I was still tremendously upset and wracked with guilt from what I had said to Spar, but I knew it was for the best. I didn’t want to cut short my burgeoning career as an omega and his as a Knight with this complication. It simply wasn’t worth the risk to our lives. It would hurt for a while, but I was sure that I’d eventually be able to move on.

So I was surprised when I saw that a small envelope had been slipped under my door. I picked it up and unfolded the note inside. It was from Spar.

Well, that was interesting. What was even more interesting was the sense of relief I felt that he had contacted me. It would have been disappointing if he had stayed silent—a tacit acknowledgement that we shouldn’t be together after all.

I cursed myself as I realized that I was veering onto the same path—the inevitable path of forbidden love. There was just no getting around it. I could say no to Spar’s invitation, but the thought of leaving him waiting for me, alone, was heartbreaking. Even worse was the thought of bedding someone else. I couldn’t wait in my room to see what other Knight showed up. I had to see Spar.

I ate my dinner quickly, my heart jumping in nervous anticipation. I had never been to the castle before, and even though omegas were allowed to freely come and go—sometimes they visited the Knights to serve them there—I was nervous, feeling as if I was sneaking in. The castle was just so different from the Guild from what I’d heard—spartan, militaristic—that it was a foreign environment, not made for delicate, dainty omegas and their fine silks.

The castle was a short carriage ride from the Guild—I could have walked, but I didn’t want to soil my clothes—and the first guard let me in easily. Once I was inside, I was surprised to find that the grounds were resplendent with foliage and shrubbery. Blooming flowers were everywhere and butterflies and bees buzzed among them. It was unexpectedly soothing.

The driver seemed to note my reaction, as I continued to stare goggle-eyed around me. “They’re wild creatures,” he said, “and they miss their home when they’re in the town. The plants and animals remind them of where they’re from.”

So that was yet another difference between Knights and other humans. Perhaps they weren’t totally human, after all.

The driver took me past the inner gate and Spar was waiting as he said he would with a solemn expression. He helped me descend, like a gentleman, and escorted me into the castle.

“How are you?” I asked awkwardly, wondering why it felt strange to see him. It was as if I was seeing him after returning from a long journey.

“I’m alright,” he said. “I spent a lot of today doing drills. Yourself?”

“Oh, not much,” I said lamely. “The gardens here are beautiful.”

He smiled. “Most people don’t expect it, but Knights love plants.”

“The driver explained that to me,” I said. “So the Knights come from the wilds?”

Spar nodded. “That’s our heritage.”

We walked on in increasingly comfortable silence through the corridors of the castle. Spar would nod to people he recognized. There was nothing unusual about a Knight and an omega walking together; I saw a couple of other familiar faces in the halls as well.

I admired the tapestries on the wall, richly colored and intricately woven. The castle was not at all as austere as I had been expecting. Everywhere I looked, I saw potted plants and wide windows left open for fresh air and floral scents to waft in. The overall effect seemed almost nurturing and peaceful, compared to the pristine formality of the Guild.

Eventually, we came to the back of the castle, where there was a huge balcony on a cliff overlooking a valley. There were many orchards and fields and livestock below us, where food was produced for both the Knights and the Guild. It was a lovely vista, made even more picturesque by the golden light of the setting sun.

“Soren,” said Spar, facing me, “I’m going to transform now. We are going to go somewhere special to me.”

I was suddenly frozen. He was transforming right here, in front of me? Was it safe? Was it allowed? Was he going to pick me up and carry me off to wherever this place was? Dozens of questions flittered around my mind aimlessly, but the sight of the transformation obliterated them all.

It was as natural and easy-looking as he had said it was. After he removed his clothes—only later I was struck by how odd it was that he was stripping in public—his skin changed into that distinctive red brick color and a scaly pattern erupted all over him. His arms and legs grew into reptilian claws and wings sprouted from his back, unfurling like parasols. He grew several times his size during all this, and it was over in a few short seconds. What I imagined was going to be a horrific magical event turned out to be beautiful, like he was simply becoming a different version of himself.

I was staring face to face with a dragon, and I wasn’t afraid. I could see human intelligence in his eyes, which seemed more expressive than those of any other reptile, and the way he moved was steady and calming. I was reminded more of a horse than a lizard, with his easy strength and calm demeanor. It was strange to find that my mind accepted that this was Spar, and not some alien creature.

You ready to go? he asked. His voice, deep and rumbling, filling my mind.

I nodded and he opened his mouth slightly in what I took to be a draconian grin, revealing rows of pointed, gleaming teeth and a forked, flickering tongue. He offered his arm to me, and I gingerly stepped onto it, levering myself onto his back. I needn’t have worried about hurting him; the scales were as tough as metal.

