Page 10 of Ruined by His Alpha King (Reluctant Fae Princes #3)

A familiar voice that Seidrik hadn’t heard in over fifteen years met his ears. Soft words brushed his senses—a lullaby. As if his mother were singing it, clearer than if it’d been recorded on a cadence chamber. Her voice, clear as day.

The leaves of citronelia sweet

Are not as sweet as you

The birds up in the sky that tweet

won’t make me happy true

What makes me smile so dear

Is you my little fae

More than all the Frost deer

More so every day

When the sun rises so

And you wake, the goddess sees

No matter where you go

Always remember these

Your mother always loves you

Your mother always tries

For all the things you say and do

Until the sun will rise

Until the day I speak no more

Until you sleep your last

I’ll be with you—be sure

Until my memory has passed.

Tears flowed down Seidrik’s cheeks, and he bid them away, letting them fall freely into the font. Using her moniker, he choked. “Thank you, auntie goddess.”

Go give the child her name.

Seidrik nodded sagely and wiped at his eyes, finding his shirt sleeve stained with a dark liquid, inky and odd, as if he’d been wearing lampblack on his eyes. He sniffed a few times and whispered a soft thank you again beneath his breath before leaving and navigating his way back to his new family.

It appeared he’d arrived in the nick of time as Stamel guided him with an open arm at the back of the procession. Ingred, waltzing by, gave Seidrik a grin.

“Do we have a name for a female?” Pallosar asked.

“I don’t know,” Askara said, and Seidrik paused in the doorway while Ingred made himself comfortable, chomping on a wind apple. The bastard had to know how famished his omega brother would be. Birthing was terribly difficult on a bearer.

“I have a suggestion from the goddesses… Probably will piss Alluin off, though.” He grinned and bit into the apple.

“Speak your mind, Brother.” Lumic’s incensed glare made Seidrik want to smack Ingred on his behalf, but Pallosar sat poised, equally ready to do so. Pale eyes turned toward Seidrik expectantly.

“Lyrica.” And it was final. There she was, a little princess, poised to be queen one day.

And they thanked the moon as much as Seidrik wanted to. He hoped that Askara would treasure meeting his mother, for that’s all he could do for them. Maybe not.

“Come.” Stamel drew Seidrik away by his arm, a half smile across his lips. “And we’ll talk about why you were crying.”

“I wasn’t.” Seidrik halted as he said it. “Fond memories of my mother.”

“And I didn’t realize you wore lampblack on your eyes.” Stamel reached for Seidrik’s face, thumb flicking under one of his eyes to stare at a dark residue. After staring at it, he gave Seidrik the softest of kisses to his forehead.

“I don’t.” Seidrik stared at it and touched his eyes cautiously .

“Strange.” Stamel sniffed and tasted his finger, face twisting in thought. “A mystery, perhaps… Did you sneak into the springs?”

Seidrik took a deep breath. “I did. And I did not partake. The moon was kind enough to dissuade me.”

Satisfied with his answer, they turned, catching Ingred staring them down with brows raised so high, they shot into his hairline. “Well, that explains a lot. Leave it to you, Brother, to sniff out an omega anywhere .”

Seidrik’s heart pounded in his chest, cold sweat making him shake on the spot.

“Alluin doesn’t know, and we’d like it to stay that way for now. What will your silence cost me?” Stamel stared Ingred down with a hardened expression.

“You have dirt on Lord Tynmal. I want to know what it is.” He stared at his nails and gestured for them to follow him. Ingred was smart enough not to go to his quarters but rather led them to Stamel’s.

“The secret behind that may cost me yet more for your silence,” Stamel said, shaking his head as they stepped behind locked doors.

“Then I grant immunity.” Ingred waved his hand. “My goal is to procure Amarie as my wife. Her father has been rather discouraging when it came to my proposal. I’m a prince, so I cannot see why he’d be displeased with the offer.”

Stamel glanced from Seidrik to Ingred several times before sighing heavily. “I’ll tell Fathers one day. But you know my son, Neffa? With the threadmaker in the town square?”

Ingred nodded once. “Tynmal holds a large grudge over that. It seems he had a fondness for Rekai and his family, considered the young omega like a son to him.”

Stamel snorted. “One doesn’t fuck their sons. Neffa is Tynmal’s son. I only took the blame to keep Tynmal in my pocket and restore Rekai’s honor. The goddess gave you orders, and she gave me orders, too.”

Ingred twisted his lips in thought. “Before you leave, be sure Tynmal is convinced to allow my proposal. Amarie is keen for it, but her father’s reaction makes more sense, now. Thank you. I heard nothing and saw nothing. I know nothing. Goodnight, Brothers.”

At that, Ingred turned to leave.

“Brothers?” Seidrik thought to ask, brow furrowed.

Ingred turned, gaze cold over his shoulder, green eyes glinting. “You’d have to be mates for Stamel to sacrifice a secret.”

As his footsteps faded away, Stamel clapped Seidrik’s shoulder. “We’re safe. Ingred’s too lazy to get caught up in drama like that.”

And Seidrik had to trust.