Page 18 of Sins of His Wrath (Myth of Omega: Wrath #2)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

D arkness had cloaked the city by the time Naya returned to her bedroom, her limbs leaden with a bone-deep exhaustion that seemed to reach into her very soul. She sank onto the edge of her bed, her mind still churning despite her body's desperate plea for rest.

Shadows danced across the intricately patterned walls, cool breeze drifting in through the lattice windows the sheer curtains hanging at the windows. Naya's gaze landed on the huge artwork on the wall over the bed and drifted up to the elaborate carvings that adorned the ceiling—flowing patterned designs that interlocked with such precision and beauty that they seemed impossible to have been created by human hands. The palace itself was a testament to what Akoro had told her.

Years ago this had been a civilization at its peak—magical innovation woven seamlessly into everyday life, transforming a harsh desert into a thriving paradise.

She rose slowly, her muscles protesting, and headed to the separate bathing room. A servant had already prepared it, filling the sunken basin with steaming, fragrant water. Afterward she climbed into the plush bed, her eyelids already growing heavy. She was exhausted, her mind weighted with everything she’d learned. Sleep should have claimed her immediately.

And yet, as she lay in the darkness, something felt... wrong.

The bed was too empty, too vast. The silence too heavy. No Alpha’s chest to rest again, no arms pulled her close, stroking her skin.

She shifted, turning onto her side, then onto her back, her limbs restless despite her exhaustion. She sighed. This was absurd. She’d managed sleep in a prison cell, this shouldn’t be a problem.

But that was different. Akoro’s absence was palpable—his heat at her back, his arm draped possessively over her waist, his breath warm against her neck. The memory of his scent wrapped around her, rich and earthy, with undertones of musk that made her inner Omega sigh with contentment.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered into the darkness, rolling onto her stomach and burying her face in the pillow.

But the image persisted, growing more vivid rather than fading. His powerful chest pressed against her back, his heartbeat a steady rhythm that lulled her, his fingers entwined with hers.

Naya's breathing slowed, her body relaxing into the fantasy despite her mind's protests. The line between wakefulness and dreams blurred, and she drifted, carried on a tide of exhaustion into the peaceful darkness.

Sometime later—it could have been minutes or hours—she stirred, a subtle shift in the air nudging her. Her eyelids fluttered open, her senses immediately alert even as sleep clung to her mind.

His scent.

Not a memory, not a dream—but real. Potent and unmistakable, filling the chamber like a physical presence.

Naya lifted her head, her eyes adjusting to the silvery moonlight that spilled through the window. In a chair across the room, Akoro sat. His massive form was silhouetted against the pale light, still and watchful. He was fully dressed, his posture alert despite the lateness of the hour.

"Akoro?" Her voice was rough with sleep, barely above a whisper.

"Go back to sleep," he rumbled, the low timbre of his voice snaking through her body.

She pushed herself up, the sheets pooling around her waist. "What are you doing here?"

He was silent for a moment. "Do you really believe I can go a night without you, tmot zia ?" The question had no amusement, no sarcasm—his tone was grave.

“But…” Her mind lurched. This wasn’t normal, was it? “You can’t stay here.”

“I have watched you sleep every night since your heat,” he said. “Every night until you ran. I’m not going to stop now.”

She stared at him through the darkness, her heart beating an uneven rhythm against her ribs. She should be angry that he was in here, watching her in the dark like a miscreant, but her pulse quickened, her inner Omega recognizing that he was here, in the room.

"You are exhausting," she said finally, but there was no heat in the words.

His chuckle was a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the air between them. "Sleep, Naya. Your first day is done. Four more until I have you in your heat."

Naya blinked slowly, her body warming at the words. She should order him to leave, to tell him never to enter her room again in the night. Instead, she sank back against the pillows, his mere presence soothing something tightly wound within her.

When she woke again, golden light streamed through the lattice windows, casting intricate patterns across her blankets. Her body felt surprisingly light, her mind clear and alert. She stretched languidly, and then abruptly sat up.

Akoro was gone.

Even the chair he sat on was gone, but it hadn’t been a dream. He’d been there, watching over her. Warmth bloomed in her chest, and her inner Omega hummed with satisfaction. Protected. Safe. Guarded by the only Alpha she needed.

