walked to her side. You move like an elf.

Is that a good thing?

It means your change will be easier than some.

There were lights outside the front entryway, gleaming through narrow windows. Out of reflex, Gia took Ornolf s hand.

Her father knocked on the door, Ornolf gestured, and the door swung open. Gia smiled brightly. Evening, Dad.

Her father looked at them and saw their hands, his shoulders slumped in relief. Gia, you two seem to be getting along.

Yes, Dad. Ornolf is perfectly amiable.

Channelling Jane Austen again, Gia?

Gia shrugged. Maybe a little.

Ornolf asked, Would you like to have a seat, Maxwell?

Please. It is so good to see you together finally.

Gia exhaled, and Ornolf walked with her to the living area and tugged her next to him on the couch. He was very warm, and her thigh was against his.

Her father smiled. You look good together. I mean, I had hoped it would be a good match considering the circumstances, but you two look right.

Gia got nervous. About that, Dad. There is a reason that we look well-suited.

Yes, bug?

You have been hearing about those light and dark elves or Elite in the city?

Of course. Actors and artists, even bankers and lawyers. Why, pet?

Uh, the dark Elite have been waiting for the light omegas to show up. And... we are here now.

We? Her father looked shocked.

Gia assumed her light form, all pearly and pale with red eyes. So, hey, Dad. How do I look?

Her father stared, and then he said, Will you still run the company?

Sure, if you want it. There are methods to get this form legal identification, so I will be back to work shortly if you want it.

He looked at her. Bug, how tall are you?

Pretty tall.

He focused on Ornolf. You are okay with this?

She heard fabric squeak as he settled into his other shape.

He chuckled. I am delighted with this turn of events.

Her father stared. You...

I am her match. I had to come to her aid when I did. It was partially for you but mostly for her.

Her father smiled. Would you stand up together?

Gia shrugged, and as Ornolf stood, he helped ease her to her feet.

She looked at her stunned father. You can stop worrying. I am a big girl, a very big girl, and what I can t handle, Ornolf said he would help with. We will get used to each other, live happily ever after, I will work the financials, and maybe there will be grandkids for you one day. They look normal until their late teens.

Her dad paused and then beamed. Really?

Really. This isn t quite the way things were supposed to be, but it is the way they are now. Gia looked up at Ornolf. I am not upset by it.

Her father chuckled. That is high praise from her.

I am beginning to get that idea. Ornolf slid his arm around her back.

She laughed and leaned into him.

Her father had a dawning delight and a lot of relief in his expression. They sat back down, and he quizzed them about what it meant. They talked with him for over an hour. Tea and lemonade were served at one point, and Gia was yawning slightly by the time her father called a halt to the grilling.

Well, Ornolf, you are the same man I thought you were, more or less. As long as I can visit whenever Gia will have me over, I believe that I can go home and sleep soundly for the first time in a decade. Maxwell paused. Well, we will have to have a wedding with family friends, Gia.

She wrinkled her nose. Okay, but I am going to appear like this, so folks will freak.

Maxwell grinned. I welcome it. I want you to be seen by everyone.

Ornolf smiled. As do I, Gia Zorat.

She jolted. Oh, right. I forgot about that.

Ornolf chuckled. My people took on surnames as is customary here. I must say, to call you by that name is rather interesting.

She felt the hand on her back that had been rubbing her back and shoulders slowly. No wonder she was drowsy.

Her father stood, walked to her, and kissed her cheek. I feel good about this, Gia. You are looking very content right now.

Ornolf chuckled. I will work to continue that expression.

Gia blushed. Um, right. Well, Dad, it was nice to have you see me as me for the first time. I was worried about your reaction.

Baby, I always knew you were something else. I just didn t realize it was this. You look beautiful, sweetheart.

She stood up and hugged him, looking down slightly. You are still in possession of a full head of hair, Dad. Good to know if I ever have boys.

Her father grinned. Are you sure you are an omega? They are supposed to be small and weak.

Just smaller than the alphas, Maxwell. We need them stronger than those who are considered proper omegas. Ornolf murmured, We also enjoy our partners to be independent and assertive. It makes us smug that such strong women have chosen us.

Gia looked at her husband and blinked slowly. Right.

And if we can be of assistance, we are superheroes. Ornolf grinned.

Gia paused and glanced at him. We will see.

Maxwell laughed. That usually means no. He hugged her, kissed her cheek again, shook Ornolf s hand, and said, I am going to leave you two alone to get to know each other.

Gia blinked. Yeah, I suppose we have skipped that part.

She was held to Ornolf s side as her father left, and she stared at his forehead. What are those white marks?

Designation of my focus. It lets those around me know that I contain the dead.

Oh. I don t want to be rude, but today has been exhausting.

He smiled. I will escort you to your room and wish you a good night.

Gia wrapped her hand around his forearm, and they headed up the stairs again as he led her to her room. The goodnight kiss began as calm and chaste, but she was soon pressing against him and holding tight. She tasted him, he tasted her, and she was pretty sure she could get addicted.

Self-control kicked in, and she backed away, licking her lips and breathing heavy. Um, okay, so that part is good.

He smiled slowly. Goodnight, Gia.

Good night. She closed her door slowly and walked to the bathroom. A shock of cold water didn t do much for the heat in her system. Gia found her nightgown in a drawer, got changed, and settled into bed. She grimaced and shrank back to her smaller size. None of her clothing was set for her taller self.

She tried to sleep, but she felt snug. Confined. Gia pulled her nightgown off and slept in her omega shape, sighing in relief. That was what she needed. Sleep came surprisingly easily.

* * * *

O rnolf s astral projection stood next to the souls of Gia s destined mates. They all looked down at Gia, sprawled on the bed with the sheet tantalizingly low.

Simur groaned. If I knew she looked like that, I would have fought much harder to survive.

Dansing nodded. Same here. I had no idea the omegas would look like that.

Ornolf sighed. No one did until Keres was at the Stronghold. It was right before you two passed. Achilles and Dante are now very pleased with their mate, and from what I have heard whispered, Keres is expecting.

Simur smiled. Good. They will make excellent parents. She recovered?

Ornolf nodded. She did. She was reunited with her sister and is now working on her own life, and that includes Achilles and Dante.

Dansing looked at Gia. Do you think she misses what could have been?

They jumped when she said, She can t miss shit if she doesn t sleep. Can you all be spectres elsewhere?

Ornolf grinned. You can see us?

If I opened my eyes. I can hear you just fine. She spoke calmly. She rolled away from them, and Ornolf chuckled.

He murmured, If you were in my bed, we wouldn t need to check on you.

Will it stop you from hovering?

He grinned. Yes.

The sheets flew back, and Simur and Dansing gasped. Ornolf just watched as she got up, walked past them as if they weren t there, and stalked down the hall into his room. He quickly returned to his body and sat up to watch her enter the room with long strides. She walked around the bed and got into the opposite side, beat the hell out of a pillow, and thudded her head down.

Good night, wife.

Good night, husband. Now shut up. I have stuff to do in the morning.

He grinned, and the other two returned to their place inside him, amused and amazed. They were gone, but she was here. They had worked for years to convince him to help, and now she was here and safe.

Ornolf leaned up on one elbow and admired the slope of her shoulder and the curve of her hip and thigh. Moonlight streamed in through the window, turning her silhouette into an image that would live in his memory for centuries. All these years with no hope of a mate, two ghosts had nagged him into cooperation that had gotten Gia linked to him and into his bed. It wasn t what he expected, but her response to his kiss heartened him. He could wait for more, for a while.