Chapter 5 #2
Then he smiled, and I caught a glimpse of his fangs.
I straightened my shoulders and forced myself to march toward the Shadow Vampire.
I was the prince here, and this was my garden.
He was the trespasser.
To my surprise, he continued to lie sprawled on the grass like he wasn’t the criminal invading the private royal gardens.
I could have him whipped for this.
Except, I didn’t want to. I was too intrigued about his magical talent.
I stood over him, putting my hands on my hips. “These are my gardens.”
He gave a musical laugh. “I don’t see your name on them.”
Insolence.
I opened and shut my mouth.
He did have a point. I should have a sign put up.
He patted the ground next to him like I needed an invitation to sit in my own palace. “Are you hiding too? You can share my hiding place if you want.”
He said it with a type of graciousness, as if he was the prince.
Realization hit me. “You’re Lanlin, the Blood prince that the High Priestess brought with her.”
“And you’re Prince Aurelius, the Golden Dragon.”
I shifted, uncomfortable. “You can call me Relius.”
Lanlin brightened. “Then call me Lan. What are you escaping?”
What wasn’t I?
I ran my hand down my cadet outfit. “Everything.”
Lanlin nodded like that made sense.
I threw myself down on the hard grass next to him. “It was incredible what you were doing with that rat.”
Instantly, Lanlin sat up, while his expression became deadly. “I wasn’t doing anything.”
“Yes, you were.”
“Are you going to tell?”
He was sitting too still.
I knew that type of fear. The type that you’d been taught to hide.
I shook my head, hurriedly. “Would they whip you?”
I pulled a face, reaching around to touch my own back, where the welts were still fresh from my recent whipping by Caligo in the academy.
Lanlin zeroed in on the movement, before baring his fangs. “I wish that I could feast on the blood of those who have laid their unworthy hands on you. I would toss their bodies to the Void Devils, so that their souls scream for eternity.”
Huh, graphic.
Also, impressively violent.
I flushed, not knowing how to reply.
I was the unworthy one, a wicked beast…evil.
Uncle told me that. So did Caligo and the other instructors.
They were helping me. If they didn’t, then I would be a danger to the rest of the kingdom, deserving of being shut up in the cold and dark.
Yet why should talking to an animal mean that Lanlin should be harmed?
How was that dangerous?
Lanlin played with his gloves. “I am cursed. I am not allowed to use my Power. The Priestesses would lock me up and starve me of blood and touch. But…” His mischievous gaze lifted to mine. “I was never good at following orders, right?”
“I won’t betray you,” I passionately swore.
I knew what it looked like to be cruelly trained. I knew what this fellow prince was not saying.
I had never met anyone who understood what it was like to be an outcast prince with feared powers.
A sense of powerful kinship surged through me.
Lanlin backed away from me, looking down. “Everyone says that, Relius. Everyone betrays you.”
I growled, shuffling closer to him on my knees. “I swear, on my horns.”
I grabbed Lanlin’s hand, meaning to bring it to touch my horn.
There were few more serious oaths, apart from blood or wing oaths.
I was shocked when Lanlin snarled at me.
He wriggled out of my hold. “Don’t touch me.”
My stomach sank. “I’m sorry.”
He looked wild, before he ran his gloved hand through his long hair and forced himself to stillness yet again.
“I mean…you can… I d-didn’t…” He savagely bit his fang into his lip, before rubbing his gloved thumb through his own blood.
Then he held it out to me. “On my blood, we shall never betray each other.”
I lowered my horn, allowing him to be the one to reach out and swipe the blood over my horn.
A blood oath as well.
I shivered.
I had never taken one before. It was unbreakable. We were now bound.
Lanlin’s worry melted back into a bright smile. “I didn’t think that you’d do that.”
I shrugged. “Why not? And you’re amazing. Can you show me something else?”
“You think that I am amazing?” Lanlin stared at me, stunned, for a long moment.
Then he grinned.
I felt the sizzle of his magic sweeping over me, dark and primal. The bushes rustled, then a colony of rats swept out like a furry sea.
I yelled, but Lanlin merely laughed.
The rats swept over us both, scampering playfully, as Lanlin rolled between them.
“Your face, dragon!” Lanlin’s eyes glowed from underneath his rodent friends. “Did you think that they’d bite out your eyes? Claw into your soft guts?”
I growled, diving onto him. I was laughing, however, as I wrestled him.
Now, I sink my head into my hands. “On my blood, we will never betray each other. How did the fucker break a blood oath like that? Or did slaughtering my brother somehow not count?”
It hurts to think of my best friend.
Now my worst enemy.
I turn back to Five, stroking down her back. “Don’t think I missed that you’ve been slinking out at night to visit your dad…” I cough, blushing. “I mean, Daire. Yet you still return to me for my fine food and soft bedding, don’t you?”
Will it be the same with my Omega?
I roll onto my face on the bed, reaching for my most precious treasures that I have used to line my nest: Freya’s pillowcases, hair ties, and the tunic that I stole from Freya in the early days that she came to live in the palace, when I didn’t want her to know how desperate I was each night to sleep in her sweet rose scent.
