Chapter Text
“On the bed, ass up. You know the position,” Alpha says.
Dean does know the position. He slides into it, moving the red dressing-cloak to the side, so his ass is available for Alpha. Dean used to command armies, now he bends over for an alpha—it’s not a bad thing, but it’s different than what he’s used to.
His body craves his alpha, the arousal takes over quickly, and his small cock hardens as much as it can. Dean always liked his cock. It’s a nice size—not too big, but fits into his hand enough to get a full stroke down before he’s got to stroke back up.
Most alphas cage their omegas, but Castiel liked looking at Dean’s cock from the moment he saw it and left it out, so long as Dean was good about not touching it without permission. Something harder for omegas to do, but as soon as Castiel decreed it, Dean couldn’t help but want to obey him.
It’s in him. He’s wired this way.
And truth be told, he’s proud to have an alpha as fine as Castiel, with his messy dark hair, large grippable shoulders, vivid blue eyes. Oh, and his cock. Castiel has a thick alpha cock, and the largest knot Dean’s ever seen. Dean knew he would have an alpha someday and when he did, he hoped it would be someone exactly like Castiel.
Or Cas, as Dean likes to call him, but only in his head. He would never insult his alpha by calling him Cas to his face.
Cas’s rough energy fills entire dining rooms. He does what he wants and gets what he wants even if that means taking it.
Which is a lot of how he got Dean.
It doesn’t take much for Dean’s body to produce the lubricating slick, to help Alpha’s cock slide past the ring of muscle at his entrance and into his ass. Dean does his best to make it easy for Alpha by bearing down, opening himself to accept Alpha’s cock. Nothing compares to when Alpha slides in. Yeah, it burns, but it also heightens his arousal and makes his small cock leak.
Cas grips Dean’s hips in the creases where his torso bends at his pelvis with bruising force, while Dean braces himself on his forearms. When Cas is clinical like this, it means he’s trying to impregnate Dean. Cas doesn’t believe that conception should be any more than a deposit, which means Dean will have to suffer through the arousal, without coming. If he comes, Cas will see it as Dean’s opposition to the child, which would be against his alpha’s wishes and is punishable.
It’s hard, because even when Alpha’s trying not to turn him on, he does, but Dean manages. He accepts every stroke of Cas’s cock, every slap of Cas’s pelvis against his backside, and finally, Cas’s seed when his knot catches and Cas comes inside him. When they do it this way, Cas doesn’t stay tied to him for as long, because Cas is also trying not to enjoy too, as much as he can avoid it, while still coming, and his knot deflates faster. Due to the short coupling, Cas has to seal Dean with a large, glass plug which has no give, to remind him that this is a duty. It’s his duty to bear Cas’s children and so far, they’ve not had success. This will be his fourth moon cycle since their initial mating, so far, the Gods have not seen fit to bless them with a little one.
Cas moves Dean’s dressing-cloak over him, and helps him stand. Dean can’t look him in the eyes. Cas deserves the heir he wants, and Dean’s not been able to provide it for him. It’s because I’m deficient. Cas should call this off, send him home. Dean rubs at the mating bite, at the juncture where neck meets clavicle, as if maybe, if he rubs hard enough, it will come off. “Don’t do that.” Cas moves Dean’s hand away from his rubbing.
“Well. I’m unfit.”
Cas studies him with that piercing gaze of his. “I have a good feeling about this time. It will work.”
“Send me home, get a new mate.”
“If I want to take another mate, I will. You do not decide something like that and besides, you won’t be getting off that easily. You are mine whether you like it or not.”
Dean smiles. He doesn’t always like it, Cas is unrelenting, Dean’s too fucking rebellious for his own good, but all the rest of the time, he loves belonging to Cas. “Yes, Alpha.”
“I want you to rest now.” Dean twists his lips. “Your place is in my bed anyway,” he reminds Dean.
It’s true and Dean’s thankful Cas isn’t like some alphas who believe an omega is only good for the bedroom. There are less alphas like that nowadays, but they still exist, and it wouldn’t bode well for Dean’s nature to have an alpha like who was so confining.
Dean wants to rest, he knows resting with help him conceive, but his cock is hard, it aches, he wants to touch it. Sometimes its fucking hard to do what he’s supposed to. “Alpha, I think I need help,” he says looking down at his crotch. Dean’s lip trembles.
Cas nods. “Don’t be ashamed. It’s an omega’s nature to succumb to their lesser urges. Part of my role as your alpha is to help with these things. Get on the bed.”
Sometimes Cas is cruel, other times he’s attentive; it depends on his mood and Dean’s behavior.
Dean’s careful not to jostle the plug as he crawls onto their bed and he’s careful still when he lays down, not wanting to do anything to ruin his chances. What he’ll do when the baby actually gets here is secondary to getting pregnant in the first place.
But it is a concern. Dean’s not spent much time around children, except the ones he’s trained for battle. His mother warned him not to spend too much time on the battle fields, to spend more time learning how to care for his alpha and his younglings, but he didn’t listen. She was furious with his father for not insisting he behave more like an omega.
Never to Father’s face though. Mary Winchester remained supportive in the way a beta should, but Dean had to listen to her complain. If Father had told Dean he could no longer serve their army, he would have stopped—not that it would have been a choice in that scenario, but he would have been willing.
Father never mentioned it. He never even uttered the idea that Dean couldn’t.
And Dean knew it was unconventional, but there was no law against it. Father always felt him capable, so he allowed Dean to serve. Even when his goofball, alpha brother worried—because it’s an alpha’s nature to worry about omega kin—Father’s confidence in Dean never faltered.
Sometimes Dean wondered if there was something wrong with their father, but John Winchester always seemed a capable alpha and was well-respected by all, so Dean carried on.
Now, when he’s so close to becoming a mother himself, he wishes he would have listened to his mother who likely knew more about such things than an alpha ever could.
Cas buckles the straps around his thighs and then attaches Dean’s wrist to each thigh, so he won’t be able to touch his cock. Dean hates the vulnerability in not being able to move—he won’t be able to protect himself should an intruder come upon him—but this is too important. He doesn’t trust himself not to touch himself. His cock aches more than usual today, he’s not taking any chances.
Cas can sense his fear through their bond. “Do you think I would let harm come to you?”
“No, Alpha. I’m just used to protecting myself and others. I’m sorry.”
“That’s your father’s fault. Omegas are meant to have an alpha to protect them.”
Dean nods. He can’t help that the words feel wrong, he always thought his father was standing up for some kind of unfairness, a misunderstanding of information about omegas that they would bring to light. But with even his mother and brother concerned for his well-being like they were and now Cas so insistent, Dean’s questioning everything he ever knew. Plus, he’s having his own experience with having an alpha and it’s so much different than he was told, or that’d he’d seen in his limited experience.
It doesn’t matter that Cas was an enemy alpha, when Cas’s army took Winchester, he absorbed the kingdom into his empire, and he’s not considered an enemy anymore. John Winchester is still king of Winchester, but they now abide Emperor Novak’s rule.
Dean was part of the deal. “I want the omega,” Cas said. “The omega and you may live as you are under my rule. Or I take him anyway and you all die.”
Either way Cas would have Dean.
How it happened is of no consequence. Dean’s biology recognizes Cas as his alpha in every way. It did before they ever mated in one moment on the fields, during the heat of battle. Dean craves him, Dean needs him, Dean wants to make him proud.
He prays to the Gods to give him a baby.
Cas runs his fingers across Dean’s cheek. “I’ve always thought you a pretty thing, from the moment I laid eyes on you.”
Dean’s brows press together. “I’m not pretty, Alpha.”
Cas smirks. “You are, but tell me, which adjective you prefer and I will humor you, so long as it’s not too alpha. You are not alpha as much as you’d like to be.”
Alphas are arrogant. They love that they are alpha and in charge of everything. They can’t help it. They are wired to be. Ergo, he likes to remind Dean of his status. “I know, Alpha.” Dean does try to remember, but battle leans to the more alpha side of things and it’s brought particularly rough character traits out in Dean. Like his unfortunate swearing habit. “I’d prefer handsome, or even beautiful to pretty,” Dean says. Yes he’s pouting.
“But it is my wish to call you pretty, my pretty omega.” Dean flushes crimson, and at the same time, Dean can’t help but preen over Cas being so pleased by him. “But I will make sure to tell you how beautiful and handsome you are. Now, rest. You want to swell with my child, don’t you?”
“More than anything.” Don’t go. He won’t ask though. Maybe he’s been given poor counsel by his father on omega etiquette, but it’s there and he won’t show weakness.
Cas pauses. Can he feel what Dean feels? Does he care? “Then rest. I will watch over you personally.”
Dean’s warm all over. “But you have far more important things to do, Alpha.”
“Than watch over the mother of my child?” Dean bites his lip at the scolding. He didn’t mean to imply his alpha negligent. “I will work from here, at my desk until you wake up.”
Dean relaxes tension he didn’t know he was holding. “Thank you, Alpha.”
~**~
Dean tries to sleep, but he can’t, not with his cock leaking like it is. Were his ass not plugged, he knows it would be flowing slick. He breathes deeply, exhaling long with eyes closed trying to ignore the aching member. Maybe he should have it removed. It’s not much use to an omega, because it’s not much use to his alpha and only serves to make Dean miserable.
But Alpha wouldn’t allow it. He likes both Dean’s cock and Dean’s suffering too much.