I got into a comfortable position against his smooth hide and held on to two back spikes. He was so large that I was nestled comfortably into the space between his shoulder blades, though the feeling of being on such a large, moving creature was disorienting at first. He walked towards the edge of the cliff.

I’m going to take off now, he said, and I was glad that he was warning me—it would only be too easy for him to jump right off and shock me.

He pumped his great wings several times to gain lift, then slid easily off into the air. It was such a smooth transition that I barely had time to register the fact that we were airborne, and moving away from the castle at an alarming speed. The sun had almost completely set and the sky was a luminous shade of blue.

He didn’t speak during the flight, and I didn’t, either. It was easy to see why he loved flying. It seemed even more effortless than I had expected, and the sheer feeling of power was intoxicating, even secondhand. I wondered how my family and friends would react if I told them I rode on the back of a dragon. I wonder how many people had even had the chance to. A familiar bubble of joy burst in my heart as I realized again just how lucky I was.

It became apparent that he was moving towards the side of a small hill on the far end of the valley. Getting there on horseback would have taken a day, easily, but the flight was significantly shorter. I had to close my eyes as we came in for a landing; seeing the spot come upon us so quickly was disorienting. I was expecting a bump when we landed, but he set his feet down easily, and his vast, billowing wings gently brought us down to earth.

I slid off and stepped down from his arm, stunned. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I had not been expecting this when I opened the note he had sent me, and I was reeling to take it all in. As I watched, he transformed back into human form, seemingly unperturbed by the fact that he was still nude.

I followed him as he traversed a dense, forested area, feeling safe in the knowledge that nothing could hurt me when I was being escorted by a Knight. When we came out on the other side, I saw that there was an oddly landscaped garden. There was a neat little brick wall and several well-placed rose bushes, as if someone had tended to it.

“This is my garden,” said Spar. “I’ve maintained it for a while now, and I always come here when I need some time away from the castle.”

I was utterly enchanted. I walked into the garden, marveling at the plethora of beautiful flowers and unique plants—large, striped leaves, tall, dusk-colored grasses, creeping vines. I couldn’t believe Spar had an interest in gardening, much less done all this himself.

“This is amazing,” I said, awed.

“Thank you,” he said. He walked to the far end of the wall and looked out over it. When I followed him, I saw that he had another view of the valley. I could see the castle on its cliff barely illuminated by lights, and beyond that, the fuzzy glow of the town. It was incredible—a view I was sure that no one else from the town had ever seen.

I stood next to him and enjoyed the breeze tousling my hair and shifting the silk of my tunic against my skin. Spar’s body put out warmth that was comforting in the chill night air. He put his arm around me and pulled me closer.

I wanted to ask him so many questions about himself, but it didn’t seem like the right time. He appeared to be lost in thought, gazing pensively at the view before us. But he was the one who broke the silence first.

“I sometimes wonder what would happen if I didn’t choose the path of a Knight,” he said.

I wondered about this too. I had always assumed all dragon shifters became Knights, but there had to be some who didn’t make the cut, or who went rogue. “What options are there, even?” I asked.

“Not many,” he replied. He turned to me. “Did you know that dragon shifters aren’t even allowed to stay in the town if they choose not to become Knights?”

I shook my head. I had thought that they could find employment doing manual labor, at least. “That’s horrible.”

“I’ve known a couple dragons who had to make their way in a neighboring town, or go become hermits in the forest, living by themselves. It’s not right. We are humans too, and we’re social. We have to be with our own kind.”

I listened to this with great interest; I had never heard anything like it. All the townsfolk knew of dragon life was that the shifters became Knights, and that was that. It had never even occurred to me that there were shifters who had other lifestyles.

“And what about you?” he asked. “What would you do if you couldn’t be an omega?”

It was a question I still couldn’t answer. “I suppose I’d have done what all the other guys did,” I said with a grimace. “Married a girl from town and had a family. It’s not a bad life, but it’s not for me. I’m not even interested in women. I became an omega primarily to escape that.”

“Is that so bad though?” he asked, his eyebrow raised. “Having children, having a family? That isn’t even an option for us Knights.”

I hadn’t thought that Knights would even want such a life. Growing up, we assumed they were all proud to be soldiers and content with their lot. We were taught that their brutal natures made them wholly unfit for raising children or being close with any mate. Now I knew that was false, especially with the revelation of the gardens. There had to be Knights who were like me, unhappy with the path laid out for them, but lacking other viable options.

“It’s not bad,” I said. “It’s just the only option.”

He nodded, understanding.

