Basically, Sarang was not the only one who’d been fooled as he’d initially believed. Others had thought the prince was in love with Lane. That he’d been traumatized by the breeding den. That he was grieving. That he’d softened since Sarang had come into his life, the bloodlust suddenly curbed, but was otherwise the same as he’d always been.
Shiloh hadn’t just tricked him.
He’d tricked the whole world.
Which somehow led to Sarang realizing there was more truth to what Sloane had been saying. Shiloh was a phenomenal actor, but four years was a long time for anyone to uphold a made-up persona flawlessly.
Either Shiloh had never been as emotionless as he maintained, or he’d somehow developed a sense of consideration toward others once Sarang had entered the picture. It was impossible to know which it was, but at the end of the day, it wasn’t really the important take away.
“Hurts to sit still.” As if to prove it, Shiloh shifted into a new position for the tenth time since Sarang’s arrival. “But it’s fine. I’ll recover and get better at it.”
“Better at what?”
“Taking your knot.” He tipped his head. “Actually, it might have been your cock that did damage first. It was difficult for me the first couple of times as well. Don’t worry. After some more practice, I’ll be a pro.”
It was still an adjustment, listening to him talk like that. He was so flippant about sex, so open, and eager. Having locked Sarang up and used rut inducers as a torture method should have been enough to knock sense into Sarang’s brain, and yet he was caught off guard whenever Shiloh spoke like this.
And instantly turned on.
“Do you need anything?” Sarang didn’t bother confirming or denying whether they’d fuck again.
“Everything is fine, alpha.” Shiloh played a card, not aware that Sarang saw his free hand slip a little too closely to the draw pile.
This was their third game in a row and Sarang had been using it as a means to glean more information. A lot could be discovered about a person based on how they approached a friendly competition.
Sarang took his turn and then breezily said, “You’re cheating, omega.”
Shiloh paused.
“Do you want to win that badly?” Sarang asked.
“Isn’t winning the goal?” he countered. “Does it matter how I do it, so long as I’m the victor in the end?”
“If you stab everyone else in the back, yes, it does matter.”
Shiloh clicked his tongue. “Stupid.”
“There are rules for a reason.”
“Rules are subjective.”
“Rules are set by those with power,” Sarang corrected. “Right now, that’s me. No more cheating. Win fair and square, or accept defeat like a good sport.”
“I have to be good at games now too?”
He quirked a brow. “You’ve always excelled in that department, and we both know it. Which is why I’m telling you to stop. I won’t be so easily fooled a second time, so if you’re trying to placate me, don’t bother. I meant what I said. We’re using this time to get to know each other again.”
He wanted his omega to realize he wasn’t as different as he believed.
There were faked traits, of course. Shiloh wasn’t quiet because he was shy, or overly anxious, like he’d led Sarang and the rest of the new Eumia to believe. He hadn’t pretended to be dumb, but he’d seriously downplayed his intelligence, slipping up in conversation whenever something he deemed important arose.
Sarang had noted those occasions, had attested them to years of grooming from his mother to take the throne after her. The reality was, Shiloh cared about the Eumia, or, at least some of the people in it.
Tull said the twins planned on leaving this life behind up until Sarang had come along. Then he’d changed his mind, put off his plans. He’d probably intended to convince Sarang to leave with him once the time came, but then Kian was discovered…
Shiloh had stuck around to protect Sarang, Bishop, Diogenes, Tull, and who knew who else. Instead of placing them out of Kian’s sight, he’d made sure they were close enough for the new Dominus to see. Had ensured Kian witnessed their usefulness and competence firsthand. Now, aside from Bishop who remained solely at Shiloh’s side, the rest of them had developed a sort of friendship and respect with Kian. They were safe, even without Shiloh’s interference.
But they’d only been able to survive this long thanks to Shiloh’s quick thinking and self-sacrifice.
