Chapter 21 #2
“Power,” I whispered, realizing my advisors might very well know the truth already. “They fear they’ll lose their standing if the truth comes out.”
“But why would they? They’d still be your advisors, no?” Briar questioned.
I shook my head. “If alphas are once again accepted as equals, it would mean an alpha could also become a royal advisor. It would also mean the powerful position wouldn’t automatically be passed on to the next generation of omegas.
You two will eventually take over as my advisors because you were born to fill that role.
Your fathers know if things change, they could be fired to let others take over their positions. ”
“Someone who is actually qualified and worthy of them,” Elias mused, clearly thinking the same as me.
“You truly think they’d be cruel enough to hide this from everyone?” Briar asked.
Elias and I just stared at him with incredulity. They’d do anything to cling to their power and the wealth that came with it.
“Right,” Briar muttered, his cheeks pink with embarrassment.
He still wasn’t used to speaking his truth, having kept all his thoughts to himself about his father for so long.
He was slowly learning to trust us and speak his mind without fear.
It would take time, though, since the habit of trusting his father blindly was so deeply ingrained in him.
My stomach cramped, and I cradled it as I winced. “Ow!”
Elias shot up from my bed, kneeling in front of me seconds later. “Are they coming?!”
I shook my head. “Just a well-placed baby foot to the rib, nothing else.”
Patting my belly, I saw Gus’ face before me, and his evident pride over being told he’d fathered twins. That his seed was so strong, it had granted us two wonderful sons. The thought made me smile as determination suddenly built inside me. This was wrong. So wrong.
“I need to find Gus!” I declared, my tone firm with a finality to it.
Elias nodded as if he’d only been waiting for my cue. “We’ll help.”
Briar nodded too, his green eyes full of determination.
“But how can I escape without them knowing?” I wondered aloud.
“I’ll get help.” Elias gave me a sheepish smile. “I speak to many of the alphas here, and they all just want to be accepted. Trust me, they will do anything to help you escape unnoticed.”
I raised a brow at him. “You haven’t told me this.”
Elias sighed. “I had to hear you admit your feelings for Gus before I dared. You aren’t the only omega to have fallen for an alpha. Many of the servants here are coupled up with the guards, all deeply in love but forced to hide it.”
Briar’s huge eyes filled with tears. “That’s so sad.”
I nodded in agreement. “Hopefully, things will change soon. I just pray I won’t end up sharing the same fate as my father.”
“You won’t,” Elias spoke firmly. “You will bring our world back to what it should be. You and Gus. Together.”
I sighed. “I hope you’re right, but I don’t even know where he lives.”
“Adrian does!” Elias blurted, surprising me.
“He does?”
Elias nodded. “You pack what you need and at midnight, you’ll make your escape. I’ll tell Adrian to have your horse ready.”
“Okay,” I breathed. Melancholia was a fierce horse, a fast rider. Even if my advisors got wind of my escape, I doubted they’d be able to catch up with me.
It seemed I would soon be back where I longed to be: in my alpha’s strong arms.
Adrian stood in the stable with Melancholia, ready to go with some supplies fastened to her saddle.
“Here, Your Majesty.” He offered me his hand to help me up. I hadn’t ridden in months, and now I had to do it with my huge belly.
I tentatively took his hand, not because I didn’t trust Adrian, but mostly just from fear of hurting my babies during my travels.
“Thank you,” I whispered once I was secure in the saddle. “Elias told me you know where Gus lives?”
Adrian nodded. “I described the village, and Elias told me you’ve been there yourself many years ago. It’s a small village called Savilla.”
“Savilla.” I remembered. I’d visited the cozy small town once with Elias, both of us shopping at a local market.
It was lovely there, and I’d felt strangely at home.
Safe. Knowing that it was where Gus lived, it all made sense to me.
I knew that wherever Gus lived would be wonderful in my mind.
Gus just had the ability to brighten up any space with his beaming smile and kind eyes.
“We don’t know exactly where in Savilla, but I reckon the locals will know,” Adrian continued, looking my horse over once more before giving me a thumbs up.
“Here goes nothing,” I said, then urged her forward, my heart beating too fast for my liking. I was leaving my palace. My safety. For love. For a better future. For my Gus.
The night was dark and cold, the winter still in full force, but the snow was gone, leaving it safer to ride on the uneven country roads.
Small mercies. I wore a long coat with a hood for warmth, the inside lined with soft fur.
I had my riding boots on and no crown. I wasn’t the king at this moment.
I was a pregnant omega who needed his alpha.
Adrian had waved goodbye before putting out the lamps outside the stables, making my escape easier in the dark. I was glad my horse could navigate through the darkness, because all I saw were shadows wherever I looked. I knew the direction to go in, and I trusted I would somehow find my way.
We broke through the trees, and then the moonlight guided us forward.
We flew through the night, the hooves the only sound to be heard as I closed in on my destination.
The sky above soon turned dark again, hiding the moon from view as a storm gathered, drawing thunder with it and then showers of ice-cold rain.
This was just my luck. I urged my horse to move faster.
I couldn’t get sick. I had my babies to worry about.
Lights in the distance guided us through the pelting rain, and there, a small town was nestled together. I prayed it was Savilla. I truly couldn’t recognize anything in the dark rain.
A tavern came into view, its lights shining brightly through the torrents of rain.
Booming laughter and cheery music sifted through the door.
I urged my horse to stop outside, waiting for the first guest to leave the tavern, but why would they with the weather carrying on like this?
I didn’t have to wait long, though, before a hooded figure appeared, rushing toward the promise of heat the tavern held inside.
“Excuse me!” I called, staying seated on my horse.
“Yes?” he replied with clear annoyance. I guess he didn’t enjoy the rain much.
“Do you know where the alpha Gus lives?” I enquired politely.
The man scoffed. “That fool? He’s got a cabin near the Wild Willow Farm.”
“Can you point me in that direction, please?” I tried to keep my voice as neutral as possible, but inside I was seething with anger. Fool? Really?
He pointed to the left, then hurried inside before I could ask him about the distance.
Never mind, I had an alpha to find. I rode in the direction I was told, never steering off until I spotted a large farm coming into view.
I knew Gus’ cabin would be close by, so I turned down a road near the farm, hoping I would find it myself.
I truly didn’t want to bother whoever lived inside the farmhouse.
A small cabin lay nestled between a few trees, and my heartbeat sped up in anticipation. I blinked through the rain, my trusted horse still running with all it had toward Gus.
“Gus!” I yelled. “Gus!” My voice broke, and I feared it was drowned in the rain. “Please,” I sobbed, looking to the sky. Where were the gods when I needed them? Was I even at the right place?
“Gus!” I called again, my throat aching as I clasped my stomach, slowly losing faith. My poor babies. Was it all in vain?
Then, just as I was about to turn my horse around, the cabin door flew open, slamming against the wall with a bang that echoed through the night. And there he was.
My Gus.