“I couldn’t leave now, either,” I continued, with an undeniable shiver of worry. I couldn’t imagine not being an omega, but of course, no one ever foresaw these things. “Omegas occupy a strange place amongst the townsfolk—respected yet reviled. I could only hope to make my own way on the edge of town or in another village. No one would want to marry me after I’d been involved with something so… salacious.”

“It’d be their loss,” said Spar stolidly, and my heart leapt a little to hear it.

I rested my arms on the wall, continuing to watch the flickering lights of the town. It was hard to believe that it was visible from so far away, but it was unmistakably there. Even more intriguing, I saw other, dimmer glows of light from other towns. There were pinpricks of light in the forest below us in the valley, which I suspected might be a village.

Spar sighed. “Soren, I do love you,” he started, “but I am at a loss. I will admit, as Knights, we are given anything we want. But the one thing my heart truly wants, it can’t have.”

My heart broke a little when I heard this. It was so sincere and so unexpectedly open of him to say such a thing. I felt like we were in a fragile glass bubble together, and that if I said the wrong thing, it would shatter.

“Mightn’t it have been done before?” I asked, truly wondering. Given the emotions that sex was fraught with, I was positive that some Knight and omega in years past must have found themselves in exactly the same situation. But what would have become of them? Would they have become exiles for the sake of their love?

He was thoughtful for a moment. “You’d think it would have happened, wouldn’t you,” he said, more to himself. “We can’t at all be the only ones. There is a reason, after all, that they have an injunction against attachments.”

He had a point. They wouldn’t have needed to make such a rule if there hadn’t been a need for it. But I didn’t know what to say. Even if this was something that had happened before, what could we do about it?

“Still, I don’t think I can just give it up,” he said. He turned to me, and his eyes were glowing with that familiar fire. “Soren, you’re intoxicating. I can’t stop thinking of you, ever. You consume my thoughts.”

I shivered and placed my hands on his chest, which was firm and warm despite the night air. “I don’t ever want to bed anyone but you,” I said, longing in my voice. “I love you.”

His expression softened. “I suppose the idea of being with one person and raising a family is not so repulsive to either of us, as long as it is the right person,” he said.

He was right. It was a frustrating paradox. “If only we could be like the peaceful families in the town,” I said. “Imagine that. A dragon and an omega, farming and raising children like everyone else.”

He laughed harshly and squeezed me to him. “Maybe it doesn’t have to be a fantasy, Soren,” he said. He couldn’t keep a certain note of excitement out of his voice. “Maybe this is something we can fight for.”

His enthusiasm was contagious, despite my skepticism. I couldn’t see a way out of our predicament, but he made me willing to try anyway. “Maybe,” I said. “But for now…”

I stood up on my toes and kissed him, pulling his head toward me and thrusting my tongue into his mouth, taking control for once. He moaned and pulled me closer, wrapping his thick arms around me. I felt like nothing could touch us, like it was just us two in this alcove above the valley, above everything and everyone. It felt like being in a dream.

Because he was already nude, I reached down only to find that his cock was hard and ready, precome dripping from the tip. I stroked him several times, which elicited a rough groan from him, and he pressed himself against me, thrusting me against the wall. The thick vines and leaves cushioned my back adequately, and he started to undo my tunic, slipping it off easily, then tugging my pants down and enveloping me with his body so I was protected from the evening chill.

He pulled away, moving down to kiss and suck my neck. He was rough, but this time, I could tell it was from passion and not the need for catharsis. I dug my nails into his backside, encouraging him to come closer, and spread my legs invitingly, levering myself against him and the wall.

He reached down and found my entrance already, and after moving me into a suitable position, wasted no time in pushing himself into me. I gasped and looked into his eyes, which were flame-colored and glowing in the night. The moon was out now, and it provided some illumination by which to see his sharp features. I embraced him and held myself up while he thrust in and out, the intense fire in his eyes never abating.

I tightened my legs around his waist and locked my ankles, trusting him to hold me securely. His moans filled my ears and I whimpered as he endeavored to go deeper and deeper, like he wanted to fuse with me and become one. But of course, that was what we were doing already. We were one.

I could tell he was nearing his climax as his groans became shorter and breathier. But he slowed down and instead started to stroke my cock, which was desperate for attention. I was already halfway to an orgasm thanks to his cock, and his fingers only helped bring me to the edge.

Almost too late, I remembered that I had to be obedient. I couldn’t come without his permission, and I didn’t want to make a mistake now.

I whispered into his ear. “Can I come, Spar?”

He laughed harshly. “You remembered, good boy. Come with me, now!”

His thrusting became more frantic, and he held me with his arms, his mound grinding against me to give me the stimulation I needed. Within moments, we came together. I could feel his seed shooting into me as my orgasm peaked, my ass convulsing around his cock as we became lost in bliss. We held tightly to each other like we were riding out a storm together and couldn’t afford to let go, and I moaned into his ear as we bucked and quivered, coming back down and shivering with the aftershocks of the orgasms.