Naya rolled her eyes. It was pathetic how easily her Omega instincts betrayed her, how readily it accepted his presence even when her mind rejected it. She couldn’t have him in her room at night. Look what happened in the desert. What if she woke up from a sex dream again… Neither of them would resist, and it would only be her who suffered from losing time.

And yet... she couldn't deny the unsettling truth: she had slept better knowing he was there.

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and padded across the cool floor to the window. Outside, the city of Onn Kkulma was stirring to life—people milling through streets, the marketplace returning to normal. The guilt slithered through her again, but she pushed it aside. Focus. She had four more days to learn all she could.

A knock on the door disturbed her thought. Who was knocking?

“Come in,” she called.

The servant who'd replaced Meiro entered silently, carrying a tray laden with food, a tmae, and the familiar, welcome sight of kkermo .

After she’d eaten, bathed and dressed, she took a steadying breath. Today was another day toward her goal. Four more days before she surrendered to him in her heat. The thought sent an involuntary shiver down her spine—not entirely from dread.

When she opened her door and stepped into the corridor, she nearly collided with a solid wall of muscle. Akoro stood outside her chamber, his massive frame blocking the light.

Heat flared across Naya's skin. Dressed in formal attire that emphasized his strength and status, he exuded a raw enticement that tugged at something primal within her.

For a heartbeat, neither spoke. His dark eyes held hers, searching, unapologetic.

“I—er.” Naya found her voice and took a breath. “You can’t watch me night, Akoro. Er—it’s not part of the rules.”

His mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, and something passed between them—a dangerous current of dominance. He stepped forward, towering over her, and placed his large hand around her throat. He didn’t applying any pressure. “I agreed not to get in the way. I agreed not to fuck you. I did not agree to stay away from you.” He rubbed her throat with his thumb. “We both know you slept better with me there.”

Naya's cheeks warmed under his steady gaze, and a part her wanted him to squeeze, to let her limp so he could look after her, take care of her. “It’s n-not that.” His scent enveloped her—earthy, rich, with that distinctive edge that made her inner Omega whine for him, to be pinned down, fucked until she was satisfied. She’s missed it all night.

Naya drew in a breath, trying to clear her head, but it only filled her lungs with more of him. Her mind was scattering, unable to focus.

His gaze lifted to her hair and then lowered down her body, a dark possessiveness flashing in his eyes. Slowly, he pulled his hand away, but stayed close, hovering over her. "Today is yours again. What would you like to focus on?"

"I—" She faltered, but refused to step back. Forcing her mind into work. "I want to know more about the Nnǐn-kka Sands."

The council's reluctance yesterday had piqued her curiosity. Something significant had happened there—something no one would speak of without Akoro's permission. If she could understand the source of the wild magic, perhaps she could find a way to contain it again.

Akoro's expression shifted, a shadow crossing his features so briefly she might have imagined it. He inclined his head, the movement slow and deliberate. "I can tell you about the Nnǐn-kka Sands," he said, his voice measured. "But that will jump ahead to phase three."

Naya studied him, trying to read his expressions. Was he directing her away from something important?

Yesterday he had been surprisingly forthcoming, but that didn't mean she could trust him completely. He still wanted her empire. He still intended to claim her and keep her. And yet... if she were to find the Solution, she needed to understand everything, including what he was reluctant to share.

The tension between them shifted, subtly but unmistakably—no longer just the pull of bodies, but the tentative, fragile trust that could either strengthen or shatter with a single misstep.

"I’d like to know more about the seven phases,” Her voice soft but firm. "But I want to hear how magic moved beyond the Nnǐn-kka Sands first." Her eyes met his, unwavering. "I need to understand all of it if I'm going to help."

Akoro titled his head in understanding. "Then let’s go."

The nnirae's powerful strides ate up the distance, carrying them further from Onn Kkulma in a direction they hadn't traveled before. Unlike yesterday's journey through the ancient ruins, today they headed northeast, across terrain that gradually shifted from sand to a harder, rockier landscape dotted with scrubby vegetation.

Naya sat in front of Akoro, his arms a cage around her as he held the reins. The rhythmic motion of the creature beneath them had become almost comforting, the steady gait lulling her into a trance-like state as the sun climbed higher.

Akoro seemed tense, his body rigid behind her. Whatever they were going to see, it weighed on him.

"Where are we going?" she asked after they had traveled in silence for some time.

