Oh... this can't be good.
DG glanced quickly at each of her companions taking in the hunch of their shoulders and fidgeting hands. Her eyes lingered briefly on Cain who sat the farthest away staring determinedly at a patch of earth at his feet. The campfire crackled and snapped in between them, casting deep shadows over all of their faces.
"What? What is it you want to tell me?" she asked, her voice betraying the slight panic she was starting to feel.
Glitch cleared his throat, eyes darting quickly to the other men, as if silently pleading for help.
"Well... DG... there's something you should know about our world... your world... not that you have to... or anyone has to... has to... has to... has to..."
Cain reached over and punched him lightly in the shoulder.
"It only fair you know all options," said Raw while Glitch shook his head to clear it.
"Options about what?" asked DG, her face screwed up in complete confusion.
"About your safety," spoke up Glitch again, his thoughts now straightened out, "We debated even telling you but after the tomb, we figure it is only fair that you make an informed decision. "
They fell silent again, each shifting in their seat, casting unsure looks at one another. Cain had yet to look at her and Glitch appeared as if he'd rather die than continue this conversation.
"Okay..." she replied, nodding at her friend encouragingly.
"You are the key to all this, Doll. You're the only one who can stop Azkadellia... but to do that, you need to stay alive. There is a way to protect you... but it will require great sacrifice."
"What kind of sacrifice? Money? My voice? A goat? What?"
"Your future happiness," Cain answered gently across the blazing embers, his eyes finally meeting hers. His expression was one of sympathy, despite his obvious discomfort. "Go on tell her all of it," he said, his eyes moving to Glitch and he inclined his head toward the princess.
"Magic is highly prized in our realm and takes many forms. Some are like Raw's people and can feel people's emotions, sense their thoughts through touch. Others have less obvious utilization of it... a farmer who's crops are never blighted, an artist with unparalleled skill, just to name some examples. The one's who can control magic, not just use it as an expression of themselves, are the most rare and prized."
"You mean like me."
"Yes," he paused to take a deep breath, "A magical child can result from any union, even between non magical people, but it is nearly guaranteed when it is between an Alpha and an Omega."
DG's eyebrow shot up in question. "What are those?" she asked, not missing the agitated way Cain rubbed at his face.
"Alphas, betas, rhos, and omegas make up our society. We are born into them. Alphas are very magical, typically with unique talent. Betas have some magic, and Rhos have none at all. Alphas are uncommon but not rare. Betas are common enough and Rhos make up the majority of society."
"And the Omegas?"
"Exceedingly rare. They are usually the most powerful of all magical beings. A union between an Alpha and an Omega almost universally results in a powerful mage. This, DG, is how the Gale line formed. The Original Slipper was the last Omega to appear. The last until you."
DG's heart hammered mercilessly in her chest, something terrified starting to seed there.
"What does that have to do with my safety?"
"Wh-well," stuttered Glitch, "Omegas, though powerful, are often very vulnerable and have been targeted for the purpose of breeding mages. Some have been kidnapped, drugged, kept prisoner... you can imagine the horrible things... all for this purpose," he trailed off, shuddering as a look of pure distaste marred his features. "But there is a spell of protection that can be done between an Alpha and an Omega that binds them. No physical harm can come to either party after the binding. Anyone raising their hand to a bound person with the intent to harm will be repelled as will any instrument they intend to do the harm with. And the binding can only be done with each sides consent, it cannot be forced upon someone."
"I'm sensing a 'but' here..."
Glitch sighed, "But the binding is for life. And though no one may touch you to harm you, it also prevents any... physical intimacy... with anyone other than the bound partner."
DG stood abruptly wrapping her arms tightly around herself, her face burning. She took a few deep breaths, trying to push away the feeling that her chest was going to collapse in on itself.
"You...All of you want me to shackle myself for life to someone because if I die the whole OZ gets destroyed?"
"No!" exclaimed Glitch, "This is completely your decision. We just didn't think it was fair to not let you know it was an option."
"How is it an option, Glitch? I don't even know an Alpha, let alone trust one enough to do this with."
She watched as Glitch's face paled even further, his mouth moving without sound as if trying to find the words.
"DG knows Alpha. DG trusts Alpha," said Raw softly, meeting her eyes before turning towards Cain.
DG followed his line of sight, her eyes widening as the implications hit her. The Tin Man looked back at her steadily, his face expressionless.
