Epilogue
ONYX
I pace the gold floor of the court, my hands behind my back.
It’s a nervous tic, one I’m very aware of and do my best to keep hidden.
But the only other person in the room right now is my brother. And he already knows how I feel about this situation.
Because he feels the same way.
At any moment now, Rio’s sister is going to realize her fate. Understand that her brother lied about their destination. And no doubt react to that misinformation.
“He should have told her the truth,” I mutter. It goes against the grain to trick an Omega, especially like this.
“Maybe. But we don’t have a full understanding of their circumstances,” Oros says as he plays a gold coin through his fingers.
It’s a coin he made for his mate, one I have no doubt he intends to give her as soon as he returns to their nest.
Seeing him like this is almost amusing enough to distract me from our impending meeting. He just left his mate after spending nearly ten days in bed. Yet he’s clearly eager to return.
“We need to organize a coronation,” he says, changing the subject away from Rio’s arrival. “I want to crown Taliana in front of the sector.”
I arch a brow at him. “You never wear a crown.”
“No. But I like the idea of Taliana wearing one.” The coin speeds up between his fingers. “I’ll make one and add gold diamonds, like her belly ring.”
“Belly ring?” I echo.
His eyes light up. “I pierced her.”
“Oh?” Perhaps I am a bit more distracted now. “With gold?”
“Yes.”
“How many times?” I ask him.
“Several,” he replies vaguely. But I can tell he’s pleased. “She’s very thoroughly marked.”
“I have no doubt that’s true,” I drawl, glancing at the crescent scar on his neck and the matching one on his chest. Taliana likely bears similar claiming indents in her fair skin.
Two weeks ago, that would have bothered me.
But I’ve embraced my brother’s choice. He fell fast and hard—something I’ll never understand. However, he’s pleased. And that’s good enough for me.
“Perhaps once this babysitting assignment is finished, we can host a coronation for my mate,” he says. “Assuming we’re not pulled into a battle with Obsidian Sector, anyway.”
“As long as Rio upholds his promise not to share our involvement, we should be fine.” Unfortunately, I’m concerned he won’t uphold that promise at all.
Obsidian Sector is currently awaiting his arrival, their expectation being that he’s bringing them a coveted Omega Princess. Rio fully intends to arrive empty-handed, a fact no one other than the three of us—me, my brother, and Rio—knows.
Well, the sister will know soon, too. But she left Jasper Sector thinking that her brother had finally seen reason and was taking her to Wes.
From what Rio has said, the Omega feels strongly about upholding the blood vow her father made with the royal Alpha bloodline of Obsidian Sector.
“She’s dutiful to a fault,” he told me a week ago. “So getting her on the plane won’t be difficult. She’ll be pleased to play her part, out of respect for our father.”
His tone indicated how he felt about that.
Just as my tone told him how much I disapproved of his plan to trick his sister.
I only just filled Oros in on everything yesterday. I put off Rio’s arrival for as long as I could, wanting my brother to be available in case this meeting went sideways.
Because it would only be the four of us today. No Royal Court. Just me, Oros, Rio, and the Omega Princess.
“He’s here,” my brother says a second before I sense the power shift.
Glancing out a nearby window, I frown. “Where’s his pla—”
I spin as Rio materializes in the room with a struggling female in his arms.
My gaze widens.
Then an explosion sounds somewhere in the distance.
He growls. “You’d better hope that didn’t crash into anything important, Mari.”
The pink-haired female growls right back at him, clearly unfazed by the Alpha’s manhandling. “I hope it took out part of the sector so you’ll be forced to clean it up!”
He releases a long breath, his patience clearly reaching an end. “I’m going to go check on the remains of the very expensive jet my sister just forced me to abandon mid-landing.”
The female’s brows come down, her profile only partially in view. “Who are you—”
He vanishes, causing her to stumble a bit.
She looks down at the gold tiles, then whirls around like she’s trying to find her brother.
Only, she finds me and Oros instead. And neither of us is gazing upon her with a favorable expression.
“Welcome to Gold Sector, Princess Mari,” Oros deadpans. “I can say with certainty that no one has ever made an entrance quite like that before.”
She has the good grace to pale slightly.
However, it’s a short-lived reaction. Because in the next breath, her pretty blue eyes narrow and she straightens her spine.