I take deep breaths now, burying my nose in her tunic, longing for my Omega’s pheromones.
I sense the glimmering golden threads like spider webs that attach me to Freya and Daire now that we are bonded, despite how far apart we are. Being able to see the golden threads is my talent.
I love that they are no longer fraying or threatening to snap because I have gone through with the bond.
I hate that I know they also extend to Lanlin, connecting all three kings to Freya.
I clutch onto Freya’s pillowcase.
“My Omega…” I sigh.
“Are we interrupting something…?” A voice drawls from the doorway.
Flushing, I sit up. “A smart Omega would pretend that they saw nothing, Luc, unless they want their pretty eyes poked out.”
The silver Omega, Tribune Lucius Atticus, and my chief adviser leans in the doorway not looking at all intimidated.
Lucius is the prettiest Omega in Bael.
He is lean and small, wearing battle armor ready for the ceremony, which hangs off him like he’s never been in a true battle in his life.
He has.
Lucius has silver eyes and honey curls that tumble to his cheekbones.
Lucius has been one of my secret bodyguards since I was a teenager. He is as dangerous with his genius mind and machinations at court, as my second secret bodyguard is on the battlefield — his bonded Alpha.
She is standing at Lucius’ shoulder and is the other reason that he is so relaxed.
Imperial Legate War Varus, a ruby Alpha and my war general, glowers at me. “Touch my Omega, and I’ll scoop out your eyes with a rusty spoon, then feed them to the crows.”
War is in her late thirties. She is a foot taller than the Omega, who she possessively slings her arm around. Lucius turns to nuzzle against her neck.
War is muscled beneath gleaming armor, which is custom made for her in ruby encrusted gold and leathers. I wonder sometimes if she sleeps in it. A scar bisects War’s right eyebrow, and her hazel eyes are fierce.
“I could still give the order for you to be executed for treason without my eyes.” I stand, adjusting my armor.
At least they didn’t see me stroking the fucking fleabag.
I hope.
My love for Freya is dangerous. I was so lost in thoughts of her that I didn’t hear or smell these two members of my Golden Family entering my bedroom.
They’re dangerous. But what if it had been someone who wanted to harm, rather than protect me?
War pushes her mass of wild ash blond hair out of her face. “Could you do it without your tongue?”
I arch my brow. “What’s the problem? Luc is the smartest Omega I know.”
Lucius’ pretty cheeks pink at the praise; he loves it as much as any Omega.
I smooth down my hair. “Have you heard from Wraith about how Freya has been doing in the Spy Guild?”
War snorts. “Only every fucking day. Wraith has practically adopted your wolf. She has offered Freya an honorary position in her Guild and told her that she can join any time she likes. Wraith admitted to me that she has never met anyone with such a natural talent for cunning.”
I grin, sharply. “That’s my perfect Omega.”
“Then why are you sending her away today?” Lucius takes a step toward me, and my gaze falls to his distraught face.
I notice in shock that despite an effort to hide it, his eyes are red-rimmed and bruised with shadows underneath like he hasn’t been sleeping.
Is it because of Vicious’ death or Freya’s impending journey to Blood Kingdom?
“She is my first Omega friend. She’s helped me, when almost no one in my life has.
I know that there must be another way to… ”
Stony faced, War snatches Lucius by the curls and drags him back. He hisses through his teeth, as she shakes him.
“Behave.” War forces Lucius’ head back, baring his neck. “You promised not to talk about that in front of Relius. Fucking enough.”
I watch them both closely.
Lucius’ eyelashes are wet.
Normally, he would at least be playing at submission under his much larger Alpha’s hand.
Instead, he looks away. “Freya is Relius’ fated mate. Would you feed me to a monster?”
I stiffen.
“I save you from the monsters, Luc.” War lets go of Lucius’ hair to grab him by the shoulders and swing him around to face her.
“But Freya is not some weak, pampered Omega bitch at court like Liviana is. She is a cadet of the Shadow Military Academy. She is a wild wolf with claws. I’ve seen them.
Plus, she’s the true Queen of Fang Kingdom.
She has the right to take her own revenge on the fanged fuckers who massacred her people. ”
Lucius’ gaze darts to me. “Can Relius even survive a month without Freya’s pheromones? Or a rut without going feral?”
I glower, crossing my arms. “I am in the room, you know.”
They both ignore me.
I should remind them that I am their king again.
“He has us here to make sure that he doesn’t,” War replies, grimly. “Freya is dangerous. We should let her go and be dangerous to the bat-winged freak who deserves it.”
My mouth tightens. “If Lan discovers who Dove actually is, then he’ll—”
“Hack off his fake white wings, followed by his knot, then his head, before hanging his balls from the top of a pyramid as a trophy?” War gives a nasty smile, which terrifies the troops who serve under her and gives nightmares to her enemies.
“Good. Because I’ve wanted to kill that feathered fucker for years. ”
I growl, throwing my cloak over my shoulder, as I march to the door. “Daire is my dragon rider, mate, and future King. The only person who will hurt or kill him is me.”
Lucius smiles, slyly. “Possessive.”
I push past War, while dread coils through me. “Follow me to the Silver Banquet Room. It’s time.”