"The farming regions," Akoro said, his voice rumbling close to her ear. "Smaller settlements that supported the main cities by providing food, labor, resources."

She glanced over her shoulder at him. "Can you tell me about the phases?"

"Phase two." His voice had a grim quality that hadn't been there yesterday. "The demand for magical artifacts grew. The Sy Dynasty pushed for more production, more innovation." His voice was flat, stripped of emotion. "They became fixated on creating more powerful enchantments, more complex tools."

The nnirae's steady pace continued, jutting rocks giving way to a flat expanse. In the distance, the skeletal remains of a settlement emerged from the haze of heat. Naya could make out collapsed structures—stone foundations, crumbling walls, the occasional pillar standing in defiance of time and destruction. Beyond it, a forest of dead trees stretched toward the horizon—twisted, blackened silhouettes against the pale sky, their branches gnarled and curled.

"The Sy began pushing the boundaries of what was possible with magic," Akoro continued, his chest pressed against her back as they rode. "Traveling to places in the blink of an eye, flying, bringing the dead back to life… They didn’t all work, but enchantments grew increasingly complex, requiring more power, more control."

"And the wild magic?" Naya asked, unable to tear her eyes from the approaching ruins.

"It began to respond." His voice darkened, his body tensing behind her. "All of the boundaries of the Sands began to shift. The map you saw was from before phase three. But once magic became disrupted, the map was no longer accurate. The Nnin-kaa Sands were obviously the most dangerous. When it began shifting, creeping closer to Tsashokra, places that had never known wild magic began experiencing disturbances."

The nnirae slowed slightly as they approached a particularly rocky stretch. Akoro's arms tightened around her, steadying her against the jostling motion.

"The Vos and Qor families saw what was happening—how the magical boundaries were weakening, how the land itself seemed to resist the increasingly powerful enchantments. They warned the Sy Dynasty that they were tampering with forces beyond their control."

"They didn't listen," Naya said quietly, feeling the tension in his body.

"No." Akoro's voice dropped to a dangerous growl, his breath warm against her neck. "They had grown too powerful to be checked. There were huge clashes between the families, Vos and Qor trying to stop Sy from continuing. But Sy was now the most powerful dynasty. They had the kind of wealth no one could even dream of at that time. They had wealthy customers outside of the region, and they used the tools as weapons, to spy on others. They believed their mastery over magic made them untouchable."

The nnirae crested a small rise, giving them a clearer view of the devastation ahead—a once-thriving village reduced to ruins, surrounded by a forest of dead, twisted trees. The sight was a stark illustration of his words, a physical manifestation of hubris and its consequences.

"They were very wrong," he said.

The nnirae slowed to a halt at the edge of what must have once been the village square. Akoro dismounted, then lifted Naya off. The ruins seemed more ominous up close—broken walls and collapsed roofs, all covered in a fine layer of sand and ash.

Naya looked from the dead trees back to the village ruins, taking in the scale of destruction. "What happened here?"

Akoro's gaze drifted across the village. "Phase three.”

“The nnin-eellithi ,” Naya whispered.

Akoro shot her a look, then led the way through the debris-strewn paths of the ruined village, his broad shoulders tense, his steps measured and careful. Naya followed, picking her way over fallen stones and half-buried timbers, her feet sliding along the ground.

“If you cannot be careful, I will carry you again.”

Naya glanced up, and he paused, looking at her, stern and unrelenting.

She scowled at him. “Just tell me about phase three. I have questions I need to ask.”

Akoro made a growling sound at the back of his throat and continued, coming to a stop before the remnants of what might have been a dwelling. Only the foundation remained, with a partial wall rising from one corner like a broken tooth. He crouched, running his fingers through the sand-coated stone.

"It happened quickly," he said, his voice low. "A magical disaster of unprecedented scale."

Naya knelt beside him, close enough that their shoulders almost touched. "What kind of disaster?"

His eyes met hers, dark and haunted. "The Sy Dynasty had created their most powerful artifact yet—a device that could harness and redirect the energies of the Nnin-kaa Sands themselves. They believed it would give them absolute control over all magic in the region."

He stood abruptly, striding toward another structure. Naya hurried to keep pace with him.

"What went wrong?" she asked.

Akoro gestured to a blackened patch of ground where nothing grew, not even the sparse vegetation that had taken root elsewhere in the ruins. "You can't control what you don't understand. The artifact failed catastrophically. It broke the boundaries of the Nnin-kaa Sands."

