Chapter 31 #2
Cyran’s eyes widened in surprise, and then he laughed. It sounded innocent and genuine, and the tension in Fern’s muscles began to wane just enough where she hoped that his similarities to his sister ended in looks.
“The books all speak of omegas as these meek, submissive creatures,” he finally said, shaking his head in amusement. “But I’ve read enough between the lines to have learned that’s only how they behave when they’re scared.”
He leaned forward. “I don’t scare you?”
She looked into his eyes, a lighter shade of blue than Kyntha’s. “No, I can’t say that you do. Compared to the women in your family, you seem as harmless as a kitten.”
Cyran threw his head back and laughed again. “Funny and perceptive!” he said, his chest still shaking in mirth. “My cousin was right. You are wasted here.”
Fern turned to leave, but he stepped in front of her again.
“Come now, little one. No need to fly away so quickly. I’ve always wanted to meet an omega, and you are an absolute delight.”
And then he leaned down, dragging his nose along her cheek to the crook of her neck, breathing her in.
“And you do smell tempting…” he groaned.
Her wolf seemed to be enjoying the attention, desperate thing that she was, but Fern was getting nervous.
“I should be going now,” she said, trying to back away. But he grabbed her arms to keep her still.
“Please stay a little longer. It’s not like anyone else requires your presence, hm?”
Her shoulders fell, and she looked away.
“Oh, sweet thing, I don’t mean to mock you,” he said, leaning down to try to meet her eye.
He squeezed her arms reassuringly. “I am merely jealous of your alpha. Doesn’t seem right for him to claim the only omega in wolfkin territory for a Naravekh when you could be my mate. Wouldn’t you prefer that?”
His lips moved to her ear as he whispered. “I would dismiss my Naravekh and you would have all of me. And I would have all of you.”
To have a mate, and to have all of him, certainly sounded appealing.
But she didn’t want Cyran.
“I’ve never heard a real omega whine,” he said, his breath warm. “Won’t you give me one?”
Now he actually was scaring her. Her whole body tensed, her nails digging into her palms as her hands formed trembling fists.
His tongue darted out, tasting her skin when suddenly he was ripped away.
“You dare assault a she-wolf of our clan under my roof?”
Fern gasped—Eidan held Cyran by the collar of his shirt, fist cocked.
And to her greater shock, Cyran actually looked… penitent.
He lowered his eyes. “My sincerest apologies, Alpha Eidan. Her scent, it’s… I don’t know what came over me.”
Eidan held him for another moment, and then released him with a push. “I will forgive the offense this once, but if I find you cornering her again, I won’t stop with a warning.”
Cyran bowed towards Eidan and straightened his shirt as he walked quickly out of the door leading outside.
Eidan watched him go, and then his whole demeanor softened as he came to Fern’s side. “Are you alright? Did he hurt you?”
Fern shook her head, catching her breath from the ordeal. “No, no. Not… not yet, anyway.”
He sighed, looking her over from head to toe in case of injury, then frowning at her toes. “Where are your shoes?”
“Um…”
Eidan’s gaze rose back to her eyes. “Don’t tell me you don’t have any shoes.”
“Then I shall remain silent.”
He swore under his breath in a language she didn’t understand, running a hand roughly down his face. “Give me your foot.”
Fern’s brows pinched. “What?”
Without another word, Eidan picked her up and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of flour, Fern laughing and smacking him lightly on the back.
“Put me down, you oaf! I can still walk!”
“Not without shoes, you shouldn’t.”
He lowered her onto a bench, his grip gliding down her sides and her legs until landing at her feet, picking one up and measuring the length of it with the palm of his hand. Then he stopped for a moment and chuckled.
Fern huffed. “And what exactly is so funny?”
“Your feet are much bigger than I expected for one so small.”
She let out an indignant scoff and tried to kick him, but with his hold still on her ankle, she only managed to slide backwards, in danger of falling off the bench. Eidan quickly righted her, still chuckling.
“Easy there, killer. Big feet are a good thing.”
She exhaled like a bull, waiting for his explanation.
“I imagine it makes it easier to swim, for one.”
“Oh, you!”
He scooped her back up before she could even protest, moving towards the door. “It may take me the rest of the day to procure enough material for your new shoes…”
She growled.
“But I won’t have you stubbing a toe or worse until then.”
They left the conservatory, the air of the castle almost frigid by comparison, and he deposited her into Lucas’s arms.
“Bring her back to her rooms, and order her hot water for a bath.”
“A bath?” Fern asked.
Eidan grabbed her foot and silently pointed to the bottom, nearly black with dirt.
Fern rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
He nodded with a grunt, while Lucas bowed his head. “Aye, Alpha.”
Then with a pat on the head, Eidan walked away, leaving Lucas and Fern alone.
She lifted one of her feet to show him. “Tell me the truth. Are they big?”
“Um, well… they’re certainly not the largest feet I’ve ever seen…”
Fern let loose an exaggerated sigh, throwing her arm over her eyes in defeat. “Just take me to my room so I may shield the fine wolfkin of Clan Sabletail from my monstrous appendages.”
Lucas fought and lost to his smile. “As you wish, my Lady.”
He took her straight back, only depositing her on her own two (large) feet when she was in front of her door.
Once it closed behind her and she was alone inside, she was actually glad that Eidan had ordered water for her bath.
She’d sweat quite a bit in the conservatory and wouldn’t mind freshening up for dinner.
But before she could even begin to undress to prepare, she sensed it.
Her wolf did, too.
Fern went immediately to her nest, her eyes raking over every last inch, pulling back all the blankets and furs until she found what was wrong.
Or rather, what was missing.
One small pillow and Reinn’s tunic. Just… gone.
Fern checked her cedar chest. Under the nest. In the bathing room.
Then checked all the blankets, furs, and pillows again.
Still gone.
She ran back to the door, surprised and relieved it was unlocked.
“Who has access to my room?” she asked Lucas, her voice almost breaking.
He straightened immediately, shifting his posture as though the assailant was about to attack at any moment. “What’s wrong?”
Her whole body shook, and it was difficult to take a full breath. “My… my nest. Someone’s disturbed it. Taken things.”
Lucas frowned, walking inside and inspecting all the places a person could hide first before looking at the nest itself.
Fern had taken everything off in her search, and the floor was littered with bedding.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
She knew she must seem crazy, and a soft whine sounded on her next exhale of breath. Lucas looked horrified.
“I’m sorry, I-I believe you. I’ll check with the head of the attendants at once. I’m sure it was a misunderstanding.”
He was about to walk away, then turned back to her and gave her an awkward pat on the shoulder before finally leaving.
Fern stared at the mess surrounding her, her skin crawling.
The whole thing needed to be replaced, and her chest constricted when she realized the only one she should ask was the only one she couldn’t count on to care.