Dean spends too much time willing his hard on to go away, worrying Alpha will punish him for not sleeping, when he should be sleeping, so his body can accept Cas’s seed. It takes all his will power not to buck his hips, even fucking the air would feel good right now. Hell, if Cas weren’t just to his left, Dean would flip over and fuck the mattress.
Tears prick his eyes. Maybe he’s not meant to be a mother if he can’t even do this. Eventually Cas will send him back if he can’t provide an heir, no matter what he’s said about keeping Dean. Getting cast aside by your alpha is a fate worse than death. It’s an unimaginable consequence. Aside from the lifelong shame, you’re left to miss them, and crave them till death. Sure, you can mate again, but usually you’re unwanted goods, and for an omega, mating with a second alpha when you still have an active mating bond with your first is never the same, never enough.
A small snack to a seven-course meal.
He would miss Cas so much.
The thought of losing Cas, finally deflates his hard on and he’s able to sleep. He thanks all the deities.
When he wakes, his hands are free, and Cas is wrapped around him, his scruff scratching into Dean’s neck. Dean inhales Cas’s scent and luxuriates in having his alpha surround him. Cas is busy, they don’t get a lot of moments like this, there are times when Cas doesn’t come to bed at all.
Have I conceived? An alpha can tell. Dean wants to ask, but he’s afraid of the answer.
Dean snuggles into Cas—yeah, he snuggles okay—and sighs. This is one of the best moments of his life. It has to have worked.
“Dean? Are you awake?”
“I am, Alpha.”
“How do you feel?”
“Fucking good, Alpha.” Cas’s eyes burn into the back of his head. Curse words aren’t omegalike, they are for rough alphas, but Dean can’t help it, he’s been this way all his life. “Sorry.”
“You need some discipline I can’t give right now.”
Dean’s stomach clenches, he’s got to be more careful with that. He works up his bravery. “Am I… Alpha? Did it work?”
The pause harkens Dean’s fear back. “Not yet.”
“It didn’t work,” he decides, the tears flooding.
“Dean. Stop. It’s too soon to tell.” Cas gets up, taking his heat with him.
Dean climbs off the bed without care for the plug still inside him, punching at the pillows. “It’s never going to work. I’m fucking defective. This is horseshit.”
The look Cas gives him, has him settling, he wants to hide under the pillows he just punched. “It’s no wonder it doesn’t work, with that attitude.”
“So, then we agree it’s my fault?” Dean’s pushing it, but what does it matter now? He’s infertile and totally useless to Cas. Dean knows part of his appeal must have been his well-conditioned physique, which must have given Cas the impression he was ripe for childbearing. Little did anyone know he would be a fucking dud.
Cas bares his teeth. “You will stop this tantrum at once.”
Dean remembers his place, taking several calming breaths, but his heart beats out of rhythm.
“We won’t know for a few weeks, you know this.”
“We also know alphas can tell,” Dean says. He doesn’t mean to, it slips out. He wipes his eyes, sniffling.
“Not always. In any case, this isn’t good for you. You need to calm down.”
Cas is right. If there is still chance for him to conceive, if he even can, getting hysterical won’t help. “I apologize for my behavior, Alpha.”
“Come here, Nafas,” he says.
Dean doesn’t know what that means, it’s an ancient version of Cas’s home tongue. Dean doesn’t ask what it means, he’s not sure he wants to know. He assumes it means omega, which is what’s proper for Cas to call him.
He’s happy to go to Alpha. Dean wouldn’t normally run to be coddled, but things are different with Cas. Cas seems to bring out the omega in him and Dean finds he wants to be held and overwhelmed with everything Cas. Cas has sizable, alpha arms he encircles Dean with, and though Dean’s quite certain he can take care of himself, he feels safest there. “If it doesn’t work this time, we will see the head healer and she will tell us what we can do. Have you ever thought that maybe it’s my seed that’s defective, rather than your body, hmmm?”
Okay, this is beyond what Cas should be doing for him. Is he so hysterical Cas feels the need to make up stories to calm him down? “Forgive me, Alpha, but that’s crap. There’s no way alpha seed can be bad, it’s superior. It has to be me.”
“You need a spanking, and I’m going to give it once I’m sure your body has accepted all my seed.” At least he doesn’t spew anymore nonsense about alpha seed being faulty, good Gods, Dean doesn’t think he could take it. “Come. We will eat now, and you will feel better. No more worry over this.”
Dean nods into Cas’s shoulder, but his eyes are hard, and his brow is scrunched. Dammit. He’s supposed to accept his alpha’s word, but he can’t even do that right. He takes a breath, hoping to exhale his doubts.
~**~
Dean isn’t pregnant and he’s not surprised. He knew it didn’t work, and he threw such a fit about it, Cas was forced to pull out his long strap—Dean’s ass still fucking hurts from the bruising it left. Cas promised they would see the healer about Dean’s problem conceiving—because it is Dean, Dean doesn’t believe it could be Cas—but Cas has yet to take him.
In the meantime, he avoids Cas if he can. Of course, that’s not always possible, Dean, as Cas’s omega, has many duties he’s obligated to perform. Instead of running the army, he’s responsible for running their home, which he sucks at. Once again, he wishes he’d learned more about this kind of thing from his mother instead of playing with swords. He was such a foolish boy.
Running the palace requires a lot of consult with Cas who is the ultimate law. When he has to consult with Cas, he makes sure to avoid his gaze. It’s supposed to be like that anyway. A proper omega shouldn’t look their alpha in the eyes in public, if it can be avoided, but Cas has never enforced the rule, probably catering to Dean’s deficiencies—there are many—it’s high time Dean became a proper omega.
But he misses Cas’s blue eyes throughout the day.
Dean also has duty in Cas’s bed. Dean knows now that he doesn’t belong in Cas’s bed, but he must do what Alpha commands and Cas has not said for him to sleep anywhere else. After the strapping he got, he’s not willing to chance sleeping somewhere else, so into bed he slips at night, naked and ready for Alpha’s use at the time he’s meant to be there.
Most nights, Cas is too busy to come to bed until long after the time Dean is expected to be tucked under the covers, and more often than not, Cas is gone again before Dean wakes up.
Dean’s not sure how Cas survives on such little sleep.
But tonight when Dean slips into bed, Cas is there, at his desk. “You’re not going to say goodnight to me, Nazaneen?” Cas says never looking up from his stack of papers.
Another thing Cas calls him, Dean doesn’t know, maybe it means worthless mate.
Dean can’t refuse Cas without coming off as disrespectful, so he climbs out of bed, still naked, and creeps over, keeping his eyes down as he kneels at Cas’s feet. The chair scrapes against the floor, the only sound that can be heard for miles and Dean is yanked into Cas’s lap, where he’s forced to meet his eyes. Cas slaps him across the face, but then begins stroking Dean’s small cock, such that Dean whines.
He won’t ask for an orgasm, he won’t. He doesn’t deserve it.
“I see you, Omega,” Cas says still stroking Dean’s cock as Dean bites back a moan doing everything he can not to enjoy, but fuck, he enjoys what Cas does to him, so much. “Are you going to stop your pouting at some point?”
Is that what Cas thinks he’s doing? Pouting? “I’m not pouting, Alpha. You deserve a proper omega.” At least Cas can have that from Dean if nothing else. “I’m so clearly deficient.”
“I see. So, I’m to receive this ‘proper’ omega rather than the omega I traded for?”
All Dean hears is that he isn’t a proper omega. He moves to flee Cas’s lap, but Cas won’t let him. “I have not dismissed you and I do believe that I ask for an obedient mate above anything else, correct?”
“Yes, Alpha.” Dean let’s go a gasp—Cas’s stroking is too much after so long without an orgasm—but he won’t ask Alpha to stop. It’s Cas’s right to play with his body as he pleases. It’s getting harder not to come, tears prick his eyes.
“You know I don’t choose ‘proper’, I choose right. What’s right is for you to obey me. I want all this nonsense put to rest tonight, understood?”
Cas doesn’t have to define ‘nonsense’, Dean knows what he means. “Yes, Alpha.”
“Good. Now my pretty omega, would you like to come? It’s been so long for you.”
Dean shouldn’t say yes, he shouldn’t, but he wants it. Overriding his thoughts on what he should or shouldn’t do, are Cas’s orders to put the nonsense behind them. He doesn’t know if he can, but he’ll try. “If it should please you, Alpha.”
“By the Gods, Dean,” he says flipping Dean onto his desk and sliding into Dean’s slick-soaked entrance. Cas’s cock is divine, filling him up, hitting places inside of him and Dean is lost to the arousal, especially with Cas still gripping his cock.
Dean keens back on Cas’s cock, feeling it expand inside him, shots of desire burn through his limbs. He needs to get closer, to have more of Cas inside him. Dean’s cock leaks the useless fluid it produces, making Cas’s hand slicker. “Alpha, Alpha I’m gonna come like that.”
“Then come, Nafas.”
Dean does and coming releases every bit of tension he was holding onto. There’s an immediate bit of guilt that accompanies his euphoria, but he remembers that Alpha wanted him to come and doesn’t think any more about it.
Cas hasn’t come yet though, which is not how it’s supposed to work, Dean’s not supposed to come before Cas does, but again, Cas told him he could.
Cas’s knot has begun to inflate by this point, which means he’s close, but Cas isn’t satisfied with the position. He twists Dean around, still on his cock, lifting him under his ass and spinning them, slamming Dean against the wall. Cas chews on Dean’s neck as he fucks into him, and Dean feels the moment Cas’s knot pops full, spewing its contents into Dean.