“Well, perhaps if I were a willing guest, I would have arrived by normal means. But as I’m a very unwilling guest, it seemed more appropriate to introduce you to the chaos I’ll create should you force me to remain here.”
I gape at the little hellion who just expressed absolutely no remorse for her actions. “You would rather face your dark fate in Obsidian Sector than be our esteemed guest here?”
Those alluring eyes meet mine. “I am betrothed to Alpha Wes.”
“And do you know what kind of monster he is?” I ask her, still shocked by her insolence. Or maybe it’s her naivety that stuns me.
“I’m an Omega Princess,” she says, like that explains everything.
“I’m fully aware of who and what you are,” I reply, taking a step toward her as I weave my magic around her. “That doesn’t answer my question.”
“I’m his betrothed,” she tries again.
“And you what?” I press. “You think that’ll exempt you from his horrific preferences? That he won’t sell your Omega pussy to the highest bidder? Or try to use your pure genetics in his fucked-up breeding games?”
“Onyx,” my brother warns.
“No,” I snap at him. “This is ridiculous. She crash-lands a fucking jet into our sector, doesn’t apologize, and claims she’s in her right because she’d rather be given to a monster?”
“I warned you that she has a strong sense of duty,” Rio says as he reappears in the room. “The jet took out a few rocks near the shore, and it seems to have been contained to that area. I’ve lost a very expensive investment, but at least nothing was damaged.”
Mari finally appears to be somewhat contrite. “You lied to me.”
“I did,” he replies. “To save your life.”
“Rio—”
“No, Mari. As your Sector Prince and as your brother, I’ve made my decision. Accept it.” He looks at me. “Good luck. I’ll be in touch.”
He disappears again before I can even reply, causing me to gape at Oros.
My brother simply holds up his hands and smiles. “You suggested this alliance. I look forward to seeing how it goes.”
“Oros.”
“To echo what Rio just said, good luck,” he taunts. Then the bastard fucking ashes like Rio did.
I growl.
A sound that intensifies when I feel the little hellion try to ash, too.
Her eyes widen when she realizes she’s been grounded, her porcelain cheeks flaming a rosy shade of pink. “Unleash me.”
I snort at that. “Sweetheart, keep this up and I’ll dress you in white-gold chains. Then you’ll learn a whole new definition of the term leash.”
Fuck, maybe that’s what she’s into.
She does want to go to Wes, after all.
“Let’s go,” I say, needing to put her somewhere so I can go for a long flight. “I’ll show you to your room.”
“Don’t you mean cell?” she counters.
I sigh. “It’ll certainly feel like a prison,” I admit.
Because I’ve just taken on the role of warden.
For a very bratty, very stubborn Omega Princess.
Why the fuck did I agree to this?
Oh, right. Political alliances.
Shit.
This is going to be the hardest assignment of my life, and not just because I’m dealing with a little hellion. But because that little hellion is wrapped up in a pretty pink package, one that smells like spring flowers after a rain.
Why I notice that, I don’t know.
But I’m not going to be like Oros and let an Omega’s alluring scent go to my knot.
Especially not this Omega’s.
Because this female is trouble.
When I take a mate, she’ll be docile and sweet. Not feisty and disobedient.
“As my brother said, welcome to Gold Sector,” I tell her as we enter the elevator. “My name is Onyx.” I meet her bold gaze. “But you can address me as Alpha or sir.”
Her eyes narrow. “How about Asshole instead?”
I feel her try to ash again.
This time, I’m not gentle with my leash.
She gasps.
I growl.
And I walk her back into the elevator wall. “If you like monsters, I can be one, little hellion.” It’s a lie. I’d never harm an Omega. Especially not like Wes does.
But she doesn’t know that.
Nor does she realize I’ll never touch her against her will, hence the reason my hands are on the wall beside her head, not on her petite form.
“Your brother left you under my care,” I go on. “A mistake, honestly, since I despise your brother. So I suggest you don’t push me, little one, or you might not like the consequences.”
She doesn’t reply. But she doesn’t look away either.
After a beat, I pull back and select my floor.
Mari remains silent.
When I glance at her, I swear I see a slight sheen in her gaze. But it’s gone with a blink and replaced by a determined look.
She’s absolutely going to try to escape.
And I’m going to be forced to hunt her down.
Fuck. My. Life.
Thank you for reading Gold Sector!