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Viola
I felt hot and shivery at once.
“Syon, please,” I cried out, uncertain what I was asking for but needing to be released from this spiral of uncontrolled anticipation. My core clenched, begging to be filled. My head begged that he would release me and release me… Sat back in my chair, amused at the flowers growing out of Syon’s ears. My heart wanted both. The sound of a symphony filtered into the throne room, I wished to escape the vines binding my wrists and see what kind of alpha he truly was. Would he try to master me? Would he use some new way to express his will? The cool breeze of my mother’s garden soothed my heated flesh. For until now, he had not physically imposed his desires on me. Always it had been a word or look. These new interactions filled me with electric anticipation. Musical violets bloomed with spontaneous galloping force, and Syon held me, coaxed each desperate, sobbing moan of pleasure from me…
A whimper escapedas I rubbed my slick covered thighs together. What had I been dreaming of? I could not remember anything of it, but my fingers went immediately to my sex and began trying to find some relief by sticking three fingers into my cunt at once. There was a moment of resistance at the sudden intrusion that had me gasping, but I relished the bite for it was the closest I would get to the abrupt fullness that a knot would provide.
After my disturbing, deliciously erotic dream, I sent a note round to Syon informing him I’d not be able to join him today. He would understand. I’d gone too far last night in the library and could not face him. In truth, I was not afraid of his reaction but my own, convinced that should I see him, be in his presence, I would want to do more than suck on his cock until he came on my tongue. I wanted to taste him again, know that his scent mingled with mine. Go as far as I dared, before pulling away at the last moment to maintain my disguise. I felt sick at my deception, but unable to quiet my omega instincts which cried out for Syon with alarming need.
My needs, however, must be put aside. There was one whose need, albeit a different kind, was greater than my own. As sick as I felt at the thought of him with another omega, better that than risk the Countess being abandoned to the streets. From Caroline, I knew that her father the vicar resented that he would be responsible for Olivia’s board and upkeep. It should have been her parents, who’d been paid ten thousand pounds for her, but they’d disappeared after the wedding. I’d pledged to help her and from what I could see, Syon offered her the best future.
You could reveal the truth about your dynamic. You could have him for yourself. The insidious thoughts crept in—not so easily dismissed these days. Syon would hate me if he learnt the truth. Hadn’t he expressed his disgust at being manipulated the day before? Or at least that he would punish me for deceiving him. And what punishment greater than to send me away?
* * *
That evening, a note was delivered to my uncle’s—Olivia, begging for my presence. Caroline was out, and Olivia was alone and desperate to speak with me. I too needed to speak with her, and in private, for my thoughts were akimbo, warring like a kite caught in a storm. I needed to press on with Syon’s suit. Our recent conversations had won me a point: Olivia wanted to marry again and an alpha. The sticking point for her was which alpha. I dressed quickly as Iris for it would be easier to travel so late as an alpha, but did not bother to bind my breasts or wipe away my scent counting on my twin’s clothes to do most of the work.
Tonight I would propose in Syon’s name. My role would be done, and reluctantly, for I could not imagine them happily married. But I had made a promise. Eventually, I would find a way to go back to the life I was intended to lead. To be sure, it was not the one I longed for, but the past months had caused me heartache. I did not want to continue with this farce. Better to end the charade before I was in too deep. An obvious lie—how much deeper could I fall? I wished to tell Paxton and Fordom that they had been correct. That I could not continue my masquerade any longer. I would once again tame myself, grow out of my childish pranks. I could not ignore my dynamic any longer. I did not want to. Being with Syon almost every day had taught me how dangerously appealing an alpha could be to an omega.
My thoughts were a gorgon’s knot. I chuckled. The last thing I wanted was to cut through a knot. Not when I was dreaming of an alpha’s one. That kind of knot... I froze. My thoughts too frequently were turning in that direction. Perhaps my aunt was correct, and my heat would come unexpectedly after I had tried so hard to suppress it. No, I might resign myself to an omega’s life but I would not let myself be ruled by passions. That would only prove to alphas that they were correct: omegas were weak and unable to think beyond their sexual desires.