Dean wishes he could get pregnant at any time, like a beta woman, but he can’t, only with his moon cycle. This would have been an amazing moment to make their first child, looking into Cas’s soul like this, feeling cared for even if it’s not love.
Cas continues to kiss Dean’s neck and then his lips while his knot is still puffed inside him, tying them together. And while it’s not a functional thought, in these times, he wishes they could always be tied together just like this. He knows Cas didn’t choose him for love, he was a negotiation prize, but in these moments, his heart is full and it’s enough of a facsimile of love he can pretend until Cas’s cock deflates and they are two people again.
Alpha’s have incredible strength and though Dean is large—especially for an omega—Cas is able to walk them over to the bed, with Dean still tied to him. He lays them down and slings a leg over Dean, Dean clings to Cas. “I promised to take you to the healer and I’ve not made time for it.”
“I don’t expect you to make that a priority, Alpha. You have many important duties,” Dean rushes to say. Fuck. He can’t have Cas thinking that Dean thinks Cas’s life is all about Dean.
Cas frowns. “You’re my omega. Of course, you’re my priority.”
Dean’s heats with embarrassment. Oh Gods. Now he’s really done it. He can’t do anything right. “Alpha, you are busy. I understand. I’d go myself if you’d let me.” Dean must ask permission to do things outside of his duties, and while he hasn’t asked to do this, he already knows Cas isn’t allowing him to go on his own. More often than not, alphas take their omegas to healing appointments.
“It isn’t right for an omega to go to a healer on his own. I will take you.” Cas kisses Dean’s forehead and Dean does note the difference in Cas’s language, maybe for the first time. He does use the phrase ‘right’ more often than ‘proper’ as Dean’s mother does.
Dean accepts his alpha’s word, and they lay together until Cas’s knot deflates. Dean whimpers when Cas pulls away and then feels like an idiot for it. “Do you not want me to go, Omega?”
Fuck, he can be a big baby sometimes. Damn his omega biology. “I’m fine, Alpha. You have much to do.”
“Not what I asked, Dean.” Cas lifts a single brow that might be the death of him one day.
“I…Fine, no. I don’t want you to go.” It’s selfish and Dean curls in on himself for it. “But it’s just my stupid, needy, omega biology. Pay me no mind, Alpha.”
Cas abandons his duties, which is what Dean didn’t want. He gets under the covers with Dean holding him close. “I like how you think you have a choice in what I pay mind to, Winchester.”
Dean wrinkles his nose. Winchester. Cas calls him that sometimes even though he’s not really a Winchester anymore; should they really be so familiar? But he’s not going to question Cas.
“I can’t lay with you all night, I do have duties, but I can until you fall asleep. Go to sleep, and plan to wake up with a better disposition in the morning, or I will pull out my strap again and with the bruises you still have that will not be pleasant.”
Dean sighs, soaking into Cas. “Yes, Alpha.” He sinks into sleep like a rock.
~**~
They will visit the healer in two weeks, Cas has promised and so far, Cas has never broken a promise to Dean. Not that it wouldn’t be within his right to do so, but he hasn’t. Dean can’t help his pride with that one, honor means a great deal to Dean, Cas keeping his word proves to Dean’s omega nature that he is a good alpha.
With the promise made, Dean no longer thinks about pregnancies and moon cycles.
He focuses on doing what Cas ordered, letting go of the worthlessness he feels over not being able to conceive and performing his omega duties as before. Dean works harder to learn how to do the household duties he’s meant to, but his heart’s not into it and it’s work. He stares out the window for long periods of time at Cas’s warriors, wishing in the least to be one of them. But then he remembers himself and sets that out of his mind.
Dean always knew that once he was a spoken for omega, whoever his alpha was, wouldn’t be likely to allow him to continue in a career so dangerous. Alpha’s can’t help the sorts of protections they feel drawn to, it’s their biology.
There are exceptions to every rule and that was Father. There were certainly times Father felt his biology kick in, and he laid out rules Dean had to follow that didn’t exist for his alpha brother, Sam. Father was more concerned about Dean’s sex life, expecting an alpha could and would take advantage of him. Dean had a strict curfew and wasn’t permitted the same dating freedoms Sam was. He did see a few alphas and even a couple beta women, with his father as chaperone, but the night Cas took him for the first time, he was a virgin even though he was a grown, thirty-year-old man.
As a young man, Dean found it frustrating when his omega hormones were at an all time high. Moon cycles were a fucking bitch. He had toys and he masturbated plenty, but nothing replaces an alpha’s cock for an omega, and he was left unsatisfied every time. But he got used to it and accepted Father’s word as he always did, coming to realize that underlying his frustration was safety. His father might have felt comfortable with him fighting wars but knew where Dean was vulnerable and was drawn to protect him in that way.
Cas feels drawn to protect Dean in all ways and Dean guesses it’s to do with their mating bond. Something deeper happens when a pair bonds in that way, Cas can’t help what he’s driven to do any more than Dean can, so while Dean experiences the occasional zephyr of longing for pieces of his old life, he accepts his new one.
In the kitchen, his head chef is round with child. Dean’s gutted for a moment, the pangs of grief over his own lack of ability to do the same paralyze him, but with a breath he moves on. “Holy shit, Tann. You look ready to pop,” Dean says letting his excitement take over.
Tann flushes looking around. Right. Dean’s language, but Dean is mate to the Emperor and Tann won’t scold him. “Soon,” he says. “He’s kicking. You want to feel, Highness?”
He takes Dean’s hand and places it to the side of his belly. Nothing happens for a moment and then there’s movement under his hand, Dean’s heart flutters, he has trouble swallowing. What he wouldn’t give to have his own youngling inside of him, pressing his skin out like this for others to feel. “He’ll be strong. Maybe an alpha.”
“Maybe,” Tann says. “We won’t know till he presents, but you know, I wouldn’t mind whatever he is. We have two other fine boys, if they turn out to be alpha, as I suspect they might, it would be nice for them to have an omega brother to take care of. It’s important to teach alphas young how best to take care of an omega.”
Right, Tann already has two children. If only we could all be so fertile. Dean yanks his hand away. “Thank you, Tann. May the Gods watch over you and your youngling.”
They go over the week’s menu and Dean’s grateful for Tann, since he doesn’t know his way around a cookfire. Tann also knows what Cas likes and Dean makes sure to consult with him about Cas’s preferences, wanting to please Cas. Even if Cas were not emperor, it’s still proper to run a house based on your alphas likes and dislikes.
Plus, when Cas smiles, excited over his favorite cut of meat, or favorite dish, Dean warms all the way through. Pleasing Alpha isn’t just beneficial for Alpha, but for Omega too.
“For the weekend following, there’s a large dinner planned,” Tann informs him. “We should go over the menu for that a few days in advance.”
Dean’s also grateful to Tann for that. He picked up early on that Dean’s ability to run a home lived at about a level zero. For whatever reason, Tann likes Dean and instead of ratting him out to Cas like he should, he began giving Dean veiled hints, which thankfully Dean keenly picks up on. “Yes, I’ll return in a couple days times.”
Dean also meets with the head gardener, who’s also joined the Help Dean Brigade. She gives him hints, and Dean picks up as many as he can, so he has the palace looking how Cas prefers. “I’ll need someone to do the flowers for the dinner this coming weekend,” he says having learned the hard way on that one. The first dinner Dean hosted when he came to live with Cas was a disaster.
He refused to leave the bedroom for three days, until Cas kicked him out of it, not wanting to show his face as the shameful omega who couldn’t host a simple dinner.
“You’re learning,” Jo says. “About time, Winchester.”
Dean’s official title is Emperor Consort Novak. The staff will often refer to him as highness or my Lord, but that’s as casual as they get, except for Jo. She felt like a little sister to him from the start and when she began referring to him as Winchester, he never corrected her. Dean doesn’t have any friends here, it gets lonely. Jo is the closest thing he has to a friend and they are not friends.
“I can learn,” he says. “I’m not all thumbs. Soon they’ll be a little one running around here, I need to do it all.”
His voice wavers on the words, and Jo sees through him. “I’m so sorry, your highness. I’m sure the Gods will bless you with a little one soon.”
He doesn’t want to talk about it. “How’s your wife?”
Jo’s wife is pregnant. In the case of two betas, they require an alpha donor, which is not a problem, there’s a program in place. “She’s due any day. I’m sure we’ll see a time when our little ones are playing together.”
Dean plasters on a smile. Even though Jo’s not the birthing mother, betas often like to share the load of child-rearing and they can once the youngling is a year old. For the first year, the youngling needs its birthing mother. After that, Jo can bring the child to work and do her job with her youngling nearby. “I’m sure of it.”
They get the flowers sorted, and Jo assures him she’s got her replacement lined up if her wife goes into labor. From there, Dean visits with the head of the cleaning staff, head of maintenance, and at least three other heads of their respective departments, all before lunch. His muscles ache and he considers lying down before completing the rest of his daily duties, but Cas’s empty chair at lunch reminds him that his mate isn’t taking breaks, so why should he?
His heart flutters when dinner approaches. Cas rarely misses dinner with him, the chances he’ll see Cas are good. When he sees the dark head as he enters the dining hall, Dean has to calm the rush flooding through him. It’s hard to help though, Cas does this to him. Dean adjusts his dressing cloak as he sits.
It was hard getting used to airy garment at first. In Winchester, Dean wore a lot more clothes. But here in Mythcairn they don’t wear much. The item referred to as a dressing-cloak, is one long sheet of material. It’s wrapped first around the waist leaving two long lengths free. One of the lengths goes up and over Dean’s right shoulder where the decorative buckle sits. It tucks back through the waist wrap and covers the back of his ass, everyone can see his butt dimples on the sides of his cheeks.