"But... but... you're not magical."
"That's actually not true, Doll. Magic takes many forms, remember?" said Glitch, finding his voice again. "Cain's magic is extraordinary resilience. While most people die within months, he managed to survive ten annuals in a Suit with his sanity, arguably, intact. He fell hundreds of feet out of the tower into an ice covered lake after being shot and was able to crawl out on his own. He was fine after just a few hours rest. Not to mention countless encounters with Longcoats and criminals even before that."
"It's why I ran the Mystic Man's protective detail, it's why I took the front line missions in the resistance, and it's why Azkadellia chose the suit as a punishment," replied Cain, rising to his feet. She stared at him, her mind trying desperately to fully comprehend what this would mean for her. It felt horrible,violating even, being backed into such a bargain but...still... she couldn't suppress the slight thrill that passed through her as she looked at the Tin Man. How could she be simultaneously repulsed and excited by the same idea?
You know why...
"You would be willing to do this?" she asked, her eyes flicking to the wedding band still on his hand. Observant as he was, Cain didn't miss it, and his lips thinned in a grim line.
"Let's take a walk, kid," was his only reply and he jerked his head to the trail behind him before turning away. After a second's hesitation she started after him, just catching up as he stepped into the moonlight away from the fire. They walked silently until they came to the pond they had passed on the way in and Cain sat on a cut tree stump, awaiting her questions.
"You want to do this? Be locked to each other forever?"
"Want and willing are two different things, Princess."
"Just answer me, Cain. Honestly. Please."
The Tin Man sighed, "No, I don't want this. But if it'll keep you safe, if it means you can defeat the witch and save the OZ, I'm willing to do it."
"How long have you considered this plan?"
"Since we saw the Mystic Man and I knew who you really were."
"That I was an Omega?"
"No, that you were the Princess. I knew you were an Omega before that."
Her eyebrows furrowed together, "How did you know I was an Omega if you've never seen one before?"
Even in the moonlight she could see his expression darken.
"Alphas know," was all he replied.
DG swallowed thickly, instinctively taking a step back from him and he looked away from her.
"So you think I should do this, then?"
"That is up to you, DG."
DG growled in frustration. "This involves the both of us! For the rest of our lives! The least you can do is give me a little input, Cain, like you actually thought about it and give a damn."
She watched as his jaw flexed, "I have thought about it and all of the consequences-"
"Such as?" she interrupted.
"For starters, you will likely be Queen when this is all said and done and have to produce an heir. A blood heir."
Whoa, he's coming out the gate swinging. Fine, it was bound to come up anyway.
"So you... you wouldn't want to... do that with me?"
If the whole topic hadn't been so mortifying, she would have laughed at the expressions that rapidly flew across his face.
"It's not...DG, this...I-" he stumbled over his words, a flush on his neck obvious even in this light.
"Want and willing are two different things, right?" she replied, unable to to mask the hurt in her voice as she looked down at her shoes. She heard a rustle of movement and felt two hands gently grab her arms.
"DG," he sighed, "I honestly can't wrap my head around all this yet. In the past few days I've gone from thinking my family was dead to thinking they were alive, and then only finding Jeb. I don't know how this will all shake out if we go forward with it, I just don't. I haven't thought of myself having a future in such a long time it doesn't seem like a sacrifice to give it away. So you've got to ask yourself DG, if the worst happens and you are miserable, grow to resent me, and are alone for the rest of your life, is it worth it? Is saving the OZ worth that to you?"
She looked up at him then, surprised by the fierceness tempered with concern she saw in his features. The nearness of him made her heart beat erratically and she could barely concentrate for the small soothing motion he was unconsciously making with his thumb against her arm.
"What if," she asked in a whisper, "What if we were happy?"
His eyebrows shot up briefly before his expression softened and his eyes flicked over her features. They rested briefly on her lips before moving back up her face.
"I can't promise that, darlin', but I would try my best to make it so."
He stepped back from her then and withdrew a vial from his coat to press it into her palm along with a small knife.
"It's my blood," he answered her questioning look, his hand still over hers, "Glitch pilfered some items at the Witch's prison to be able to take it. You don't have to decide now but if the answer is yes, you'll need to mix it with your own. A small cut to the palm, just a couple inches, should be enough."
He pulled away, his fingers sliding along the length of hers before turning back towards camp, leaving her in the moonlight, his blood and knife in her hand.