Chapter 4 Oros
CHAPTER FOUR
OROS
“You want me to do what?” Taylor says, incredulity coloring her tone.
I stare down at the petite brunette I often refer to as my best friend and arch a brow. “You heard me just fine, Tay.”
“Oh, I heard you. I just don’t understand. Why am I lying to the Omega?”
“I didn’t ask you to lie.”
“You told me to tell her you’ve been assigned as her guardian.”
“Which isn’t a lie,” I point out. “I protect everyone in Gold Sector.”
Tay’s long black lashes flutter as she blinks a few times. “And why can’t she have a real guardian?”
“Why can’t I be a real guardian?” I counter.
“Because you’re the Prince of Gold Sector.”
“Which makes me the best guardian of them all,” I tell her. “As I already said, I protect—”
“Everyone in Gold Sector, yeah, yeah.” She waves me off.
If she were anyone else, I would growl.
But because it’s Tay, I simply smirk.
And Tay hates it when I smirk.
“Ugh, that face,” she grumbles, causing my smirk to melt into an amused grin. “What game are you playing, Rumpel?”
“It’s not a game,” I reply, ignoring the urge to curse in response to that ridiculous nickname. She learned it from my brother decades ago and uses it whenever she wants to goad me.
“Then why are you volunteering to be an Omega’s guardian?” she demands, her hands on her slender hips. “You’ve never taken an interest in any of our other intake cases, including the ones you brought to me yourself. So why this one?”
My jaw ticks.
I can’t answer that question because I don’t know the answer to it. So all I can say is “It’s my prerogative as Prince of Gold Sector to take on the position of guardian whenever I want. And I don’t have to explain myself.”
Her black eyebrows jump into her matching hairline. “Seriously? You’re going to pull that royal crap on me? Right after asking me for this favor?”
“It’s not a favor so much as a directive,” I mutter, palming the back of my neck.
“Now you’re just asking me to kick your ass.”
I snort. “Like you could.”
“Oh, I could,” she says, poking me in the chest with her perfectly manicured finger. “I have before.”
“When I was drunk off of a flame ball.” I fold my arms over my chest. “Why are you giving me shit about this?”
“Because this isn’t like you at all.”
“And?” I press.
“And… and I want to know why,” she replies, shrugging. “Consider me nosy.”
I narrow my gaze. “Onyx put you up to this, didn’t he?”
“No.” She frowns. “But now I’m even more curious because that means he’s also noticed this strange behavior.”
“There is nothing strange about me wanting to protect an Omega. I’m an Alpha. It’s what Alphas do.”
“Okay, yeah,” she agrees. “But to be a guardian?”
“Are you going to help me or not?” I ask, exasperated by this ridiculous conversation. “I’m trying to help the Omega, Tay. Surely you, of all Drakonians, can appreciate that?”
Her teeth clench together audibly. “Low blow, Rumpel. Low blow.”
She’s not wrong. But I stand my ground. “Please, Tay.”
“And now you’re begging?” She shakes her head, sending her curls bouncing. “Damn, I need to meet this Omega. She’s clearly riddled with magic.”
“She might be,” I admit. “She certainly smells enchanting.”
Tay’s eyebrows jump up again, then she laughs. “Wow, how the mighty have fallen. All those poor Omegas in waiting.”
“Tay.” I can’t mask the impatience in my tone, nor do I try. I’m tired of our verbal sparring. “There’s an Omega in the other room who is currently cowering under my cloak because she thought this evaluation included a knotting test.”
My best friend winces. “Ouch.”
“For you, maybe.”
She scoffs at my poor attempt at a joke. “That’s not what I meant. But yes, also that.” She winces for an entirely different reason now.
My lips twitch. “Careful. Thinking about knots too much might make Sheila jealous.”
Tay’s eyes light up at the mention of her mate’s name, but then darken as she translates my words. “You know, for a man who wants my help, you sure do have a way of pissing me off.”
“It’s a skill I mastered decades ago,” I drawl.
“More like centuries ago,” she retorts, then shakes her head again. “All right, Rumpel, I’ll play along and name you as her guardian.”
“And not tell her my official title,” I add.
“And omit your title, yes,” she agrees. “But you’re going to owe me a favor.”
“Hmm,” I hum, energy spinning between my fingertips as I create a token with my signature stamp on it. The gold glimmers in the bright lights of Tay’s office when I flip the piece in the air. She catches it with ease, her dragon blinking in and out of her dark eyes in a show of approval.
“Well, that was almost too easy.” She pockets the item. “I’ll absolutely be calling in this favor at the most inopportune time ever. You’ve been warned.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever. Can we go talk to Taliana now?”
“Sure.” She grabs her tablet—the one she’ll use to scan Taliana for any internal injuries or traumas—and practically skips out the door.
Shaking my head, I follow her through the white corridor back to the examination room. But as we reach the entry, I ash in front of her to take the lead and knock to announce my return.
Tay says something behind me that I don’t hear because my gaze is on the half-naked Omega.
She’s sitting up with the cloak in her lap, not seeming to care at all that her tits are exposed.
Well, at least she’s not lying on the table with her legs spread in anticipation of being knotted.
I clear my throat as I enter, causing the Omega’s gaze to instantly meet mine.
The meek female from the Royal Court earlier seems to have disappeared. Now she’s having no problem holding an Alpha’s gaze, while before she was too fascinated by the floor to bother looking up.
Or perhaps her father instructed her to submit.
Regardless, I’m thankful she’s looking at me now so I can stare into her gorgeous eyes. Like flying at night, I marvel, momentarily at a loss for words.
Then Tay clears her throat behind me, prompting me to move. “Taliana,” I murmur as I walk toward her. “I would like you to meet Taylor. She’s the doctor I told you about, and she’ll be administering your exam.”