The other length covers his crotch, and drops to mid-thigh. Everything else is open, the sides of his thick thighs, his torso, can all be seen. His left arm, proudly displays his mate’s handprint, forever burned into his skin, which is a second kind of claiming mark in Mythcairn culture. It means Dean belongs to the Emperor.
At least I can see Cas’s butt dimples too, and he spends a good amount of time admiring them, which he can do because Cas wears a similar dressing cloak. The only differences being, Dean’s is red and Cas’s is blue, and Cas’s runs over his left shoulder, marking him as Emperor of Mythcairn.
No clothes are worn under the dressing cloak and Dean used to be worried about his cock falling out, or mooning whoever was behind him. Over time, he recognized the futility in caring quite so much. It happens, it happens often, but it happens with everyone and it’s commonplace.
Still, old habits die hard, and he can’t help the bit of blush that runs through him when he realizes he’s mooned one of the gardeners. He likes to at least try to keep covered.
“How was your day, Alpha?”
“Long and boring. I’d rather hear about your day.”
Inside, Dean beams at Cas’s interest, but fades some when he realizes he doesn’t have much to report. He needs something though, something better than, ‘I lined up staff to do what you like done’. “The head chef looks ready to burst, his newest youngling will be here soon, and our gardener’s wife is due any day,” he blurts out and then instantly regrets it, since it can only remind Cas about the baby he hasn’t been able to provide Cas with.
Cas looks to his meal—his favored cut of steak which he hasn’t commented on yet, oh Gods, did Dean not get it right?—then slowly up to Dean again. “Joyous news.” Cas squeezes Dean’s hand and returns to his meal.
Dean freaks the fuck out. Inside of course. What did that look mean? Maybe it wasn’t interesting enough. Maybe Dean reminded him of their fertility issues he’d probably rather forget about. Maybe he’s not sure how to tell Dean he’s decided on bring another into their marriage to provide for him what Dean can’t.
Dean’s smile vanishes, he’s quiet for the rest of the meal and he watches every move Cas makes, hoping he can respond with whatever he needs quickly enough to make up for where he lacks. Cas is quiet too, though alphas are not chatty types. It’s omegas that are drawn to such behavior.
The clang of Cas’s cutlery to his plate when he finishes seems louder. Dean checks his face for anger, but it isn’t there. Dean stares at his own plate, he’s only picked at his food, he’s still got the other half of his meal to go—he won’t dare waste food his alpha’s provided him with—but he doesn’t know how he’ll get it down when he’s sure he’s about to puke up what’s already inside.
“Aren’t you hungry, Nafas?”
No. “Yes, just digesting the first bit.”
“Be sure to send Tann my compliments and to you my pretty omega, I know you chose this for me, my favorite cut of steak.”
Cas’s eyes are soft and filled with… something. It’s unnamable, but it’s pure and connects with Dean’s soul. Dean’s appetite mysteriously returns all at once.
~**~
The big dinner is the day before their visit to the healer. Dean always gets a bit nervous before these things, where various dignitaries visit. Hosting dinners is not something he’s good at, but he tries, he wants to make his alpha proud, he wants to make sure all who come are impressed with his alpha.
When Dean enters the dining hall, he sees that the flowers look great, the wine is flowing and food is being passed around as it should. Alpha is at the head table wearing his imperial crown and Dean takes the time to admire him looking all regal.
But shit, Dean forgot his crown, running around, making sure all the cogs ran smoothly. He’s about to run back to their room to grab it, but Cas beckons him over. Omegas don’t refuse their alphas, so he heads over, Cas gestures for him to sit in his lap. Cas situates Dean so he’s facing toward the crowd of people who are eating and drinking; Dean’s about to become their entertainment. Cas nuzzles into Dean’s neck, nipping at the mating bite where neck meets shoulder; Dean can smell the faint tang of alcohol on his breath. “You have done well, Nazaneen.”
The praise and the neck nibbling go straight to Dean’s cock. “Thank you, Alpha.” Dean moans into Cas’s ear, which only serves to heighten Cas’s arousal, his cock hardening under Dean. This is not a good thing, Cas won’t hold back, he won’t be able to.
“Shhhh, relax,” Cas says, moving Dean’s dressing-cloak aside to display his cock for the room.
“Alpha, please,” Dean says, his voice wavering, eyes darting around the room to see whose watching. He doesn’t mean to say it, or to behave as he is. His body is for his alpha’s pleasure, wherever, whenever—he’s just not used to this. Dean led a sheltered sex life back home in Winchester, Cas’s exhibitionist ways are new.
But even through his apprehension, he’s horny. The eyes on him, the wrongness of it, lights his cock like a firecracker, one the whole room can see.
“I wish to show you off,” Cas says. “Lay your head back if you need to, close your eyes.”
Dean takes what he’s given, laying his head into the crook of Cas’s neck and closes his eyes which sharpens the sensation of Cas’s hand around his small cock. Cas dips his fingers into Dean’s hole, wetting them with slick and coating his cock with the juices. Dean whines, bucking his hips. “That’s it, enjoy this, Omega. Show everyone how well you submit for me.”
That seals the deal. Dean can’t resist Cas’s desires any more than he can Mom’s chocolate pudding pie. He allows himself the freedom to let the neediness run through him, his cock burns with pleasure and he’s giving off so much scent, he doesn’t know how Cas is able to keep himself from bending Dean over the table. Cas’s strokes are slow, in a simple up, down motion, but Dean’s barely able to contain himself, pushing at Cas’s thighs, muffling his own moans by biting his lip.
“That’s it, you’re beautiful. Everyone’s jealous of my fine omega.” Could they be? “C’mon, let go. Your body is for my pleasure, and it would please me to see you come all over my hand in front of all these people.”
Another orgasm already? It’s only been a week. Cas usually makes him wait longer. It’s better for an omega’s mind and body to hold off orgasming, coming infrequently, milking them in between instead. That’s what they’ll have to do if Dean ever does get pregnant. He’s not allowed to come for the whole duration of the pregnancy. He’ll be in chastity at least, but they’ll have to milk him periodically, just the right amount. It’s better to keep an omega on edge.
But if Cas is telling him to come, Dean won’t refuse him, trusting Cas to know what’s best for him, not to do anything that would harm his health.
Cas dips into this hole again, for more slick. He speeds up his strokes, then slows them down, Dean won’t be able to hold back like this. Omegas pride themselves in being able to hold back for their alphas, a bonus of omega biology, but it’s so hard around Cas. “P-Please, Alpha.”
“Remember, what I said? I want you to come for me, Nazaneen.” Cas’s voice is hard and soft at the same time. Dean won’t disobey him.
But there are so many people. His eyes are still closed, but he can hear them, he can feel their eyes on him. He knows they’re be watching him, because he knows he is pretty—much as he doesn’t care for the adjective, it’s true—and with their beautiful Emperor stroking him off like he is, it’s too much for anyone to resist.
But the ache in his cock builds, he arches his back and his head at the same time as Cas slowly strokes him through one of the best orgasms he’s ever had.
Someone brings Cas a cloth for his hand, but Cas doesn’t clean Dean off, leaving the come to dry under his dressing-cloak, which he fixes into place for Dean, so he’s no longer exposed. “Thank you, Alpha,” Dean says still breathless. “That was amazing.”
“Yes, I can see in your eyes how much you enjoyed that. I can also smell your arousal.” Cas grabs the side of Dean’s face and pulls their foreheads to touch. Dean closes his eyes again, but this time, it’s so he can feel his heart beating. “Nafas,” Cas says.
They’re interrupted by a guest come to thank them for such a show as Dean presses himself to Cas, wishing he could somehow disappear into him.
When the man leaves, Cas leans toward Dean’s ear. “Where is your crown my consort?”
Dean winces, his heartbeat picking up for a new reason. “I’m sorry Alpha, I was just about to grab it.”
Cas nudges him off his lap with a sharp slap to his bum. “Go get it.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“And Dean? Return to me. I want you displayed on my cock for the rest of the evening.”
Dean’s ears turn red and he fiddles with the edge of his dressing-cloak, but he smiles, proud his alpha wants him so. “I will return to you, Alpha.” Dean ducks his head and scurries off.
~**~
“Stop it. Everything will be fine.” That’s the third times Alpha’s had to scold him.
Dean reties and unties and then reties his dressing-cloak. It’s the only thing he has control over at the moment. On the one hand he’s excited to see the healer, the healer will give them answers and hopefully solutions to their fertility issues. But on the other, he’s worried there are no answers or solutions, that his womb is a dud, that he’s a barren omega, which makes him totally useless to Cas.
Dean’s not stupid. Cas chose him on the fields which means he saw his strength and tenacity, both things you want in an heir whether alpha or omega. It’s the typical way alpha’s choose their mates: Who will bring me the best offspring?
It was an arranged marriage-bond between warring kingdoms, not for love. Dean’s never mistook Cas’s lust, or kindness for love. He understands it was a bond made for function. But mating bonds don’t understand things like human war negotiations, and convolute matters, especially for omegas who are prone to softer emotions. As the bond took, he fell for Cas harder and harder.
Dean knows a bond cannot force feelings like love, which is why Cas did not fall in love with Dean, but it does open a pathway for particles to entangle. Still, it’s only potential and not guaranteed. If there were a magic love potion, Dean would consider finding it, and giving it to Cas.
