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In her pain-filled delirium and terror-induced sleeplessness, she’d recognized he was the epitome of an Alpha, but that had been a severe understatement. He was still a fearsome beast, but he was a gorgeous one.
Heat flared up Naya’s neck, but she forced herself to maintain her tone and posture, bleeding out the emotional reaction. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything. You will give us all military knowledge of the army.” Akoro’s voice rumbled from the wall. "You will give us all information about your father and his allies. Your mother and her allies. All information about yourself, who you are associated with, and all plans for the empire’s future. You will tell us exactly how magic works in your world, its history, and how it has been tamed. Everything you know about these other two lands," he said, gesturing to them, "and what access they have to yours. You will tell us everything you know and give us anything we ask.”
He walked forward slowly, his eyes locked onto hers until he towered over her. Even washed and dressed, danger permeated the air around him. His scent surrounded her, the same heady warmth, but much to Naya’s relief, it wasn’t as strong as it had been in the desert.
He grabbed a chunk of her hair and pressed down on her shoulder with his thick forearm. Naya fought against the pressure, digging her nails into his fist and bracing her feet apart so she could bear it. They struggled for dominance, eyes locked, while the rest of the room watched on silently.
Naya inched down, her breathing heavy, her grunts strained, until one knee struck the floor, the sharp pain signaling her defeat. Akoro kicked her remaining foot from underneath her so she was on both knees. He wasn’t even out of breath. “And you already know that questions are not permitted. That was your last one.” He lowered his voice to a vicious, threatening rumble, eyes gleaming as they roamed her face. “Do you want to be tied, and spread, and used? Or will you behave?”
Naya glared up at him, a retort threatening to burst from her lips at his mention of using her. He’d fucking said that on purpose—trying to reference what he did back in the cart. But she forced herself to hold it in and focused on what she was trying to do. Letting him get to her right wouldn’t help her. When she spoke again, it was through gritted teeth. “I have one more question.”
The contempt in the beast’s eyes hardened to anger. His fist tightened on her hair, spreading agony across her scalp.
She spoke anyway. “Who are you?”
Fury contorted his face, but before he could say anything, she spoke again, careful not to ask a question. “Most kings are eager to announce their names and kingdoms or tribes or… empires.”
The beast’s anger cooled to disdain. He released her slowly, straightening to his full height. “Most kings are fools.”
Naya almost dropped forward onto her hands. Her scalp, shoulder, and knees all reeled in agony, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of looking pained. “Yes, or they are too proud,” she uttered. “But sometimes a name holds a reputation.”
Something fierce flashed through the beast’s callous expression. He glanced up at someone behind her, casting a look conveying something she couldn’t decipher. He moved away to lean against the wall as footsteps approached. Arms crossed, he directed his gaze at the window.
The guide walked into view. “You are in the region of Tshokora in the Onn Kkulma Palace,” she said. “I am Prillu Ollehh of the sukkurian, diplomat and trade administrator for the Sy Dynasty.”
Naya staggered to her feet, trying to make her movements light and easy, like her knees weren’t about to give way. She nodded at Prillu, though most of what she’d said slipped past her. But she heard the word diplomat. That was probably why Prillu had been chosen to collect her.
“I am Nrommo Hirkkel of the sukkurian.” One of the Alphas stepped forward. Bushy eyebrows framed his narrow eyes and balanced a wide nose. He wasn’t an ugly man, but it seemed he only knew how to wear ugly expressions. “I’m the zmola’s battle chief. I will lead the attack on your world.”
Naya tensed, her dislike of him instantly deepening.
“This is Akoro Sy, the rightful ruler of the Sy Dynasty,” Prillu said. “He will be the new zmola for your world, which translates to king or ruler.”
Naya took a breath and nodded.
“Now, tell us about these maps,” Akoro said.
Naya walked to the maps, aware of the scrutiny on her by everyone in the room. The man who’d introduced himself as Nrommo looked the most tense, like he was expecting her to attack them at any moment, even though she was an Omega in a room with at least three Alphas.
She examined each map closely, taking her time before turning to face them. "The Southern Lands’ map is the most accurate," she said finally. “At least, that is as accurate as we have it. They don’t allow others to map their continent, but I don’t think it’s changed much in the last twenty years. This land"—she pointed to the one on the right—“is now called the Lands of Eiros. There have been some changes to it. And this one"—she pointed again—"is called the Lox Empire now, not the Eastern Lands, and there have been many changes.”
Nrommo looked at Akoro, a brow arching.
Akoro glanced back and nodded, as if confirming that what she said was true. Naya’s mouth tightened. So she’d guessed right. They were going to check whether she lied to them by asking her things they already knew. Calm, considered, and careful.
Prillu picked up a roll of parchment and spread it on the table in the middle of the room. “Where on this map has it changed?”
Pushing aside her unease, she began pointing out the discrepancies—where borders had changed, where houses and empire buildings had been built, and any significant changes that had happened across each country.
The battle chief questioned her about travel between the regions and the palace’s surrounding areas and potential access, which wasn’t noted on the map. That was intentional—no one could map it. But he didn’t ask for as much detail as she expected him to.
Over the next hour it became clear that at least three of them spoke the Common Tongue too well to have not been among native speakers. Her gaze flicked over everyone in the room. If they all spoke the Common Tongue well enough and were dressed in clothes common to the empire, they could completely blend in. After all, no one was looking for people from a distant land intent on invading and conquering the empire.
When the skies turned dark, Prillu escorted her back to her room. She used the time to organize her thoughts, mentally listing everything she’d learned about Akoro, his council, and his people today. They hadn’t asked any difficult questions, but she got the feeling they were starting gently. Tomorrow would certainly be more difficult.
Looking out the lattice window, the city was still busy at this hour, its people were moving through the streets finishing their day.
