Chapter Eight
Ival sat across from Himera and listened.
“Riimal is not an easy man. I haven’t seen him serious about another woman before. Frankly, I didn’t even know he could talk, let alone smile.”
Ival smiled over her teacup. “He’s downright chatty under the right circumstances.”
Himera paused. “What circumstances would those be?”
“Having a mate of his own who doesn’t radiate panic. It’s important. He has been seeking me for a long time.”
“And you have been married before.”
“Yup.”
“That is unusual.”
Ival laughed at her. “You are on your third alpha, and he’s finally the right one.”
“But that is our custom.”
“Is it your custom to throw out children who have lost their parents?”
“Of course not.”
“Then, my line of custom is broken from the base. What matters is what works.”
Himera paused and nodded. “That... I am sorry. I keep forgetting.”
“It’s fine. So, why did you want to have breakfast or brunch together?”
“We are going to be sisters. We need to get to know one another.”
“Where is Ylara?”
“She, Riithan, and the baby have returned to Daycross. There is a polo match he needs to prepare for. They will be back in a few days. Ylara finds the stronghold unsettling, so they only spend a few days here, here and there. We go to visit our granddaughter frequently.”
“Yes, that is a matter of confusion for me. I have heard that the Sethir-Nin don’t have daughters, but I know of several. All met outside of this country.”
Himera stared. “You are serious?”
“Yes. Several were born to alphas who just walked away from their mothers. The shame made the children ripe for sale to return respectability to the family. So, they were sold for the dowry or funds for other siblings.”
Himera stared. “You aren’t kidding.”
“Nope. Roar has a sister, and she was sold at the same time. There are a number of labs that want to experiment on Sethir children. There is a market for them, and no one notices the poor disappearing until a large amount of labour is needed.”
Himera looked around and saw Roar, beckoning her in. “You have a sister?”
“Yes. Younger by a year. We were both discarded in the same transaction. She’s in Lianhel now. She owns a florist shop.”
Himera blinked. “She’s an omega as well?”
“Of course.”
“What is her name?”
“Ivathen.”
“So, you are... Rorathen?” Her voice was weak.
Roar nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Your father...”
“My brother demanded funds for his union, and we were all that my father had to sell.”
Himera covered her mouth. “What happened to your mother?”
“She died giving birth to Ivathen. My father fell into his grief, and my grandparents all passed before I was five. He had two daughters and a son who was beginning a new life. We were suddenly in the way.”
Ival asked, “Himera, you knew them?”
“Their mother was my maid until she married. I gave her a dowry to keep her and her family in good condition. She let me see her daughter once. It was just after Riithan was born.”
Roar lifted a hand. “That was me.”
“Yes. It was. She was already pregnant with your sister. Alethen was a beautiful woman. Graceful and strong. She calmed everyone around her, and your father was so lucky.”
Roar nodded. “That is the little I can remember.”
Himera paused. “What happened to your family?”
Roar shrugged. “Some kind of storm tore their house and clothing apart. It left them with nothing. They had to turn to the stronghold for help, and they are all here in the servant quarters.”
Himera stared and nodded. “Appropriate. Could... would your sister visit?”
Roar laughed. “She’s my relief if I need to be on a more violent assignment. She will be here in a few days.”
Himera smiled. “You are as beautiful as your mother. It radiates from you.”
Roar blinked. “I remember that. She just was lovely and kind. No matter what she was wearing or how she arranged her hair.”
Ival sat silent. She knew Roar’s history. She knew Iva’s history. It was different but no less horrific.
“The Lorn emperor has a very efficient lab, and they are excellent at waking every inch of an activation. Not as brutal as Uraddans, but they don’t use sedation when the changes kick in.”
Himera flinched. “I understand.”
“I am returning to my post.” Roar inclined her head and backed to the archway, where she had previously stood.
Ival smiled and nodded.
Himera looked and thought. “We need an audit.”
“You really do. Sethir have a higher number of active females, but I am not seeing much evidence of it. Heraina and her sibling notwithstanding.”
“Aluhara has a dozen daughters and one son with activation. They are all defender class.” She smiled. “I am wondering if Riithan’s daughter will be as strong as he is?”
“It is likely. She will be nurtured and trained the moment she begins to manifest something. That will be the key to her activating well.”
