Chapter 25
Sebastian
I was woken up by shouting outside the carriage and held Lumi and Ember closer to my chest. They didn’t deserve to be woken up in such a rude way, either, so I tried to comfort them as we came to a complete stop.
“Where is His Majesty?!” Clive shouted from outside the carriage, and soon, numerous footsteps could be heard too. I knew I had to show my face before they had my guards take Gus and Hal away. You truly never knew when it came to my advisors.
I knocked on the carriage door, alerting them that I was inside and needed assistance.
The door flew open, and Jerold’s surprised face was right there, gaping at his king lying in the carriage, wearing farmer’s clothes that were too big for me and two babies in my arms.
“Your Majesty!” Jerold stuttered. “What happened to you?!”
“I gave birth,” I replied coldly. “Now stand aside so my mate can take the babies.”
He spluttered again but stayed right where he was.
Sighing, I gently called out, “Gus? I need you to take one of the babies so I can get out of here.” Then I looked at Jerold and ordered firmly, “Move.”
Finally, Jerold stepped aside, and Gus was there, smiling fondly at me as I handed him Ember. “Who’s out there?” I whispered, just to get myself ready to face them.
Gus shrugged one shoulder. “Your advisors, Elias, and another omega, and then a handful of guards.”
Of course, they’d brought guards.
I held Lumi close and carefully made my way out of the carriage, staring down my advisors as soon as my feet were firmly on the ground.
“Your Majesty!” Clive hurried forward, eyeing me up and down with barely contained disdain at my outfit.
I held my hand up, stalling his movements, then turned my attention to Gus, who stood next to a wide-eyed Hal. “Please take the babies and Hal to our chambers. You can show Hal around later today. I think the babies need to rest after feeding in the carriage.”
Gus nodded, and an understanding look passed between us as he accepted Lumi, too, holding each baby with confidence and obvious pride.
Ignoring my advisors’ horrified gasps, I spoke directly to my guards next. “Alpha Gus is my mate, and Alpha Hal is a dear family friend. Make sure no one bothers them. Remember that Alpha Gus is carrying the future heirs. They must be protected at all costs.”
Four of my guards silently followed Gus and Hal inside, leaving me with my advisors, Elias and Briar, and four other guards.
I noticed several servants watching us from the windows, eager to know what was happening. I ignored the audience for now. I had to get this over with, and it had to be now. I already missed my family and desperately needed a bath.
“Advisors,” I began, glaring at them, before I looked to my guards and gave them a subtle nod. They instantly obeyed as they moved up behind my advisors. Inhaling deeply, I continued. “Did you know the magic wasn’t real?”
Both Nicholai and Clive spluttered, while Jerold and Brennan just looked furious.
“I thought as much.” I shook my head like the disappointed king I was. Their betrayal was obvious, and even though I’d never been particularly fond of any of them, it still stung. “Was that the reason you had Gus removed? You feared I would learn the truth?”
Brennan spoke for them, his tone pleading. “We did it to protect you, Your Majesty! To protect your kingdom!”
Clive nodded eagerly in agreement. “Exactly, Your Majesty! We just wanted you to be safe!”
“From what?!” I snapped. “Because if you know the truth, then you also know that alphas aren’t dangerous. So I ask again, from what?!”
The four of them seemed unable to form words, just gaping like fish as their eyes continued to widen in horror. They likely knew they couldn’t lie their way out of this.
“You four are hereby stripped of your rank and titles. Your actions caused this entire kingdom to believe alphas couldn’t be trusted.
Your lies have caused division instead of unity.
Because of you, families continued to be broken up.
Fathers lost precious relationships with their sons, while mates were kept apart.
Even your own children have suffered.” I deliberately stared at Elias’ father, showing my clear contempt for his ways.
“All because you were greedy. Because you wanted power. Today is the day you lose all that power.”
I looked to my guards. “Lock them up in the dungeon. I want them in separate cells, and they aren’t allowed any visitors.”
My words had left my previous advisors speechless as they seemed to realize they couldn’t say anything to save themselves. They deflated as the guards surrounded them and quietly followed as more guards came forward, two alphas escorting each of the men down to the dungeon.
“Seb!” Elias was in my arms, trembling as he cried into my neck.
It must have been hard seeing his father being taken away, but I couldn’t find it in me to care about my old advisors.
They deserved to be locked away. It was one thing for my grandfather to manipulate families for decades out of hurt and misplaced anger.
But they’d decided to continue doing it long after he was gone, all because they were power-hungry bastards.
“Are you okay?” I asked, hugging him back.
“They locked Garreth away in the dungeon this morning,” Elias sobbed. “They believed he was the one responsible for your ‘kidnapping.’”
“What?!”
Briar nodded solemnly. “They took Adrian, too. They said if you weren’t found by the end of the week, they would be tried for murdering the king.”
I sucked in a gasp. It seemed my advisors’ cruelty could still surprise me. “They’re in the palace dungeon?” I asked.
