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Naya stiffened, trying to shield her already jagged emotions from a fresh wave of remorse. “I know, Papa,” she said, her voice hoarse. “I know what I mean to them.”
“And what you mean to us,” Papa thundered. “We fought for the right for Omegas to stay with their parents and grow up safely. You were the first to benefit from that, Naya. Other parents were encouraged, seeing you grow and mature. The Omega village you walk through every time you go into that forest you hide in was created specifically to give Omegas a safe upbringing with their families. It was unheard of before.”
“I know, Papa,” she shot back, rising from her chair. “Do you think I am ungrateful? Do you think I don’t want to continue the legacy you and Mama have created for Alphas and Omegas to thrive? Why do you think I’m so worried about this? I want to get it right! I don’t want to be a disappointment to everyone who is relying on me to run the empire successfully.”
Papa’s eyes shone with a strange fury. “You could never be a disappointment.”
“I already am!” Naya said, her words precise and punctuated. Why couldn’t he see it? “I caused multiple unnecessary deaths of our people, Papa. You are so blinded by your expectation that I will excel that you’re overlooking that I could be the biggest danger the Lox Empire has ever faced.”
Papa’s disbelief and fury twisted his face, like her words had been a dagger so foul, it had snuck around his defenses and stabbed his very heart. “That is fucking impossible, Nayara.”
“Drocco,” Mama murmured, her palm patting his chest. “Language.”
“You just need time to hone your instincts,” Papa said. “It’s the same as being a warrior. No one can run an empire without experience and training. That’s what you’re building up with every decision you make. You need to focus on that and stop trying to be perfect.”
“I’m not trying not be perfect,” Naya shot back. “I just think finding my true mate would solve?—”
“It won’t.” Papa shot the words out, hard and blunt. “And it’s taking too long.”
Naya drew her lips in, her eyes blazing at her father. In that moment, she remembered just how much they were alike. They both had horrendous tempers, and growing up, her father had always been in charge. But she was a fucking adult now, and this was her life. The last six years might have hollowed her somewhat, but she wouldn’t allow him to roll over her opinion.
“I know we encouraged your search at the beginning,” he added, “but these pairings are starting to take up too much of your time. I was told you’ve had as many as eight pairing meetings in one day! You ignore your responsibilities but make time to meet Alphas.”
“This isn’t a selfish quest, Papa. I’m not doing this for myself. It’s the only way I’ll be able to run the empire.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
Ma held up her hand to interrupt the back and forth between them. “What do you mean by that, Naya? Are you saying you can’t rule until you find your true mate?”
“I’m saying my ability to rule properly will be impaired unless?—”
“That’s an excuse,” Papa said.
“It’s not!” Naya gestured to them. “You are the perfect example.”
Silence fell between them and her parents stared at her. “What do you mean?” Mama asked.
“You both run the empire fairly and with equal accountability, taking on different responsibilities for the specific needs of the various countries and their people. You make decisions together and support each other as well as the needs of the Lox Empire as a whole.”
“You can do that alone, Naya,” Papa said.
“But you didn’t,” Naya shot at him, her eyes blazing. “You ran the empire with an iron grip until Mama came along, and it was only then that our people began to respect and thrive under your rule. You benefited from her presence and so do our people. Now you both rule instinctively, harmoniously, with the same goals and drive and purpose. Why wouldn’t I want that with someone? Why wouldn’t you want that for me?”
Her words had an impact this time.
Ma’s shock left her open-mouthed and swaying, while Papa scowled up a storm—which meant he was thinking about what she said.
Individually her mama and papa had their strengths and achievements. Papa was known to be a fierce and unforgiving emperor who created the first army of Alphas, who’d taken over the Eastern Lands, and returned Omegas to the population after Omega children had been disappearing from across all of the Known Lands for over 100 years.
Ma was completely beloved by the people. Citizens respected her father’s order and regime, but it was her mother they adored. She was the first Omega who had officially reappeared, which made it safe for other Omegas to do so. She could do no wrong and was held up as the standard of what an Omega should be. It was an accurate assessment because she was indeed beautiful and kind and fair. Omegas flocked to her from all over the Known Lands for her support and protection and guidance. Her people were proud of her.
But her parents couldn’t deny that they had achieved an enormous amount of respect and admiration for their actions as a couple. They balanced each other and that reflected on the health and prosperity of the empire. Their ruling decisions were fair, clever, and considerate. The empire had enjoyed a significant growth in wealth, trade, and education since their rule began. Life was peaceful, with less crime and more opportunities. The number of families and birth rates had increased exponentially, citizens were happier, and they united around a cultural identity with an Alpha and Omega ruling couple at its heart.
It also helped that her parents were revered for their obvious love and adoration for each other. Sometimes it was just the way they looked at each other—an intimate look between them could silence a room. They were the ideal example of an Alpha and Omega couple, and their love has been celebrated proudly by the empire for over twenty years.
“So much about you as a couple has guaranteed the perfect balance of a well-run empire,” Naya said, sitting back down on her chair. “I can’t ignore the obvious benefit of that. If I found my true mate and ruled alongside him, just like you both do... I wouldn’t make mistakes.”
Her voice felt small against their silence. She’d never discussed this with anyone and hadn’t been clear with her parents about the importance of her pairing attempts. Searching for one’s true mate was a contentious topic in the empire.