Naya shook her head horrified. “They drew the wild magic out of the Nnin-Kaa Sands?”

“It destroyed most of the region,” he pointed toward the dead forest, "that was once a thriving woodland. After the surge, wild magic flooded through everything, warping the land, destroying settlements. Entire areas became uninhabitable within hours."

“It looks like the one you took me to before,” Naya said, staring at it.

“This one happened earlier.”

They walked together toward a half-collapsed building with a curved dome, perhaps once a communal hall. Inside, strange rippled patterns distorted the stone walls—not carvings, but actual waves in the material itself, as though the rock had briefly become fluid.

"Did magic cause this?" Naya asked, running her fingers along one of the warped surfaces.

Akoro watched her, his expression unreadable. "Yes. Can you sense it?"

She shook her head. “I can’t feel any magic nearby.”

“Good,” Akoro muttered. “Things have improved since then obviously.”

"What happened to the other families? The Vos and Qor?"

"Wiped out almost entirely." His jaw tightened, a muscle flicking beneath his skin. "Those who weren't killed in the initial disaster fled. Their bloodlines scattered to the edges of the region, their wealth gone."

Naya turned in a slow circle, taking in the devastation that surrounded them. "And the Sy?"

"Survived, but barely. They lost nearly everything—their wealth, their status, their control." Akoro led her to a fallen pillar that provided a makeshift seat and gestured for her sit. From a pouch at his belt, he withdrew a bundle wrapped in waxed cloth. "They refused to accept responsibility for what they'd done."

He unwrapped the bundle, revealing flatbread, dried fruits, and what appeared to be some kind of cured meat. "Eat," he said holding it out to her.

The simple fact that he'd thought to bring food surprised her. She glanced at the sky. Was it lur ennen ? She didn’t want to interrupt the story by asking.

Naya accepted the food, their fingers brushing in the exchange. That brief contact sent a flutter through her that she determinedly ignored.

"So the Sy blamed others for their downfall?" she surmised, tearing a small piece of bread.

Akoro's laugh was bitter and short. "They blamed everyone but themselves. They said the people had turned against them, that their enemies had sabotaged their work, that the Vos and Qor families had interfered with the artifact." He bit into a piece of the cured meat, chewing slowly. "It was easier than admitting they had destroyed their own civilization out of greed and hubris."

They ate in silence for a few moments. The food was simple but flavorful—the meat spiced with unfamiliar herbs, the dried fruits intensely sweet. The normalcy of sharing a meal amid such devastation felt strangely intimate.

“What are your questions?” Akoro asked.

Naya chewed, thinking for a long moment. “The Sy were responsible for breaking the Nnin-kaa border.”

“Yes.”

“Why is it treasonous to say that? None of the council members would answer, not even your brother.”

Akoro inhaled a breath. “The Sy Dynasty at the time made it treasonous to accuse them of being responsible… but there is more to it.”

“Let me guess,” she said sarcastically, “it comes in a later phase?”

“Yes.”

Naya laughed

Akoro went still, watching her closely.

She stared back at him, sobering, Maybe it was rude to laugh considering the circumstances. She lowered her head and continued eating. Awkward silence descended for a few more moments. "What became of the survivors?" Naya asked finally.

"They abandoned the cities," Akoro said. "Became nomadic, traveling in bands, scavenging resources from ruins like this one." He gestured around them. "Civilization collapsed within a generation. The magical artifacts that remained often malfunctioned catastrophically. People learned to fear magic rather than rely on it."

Naya studied his profile, the hard lines of his face illuminated in the harsh sunlight. "But not your family."

His eyes snapped to hers, sharp and assessing. "What makes you say that?"

"You're here," she said simply. "Your dynasty survived. You still use magical tools—the enchanted boulders, the magical domes in the desert." She paused. "You're king. Your family must have maintained some power through it all."

Akoro stood, gathering the remnants of their meal. "Come. We should tend to the nnirae before continuing."

They returned to where the beast waited patiently at the edge of the village. Akoro removed a sack of feed from his supplies and poured a measured amount into a shallow bowl. The nnirae dipping its massive head to eat.

“What’s his name?” Naya asked, stroking the animal’s neck.

Akoro looked at her blankly. “ Nnirae .”

She made a face. “But what’s his name.”

