Page 78 of Gold Sector

“It became imperative to prove to you that you’re more than worthy of being a prince’s mate.” He sits on the bench rather than the bed and draws up one of his knees. “I also needed to determine your motives for desiring me.”

“My motives?” I stare at him. “My father brought me here to find a mate. What other motives could I have?”

“Your scent is like a drug to me,” he replies. “And from what your father has told me, your mother’s was a drug to him, too.”

My mother?I swallow, not liking the thought of me being anything like her. “I’m not Helena. She used my father to procreate, then ran off to seduce another Alpha.”

Some Omegas were bred to do that, their minds conditioned to accept their fates.

But my mother—Helena—liked her role. She wielded her sexuality like a weapon. And I would have been just like her had I been born with the right combination of genetics.

Because she would have taken me under her wing and trained me in her shadow.

Alas, I’m all wolf.

My mother may be a mixed breed, but she can at least shift into a dragon.

However, it’s her unique genetic blend that allows her to seduce different types of male shifters.

Shifters like my father, I think.

“You thought I meant to entrap you,” I realize out loud, my gaze on Oros. “That’s why you questioned my motives. But I had no idea you were the prince when we first met. And I’m not one of the Omega seductresses. I was never trained in that art… because of my wolf.”

I elaborate a bit, telling him about Helena’s role in Obsidian Sector and how I thankfully never qualified to learn from her.

Which leads me to reiterating that I amnother.

And finally admitting, “I don’t want your knot because you’re a prince. I… I like you.” I pause for a beat, swallowing. Then finish what I need to say. “I’m close to going into heat, and I know you need my consent. Please know that you have it. If… if you want to help me through my estrus, I would like that.”

He’s silent for a beat, his gaze evaluating. “So you’re not cross with me?”

My brow furrows. “For not telling me about being a prince?”

He nods.

“I… I’m disappointed that you couldn’t trust me. It hurts. But I had some time to think about it before you returned, and, well, I understand why you didn’t tell me,” I admit. “You made me think you’re that Rumpelstiltskin guy instead.”

His eyes widen, then he releases a low laugh, one that does funny things to my insides. “Because I gave you gold?”

“To impress the court, or the prince, or whoever,” I say. “Yes.”

He chuckles again. “I guess I am your Rumpelstiltskin,then, hmm?” He glances down at my nest, then back up at me. “I suppose I do want your firstborn,” he goes on, causing my heart to skip a beat. “Because I want to create that firstborn with you. When you’re ready.”

My breath catches in my throat. “An heir.”

“Ourheir,” he murmurs, his head canting to the side and causing some of his long blond hair to fall across his face. “I’m not really Rumpelstiltskin, remember? The gold was a gift without strings. A token of my affection. But I will eventually want a whelp. With you.”

I swallow. “Okay.”

“Okay?” he echoes. “Okay, as in you’ll want a whelp, too?”

I nod, my lips curling a little. “Does that mean you want to knot me?”

His golden irises flicker with fire. “Oh, I’ve wanted to knot you since the moment we met in that royal chamber, little diamond.”

I’m confused for a moment, not following what he means.

Until it dawns on me…