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I wondered what kind of mess Ezra had left them in the aftermath of the Rite, what with the entire Conclave now dead. How were they all dealing with my absence? I hoped Cam wasn’t biting everyone’s heads off, and I really hoped they weren’t still blaming Nolan for everything. Even without the extra complication of the Rite, Ezra had been coming for me, anyway.

I hoped the pack was also listening to Archer, now. The diary he’d found that they’d originally dismissed could actually be the key in getting me back home.

I wanted to ask the omegas if they knew anything about the war, but River had just come, and now Iris was taking her place, licking Florian’s still hard cock, her tongue circling his head and laughing as his moans went straight into Briar’s clit.

I couldn’t take it anymore, watching them was too much. I asked Dove where the bathroom was and headed in there for a long overdue bath and to vigorously masturbate.

Florian pushed Briar back slightly and pulled the skirts off his face. “Marlowe, darling, I’m happy to service you as well if you’d like. In fact I’m dying to.”

I gave him a small smile and shook my head. “I appreciate the offer, but…”

Briar huffed, maneuvering herself back over him. “She’s in a bonded pack, silly. She misses them.”

“Just let me know!” he called, his voice muffled as he resumed pleasuring Briar.

I closed the door to the bathroom behind me, sliding down until I hit the floor. I didn’t even need to get off anymore, I just wanted to cry and process everything that had happened.

Release, in one form or another, had found me.

31

EZRA

Watching the king with Marlowe had been difficult. More difficult than I’d anticipated.

Ever since we’d hit puberty, I’d had to deal with my sister’s sexuality and guys hitting on her. But I’d been there to protect her and step in when she’d needed help.

It was kind of astounding, looking back at how many grown alpha men I’d had to bark at as a teenager, to think about the power I’d had even then to make them go away. How many dangerous situations had she avoided thanks to me?

Alaroth’s attention was a different story, though. I knew Marlowe didn’t want him, and I knew he could hurt her to get his way. But he was my king, my mentor… practically a brother sometimes with how he cared for me.

It felt like a betrayal, after all these years, to watch him touch and kiss her, knowing that I had delivered her to him…

“…Are you fucking crazy?” I spat. My mouth was filled with blood, my hands chained with silver to the walls. Every inch of my body ached and burned.

Alaroth sighed. “Ezra, we’ve been over this. I need both of you to fulfill the prophecy. And if she’s as delectable as I believe she could be, then I would like to make her my queen.”

I grit my teeth. “I won’t let you lay a single finger on her, you…”

A sharp pain speared through my temple and I gasped.

Wait, why was I so upset? The king would be good to her, obviously. He’d promised me. But it wouldn’t hurt to be sure, so Ikept an eye on them from a distance, unwilling to allow Marlowe’s first encounter with him to go unguarded.

She was upset and confused, as I’d assumed she would be, though she’d managed to hold her own well enough. I always forgot how smart my sister was, and how well she could read people and adapt to social situations. She’d thankfully realized it was better to go along with him than fight, and had thus far managed to keep herself safe.

After she’d been dropped off with the other omegas, the king headed towards his garden, and I slinked in to meet with him. Just as he knew I would, of course.

“Your sister has not been harmed,” he spoke. His tone was amused as he inspected a fragrant bloom growing on a large bush, waiting for me to reveal myself and shift back to my human form.

I walked in front of him and dropped to a knee. “I apologize if it appears I do not trust you, Your Majesty. It’s just…”

Alaroth motioned slightly for me to rise. “She inspires one to do anything to be in her good graces. Her perfume, the feel of her skin, her little whimpers—I understand now. I would gladly sell my kingdom if she promised me her tight little cunt in return.”

I winced slightly and a smirk grew on his face. “I have greater willpower than that, but were I a weaker male…” he sighed wistfully. “It matters not. But now that she is here, in addition to planning our wedding, we will need to prepare her for the battles ahead.”

Yes, this was a far better topic. She’d shown a lot of power when she’d attacked me at the Rite, more than I’d anticipated. Fighting didn’t come naturally to her—she was an omega, after all—but with my help she could easily become a formidable force.

“I can start training her at once. She wielded for the first time back on Earth. I will teach her how to channel her magic and…”