* * *
The butler opened the door and in a hushed whisper told me I could find her ladyship in the drawing room. I took the stairs two at a time, in a rush to propose in Syon’s name before my resolution left me.
The door was ajar, and I slipped in, closing it, and turning the key, locking us in the drawing room. It was lit by a fire and a few candles but otherwise it was hauntingly dark, or perhaps seductively so. A place to receive a lover, rather than a friend.
“Olivia,” I called to the little omega, who curled kitten-like in her chair. In the time that I had known her, her looks had improved. She no longer looked on the verge of tears. She had put on weight, a pleasing thing for an alpha since omegas with curves would weather a heat better than one all skin and bones. And a strong heat meant she was more likely to catch.
Her head shot up, and she scrambled towards me. When she was within arms reach, I dropped my cloak.
She fell back, a fluttering hand touching her breast. “Oh,” came the soft voice. “I wanted... Viola?”
I hated what I was about to do but it needed to be done… I could think of no other way. I must play a part of an aggressive alpha… I must pretend to be Iris, I must propose in Syon’s name. I could only hope that I’d laid the groundwork, that she was receptive to marrying again, and that Syon would come across as an alpha who wanted to marry her enough that he would do anything to win her heart.
“Not Viola, never Viola. Sweet lady, I have committed a fraud,” That at least was the truth. “I am Iris Hartwell. I came dressed as my sister, dishonourable wretch that I am, to woo you. Not for myself but in the name of the Duke of Orley, who wishes to marry you. Knowing your sad tale, he wants to marry you. He wants to save you from a miserable future. Make you his duchess. Please lady, forgive my presumption. He is wild with… I am so sorry… I conceived of this deception to help him.”
Her eyes were wide, shining in the firelight. I thought her silence would end in a scream, expose me. She rushed towards me and grasped my hands in hers.
“Let me see you, come to the fire and let me see you,” there was a longing in her voice.
“Please, my lady...”
“Call me Olivia as you have before,” her hand drifted to my face as if not believing what she saw. “I will not know what to do if you call me anything but Olivia. Please, tell me... Your name is Iris. You are Viola’s twin. You are...”
“I am Iris. Viola’s twin.” The lie was too ingrained in my mind, but to give voice to it in front of her made me uneasy.
“Viola’s twin, an alpha. I knew it! I love you,” her voice trembled. I stood frozen before her, unable to know what to say. This must be some mistake, a joke. What could I do? To reveal my true identity, to say that I was Viola, an omega, and not my alpha twin as I had confirmed with my last breath? “I love you, Iris or Viola—it does not matter. Please, say something.”
“My lady… I do not know what to say, or why you think I am... His Grace… It would be… It is impossible for me to respond. And solely inappropriate under the circumstances. The duke! Thedukeis the one who desires to marry you. He wants to save you. He can protect you. As his duchess, you will want for nothing. He is good and kind… He is the best man I’ve ever met. I would not trust you, dear friend, to him if I did not believe with all my being that he would take care of you.”
“But you are here!” she cried. “You came because you loved me! I knew. I knew almost from the start that I loved you. And then it was no great mystery to discover you were not Viola. There was always something about you, a scent that tickled me to my core— I was slick for you. I knew you were an alpha!”
“I told you my meaning,” I interrupted her and tried to draw back. “I come as an emissary for the duke.”
“Oh, I hate the mention of him! He is an alpha. A man. How can he be any different from other alphas? I won’t believe it. You came for yourself. Deny our friendship… You cannot.”
“How could I? We are friends, but I am his secretary… I might be an alpha, but…” I reluctantly maintained the lie. But this lovestruck woman made me feel like a fool. Caught in a trap of my own making, and one I did not know how to escape. I crossed to the window and looked out. A single candle shone in the window of Syon’s library. All my thoughts were with him, and I cursed myself for coming here when, if I had my wits about me, I would be tucked into my own bed. Or I’d come dressed as myself. Fool, for wearing Iris’ clothing tonight, but it was safer to wander the streets as an alpha in men’s clothing than as an omega in skirts.