Dean will always remember seeing Cas for the first time in the flesh across the field. Sure, he’d heard stories of the fearless emperor, but nothing compared to the force of him even seventy yards away. Time stopped for Dean as he admired his fierce blue eyes and blood-streaked face. Dean watched Cas kill one of his alpha generals and could only admire the efficient way he stabbed up, slicing across, barely breaking a sweat, smattering more blood across his bare torso.
Their eyes met and Dean thought he would die.
“I’m going to do it, and then you’re going to leave it,” Cas says coming over to remove Dean’s dressing-cloak and start again.
He tries not to sway as Cas fixes it in place, but his legs have turned to willow branches, so he focuses on things like how handsome his alpha is with his hair just messy enough to look as though it’d been styled that way. His large biceps contract and extend, always maintaining their shape as they dress him and Dean gets waves of Cas’s scent, which is specific to him. It’s a masculine scent, reminding Dean of battle and sweat, but with a hint of sweet lychee.
Dean’s always been firm that he protects himself, that he looks after himself, and yes he can, but things are different with Cas and he enjoys that aspect of having such a strong and powerful alpha to keep him safe. It’s more an inside comfort thing, it connects to a deep place, one that allows him to be vulnerable enough to allow someone to care for him in this way.
It was love in the most unlikely of places, but that doesn’t change that for Dean it’s love. He doesn’t even care if Cas loves him back, much… but unfortunately, without the love from Cas’s side, once the healer deems him useless, Cas will cast him aside to find someone who can carry for him. Hell, Dean won’t let him not do that, Cas deserves a proper heir.
By the time Cas is done, tears have quietly slid down Dean’s cheeks. Cas wipes them away with his thumb, giving him a firm look. “You’re riling yourself up. We don’t know what she’ll say yet. Whatever she does say, we’ll deal with it.”
Dean can only nod. He’s acting a child. Dean was a War Major for the Gods’ sake. He can handle some news from the healer.
“Okay, that’s enough,” Cas deicides. He pulls Dean over to the bed and flips him over his knee. In short order, his dressing-cloak is off to the side and his bare-bottom is exposed, ready for a spanking.
“Alpha, I’m sorry. I’ll behave.” Cas gives terrible spankings. He’s strong and exacting. They hurt and his ass is always red and bruised afterward.
“You need to get out of your head,” he says already laying down spanks that have Dean grunting and grimacing.
Unfortunately, Cas is right. Spanking isn’t just for punishment, thought Dean’s been spanked plenty of times for punishment, it’s also a way of getting out of his head. Dean’s not sure if this is an omega nature thing…? The books don’t say it, and he knows that betas are spanked too, hell, even alphas get spanked under particular circumstances, but there seems to be another kind of effect for omegas.
Dean tries to stay still, but he can’t, he has to kick to attempt to alleviate some of the sting, but there is no alleviating it. Over and over, Cas’s hand falls, the tears that had already been falling, flow. At one point, he’s out of breath, at another he doesn’t know if he can take another swat. It stings so bad, surely Cas must be breaking through the skin?
His ass is warm with swelling, which oddly both reduces the sting some, and makes the impact aspect worse. Dean loses track of how many times Cas’s hand falls over his cheeks, alternating back and forth, for forever.
Cas changes their position, tilting Dean further down so that his vulnerable thighs are front and center for the next round of spanks. Dean’s ass is already throbbing though, the thought of a spanking there is unbearable. “Cas, no! Please.” Fuck. He didn’t mean to let the Cas slip, but his more immediate worry is the next part of the spanking. He throws his hand back, which Cas catches with ease, securing it to his back.
“Shhh, you’re all right. Let go, Nazaneem. Just let it all go.”
The force of Cas is still there—it’s always there—but the softness tugs a knot loose and with that one undoing, combined with the hard spanks that slap against the tender backs of his thighs, several more knots unravel, and he slumps over Cas’s lap, melting like ice into a drippy puddle.
The next things he’s aware of, is Cas setting his dressing-cloak back into place. All the anxiety from a few moments ago has left him, replaced by the throbbing in his backside. But then he remembers he called Alpha, Cas and he wants to hide like he is on Cas’s lap, facedown, forever. He’s not going to get that luxury. Cas pulls him up to assess him. Dean can’t see himself, but he knows his face is red, tear tracks stain down his cheeks.
“That’s better isn’t it?”
How does Alpha know things like that? Especially with the way Dean must look. But he’s right, he’s always right and Dean has to assume it’s just an alpha’s way to know their omega. “I feel better, Alpha. Thank you and… I’m sorry for my slip of the tongue. It won’t happen again.”
Cas uses his thumb and pointer finger to lift Dean’s chin, studying him. The way his eyes squint and his head tilts could mean anything and Dean’s heart beats in his throat. “It is my prerogative to allow whatever form of address I deem appropriate. I don’t mind you being familiar in private. I trust you won’t abuse the privilege.”
“I won’t, Alpha. I respect you.”
Cas smiles, guiding Dean to bend down for a kiss. “It’s time for us to go. I will rub ointment into your bottom later,” he says, pressing into his sore ass, lighting everything up new. “Go wash your face and meet me in the foyer.”
~**~
Teleapài is the head healer at the healing center. Cas wouldn’t settle for anything less than Teleapài. At over two hundred years old, she is the most experienced healer at the center. She’s also the most likely to give Cas attitude, which Dean can’t help being entertained by. Healers are sacred in Mythcairn culture. It’s considered one of the highest callings among Cas’s people second only to Emperor. Even back home in Winchester, Healers were supremely recognized.
Teleapài though, she’s a law unto herself. She might not be an alpha, but she doesn’t need to be, even Cas heeds her counsel.
There is a Healing Center, which is adjacent to the Omega Center, but Teleapài prefers to work in her large tent-like structure, so she can be closer to Mother Nature to perform her special healing spells. The tent-like structure is tall, with weathered sheets and various herbs hanging from the thick, wooden, beams. There are other sacred-looking items strewn about the room, and some items in jars that Dean hopes he’ll never see her use.
“How many moon cycles have you attempted conceiving?” she asks Dean, her long braids sway against her dark skin. She’s ripe with energy and Dean knows it comes from the most knowledgeable places of the Earth.
Dean’s not used to being asked questions directly with Cas in the room, but when he looks to Cas, Cas nods for him to answer. Dean shuts his eyes. “It’s been four, Healer Teleapài.”
“Mmmhmmm, mmmhm,” she clucks at him. “Come, sit in my circle.”
It’s natural for Cas to step in front of Dean. Alpha’s are protective of their omega’s most of all.
“You can come too, Castiel. I won’t hurt your precious one.”
Cas relaxes, Dean’s eyes widen at the use of Cas’s name with no moniker to proceed it. “I birthed the Emperor, Dean, did you know?”
“I did not, Ma’am.”
“He came out squalling just like the rest of them.”
Cas’s lips form a tight line, Dean does his best not to laugh, but he can’t stop his eyes smiling. “If we could get on with it, Telepài,” Cas says.
She smirks. This woman is full of mischief. “Sit, both of you and let me work. I haven’t got all day.”
Dean cracks a smile and relaxes. He’s in good hands. He sits in her circle, cross-legged taking care of his tender bottom and for the first-time, hope blooms in his chest. If anyone can help him, she can. If she can’t, that’s a worry for later.
Dean senses Cas’s irritation beside him and he doesn’t know what comes over him, but he’s inspired to grab Cas’s hand and rub over his knuckles with his thumb. Cas’s body heaves a sigh and tugs Dean against him.
“The bond is good between you two,” she says standing over them. “Sometimes a faulty, or tumultuous bond will make it harder to conceive, but that’s not a problem for you two. I will begin with a diagnostic spell.”
Dean wants to close his eyes, but he also wants to see what she’ll do. His curiosity wins out. Other than the dim light provided by several lines of candles within the tent-like structure, they are surrounded in darkness; Dean looks skyward from the safety of Cas’s arms. Purple light glows, bursting from nowhere, Teleapài spreads her thin arms wide, eyes rolling back into her head so all Dean can see are the whites.
Then her left arm moves in waves, followed by her right arm doing the same, this carries on for several minutes before she is still again, eyes closed, a serene smile spreads on her face. “What does that mean?” Dean whispers to Cas. He can’t help it. The whole thing is unlike anything he’s seen before.
“Shhhh. You will find out, Nafas.” Cas kisses his crown.
When her eyes open they are dark, but instead of giving Dean the creeps like maybe they should, he’s in awe, unable to take his eyes off her. The beads in her hair clack a jubilant melody. She turns those dark depths Cas’s way. “Tell me, how do you bed your omega when you are trying to conceive?”
Cas has fucked Dean in all kinds of places, he’s put Dean on display, he’s spanked Dean in the foyer, he’s had Dean suck his cock at the dinner table, never once blinking an eye over who might see them, never shy in any way whatsoever. But now, Cas is stumbling over his words, sputtering, pausing to collect himself. His eyes are the smallest slits Dean’s ever seen. Finally, he manages to put words together. “I bed him in the right way. The way I was taught by my father for conceiving. I enjoyed the coupling as little as is possible, Omega did not come, nor was he pleasured afterward. We took the same position horses do when they procreate, with Dean in front, spread on the bed, me behind.”
Dean finds himself nodding along. They did all those things, they did everything right.
Teleapài rolls her eyes, making a fed-up sort of noise. “I birthed your father too, he also came out squalling.”
“Careful, Teleapài,” Cas says.
She squints at him. “I only mean to say that he is not a God, he is a man. He was a good man, but he wasn’t right about everything. Dean is a Winchester, Winchesters come from too long a line of heart-filled men and women to conceive like horses. Good Gods, Castiel.”