“He doesn’t have a name,” Akoro said. “He doesn’t need a name.”

Naya snorted. “We name our horses in my land.”

“He is not a horse,” Akoro said sharply. “He is from the Sands.”

She rolled her eyes, and smoothed the nnirae’s short, spiky mane, admiring the deeper beige that cover his tall ears. "You're so handsome, aren't you?" she murmured, running her fingers along the ridge of its spine. "A magnificent beast."

A hand closing around her wrist, yanking her away with a growl. She hit Akoro’s chest, and he locked his arm around her, looking down her with an alarm fury. His grip wasn't painful, but it was firm.

“What are you doing?” she asked, alarmed.

"Do not," he growled, “call anyone handsome in my presence."

Warmth bloomed in her belly, a fluttering sensation that spread outward through her limbs. Her inner Omega preened at his possessiveness, even as she rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous," she said, but her voice betrayed her, coming out breathier than intended. "It's an animal, your animal."

"I don't care if it's a fucking rock!" he bellowed, hunching over her, his eyes dark.

Naya's pulse quickened, as she looked up him. She couldn’t remember being held like this before, but she liked it. It felt like he was enveloping her, his scent all around her, and she could see his face. Her slick began to gather, a secret pleasure curling through her veins.

“Do you understand, tmot zia ?”

Naya couldn’t do anything but nod and blink.

His only response was to tighten his hold, a low growl vibrating through his chest. They stood, for a long moment, until he loosened his arm, much to her disappointment… no, much to her inner Omega’s disappointment and then released her.

Naya stumbled back and then went back to stroke the nnirae , hiding her face from him. Akoro moved to the other side, just watching her, his eyes hungry and dangerous.

“What er—happened next?” she asked.

Akoro exhaled. "The Sy Dynasty survived because they were ruthless." He began stroking the creature's neck. "They hoarded what magical knowledge remained, kept functioning. They used their remaining resources to establish themselves as leaders among the nomadic groups."

He handed Naya a waterskin. "Pour this into the trough while I check his legs."

She did as instructed, watching as he knelt to examine the nnirae's powerful limbs with practiced hands.

"They didn't rebuild?" she asked.

"They kept hold of Onn Kkulma the best they could. While everyone was living as nomads, following the safe paths to avoid wild magic, they were protecting them in the city." He straightened, running his palm along the nnirae's flank. "It was a desperate existence."

"So they didn’t help anyone?"

Akoro made a face. "Eventually. They accepted people into the city and offered safety in exchange for work. They said their priority was to preserve the culture."

Naya stroked the nnirae's muzzle, feeling its leathery warmth against her palm. "And that's how your family maintained control?"

Akoro's eyes met hers over the nnirae's back, dark and filled with something that might have been shame, might have been defiance. "To some degree. They had the only bulwark against complete extinction, Naya. They were ruthless, and they used their advantage. But they also saved what remained of our people."

The intensity in his gaze made her breath catch. For a moment, neither of them moved.

"You didn't answer my question," she said softly.

The corner of his mouth curled. "I didn't."

A realization struck her and she sobered. "Wait. When you held me captive, you said my people caused all this devastation." She gestured to the ruins around them. "But everything you've described was caused by your family—the Sy Dynasty's abuse of magic." Her voice hardened. "You accused us of destroying your civilization when it was your own ancestors."

The muscle in Akoro's jaw ticked, his expression darkening. "I'm getting to that part. Your people became involved in phase four."

"Phase four?" Naya's eyes narrowed. "You kidnapped me and tortured me on the basis of this, Akoro, and all along your people were to blame."

“I never said there was no blame on anyone else,” Akoro thundered. “But your people are responsible for the worst of it.”

The nnirae snorted, shifting its weight. Akoro ran a hand along its flank.

Naya opened her mouth to argue, but something in his expression stopped her—a strange look she hadn’t seen on him before.

"I’ll show you," he said, a growl in his voice. "Then maybe you'll understand, maybe you won’t. It doesn’t matter if you agree. You’re here to solve magic aren’t you?"

He gathered the waterskin and feed bowl, his movements sharp with barely contained tension.

Naya’s mind raced. Everything she'd learned and this bitter accusation hung between them. As Akoro helped her mount the nnirae once more, she couldn't help wondering how much worse it could get—what more could anyone from her land have done—and what would phase four would reveal the true source of Akoro's feud with the Lox Empire.