Chapter 24
Gus
I woke to something soft suckling on my nose.
As I blinked my eyes open, I stared directly into Lumi’s sea-green eyes.
Happiness surged through my chest as my heart expanded with love for this small child, who was almost an exact copy of me aside from Seb’s eye color.
A mini me. I didn’t know how Seb was able to tell—maybe it was his paternal omega instinct or something—but he’d told me last night just before we’d gone to bed that Lumi was an alpha while Ember was an omega.
Somehow I found that fitting. Like it was the universe’s way of making a statement. One of each.
I chuckled to myself as I booped Lumi’s pointy nose with my index finger. He frowned at me, then drooled. I could just imagine the story we would tell our boys one day.
‘Well, your Daddy Gus was out fighting a historical battle with a horde of killer bees when he was snatched by your Daddy Seb’s evil advisors. At first, your Daddy Seb was all grumpy and high and mighty, right up until he saw your Daddy Gus’ big—’
“What are you smiling at?” Seb’s sleepy voice interrupted my rogue thoughts.
“Lumi, my love.”
“Mmmm.” Seb stretched under the covers, then winced. “I love when you call me my love.” His eyes were nothing but two narrow slits, the skin underneath them red and puffy, and yet, he looked more beautiful than ever, my perfect omega.
“Well, you are. You are my love.” My chest squeezed, the words burning on my tongue.
Words my heart had perhaps spoken hundreds of times over the past months when we’d been separated.
When I thought I’d lost my Seb forever. Licking my lips, I gazed directly into Seb’s eyes.
“I love you, Seb. Like I’ve never loved anyone or anything before.
” My gaze dipped to Ember and Lumi lying between us. “Except for our children.”
Seb sucked in a ragged breath, and when I looked back up, I found his green eyes pooling with tears.
“I will do anything to protect you and our children from any harm. I’ll bear any burden to keep the three of you safe. I’ll lay down my life for you a million times. You are my family, my purpose.”
Seb continued to stare at me, as tears trailed down his rosy cheeks with no end in sight. He was biting his bottom lip so hard, I worried he would break the skin. I smiled at him, then reached out my hand and cupped his chin, brushing my thumb along his lips. “Did I leave my king speechless?”
Seb nodded frantically, then whimpered something unintelligible before he buried his face against my neck.
The babies squirmed between us, and I adjusted my body a little so I didn’t smother them while still holding Seb tucked against me.
“What was that?” I chuckled into his soft hair.
Seb sighed, then pressed a shaky kiss against my skin.
“You don’t have to say it back.” I meant it.
I knew Seb loved me, too. I felt it in every bone in my body.
After all, he would change the world for me, for us.
Seb pulled away from me, his green eyes fiery and determined. “Don’t tell me what to do!” he whisper-yelled, his gaze dipping to the babies. “I am still your king.”
“Of course you are, my love.” I nodded as I tried my hardest not to laugh. He was just too cute.
“I was waiting for the right moment, that is all.” He frowned. “It’s not like I’ve ever said it before. To anyone. It’s…” he trailed off.
“I know, Little Omega.” I leaned in and pressed a kiss against his forehead. “You were never really allowed to want anything or anyone for yourself, were you? An entire kingdom at your feet, Seb, but you weren’t allowed to decide your future for yourself.”
“Gus,” he breathed as more tears fell from his eyes. “See? That is why I love you. Why I will always love you. You see me. You truly see me.”
“Because you let me, my king.” I brushed my nose against Seb’s, then found his lips.
A loud clang tore through the room as metal collided with the stone floor. “Ugh, that’s it! I’m never falling in love!” Hal groaned from by the fireplace. “It’s too bloody exhausting. All that talk-talk-talk! Ugh!”
Kenneth looked like he’d seen a ghost when we entered the kitchen, Seb holding Lumi in his arms, while I cradled Ember against my chest. Lord Willoughby, on the other hand, nearly tipped over in his chair.
“Your Majesty!” Lord Willoughby rose, bowing exaggeratedly, while Kenneth continued to stare between Seb and me, his mouth agape. “Kenneth!” Lord Willoughby hissed. “Bow to Your Majesty!”
“Yes, yes, of course, Albert. I mean, My Lord,” Kenneth stammered, then bowed politely.
“Lord Willoughby,” Seb started as he handed me Lumi, too. Steering toward Lord Willoughby, who was still bowing, he held out his hand. “Please, my lord. No need for such formalities. I believe we were interrupting your breakfast.”
“By no means, Your Majesty,” Lord Willoughby objected. “Please come in and take a seat.” He pointed at the table, and my stomach instantly growled at the sight of food. After the strenuous birth yesterday, both Seb and I had fallen asleep almost immediately, but now hunger was catching up with me.
When my stomach growled a second time, Seb chuckled, “Do sit down, Gus. Eat. I have matters to discuss with his lordship.”
I nodded, then stared at the babies in my arms. After Seb had nursed them this morning, they’d both gone back to sleep.
Kenneth seemed to read my mind right away, but something held him back.
