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Lonn had certainly developed too. His eyes swept over her, curious and thoughtful.
“Lonn,” she responded. Breathing deeply, she took a step and held the back of the chair in front of her. Without her blocks and in a room this small, they’d be able to scent each other properly. But after a few moments, the bud of hope withered. His scent was earthy and rich, somewhat comforting and warm—it was all wrong.
She lifted her eyes to meet his and frowned at his expression. He didn’t look surprised to see her. “Were you expecting me specifically?”
The selections for pairing meetings were anonymous unless one of the pair had made a request. Due to who she was, she’d wanted all of her pairings to be anonymous.
He gestured to the chair opposite him. “I was invited to attend a pairing with you specifically, yes.”
“By whom?”
“Your parents.”
Confusion flooded her for a moment. When did her parents start interfering with her pairing attempts?
“Are you going to sit?”
Naya stared at him, wondering if she should bother to stay. She decided to be honest. “Is there any point?”
The Alpha froze, then lowered back down to his chair, his eyes locked on hers. “That sounds like you don’t think we’d be a good match.”
Naya shrugged. “We’d know by now, wouldn’t we?”
At that, Lonn broke eye contact, leaning forward to shift back in his chair.
The pairing rooms were specifically designed small so the couple could scent each other immediately. True mates would instantly recognize each other’s scent. It would cause an instinctive reaction of arousal that couldn’t be faked. Those couples were in each other’s arms within moments of scenting each other. If Lonn was her true mate, they’d both know.
“Being a good match doesn’t rely on being a true match,” he said finally, returning his gaze to her.
“I’m sure that’s what my parents believe too.” She sat down. “But even if I agreed, I think our union should be more about our connection with each other and less about what we represent, don’t you?”
He considered her, his face a carefully controlled mask. “What do you mean?”
“We hardly know each other,” Naya pointed out. “But you’re in this room because you’re an impressive warrior rumored to become the youngest new general. And I’m here because I’m the imperial couple’s daughter. It seems more like a match that would please my parents and the empire than us. It’s not exactly encouraging, is it?”
To his credit, the Alpha’s blank expression didn’t flicker. “Unions have been made on less, Princess. One of my fellow warriors bonded with an Omega he had a pairing with last year. They weren’t true mates but he thought she was pretty and pleasant. They are incredibly happy now and having their second child.” He watched her closely. “Isn’t it better to have that than to have nothing?”
Naya almost recoiled at the suggestion. She opened her mouth to challenge him and stopped. What was the point? There really wasn’t much more to say. He was happy to settle with a choice that would please the emperor and elevate him to a status he would never otherwise reach, while she only cared about finding her true mate. Lives depended on it.
“Besides,” Lonn added, “it’s not as though we have nothing in common. You are now famously unbeatable on the battlefield.” A proud gleam entered his eyes. “And so am I.”
A knock fell on the door, then it creaked open.
“Your Highness.” Gilly’s strained voice came through the crack, quiet but pleading. “I beg of you.… The Commander is?—”
Naya stood. “I’m coming now,” she called over her shoulder. She looked back at Lonn, offering a small, apologetic smile. “It was nice to see you again.”
The Alpha leaned forward, elbows back on the table, his eyes following her, but he said nothing as she hurried out of the room.
CHAPTER TWO
The Great Hall was the single biggest space in the palace, which made it suitable for gatherings, meetings, and grand events. It was also the perfect venue for Papa to show off. The walls were decorated with his favorite old weapons, artwork of his favorite weapons, and sculptures of his favorite weapons.
It was an overbearing space that displayed his pride in his training and the battles he’d won. Naya had loved feeling like she was entering a battle gallery, where each blade told a story of a past so different to her life experience, but as she got older, she realized how much death this room represented. She’d asked Papa why he had decorated the space that way. He told her to watch the rulers and lords and citizens who entered and to monitor their reactions. Naya learned quickly that the decoration was a form of intimidation which turned the average person amenable and honest.
Uncle Torin escorted her to the door at the back of the hall, behind the platform that held the imperial thrones. Inside the hall was quiet with muffled murmurs, and the air was thick with a sour, sweaty kind of tension.
She climbed the steps to the thrones.
