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"Are you an omega?" The King tilted his head slightly, watching me carefully from the corner of his eye.
"Yes, my King." I stared at his profile. I didn't give a shit how inappropriate it might be for someone as lowly as me to look at him. He had killed so many, and while my wolf begged me to bow to his intense power and overwhelming scent, I held firm.
I wanted to see the white of his eyes before I took his last breath.
Slowly, his expression lifted into a broad smile at my boldness.
"Come around so I can properly see you."
My knees shook as I moved around the table, stopping so he could look at me head-on. His gaze lingered over my mating bite, and the excitement in his eyes dimmed a bit. He looked away with a sour expression.
"I didn't know we were in the habit of allowing omegas to work." He took another long drink. "Shouldn't you be at home, tending to your pups?"
I lowered my gaze, fighting the urge to snarl and tell the King I never had the chance to have any pups; he killed my mate before he could give me any.
A few rowdy wolves outside the tent bellowed and laughed, their presence making my spine tingle with awareness. Fear settled in my gut as I realized there was no escape once this was done, but there was nothing for it. I still had every intention of ending this wolf's life.
"My mate doesn't mind me working," I said quietly.
"That seems…careless." His eyes moved over the length of my body. It wasn't violent or sexual, but it still made me shiver. "Back to your station," he ordered.
My fingers twitched to grab my blade, but the time didn't feel right. I needed him distracted. Right now, he was too aware and far too strong for me to risk it.
Standing next to the drink cart, I tucked my hands behind my back, hoping this was where I was meant to be. The King didn't give me a second glance, and I let out a slow breath, thankful I seemed to be in the right spot.
"Father." Byriel's deep voice hit me like an open-handed slap to the cheek.
The tent flap moved, and I quickly angled my head away, trying to hide behind my hair. A thousand questions burst through my mind as I tried to calm my wolf. If he saw me, would he turn me in? Order me to leave? Have me killed?
And where was Blue? Or Lex? Did he bring them here too?
Byriel gave his father a low bow, then sat across from the King at the table. I stared at Byriel's back, my body locked with fear and curiosity.
"Where have you been?" the King steepled his hands under his chin. He looked down at Byriel with a silent rage that made me want to curl into myself.
"I apologize, your Majesty. I was—"
"Strayton is telling everyone you were kidnapped," the King cut in, narrowing his red eyes. The old wolf's rage pulsed in the air, and I stifled a gag from its force. "Is that what happened, boy? Were you kidnapped?" His voice was a dangerous growl. Byriel didn't move to speak, letting his father continue. "I am the King of the fiercest beasts in all of Havre. I command and control everything that walks this land. Is my son so weak, he actually let a few rogues steal him away without a fight?"
Silence hung in the air as the two alphas stared at each other. I wished I could see Byriel's face.
The King curled his lip in disgust. "How fucking weak are you?"
"I was not kidnapped." Byriel kept his head up and his tone respectful. I knew his face would be blank of all emotion. His ability to control and hide anything outside of dominance was impressive sometimes. Rage, fear, sorrow; he hid them all well—except when Joon pushed his buttons.
"Did you desert your people to fuck that little, blue-haired omega? Is that what you've been doing? Are you the kind of alpha that abandons your post for the first harlot that throws themselves at you?"
Byriel's posture tightened, and the muscles in his jaw ticked, but he didn't say a word. I couldn't help but wonder if his father's words hurt him as much as me. Blue wasn't a harlot, and Byriel, from what I could tell, had been respectful of the unclaimed omega.
If I was honest, not many alphas would have had the strength to keep their distance from Blue. There was a reason omegas lived within the safety of villages: family members could keep a watchful eye until they were mated.
"Don't you fucking glare at me, boy." The King slammed his fist on the table, making me jump. "You were meant to be a force to other nations. A leader to my warriors and a reminder of my strength!" His voice dropped, the harsh baritone making my wolf whimper. "We are on the cusp of war, and you are out there getting your cock sucked."
Byriel tilted his head. "War?"
"Yes! You have no idea what I have sacrificed trying to protect our people."
"Protect them?" Byriel's voice was so soft I almost didn't hear him. "You are killing them. Father, please—"
