When she reached the other side of the Omega village, she paused at the edge of the forest—her favorite magic. Whenever she reached out to it, it was sleepy and languid most of the time, like an irritated old man who just wanted to stretch in the sun and didn’t want to be disturbed, but with the right encouragement, it could ripple with excitement, ready to play like a child. Since she was the only one who ever interacted with it, the magic felt like a family friend; safe like her Papa, protective like her Gramma, and comfortable like Mama, with unexpected playful bouts like little Lili.

Focusing, she sent out her awareness, feeling for the delicate magical threads that connected the tightly woven branches before her. Exhaling, she extended her will, sending it funneling along the branches. When she stepped forward, they contorted, writhing and rattling, parting so she could walk into the safety of the forest. Naya wove through the shadowed trees, branches parting for her whichever direction she turned, and then reknitting themselves behind her as though she’d never disturbed them.

When the trees began to thin, she tugged back her magic and ducked under and around the extended branches, careful not to snap any. Reaching her usual hilltop spot on the edge of the trees, she paused and steeped herself in the comforting familiarity of the environment; the rich mustiness of the earth, the cool night dew, and the somber, gnarled bark that stood sentinel around her.

It was too cold to sit, so she pulled her robes tighter, crossed her arms to keep the heat in, and looked out over the bold landscape of Ashens. At this late hour, the city finally slept, which looked eerie at night—frozen and ominous. It was hard to believe she’d been in this exact spot, looking over the bustling cityscape only this morning, before her life lurched in a direction she hadn’t expected.

Naya had spent the rest of the day turning her parents’ words over in her head, trying to consider them from every angle. She couldn’t agree with them fully, and their interference made her feel as though her life was slipping through her fingers even more wildly than before, without any chance to regain control.

That was why she didn’t speak to Kaari. They hadn’t spoken for years. When she’d tried about a year after the tragedy in Saderthorne, Naya couldn’t stop shaking and the memories crushed in. Suddenly she was on the floor convulsing and unable to breathe, and she’d been so mortified, knowing she’d probably scared the poor girl. After that Naya had avoided her. As the eldest daughter of the Southern Lands’ High Chief, Kaari shouldn’t have to put up with Naya’s bizarre attacks. They may have been close when they were growing up, but no one wanted a strange friend who saw strange things and couldn’t function like a normal person. Besides, being forced to chat with Kaari today would have felt like another clamp of her parents’ will on her life.

Naya sighed, her breath streaming out in a long, unfurling fog. Part of the problem was that she hadn’t been prepared for the talk with her parents. If she had, she’d have told them about what Gramma, her grandmother on her mother’s side, had said to her when she was twelve. She had influenced Naya’s preference to find her true mate long before Saderthorne.

She still remembered the conversation they’d had after Naya had come into her dynamic. Gramma had been quiet during her celebration, but afterward she came to Naya’s bedroom to help her get ready for bed.

Naya had chatted incessantly about all the things she’d learned about Omegas that day, until she realized that Gramma hadn’t said a word.

“What’s wrong?” Naya had asked, climbing into bed.

Gramma waited until she was lying down and then sat on the edge of her bed and tucked the blanket in around her. “I’m just thinking of the best way to give you my gift.”

Naya had clapped her hands together, squeezing them in excitement. “You have a gift for me?”

“Of course,” Gramma had said, her face solemn.

“Why didn’t you give it to me at the celebration?”

Gramma was quiet for a moment. “It wouldn’t have been appropriate.”

Naya opened her mouth and closed it again, unsure what appropriate meant.

“My gift is probably more important than all the other gifts given today.” Gramma added, “I wanted to give it to you privately.”

Naya nodded, curiosity drawing her in. “What is it?” she’d whispered.

“Knowledge,” Grandma had said. “Specifically knowledge about being an Omega.”

Naya nodded again. This must have been something she hadn’t been told at her celebration.

Gramma twisted on the bed to face Naya as squarely as she could. “I spent my life with a man who could never love me the way he loved the woman who gave birth to your mother.”

Naya had frowned, already confused, but didn’t speak. Something in Gramma’s tone told her not to interrupt.

“He loved me in his own way. But in many ways, I wish he hadn’t come back after finding her. I could have moved on and not been reminded of the pain of it every day. You’re definitely an Omega now, Naya. You have the chance to find a special kind of love.” She paused.

Naya watched her eyes shift under her lids as they closed for a moment.

“Don’t waste that,” she said finally, opening her eyes to meet Naya’s. “If you find your mate, claim him as soon as you can. Protect yourself and prevent the ongoing heartbreak of anyone else attached to him. I know you’re only twelve and your instincts will develop over time. But once you reach womanhood, take steps to find him.”

She reached out and ran her finger along the charm bracelet on Naya’s wrist that blocked her Omega instincts, her scent, and her use of magic. “Don’t allow this to stay on your wrist forever. Make yourself strong so you don’t have to wear it. You can’t be blocked if you are to detect your mate.”

Naya’s brows drew closer as thoughts crowded in on her. Though she had learned what a mate was, there hadn’t been much mention of them at her celebration. “Are mates important?”

“True mates? Yes. Especially for Omegas.”

“Why?”

“For many reasons. You will learn all about them over time, but I will say that your true mate is born for you and you alone. They will feel pride and joy to protect and care for you. They will give you children more easily.” Gramma’s voice became strained. “They are attracted to you in a way that can’t be the same with anyone else.”

“But…” Something still didn’t make sense to Naya. Gramma was a Beta. How did she know all this?

“Think of it like this,” Gramma said. “Have you noticed how Mama and Papa are with each other?”

Naya blinked at her. “How they are?”

“Yes. They are always close, always touching. Your papa is very protective of your mama and your mama soothes your papa. Yes?”

Naya nodded, bewildered that she was even pointing it out. Wasn’t every couple like that?

“They are the clearest example of what it means to be with your true mate,” Gramma said. “Just watch them and you’ll see.” She smoothed her hand over the blanket as Naya yawned and she leaned in to whisper, “Just watch them and see.”

Gramma died a year later. But Naya had always remembered the conversation, as well as how serious Gramma had been when she’d said it. She’d always doted on Naya and took pleasure in spoiling her, while being gentle with any reprimand. But that night, she’d been serious, almost hard in her tone. So Naya watched her parents, maybe obsessively so. And maybe that had made her glorify the idea of them.

So as much as she wanted to, Naya couldn’t ignore their opinions, especially since that’s not how she’d be raised. In the book, The Hidden Chronicles of the East, it stated, “A good ruler had to take opposing opinions and information into account before making a decision that would impact their people.” Naya had to consider her parents’ points. It stood to reason if her parents had set up a pairing meeting between her and Lonn, they’d been thinking about arranging a marriage. They weren’t ones to make rushed decisions, so regardless of her gramma’s wishes, maybe she needed to consider all the facts.