Cas fumes toward her, Dean looks to the ground. “So, this is my fault,” Dean says.
Teleapài uses her long fingers to tilt his chin upward. “No child. Not your fault. Just a difference in values. Winchesters conceive in love, Castiel,” she explains. “Make love to him, face him, make him feel good. Make yourself feel good.”
“That’s impossible,” Dean says, the anger swirling in his chest at the unfairness of the situation. “We are not in love, that means it’s never going to happen.”
“Not in love?” She looks between the pair of them and Dean gets the same chastised sensation he got when his mother scolded him for taking too many cookies before dinner. “That is a lie. You are responsible for this Castiel. You are alpha and so you must fix this.”
What? Dean turns to Cas, who can’t look him in the eyes. Dean opens his mouth several times to say something, but nothing comes out. He looks at his hands instead.
Cas isn’t happy with anything at the moment. Furious, he yanks Dean up, molding him to his body, shielding him from Teleapài like Teleapài might take Dean away. He burns fire toward her. “Are either of us infertile?” he demands.
“No. You are both of good health, and both as fertile as bunnies. This is a matter of the heart, but I warn you Castiel, if you don’t figure yourself out, you will never conceive with Dean. Now, get out and stop wasting my time.”
Dean’s pretty sure Cas wants to tear her in two. He storms out, dragging Dean by the wrist with him, but when Dean looks back to Teleapài with an apology in his expression, she’s smiling.
And she winks at him.
~**~
Cas is a nightmare to deal with for days after. Not just for Dean, but for everyone. If you want to piss off an alpha, suggest he’s not looking after his omega properly; there’s little else that’s considered a greater offense.
Cas is normally level-headed for an alpha—most alphas tend to be hot-heads—but his primal nature comes out and he’s throwing things at people when they irritate him. He fires several of the staff and if you breathe too loudly near him, he’s liable to banish you from the kingdom.
Dean makes himself scarce, but not too scarce. He still needs to be available for Alpha when he calls, but being near him is not as comforting as it usually is, since an alpha is able to calm their omega by nearness alone, and Dean’s nerves are pretty damn shot. He gives himself a break and heads over to personally deliver a gift to Chef Tann who’s recovering from birthing his newest little boy.
Being the Emperor’s consort means he can’t simply go somewhere, he must bring a few members of the guard, but because it is on his task list, he doesn’t have to run the whole ordeal past Cas, so he seizes the opportunity.
He is announced, and then the guard waits outside the small home for him while he visits. “Your highness, it’s so good of you to come,” Tann says, his sandy-brown skin unusually pale.
“I can’t stay too long, no need to get up,” Dean says when Tann attempts standing from where he’s seated at the table. “Is Alpha Clark here?”
“Clark had to step out to get me more Fenugreek, my milk had trouble coming in at first, it’s doing better now so long as I take that.” Dean hadn’t even got to the part about worrying over feeding his child. There’s still the getting pregnant part to overcome and even after seeing the head healer, they are no closer to an answer.
“Will he mind that I’m here?” It isn’t proper to visit with a married omega without a chaperone, but the rules differ slightly household to household. Dean would have arranged the visit if there had been time, but there wasn’t.
“Not you, Highness. There are exceptions, but Sven is here helping—Clark’s, younger, alpha brother. He can serve as chaperone for us in his absence.”
Right. Dean should probably have a chaperone too.
A little someone zips by Dean’s feet. “Heren. Heren! What have I told you about running in the house?” A booming alpha voice says, as said little boy reaches up toward his mama and Tann picks him up to set him in his lap. The alpha, who must be Sven, steps into the kitchen from another room, holding what must be the newest addition, wrapped in soft blankets.
The alpha is large, like Cas, with sandy-blonde hair. “Your highness, I’m sorry,” he says. “We weren’t expecting you.”
The man looks around, but when he moves to get to his knees, Dean stops him. “That won’t be necessary, just dropping this off,” and getting out of the palace, he doesn’t say. He places the gift basket on the table. It’s filled with fine fruits, cheeses, breads olives and jams, plus a special blanket made by the palace’s head seamstress, with the Novak insignia.
Another young boy strolls into the room, he’s a bit older than Heren, maybe five or six. “This is the Emperor’s consort,” Sven tells him. “We must greet him as your highness.”
“Hullo, Highness,” he says.
Tann winces. “Sorry.”
Dean laughs. “That’s okay, this isn’t formal. I just wanted to drop that off… and was hoping for a quick cup of coffee?”
“Of course, there’s fresh pie too,” Tann says. “I know how much you love pie, Highness. And please.” Tann gestures to Sven with the baby. “Meet Ollan.”
Sven passes Ollan to Dean and Dean’s heart wants to burst. Ollan’s face is pink with a complexion that must be a cross between Tann’s sandy-brown and Clark’s peach. His eyes are closed, and he’s wrapped tightly, but Dean can see the tuft of dark hair poking out. He looks like Tann. “He’s beautiful.”
Dean swells with more emotions. Will I ever get one of these? With the way Cas is reacting to Teleapài’s assessment, it’s looking less likely all the time. Dean tries not to think about the turmoil at home, instead enjoying swaying Tann’s youngling side to side, drinking coffee and eating pie.
~**~
Dinner is tense. Cas hasn’t lost the hardness he’s maintained since they saw the healer, and Dean can’t figure out if it’s directed at him or not. He airs on the side of caution and stays quiet, focusing on his plate—tonight it’s Cas’s favorite meal, ossobuco with risotto and arugula salad—and sipping at his one glass of wine. Since they began trying to conceive, it was decided that Dean would cut back on wine and spirits. He has a glass with lunch and a glass with dinner, but perhaps he should cut it back further to just the one glass at dinner?
Cas clears his throat. “How was your day?”
Dean bites his lip. Conversation is tricky, a dangerous field of landmines impossible to maneuver without some kind of explosion. “It was good. I dropped the gift off to Chef Tann and couldn’t resist the pie on offer.”
Cas sips his wine, tilting his head. Uh-oh. “I’m pretty sure the directive of ‘drop off gift’, did not include ‘stay for pie’. Was there even a chaperone?”
Dean’s heart takes off into a gallop. “Yes, Alpha. There was a chaperone. I swear, and Tann said I was the exception anyway.”
Cas’s glare deepens. “It matters little to me what the rules between Tann and his alpha are, I mean for you. You require a chaperone. You are a married omega for the Gods’ sake.”
Dean breathes carefully through his nose trying to slow his heart. Cas is right and it wasn’t different under his father’s rules even when he wasn’t married. He’d just, wanted a break so badly, he conveniently forgot the rules. “There was a chaperone, Alpha,” he repeats.
“Thank the Gods for that. You aren’t just any omega, you’re my omega. Could you imagine the scandal? No. It won’t happen. If you can’t be trusted to make the right decision, then I’ll make those decisions for you. No more outings of that sort, or personal ones, without my explicit permission, am I understood?”
“Understood, Alpha.” Dean’s voice is quiet as he laments on how badly he fucked up. Stupid. Stupid! Now Cas doesn’t trust him on top of everything else. Dean balls his fists to stop them shaking. But at least for this, not having friends comes in handy, it won’t be hard to obey that order for future.
“Arrrrrrgh!” Cas shouts, swiping his hand across, knocking his plate and its contents to the ground, his wine falling on top, spilling like blood as it seeps into the cracks of the risotto. He slides out from the table and storms out.
Cas’s favorite meal, splattered on the carpet.
Dean’s guts twist in the worst way. This is all his fault. He’s the defect, he’s the reason they can’t have a baby, because of his Winchester heart being so needy. Now Cas can’t even look at him. The very least he can do is follow the rules. He calls someone into clean up the mess Cas made as he eats the rest of his dinner. It’s slow going, but if Cas is going to bother to try with him again, he’s got to get his three-square meals a day, plus snacks to keep his body healthy.
Because Cas is going to try with him again, right?
Dean’s not sure. He’s less sure about things all the time.
~**~
Cas is the one who becomes scarce over the next couple weeks and Dean is nervous since his moon cycle is approaching. Cas hasn’t shown to dinner or bed since the night he stormed out and when they’ve had to speak to plan things for around the palace, he’s been abrupt, all business.
Dean doesn’t dare leave the palace, even if it’s on his task list; he gets someone else to do it. He doesn’t trust himself not to be tempted, because it’s real tempting right now to go for another visit to Tann’s. Dean misses seeing friends and yeah, Tann’s not a friend, but it’s been the closest thing to since he came to Mythcairn.
Even Jo is away with her wife, as she should be, but that means Dean can’t see her either. He’ll wait to give her the palace gift basket he has for her when she returns.
He goes about his duties, and he gets the idea to ask Cas if he can take leave on a visit to his parents’, in the least have Sam visit. He knows it’s risky at this time, but he’s got nothing to lose. Cas is already angry every moment of everyday and there isn’t a rule against making such a request. Dean brings it up during one of their palace business meetings. Cas stares at him with an open mouth. “No. You have duties here. Dismissed.”
Dean almost gives his token ‘yes alpha’ and turns to go, but the War Major in him stands up. “Alternatively, would you be all right with Sam coming for a visit, Alpha?”
Cas wants to turn him over his knee, Dean can tell, and not that he needs a reason, but he needs to at least have the reason of no reason; doing so in anger is a reason and it would be a reason they’d both regret later. “It’s not a good time, Omega. Isn’t your moon cycle upon us?”
