AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Gregor put a hand on his arm. “I’ll take care of it.” He turned to Rhene. “What did you do?”
“I talked to Zacharias, the omega assigned to me, and told him he and anyone else he could convince could join the True Doyle clan by nightfall. I gave him my word we’d get them out of there.”
Gregor and Fergal nodded at the same time. “We will,” Gregor said.
“Zacharias said that if anyone suspected what we’d been up to, they’d punish and might even kill him, so he told me to roughen him up a little.” Rhene’s voice broke. “It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life, hitting a defenseless omega on purpose.”
“Oh, baby,” Erwan said, and now it was his time to console his mate. “That must’ve been awful but necessary to keep up the ruse a little longer.”
Rhene met his eyes, and he looked heartbroken. “He told me to jack off so we could make it look real. I’m so sorry. I never wanted to?—”
Erwan placed his fingers against Rhene’s lips. “You have nothing to apologize for. That was what you had to do to keep him and the others safe. You did the right thing.”
Rhene’s body relaxed, and he hung his head. “I know, but I felt like I was abusing him. He took it all without complaint, kept telling me he’d survived much worse…”
Rhene didn’t have to say that had only made it ten times worse.
Fergal raised his chin, his eyes blazing with fire. “We will set those omegas free and burn that place down to the ground, if only symbolically.”
And with those words, Erwan knew they’d found a true ally.
“It’s time to head to the meeting,” Gregor said. He looked at Rhene. “Can you keep your temper in check there?”
Rhene nodded. “I swear.”
“Okay. You guys go on ahead. I have one thing to take care of, and then I’ll follow you.” Gregor took Fergal’s chin and brought his face close. “Proud of you,” he said softly, kissed him on his mouth, and walked out, leaving Fergal staring after him.
As they made their way to the meeting tent, Erwan’s heart was heavy. How could people treat others like this? What kind of sick person would do this and think it was okay? That poor omega, being forced to do this. The gods only knew what would’ve happened had some other alpha walked in instead of Rhene.
In the middle of the tent, a horseshoe table had been set up, with chairs around it, and every man sitting at it turned toward them as they walked in.
“Kings and commanders only,” Alistair said, none too friendly. “No consorts.”
Erwan raised his chin. “He’s my commander.”
Alistair opened his mouth, then closed it again. If looks could kill, Erwan would’ve perished on the spot.
“There’s nothing in the Code that says the man can’t be his consort and his commander,” Fergal said pleasantly.
“At least it’s clear whose side you’re on.”
“What an interesting comment. I thought we were here to examine the validity of the evidence for King Erwan’s claim to be the True Doyle king. One could argue I’m on the side of the truth, but that might be a little too philosophical for your taste.”
Erwan walked to two empty chairs and sat in one without asking permission. Rhene was rubbing off on him, and in the best way.
“Let’s see that supposed proof, then,” Alistair said.
“Excuse me, Commander. We have a protocol to follow,” Gregor said as he walked in, his voice flat as a pancake. “If you’ll allow me to formally open the meeting, we can proceed.”
They were off to a good start, weren’t they? Two minutes in, and they’d already pissed off the entire room. And Erwan didn’t think things would get better.
“Excuse me,” Rhene said. “Where is King Ennis?”
“The king is unwell, so I have taken his place,” Kerry said.
“I thought this meeting was kings and commanders only, as Alistair informed us. Since you’re neither king nor the commander of the Murphys, it leaves me wondering why you’re here.”
Erwan put a hand over his mouth to hide his grin. Leave it to his mate to seek confrontation right out the gate.
