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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

~Arcay~

JURSIN STOOD WHEN he saw me, concern creasing his face.

“Arcay, there you are,” he said.

“What is it?” I asked. I was eager to get back to Clay as quickly as possible. I had assigned a guard to my quarters when I left—Tarro, a strong and dependable alpha—which gave me a small amount of peace. But when it came to Clay’s safety I could not help but be concerned. He was a treasure that required guarding at all times. My fingers tapped my leg impatiently.

Jursin didn’t seem aware of my impatience and paced several lengths of the room before he spoke. “I have just been informed that another Aldar has gone missing. What have you found of the others?”

Ah . I had completely forgotten about the investigation with all the excitement of finding Clay.

“I have not been able to acquire any new information about the situation, Arani ,” I said.

Jursin fixed me with a displeased look. “It has been observed by several of the council that you have been neglecting your duties as the Second recently.”

“I have been distracted,” I admitted. Clay had taken up my every waking thought ever since I smelled him on that human ship.

Jursin raised his eyebrow, unimpressed. “The human omega seems to cause more issues than he is worth.”

I bristled, the instinct to fight for my omega rising at his words. He was mine by law, and I would not allow anyone to take him away from me again. Jursin saw my reaction and sighed, raising his hand in a calming gesture.

“Calm yourself, Arcay. I am not going to take him away from you. But it would make everything a lot easier if you would hurry up and claim him. It baffles me why you have not yet done so.”

Even if I told him, he would not understand why I had to wait for Clay to agree. I would not have understood it myself only a few days ago. Besides, I did not know how to put it into words that would make sense. It was just a deep, undeniable knowledge that doing it any other way would be wrong.

“I am hopeful it will not take much longer,” I said. “But I am willing to wait as long as it takes.” There was a hint of steel to my words; they were the unmovable truth. I would give him as long as he needed, and I would protect him in the meantime.

Jursin folded his arms across his broad chest and pursed his lips unhappily.

“I only hope it does not cause any further problems for you,” he said. “This situation is unheard of; no laws would cover it. If something happens, I do not know how to deal with it. There has never been an omega left unclaimed for so long, and none with pheromones as potent as his.”

I clenched my fists at my sides. I knew it was not a threat, but it angered me as if it were.

“I will not allow anything to happen,” I said, tightly.

Jursin nodded.

“The missing Aldar is an alpha who was assigned to assist with the humans’ release some days ago. Ulgar was the one in charge, so I have asked him to look into the disappearance as well.”

I growled at the mention of his name. Jursin did not expect me to work with him after what he had done, surely?

“I can do this alone, Arani ,” I said.

“Obviously not, or you would have resolved it by now.”

The barb stung, but I could not dispute it. It was true. I bowed my head.

“Go and find him. Together you can end this enmity. It is time the two of you made amends.”