Yes, but Dean was hoping they could just skip it this round. If it’s a heart thing, or whatever bullshit Teleapài said, Dean’s heart isn’t in it at all. But it’s not his decision to make. “Soon, Alpha.”
“There you have it. No. Dismissed.”
Cas spins on his heels, leaving Dean to stare at his back. A new sensation bubbles in Dean’s chest, one he’s never felt about Cas before: Frustration. There are a great many things he could be frustrated with Cas for, but it’s not his place to display frustration with his alpha. He’s meant to obey and carry on and so far it hasn’t been a problem, Cas has always conducted himself with reason and logic Dean could follow.
But now, Cas isn’t making any sense at all.
Dean huffs, fed up with trying to please an alpha in the through of a temper tantrum, running a hand through his short hair. He gives himself permission not to think about Cas for an entire day. Of course, it’s hard to completely disregard Cas, with how much of his life is dictated by Cas, but for twenty-four hours, he considers Cas is his army general and nothing more.
His day is peaceful.
But night falls and when he’s alone in bed he has to remember who he’s beholden to, especially when that someone hasn’t come in weeks and it’s getting harder not to touch his cock. His balls hurt and if Cas doesn’t at least milk him, he doesn’t know if he’ll make it through Cas’s ‘seed deposit’. His problem makes it so he can’t sleep and when Cas does finally come to bed in the middle of the night, Dean’s still wide awake. “What are you still doing awake? Your moon cycle will be here, you need rest.”
“Couldn’t sleep, Alpha. My… my cock hurts.” He might as well be honest. Having his body stressed like this won’t be good for conception either. “Look I know you must hate me, for not being normal, but if you want to try again, would you consider giving me a little release?”
Cas freezes. He stares at Dean for what has to be an eternity, Dean wonders if he’s turned to stone. Finally, he speaks. “I’m a fucking, idiot.” He crawls up the bed and without warning, swallows Dean’s cock down.
Dean scrambles. It’s the last thing he expected, he didn’t have time for the mental preparation it takes for holding back his orgasm. “Cas, Cas, I can’t… I’m gonna, you gotta stop, Cas.”
Cas pops his head off. “Come when you need to.”
When Dean’s cock in is Cas’s warm, wet mouth again, he comes in an embarrassingly short time. “Aaah… Mmmph. Oh Gods, Cas. Fuck.” It’s over quick as it started, Dean melts into the blankets, Cas keeps his head on Dean’s pelvis, tracing his fingers over his thigh.
That might be the first time Cas has ever sucked his cock, Dean hopes it’s not the last.
“Can you forgive me?” Cas says.
“For what?” As much as it’s been uncomfortable, Cas hasn’t done anything wrong. Just because Cas hasn’t been his usual self, that doesn’t mean he was horrible; he’s an alpha, alpha’s storm around and act aggressively. Dean just wasn’t used to it.
“I have acted a child, because I can’t have what I want. In the meantime, I’ve neglected you. It’s inexcusable for an alpha to neglect the needs of his omega even when he’s having an alpha fit. I should have made an appointment for you at the center, in the least asked after you.”
“I’m not angry, I just wish I could be what you need.” Dean’s eyes glass over.
“You are what I need, don’t you see? That’s why I’m so furious. I can make everything in my life happen, because I can force square pegs into round holes, but I can’t make you fall in love with me. Though let me tell you, if I could find a potion…”
“What? Fall in love with you? Cas, I’m already in love with you.” Dean yells it in case his foolish alpha brain won’t register it. “Do you mean to say that all of this was because you thought I didn’t love you?”
Cas pops his head up, his eyes squint and his head does his classic tilt. “But what you said to Teleapài.”
What did Dean say to Teleapài? Oh. Oh right. That’s impossible. We are not in love, that means it’s never going to happen. “I said that because you don’t love me. I’m a bride you negotiated for, to bring you babies it looks like you’re never getting.”
Cas sits up. “Dean no… no I…” He slides off the bed, pulling Dean with him, so that Dean’s sitting up his legs dangling off the bed, and Cas is on his knees between his legs, arms around his torso. “Do you not know what Nafas means?”
Dean shakes his head. “I’m not familiar with Old Mythcairnian.”
“I should have told you,” Cas mutters. “I suppose truthfully I knew you didn’t know what it meant, but I was a coward and told myself you’d ask if you wanted to know.”
“Ah, Cas?” Dean says when Cas doesn’t speak for a while. “What does it mean?”
Cas is still apprehensive to say, like maybe saying would lay his heart bare, and strip him of every power he ever had. His eyes are wide as they fill with tears that don’t spill, he takes Dean’s hands in his. “It means, my breath, because without you, I cannot breathe.”
~**~
Dean can’t function. He blinks down at Cas. “What?”
“When I saw you across the field, I knew you were mine and I stopped breathing on my own that day. I was driven and obsessed having to see you, to look at you, catch the briefest of glimpses. It was win or die for me. Then, when I had you, I found I held my breath until you took yours. Each moment in those first days was waiting; waiting to see if you would smile, waiting to see if you were content, waiting to see if you were okay.”
“Other than… the fertility issue, I have been more than happy and content. Couldn’t you tell?” Dean’s baffled. Even if Cas didn’t know his signs of these emotions, there is the mating bond, which Teleapài said was good.
“I could, but that’s not the same as love. I hoped that maybe over time, you might fall in love with me, but then all this happened, and you said what you said and…” Cas trails off, reliving the experience of Dean’s remark, which Dean can feel through their bond.
Being the one responsible for his alpha going through that pain is near unforgivable, even if it was unintentional. Cas’s anger was a broken heart. “It’s not true Cas, what you thought. I love you so much.”
Cas smiles brighter than Dean’s ever seen him. “I began to think maybe it wasn’t possible, I did pillage you.”
Deans face cracks with joy. “You did, but it was likely the only way for you to win me from Father. And uh, I didn’t mind being pillaged by you.”
“I killed your men.”
“And I killed yours.”
Cas nods. “At least we are on the same side now…?”
“We are.”
Dean rubs at the extra scruff Cas has let grow on his face. “Do you like it?” Cas asks.
“It’s fucking sexy—sorry!” Dean’s quick to say realizing he’s cursed yet again. He can’t seem to get rid of the habit.
“Will you ever obey me on that one?”
Dean rubs the back of his neck. “I was a War Major, Cas.” Cas frowns. “But I will endeavor to do better.”
Cas nods. “And I’m sorry for storming out on you the other night that was uncalled for.”
“I broke the rules, Cas.”
“You did, but that wasn’t why I left. You were so unhappy; I couldn’t bear it.”
Dean bites his lip, remembering part of why he was upset. “What will we do, Alpha?”
Cas sighs. “I’ve been thinking about Teleapài’s advice, I always weight her counsel heavily, but this time, I’m unsure. It goes against everything I know to be true.”
“I will do whatever you think is best, Alpha.”
“I know you will.” Cas climbs up and back onto the bed, gesturing for Dean to follow him and settles Dean in his arms. “Perhaps now that we know we’re in love,” Cas says squeezing Dean to him. “It will work in the way of my ancestors, simply because of that.”
“Maybe.” Dean truly doesn’t know. He wants to do whatever Cas is comfortable with. Why can’t he just be normal? So many omegas get pregnant with nothing more than sperm from their alphas, but oh no, not him.
“Whatever we do is for me to worry about and you can trust me not to lapse in my duties to you from here on out. I will do better, I will earn your forgiveness. For now, you need rest, Nafas.” Dean’s body warms extra knowing what that means now. “Go to sleep and I will watch over you.”
~**~
Cas’s mood does a one eighty and Dean gets credit, the staff thanks him in all kinds of little ways, like making him his favorite pie to have during tea and adding sprigs of his favorite flowers to the palace décor. Dean’s not sure he deserves it, but there’s no point correcting them.
Things shift between him and Cas. For starters, Cas is a lot more talkative. He is alpha, so there’s only so much talking they do, but it’s a great deal more than before and Dean realizes Cas was nervous to talk to him, as preposterous as that sounds. Cas’s inquiry into Dean puts Dean at ease and it makes it easier for them to have conversation at meals.
Cas starts showing for breakfast more often and Dean enjoys their morning coffee time. It’s good. As they approach Dean’s moon cycle, feeling close to Cas has got to help, right?
“You’re lonely,” Cas says over coffee.
Dean doesn’t want to admit it, he doesn’t want to worry Cas, but he can’t lie to Alpha. “A bit, Alpha.”
Cas sits back and folds his hands. “I meant what I said when you asked me the other day—you have too many duties here to leave and it isn’t a good time for your brother to come—but when the youngling is safely here, he may come. Invite your whole family if you like.”
They are both exercising optimism about the child they will conceive. Teleapài told them they were both fertile and that their bond is good, and now that they know they love each other, all the requirements seem to be met. What could go wrong? “Thank you, Alpha. I can wait that long.” Besides, Sam will love meeting his new niece or nephew and his parents will be overjoyed.
“For now, why don’t you set up a visit with Chef Tann? So long as an alpha is there to chaperone, I don’t see why you couldn’t go for more pie.”
“Really?”
“Really, but Dean, the alpha.”
“Yes, of course.” Dean isn’t making that mistake again. “There will be an alpha chaperone present.”
When they reach Dean’s next moon cycle, Dean knows it will work—he couldn’t be more in love with Cas and he now understands Cas’s displays of love for him. Even with Cas behind him, fucking into him, like horses do, he can pick up on Cas’s love for him. “Remember, no coming and no enjoyment, think of other things,” Cas reminds him.