He was an alpha, after all, and just the idea of an alpha helping with babies was unheard of. And these were royal babies.
“Kenneth, was it?” Seb gestured for Kenneth to approach us.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Kenneth carefully stepped forward, his gaze focused on the floor.
“Kenneth, will you be so kind as to assist Gus with our babies while we take our breakfast?”
Kenneth and Lord Willoughby gasped at the same time as they looked at each other, with clear surprise on their faces.
“Your Majesty, surely you cannot—” Lord Willoughby started.
“I do,” Seb cut him off. “If my alpha mate has no issue with it, then neither have I.” He turned to me, smiling softly. “Gus, my love, do you have any issues with Kenneth tending to the babies while we eat?”
At that moment, I couldn’t have loved my little omega more. I knew he would always stand by me. He would never let me be anything less than what I was: his alpha and the man he loved. The father of his heirs.
“Not at all,” I croaked. Stepping to Kenneth, I smiled reassuringly at the old alpha.
“They should sleep through breakfast, Kenneth, but if they start fussing, then just give them back to me.” Kenneth gaped at me, then nodded slowly as he opened his arms. I carefully handed the babies to him, and they remained fast asleep, smacking their lips contentedly.
“Very well then,” Seb clasped his hands together, then squeezed Lord Willoughby’s shoulder.
“I’ll need to borrow a carriage, and we’ll need Hal to accompany us, too.
I have important matters to attend to at the palace.
You will, of course, be reimbursed accordingly, My Lord, for any inconvenience on your part.
Gus, as my royal consort and father of my heirs, will obviously need to be relieved from his duties at your estate, but if you require assistance in hiring a new farmhand, I’m at your disposal. Hal shall return when possible.”
Damn, I loved when my little omega went into bossy regent mode.
It was so hot the way he took charge and seemed to know exactly what he wanted.
My dick took notice too as it thickened in my overalls.
I knew it would be a while before Seb and I could be intimate again, but that didn’t keep my body from reacting to him.
“Gus, why aren’t you eating?” Seb tilted his head as he stared at me, a knowing smirk on his lips. “Close your mouth, my love, and sit down. Eat.”
“Yes, Litt—I mean, My King,” I mumbled as I pulled a chair from the table and sat down.
“I really don’t see why I had to come since his lordship lent you his carriage,” Hal moaned for the umpteenth time.
We were one hour into our journey back to the palace with one hour left to go.
I was sitting in the front next to Hal, who was holding the reins, skillfully steering the horses down the bumpy country road.
Melancholia was tied to the rear of the carriage, trotting along obediently.
“Because you are my best friend, and I trust you with my life, and therefore also with my children. If we meet any resistance at the palace, I’ll need you with me, Hal.
” I kept my voice low. Seb was in the back, sound asleep with Ember and Lumi.
My mate would need all the rest he could get before he had to face his advisors and confront them with what he’d learned about his father’s fate and the lack of magic.
From the little contact I’d had with his advisors while staying at the palace, I was under no illusion that they’d let go of their power without a fight.
Although the guards were alphas and would obey Seb over his advisors, I still felt more comfortable having Hal by my side, too.
“You are my best friend, too, Gus,” Hal sighed, wiping at his forehead. Then he laughed.
“What?”
“Do I need to address you as Your Highness when we arrive at the palace?”
“Please don’t,” I groaned. When Seb had referred to me as the royal consort earlier in front of Lord Willoughby and Kenneth, I’d nearly swallowed my tongue. I was just a man, a simple farmer. Or at least I used to be. “Gus will do just fine.”
“Right, right, just as long as we’re clear. I’ve seen that king of yours. He’s pretty fierce. I’m sure he’s had people’s heads for less.”
I laughed again. “I’m sure he hasn’t. Seb is not that kind of king.”
“Famous last words,” Hal coughed into his hand, and I poked him in the ribs with my elbow. For a few minutes, neither of us spoke, then I cleared my throat.
“When all this is over… when the world is a better place… You know, you can do whatever you want with your life, Hal. You’ll be free. You can travel, see the world. You will no longer have a master. You’ll be a free man.”
“I’ve always just wanted to be a farmer, Gus. I’m not like you.” His gaze remained fixed on the road ahead.
“What do you mean?”
“I always knew you were special, Gus. You know, you always had your head in the clouds, like you didn’t really belong at the farm. I think the other alphas felt it too, and that’s why they always mocked you.”
“I’m not special.” I truly wasn’t.
Hal laughed quietly, then nodded back toward the carriage. “It doesn’t really matter what I think or what anyone else thinks, for that matter. To him, you are special. That’s all that matters.”
Hal’s words moved through me until they settled in my heart. He was right. Seb loved me. That did make me kind of special.
We soon passed a village church, and I knew we only had a few miles left.
The distance between the farms and houses was getting shorter, and in the distance, the palace towers rose majestically toward the winter sky.
The navy-blue royal banners floated in the wind, welcoming back the king.
And his royal consort. Which was me. Oh gods.