Ival poured tea and sipped again.
Himera sighed. “How should we find these young ladies? How do we keep them safe?”
“First, you need a school. Open to all. Free for all. A boarding school. Take the unwanted girls and educate them, give them a chance at administration or domestic service or medical or childcare or whatever is in vogue at the time. Start small and work your way up. If the girls activate while at the school, they get other training. If they are omegas, they go to omega school.”
Himera nodded. “I will run this past my husband.”
“Oh, and that’s another thing. If the alphas want to pass an omega around, that’s fine, but form unions that protect her.
They can take their turns, rotate a lineup, but keeping the women vulnerable if their alpha discards them or dies isn’t a great idea for those who are delicate of sensibility and body. ”
Himera paused. “I see your point. It would have been easier to share a mark with two rather than one. I understand the depth of grief your mother felt when her love died.”
“Yup. I understand it as well.”
“Do you think that the alphas will go for it?”
Ival smirked. “I know for a fact that many of them share an escort on the same night. This just means that they don’t have to release her at the end of the evening. She gets to keep them, and they get to keep her.”
Himera paused. “Would you?”
Ival snickered. “No. Riimal’s beast would literally bite the head off of someone between us, and I am toxic. Separate, we are difficult, and together, we are a perfect fit.”
Himera blushed slightly. “So, have you two...”
“No, but he has a very talented tongue.”
Himera’s eyes widened. “Well, that is... huh.”
Ival chuckled.
They continued trying to figure out a girls’ school for the Sethir if the families couldn’t maintain them.
A modest dowry would be paid to the families to thank them for keeping their children in the country.
A ladies’ guard could be created as well.
Again, to keep the female actives in the country.
They sat and chatted, involving a tablet.
Himera said, “What do you write again?”
“Oh, humour and sexy romance.” She smirked. “It varies. The characters determine what goes on.”
Himera looked around and whispered a request.
“Of course, Himera.” Ival flipped through her books, and she sent a title to Himera. “There you go.”
Himera looked and blushed at the cover. “That doesn’t leave much to the imagination.”
“There aren’t any lewd body parts showing. Is it that she’s wedged between them? Is that it? That one is an omega-alpha book, so I thought you might like it.”
She smiled and started laughing as the king walked in and sat next to his queen. He smiled. “What did I interrupt?”
“We are merely getting familiar with each other as soon-to-be sisters.”
“You wear his mark. We are all siblings now.”
“Ah, right. Well, we have been thinking about all of the young women and girls spirited out of Sethir for profit and are trying to come up with means to keep these girls safe and educated.”
Himera nodded. “I made notes. It is doable and will probably cost about as much as my quarterly clothing budget. In two days, we have spoken to three very powerful Sethir women who were removed from our country for the finances of their families. They could have been here, made matches, and made our country stronger. Instead, they were disposed of like garbage.”
The king was paying attention.
Ival nodded and said, “I will leave you to chat. I can return to discuss details at a later time.”
Himera looked at her and smiled. “Thank you for your insights.”
“I get away easy. I just have to make Riimal happy, and he is particularly jovial given the right inducement.” Ival got to her feet, and Roar began to walk with her as they exited the royal quarters and walked back to Ival’s grandparents’ rooms. They were in the lower nobility ranking but still comfortable.
Grandpa had worked for the royal family when he was younger, and that service had been rewarded.
Riimal was talking with her grandparents when Ival walked in, and his slow smile sent her heart thudding. “Oh, hey, Riimal. Were you coming over to borrow a cup of sugar?”
He laughed. “Something like that. We were just coming to the agreement that you would take up residence in my quarters. I have more staff, and you need tending.”
Ival blinked rapidly.
Riimal paused. “Why are you rebooting?”
“Just getting my mind off tending your staff.”
His eyes flared, and he walked over to her, staring down with his chest moving fast.
Roar chuckled. “I will gather your maintenance equipment and your wardrobe. I just need to know where you will be.”
He nodded and rattled off his address. Roar nodded and went to the meditation room.
She looked to her grandparents, who were smiling. Her grandmother said, “Go. We know where to find you.”
She smiled and nodded.
Riimal stroked her arm. “How are your hands and feet today?”
“Better. Still not one hundred percent, but better.”
“Up for another treatment?”
“Um, if you have room for the table.”