Dean does, he wants this youngling more than he ever has.
But a youngling doesn’t come. Nor does one come on Dean’s next moon cycle after that.
Dean stops eating. He pushes his food around on his plate, annoying Cas, riling the part in him driven to protect Dean even if it’s from himself. He makes Dean eat, telling him he won’t leave the table until he’s finished, but it only takes one time of Dean puking everywhere for Cas never to do that again. From there, Cas tries coaxing and begging, he resorts to feeding Dean pie for dinner by serving him up dessert first, but even pie loses its luster after a while.
Dean’s third moon cycle since seeing Healer Teleapài approaches, all Dean wants to do is crawl under a rock and maybe die. He heavily considers asking Cas if they can skip it, he doesn’t know if he can take another disappointment so soon.
But he doesn’t, Cas won’t let them stop trying anyway and there’s still that one grain of hope in Dean that this time, maybe it will work.
Dean gets into position, his ass in the air, his dressing-cloak pulled to the side, ready for Cas to enter him. He’s mentally preparing himself not to come. Cas’s fingers slides into his hole, pumping a few times, sliding around in the slick there; Dean avoids keening back like he wants to. Cas begins massaging his ass, which his new—why bother with extra feel-good sensations when their copulation is a business transaction and not for pleasure?
Ever faithfully, Dean doesn’t question Cas.
“This goes against everything I’ve ever known, but at this point, it can’t hurt to try,” Cas says before flipping Dean on his back. Cas prowls up his body.
Dean is used to Cas prowling on top of him, but not when they’re trying to conceive. His eyes widen, watching every move Cas makes. Cas is right though, at this point, they’ve got nothing to lose. Things haven’t been working the other way, but Dean knows if this doesn’t work, Cas will take him back to the healer, which will not be pleasant if Cas’s alpha nature is riled again.
Cas flips to the side of Dean, so that Dean is still under him, but now Cas can take his time playing with Dean’s body, which he does, wetting his finger and circling his nipple. “When you’re pregnant,” Cas says. “These will get sore, but they’ll also be sensitive to the touch. I’ll enjoy teasing you.”
That goes straight to Dean’s small cock, he breathes heavier.
When Cas sees Dean’s reaction, his eyes light up and he becomes a man inspired, he keeps going. “I’m going to put a baby in here Dean,” he explains, putting a hand on Dean’s belly. “You’ll be round with my child and I’ll enjoy showing you off that way too. You’ll behave nicely for me when I do, won’t you?”
Dean moans. “Yes, Alpha. Always.”
Cas rubs Dean’s cock with his hand, reaching into Dean for some slick and rubbing some more. Dean can’t help moving his hips and rubbing himself into Cas’s hand along with the motions. “That’s it, enjoy, Omega. But no coming until I’m inside you. You’ll come on my cock, understand?”
Dean loves the power in Cas’s voice. “Yes, Alpha.”
Cas spends time worshipping Dean’s body and driving him wild. He presses kisses along Dean’s belly—where the baby will go—he sucks the sensitive inner portion of Dean’s thighs that make his cock tingle. Dean gets desperate from all of it, moaning, begging.
“You want my cock in there, Nafas?” My breath. Cas slides two fingers inside, dipping them in for a few strokes and then circling them, wet with slick, around Dean’s balls.
“I want your cock, Cas. Please.” Dean’s reached need by this point, he doesn’t know how much more fondling he can take.
Cas pauses to catch his green eyes. “Do you know how much I love you?”
“I know, Cas. I swear I know, but for the love of the Gods, if you don’t stick your cock in me, I’ll find a way to choke you with it.”
Cas laughs a melodic laugh as he positions himself over Dean, maintaining eye contact as he slides in. Dean rolls his head back, the sensations becoming too much, but wonderfully too much. “Yeah, that’s it. Take my cock, push down, get more inside you.”
Dean does, wanting it all. He bears down, until his opening relaxes enough Cas’s cock hits his prostate and waves of pleasure echo outward, through every cell in his body. “Mmmmm, yeah Cas. Please, more.”
“As you wish.”
Cas fucks into him slow, spreading him wide physically and emotionally. He can feel Cas in his heart, his body has so much love coursing through it, Dean’s euphoric.
Dean almost doesn’t feel Cas’s knot expanding in him, he’s too busy screaming with pleasure as Cas still fucks into him slow, each time a little harder to pull out and a little harder to press back in, until Cas can’t pull out anymore. Dean continues to squeeze around Cas’s cock, breathless and tired but for the life of him unable to stop.
“That’s it. Come on Dean, I want to see you come on my cock just like you are: needy, desperate, beautiful. Let go.”
Dean breaks apart. He squeezes around Cas’s cock hard, gripping at Cas’s ass, his fingers inserting themselves into Cas’s butt dimples, gripping his ass hard enough he knows he’ll see bruises there tomorrow. He comes in spurts from his cock, almost shooting himself in the eye, laughing and reveling in the intensity all at once.
He wants to melt into the sheets, become butter with them, but Cas isn’t done with him yet. He turns feral, fucking harder, moving as much as he can within Dean, while being trapped inside by his knot. His hips snap forward and pull back a short distance only to snap forward again, in rapid succession, releasing wild grunts with the effort. His head tosses back, and he unleashes a cry that’s a moan at the same time.
Cas gripped by primal passion is somehow elegant and it’s the most exquisite thing Dean’s ever witnessed.
Dean feels when the hot come releases inside of him, it seems to go on forever. Will Cas’s seed leak out of him? But it doesn’t. Especially with Cas still stuffed inside him like he is. After, even Cas, the destroyer of worlds, looks like he might pass out. “Did that please you, my love?” he asks finding it in him to plant a sweet kiss to Dean’s lips.
Dean’s never been so happy. “That was incredible. Even if there’s no baby, at least we had good sex.” If Dean’s being honest, as much as he knew they were doing what they were for the sake of having a baby—something he’d do and try anything for—he didn’t enjoy it much.
“At least we’ll have that,” Cas agrees. “Now sleep, Nafas. That was a lot.”
Dean nods. It was, but Dean’s too wound up to actually fall asleep. He tries, closing his eyes, laying wrapped around Cas, enjoying the sensation of being tied to him. He doesn’t fall asleep, but his body is resting, content as hell.
It ends up being the longest they’ve been tied together. Typically, they’ve maxed out at thirty minutes, but that was during regular sex, other times they’ve tried to conceive, Cas’s knot would deflate, and Cas would slip out of him after hardly any time at all, which in part is why they used the plug.
“Do we need the plug?” Dean asks, not looking forward to it, but he’ll do whatever must be done to conceive.
Cas shakes his head. “No plug this time.”
Dean worries at first, but if Alpha says they don’t need it, he’s not going to question his good judgement and instead chooses to be happy he doesn’t have to suffer that plug.
“Will you sleep now?” Cas scolds.
“I’m sorry, Alpha. I am trying.” But Dean’s belly is filled with excitement. This time was so different in every way, it had to work right? He wants to be awake when it happens.
“If you’ll remember, it could take days to happen. It might not happen tonight and that’s okay.”
Dean nods. “You are right, as usual, Alpha.”
“Close your eyes. I will sing to you and watch over you.”
Dean’s never needed anyone to watch over him, not since he was a little boy, but when Cas says things like that, something special blooms in his chest. “Yes, Alpha.”
Dean does fall asleep after that, his body realizing how spent it is.
Just before dawn, Cas gently shakes him awake. “Dean, Dean wake up.” There’s urgency in Cas’s voice.
Dean has to shield his eyes from the bright sun poking through the window. “Cas? Everything okay?”
When Dean’s eyes adjust, he sees that Cas is glowing. “Everything’s perfect, Mama.”
“Mama…” Dean’s eyes widen. “It worked.”
Cas smiles wider, his blue eyes sparkling. “It did. You’re going to be a mother.”
Dean looks down at his belly, which of course, looks exactly the same as the last time he saw it, but now he knows their little one is inside, taking form, growing within him. “And you’re going to be a father.”
They meet in a kiss, but when Dean pulls away, Cas is frowning as he groans. “What?”
“This means Teleapài was right. I’m never going to hear the end of this.” Cas looks skyward, as if maybe the Gods above might take pity on him, but they both know she’s better friends with them than Cas is.
Dean has to bite his lip to keep from laughing.
Later, Dean flies down to Teleapài’s healing tent, a lot faster than Cas would be comfortable with, now that Dean’s finally pregnant, but Dean feels so good, it’s like the baby’s giving him more strength, rather than taking it away.
She’s outside, stirring something in a pot with a large wooden spoon. Throwing all formalities and protocol out the window, Dean squeezes the thin, dark woman in a crushing hug, her braids clacking a new melody. “You were right, it worked. Thank you, Healer Teleapài,” Dean says parting from her so she can breathe again.
Her lips smirk, while her eyes dance with joy.
“You knew,” Dean says.
“I saw this little one,” she says returning to her stirring, but then pausing again to shake her spoon to an imaginary Cas. “But there are always conditions and that man of yours had to get his act together for it to work. Mate like horses—good Gods.”
Dean loves how confounded she is, by that.
“I… I have to run it by Alpha, but if he allows it, will you be the baby’s healer? I’d like you to bring them into the world.”
“Of course, I will, child. I will bring your youngling squalling into this world like I have all the others. Now sit there, and I will make you a bag of special tea to take with you that will help with morning sickness.”
Dean sits, adjusting his dressing-cloak, enjoying the sun on his face, looking forward to the future.