As I returned to my senses, I put my legs down again and he pulled out of me. We sat down next to the wall, which shielded us from the cold, and held each other tightly. He left me for a moment and produced several blankets, and we curled up in a nest, sitting silently for a while.

“I love you so much, Spar,” I said with a sigh, resting my head on his chest.

“I love you, too, Soren,” he said, and he kissed the top of my head.

If only every night could be like this, I thought with a pang of frustration. But I resolved right then and there to join Spar to do whatever we had to do to preserve our love. Some things were worth the risk, and this was definitely one of them. How could I have been mistaken before? No matter what, Spar and I would have the life we wanted. We absolutely would fight for it.

* * *

I woke up the next morning, realizing that we had dozed off in the garden. For a moment, I panicked, bizarrely thinking that my mother would be worried about where I was. But of course, I was safe and sound with Spar, in my new life as an omega. As I awakened more fully, I relished the sight of seeing him lying next to me, already up, his eyes glinting.

“I ought to get back to the castle,” he said, reluctance permeating his voice.

I didn’t have any work to do during the day, but I was looking forward to a rejuvenating shower. I nodded.

He got up slowly and lazily, stretching widely. We were both still naked, though I had a tunic and pants to put on. I watched him transform again, still marveling at how beautiful and easy it seemed. It seemed like the dragon was his soul being made corporeal, as if he really was that magnificent beast—and he was.

I stepped onto his forearm again and took my spot on his back. His scales were warm, not from the intense sunlight, but from his own inner fire. They sparkled in the sun’s rays like jewels, and I wondered idly if people coveted the scales as a replacement for gemstones. Based on what I’d seen in the market, it seemed likely.

He took off easily and I watched the garden grow smaller and smaller, training my vision to the approaching castle. It became clearer as we approached it, but it was slow going, and I was reminded again of just how vast the valley was.

Because it was daytime, there were more dragons in the skies; we were not alone. One in particular, who seemed young like Spar due to his shinier, less scarred scales and horns, flew some distance from us. I felt somewhat threatened, but noted that Spar was unperturbed. Perhaps this was one of his fellow juniors.

Bringing him back from the garden, eh, Spar? said the other dragon. It was jarring to hear someone else’s voice in my head. With Spar, it was familiar, but with this other dragon, it seemed like an invasion.

Spar responded coolly. What I do in my leisure time is not your business, Lyral.

Lyral seemed huffy. Well, whatever. Just stay away from the eyes of the Council. You know what’ll happen.

I am not concerned about the Council, said Spar, and I found myself impressed by how he was handling this. It would be easy for two young, hotheaded juniors to get into a fight, but Spar was being mature about it. It was a far cry from the arrogant junior I had first met.

I’m sure you’ll discard him as soon as it’s inconvenient, said Lyral bitingly, his voice tinged with venom.

In response, Spar just picked up his speed, throwing a gust into Lyral’s face and knocking him off balance. I held on tightly as he gathered altitude and coasted even more quickly towards the castle.

“What was that about?” I asked, unnerved. Lyral seemed like he just wanted to give Spar a hard time, but the comment about being discarded had stung.

Lyral is a rabble-rouser, said Spar. He is jealous of how well I am doing in drills. I am getting positive attention from our superiors as well. I am sorry he is taking his frustration out on you.

That made me feel somewhat better, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of humiliation. I told myself to forget about it—it wasn’t as if Lyral didn’t make use of the omegas. All the Knights did.

Don’t worry about him, said Spar. He’s just jealous of what we have.

I sighed. Spar was right. I rubbed his back, wondering if he could even feel what I was doing through the thick scales, and turned my attention back to the landscape, reveling in the multi-hued sight of the castle, the Guild, and the lush foliage surrounding them. From this height, I could even see the awnings of the stalls at the market.

We landed on the balcony again; it seemed to be a departure and arrival point for many other Knights as well, who were transforming there. Spar shifted back and went to retrieve his clothes from a shelf where they had been neatly stored. After he dressed, he enfolded me in his arms. I took a deep breath, inhaling the comforting scent of his chest.

“When will I see you again?” he asked.

“Tonight?” I said, almost laughing.

“Of course,” he replied.

“I love you,” I said, still feeling tentative. Last night had seemed like a dream.

“I love you too,” he replied, and pulled me in for a kiss.

At the edges of my mind, the anxiety over what Lyral had said threatened me—there was a grain of truth in his rude comments—but I pushed it away, filling myself with Spar’s love. We were in this together, now. Nothing could stop us.