Elias nodded into my neck, sniffling.
“Then we’ll just get them out of there. We need the cells for something more important now.”
Elias’ choked laugh against my neck was reassuring. It seemed my return to my kingdom had been at exactly the right time.
“Let’s go,” Briar said. “They must be starving. They haven’t been allowed any food since the advisors demanded them down there.”
I sighed. It seemed I needed to get the palace back in order before I could relax with my mate and our babies.
After releasing Garreth and Adrian from the dungeon, I left Elias with Garreth. They both seemed to need a minute alone, so I took Briar back to my chambers, knowing I still needed to find a place for Hal to sleep while he visited.
“You’ll need to address the servants as soon as possible, Seb,” Briar said as we neared my chambers. “They’re likely freaking out and don’t know what’s going on.”
I nodded, having already considered them. “We’ll tend to my babies, and then we’ll all eat together. I’ll tell the servants as we pass them, and then the gossip mill will get to the rest of them.”
Briar nodded. “And the rest of the kingdom?”
“… will be informed about the truth—the whole truth—tomorrow.” I offered my loyal friend a tired smile.
I felt it in my bones now—the ordeal of the birth yesterday and the carriage ride; the confrontation with my so-called advisors.
But I couldn’t rest just yet. I had to keep going.
The future of my kingdom depended on me and the happiness of all alphas and omegas.
I opened the door to our chambers and stepped inside.
Hal stood in front of the large windows facing the palace gardens, a faraway look in his eyes.
Gus was lying on the carpet in front of the couch, cooing soft reassurances to the babies, who were awake and wide-eyed.
A fire was burning in the large fireplace, casting the room in a golden glow.
“My mate,” I breathed, my body relaxing just from the sight of him alone.
“My love,” Gus smiled, his posture slumping in relief as I stepped closer to my family.
“My advisors have been fired and are spending the night in the dungeon,” I declared, sitting down next to Gus and the babies. “I want us to take the rest of the day to relax and get settled with our sons, and then we both need to make an appearance tomorrow on the balcony as I address our people.”
Gus nodded, his eyes a tad worried, likely because I’d be announcing him as my royal consort.
He never had to fear our people, though.
Not when they learned it was his kindness and gentle soul that had opened my eyes before I learned the truth from my father’s journal.
Who knew how I would’ve reacted to my father’s words had I not already fallen for Gus? Would I have trusted them?
“Um, hi,” Briar murmured, and I looked to my right, where Hal stood with his hand out to shake Briar’s.
My shy friend, who never touched anyone, didn’t even seem to remember his reluctance to touch, as he gaped at Hal and accepted his handshake.
A choked sound escaped the tiny omega’s throat once Hal’s massive paw swallowed up his slender hand.
I almost felt like an intruder, looking in on something private from the way they were looking at each other.
I think Gus felt it too because he chuckled quietly next to me.
“Adrian and Garreth were locked away in the dungeon,” I informed Gus, averting my gaze from Hal and Briar. “They’re both okay, but I promised Adrian I would grab you and bring you out to him in the stables.”
“Oh, okay,” Gus nodded, then eased himself up from the floor as he eyed our twins with evident worry.
“Don’t worry,” I soothed, rubbing my alpha’s arm. “The babies can stay here and nap.” I looked over to Briar and Hal as I added, “I don’t think Briar and Hal would mind looking after them.”
Briar quickly shook his head. “I don’t mind.” His smile was shy but excited. He really loved babies.
“I don’t mind either,” Hal drawled, his eyes still firmly locked on Briar. “Not that you actually asked, Your Kingship.”
I snorted, ignoring the last part, mostly because Hal had whispered it under his breath.
“Perfect! Gus and I will be in the stables, and then we’ll return for a bath before dinner. I expect both of you to dine with us.”
Briar was already getting comfy next to Lumi and Ember while Hal rolled his eyes with his arms crossed over his chest.
I took Gus’ hand in mine as we left the room, knowing with confidence that our babies were in safe hands. A compassionate omega and a brutish alpha—what could possibly go wrong?
Whenever we passed a servant, I briefed them on what was happening, and they seemed utterly pleased to know my advisors were locked away. Maybe I wasn’t the only one who disliked them.
We soon found ourselves at the stables, Adrian hurrying over to us and congratulating us on our mating.
He hadn’t said much when I freed him and Garreth, mostly because he was so hungry he all but ran to the kitchen.
It was nice to see that he’d gotten a quick rinse too, the grime from the dungeon no longer clinging to his skin.
He might’ve only been in there a couple of hours, but the cells weren’t meant for comfort.
“So glad to see you again, Gus,” Adrian beamed. “I figured now would be a good time to show Seb what you made. I kept it safe as promised, don’t worry.” Adrian then winked at us as I gave my alpha a confused look.
“Right,” Gus cleared his throat, seeming almost…nervous? Just what had my wonderful mate been up to?