Taliana’s gaze doesn’t leave mine for a beat, her shoulders seeming to tense. Then she inhales, and a note of contentment steals across her pretty features. “Okay.”
I smile, pleased that she appears to be a bit more relaxed than before. “She’ll also tell you about our Omega relocation program,” I add, more for Tay’s benefit than Taliana’s. “And she’ll give you insight into what to expect here in Gold Sector.”
Taliana nods. “Okay,” she repeats.
“Okay,” I echo, winking at her. “Then I’ll leave you two to get acquainted.”
I take a step back, only for the Omega to make me pause with a “Wait!”
I meet her pretty gaze again, somewhat confused. “Are you still worried about the evaluation?”
“Yes. Well, no. I mean…” She visibly shakes herself. “You’re leaving?”
“I assumed you would like some privacy for your exam,” I hedge, glancing between her and an amused-looking Tay. “Do you need me to stay…?”
“No,” Taliana says quickly. “I mean…” She cringes. “Never mind.”
“He won’t be far,” Tay murmurs before I figure out how to respond. “In fact, he can stand guard right outside the door if you prefer.”
I cut my best friend a look.
“It’s his job as your guardian to do whatever you want,” she goes on, clearly having fun with this designation now. “Like your own personal pet dragon.”
My jaw threatens to tick again.
“Oh, he… he doesn’t need to… I mean…” The little Omega growls, and it’s the cutest sound I’ve ever fucking heard. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”
My irritation with Tay referring to me as a pet dragon melts away into amusement as I start weaving magic between my fingertips again. Only, instead of a standard coin, I find myself creating something a little more unique.
Taliana closes her eyes and inhales deeply again, a shudder rolling through her. It makes me wonder if she’s as affected by my scent as I am by hers or if I’m imagining her relaxing movements.
Regardless, I feel the need to show my affection. A strange reaction, but one I embrace, as it’s a need driven by my dragon’s instincts.
As soon as the charm is ready, I return to Taliana’s side to hold it out for her. “Here,” I tell her. “Wear this, and if you need me, just touch the coin and it’ll summon me to your side.”
Just like a pet dragon, I think.
I’m certain Tay has a similar thought because she coughs to cover a laugh behind me.
Taliana glances down at the necklace I’ve created for her, the gold glistening with my magic. “Oh, this is… You don’t have to…”
“I do,” I insist, unclasping the item and holding it out for her. “May I?”
She’s still staring at it, her beast back in her gaze as she—or rather, they—evaluates the gift.
I try not to think too much about what this means. Drakonians only craft gifts like this when they’re trying to win favor from another Drakonian.
Or trying to entice a potential mate.
I’ve never created something like this for anyone. And especially not an Omega.
Fortunately, Taliana nods, thereby saving me from analyzing what this means. Or evaluating how and why I’ve suddenly lost my mind.
“Can you lift your hair for me?” I ask, admiring the long silver-black strands. My brother referred to it as a waterfall earlier. He wasn’t wrong. It’s shimmery like liquid and falls past her breasts.
Breasts I’m suddenly drawn to because they jut out as Taliana’s hands move to do what I asked.
Tay clears her throat again behind me, propelling me into action.
Taliana’s gaze holds mine as I clasp the chain against the back of her neck, the magic instantly sealing itself so only I can remove it. Is it possessive on my part? Yes. But I want her to wear my mark. It serves as a token of protection, one that will be respected by everyone in Gold Sector.
And all the other Drakon-Clan sectors, too.
If she asks me to take it off, I will.
But hopefully she’ll accept the gift and display it for all to see.
My fingers linger against her skin, my thumb gently tracing the column of her throat before I force myself to move away from her.
I meant to tell Tay to evaluate Taliana for magical enchantments. However, other items came first. Fortunately, Tay is good at her job.
And the suspicious way she’s looking between us now makes it clear that she’s going to be exceptionally thorough in her exam.
“Remember, touch the charm and I’ll return. Otherwise, I’ll see you later in my suite.” I turn to leave but catch Tay’s shocked expression as I go. “You don’t mind escorting her up there, right?” I ask her. “Or should I ask Onyx?”
My best friend swallows, her surprise amusing me greatly.
We didn’t discuss this part, but I assumed it was a given considering I wanted to be the Omega’s guardian. Typically, they stay in an Alpha’s quarters for protection purposes. Not for knotting or sex or anything of the sort, just as a way to demonstrate good will and earn the Omega’s trust.
It would be no different for Taliana.
Oh, she could share a room with her father. And maybe she should.
But I want to know everything about this Omega.
I also want to be the one who introduces her to Gold Sector culture.
“I’ll escort her,” Tay tells me after a beat.
“Thank you,” I reply. “See you soon, Taliana.”
I ash out of the room, not bothering at all to use the door, and take myself directly to the floor Taliana’s father should be on. His guest room is really more like a cell, the magic in this area of the palace meant to hold visitors who haven’t earned our trust yet.
He can technically leave, but he’ll be monitored. Heavily.
And as a fellow Drakonian, he’ll feel the weight of that monitoring with every step.
Which is why I’m not at all surprised to find him inside his room, seated by a small window that overlooks the ocean.
He didn’t even bother closing the door, aware that there would be no privacy here. Or perhaps he was expecting this.
“Your Majesty,” he murmurs without looking at me.
Well, it seems he recognizes me.
“It’s fascinating that you address me formally, yet your daughter did not do the same,” I say, stepping into his room and shutting the door behind me.
“So let’s chat, Alpha Keegan. You can start by telling me exactly what kind of hybrid your daughter is, then explain why she expected me to rape her with my knot. ”