Page 5 of Sins of His Wrath (Myth of Omega: Wrath #2)

CHAPTER FIVE

I n the moments before she woke, she could feel the Alpha watching her.

It was an awareness that came to her just before she consciousness and just before rousing need dominated her. She wasn’t sure why he was looking at her or why he did it every time she slept, but his attention made her smile. If the sight of her pleased him, she was happy. She was even happier that this Alpha was attentive. He was keen to meet her needs and look after her like any good Alpha should. As her eyes fluttered open, he was already moving her to where he needed her, widening her legs and pulling her into position under him so he could sink deep, even before she was fully awake.

It had been like this for days, and she reveled in it—the feel of him and his dominating control. She got exactly what she needed when she needed it, and it pleased her that she could trust him.

Within moments, his body was slapping against hers, the rough, wet rhythm punctuated by his low grunts. His arms trapped her underneath him where she belonged, and the thick length inside her sunk deep with each punishing thrust. She pressed her face against him, the high she always sought already building, the blissful, raw pleasure stirring.

Panting, she arched her back, offering him her neck, her breasts, anything he wanted, and he took it all, the scruff of his beard scratching along her skin as he dragged his tongue over her shoulder to lave her sensitive nipples. His nose sought every crevice he could reach — while he slammed into her again. But he didn’t let her lips touch his. That was a slow, intimate moment for after.

A high-pitched whine escaped her throat and the Alpha’s hips drove harder, jolting her body in a punishing rhythm and arched even more, her orgasm whipping into a promised frenzy, threatening to take over and seize her whole body.

Naya gasped in her sleep, arching her back again for the Alpha. He liked that. It would please him?—

She woke with a whine in her throat, an urgent vocalization of need and satisfaction and desire blended into one desperate sound, and she gripped the sheets, her toes curling, her knees pressed together.

“Naya.” It was her mama.

“Mama?” Naya panted, trying to orient herself. Why was Mama here? She reached out her arm and found Mama kneeling by her bed. She was in her bedroom. “I-I dreamed…. He was… was….”

“It’s all right, Naya.” A cool cloth patted her face. “You were dreaming… or remembering.”

The sickeningly sweet scent of slick fill her nose. Naya blinked rapidly, forcing herself awake. What was happening? Sitting up, she pulled at her bedsheets. They were drenched.

“Come on,” Mama said gently. She helped Naya to her feet. “Stand there and stay still so I can keep monitoring your wound.”

Naya did as she was told and watched Mama change the sheets, horror bleeding through the dreamlike state that still gripped her. Growing up, Mama had seen everything—from her breasts growing to her first heat—but this had to be the most embarrassing moment. Her mind drifted back to the beautiful, attentive Alpha, disappointment dragging down her mood that he wasn’t really here.

Once the sheets were changed, Mama changed her night tunic, having her lift her arms like she was a child. In her tired, befuddled state, Naya felt like one. Her mind didn’t seem to work. “I don’t know why that happened,” she mumbled. “I don’t understand.”

Mama brushed her hair back with her fingers, pulling it together and tying it before she returned to bed. “Was it a dream or a memory?”

Naya forced her mind back to the dream for a moment. “A memory,” she mumbled. Even as she spoke, her body trembled with need for the Alpha. “But I’m not in my heat,” she said. “It shouldn’t happen. It’s never happened before.”

Mama helped her back into bed. “In your heat, you felt safe, yes?”

Naya relaxed into the bed and nodded.

“And now you don’t,” Mama said. “So you’re yearning for him. Your instincts are driven to seek that feeling again.”

Naya grit her teeth, annoyance scratching through the dreamlike nature of the aftermath of the dream. “I hate it,” she muttered. “I hate him for making me feel like this. I should feel safe in my own bed.”

“It is natural to feel this way after traumatic events, Naya,” Mama murmured, stroking her hand. “It will get better when you’re no longer exhausted, and when we find a way to heal this injury. Go back to sleep.” She patted Naya’s hand. “You’ll feel better in the morning.”

When Naya woke again, it was to silence and calm and peace. For a few blissful moments, her mind was clear, and she stared up at the familiar ceiling of her bedroom like she’d done for so many years. But then the memories crashed in. Closing her eyes, she organized all the information from the previous the day, but a sound from the corner of the room made her lift her head abruptly, and a sharp shot of pain sparked up her face.

“Don’t move so quickly,” came a growl from the corner.

Naya’s heart lifted. Her two brothers, Drocan and Azarn, and her sister, Idaya, were squeezed onto two stools in the corner. She smiled at the fierceness on Drocan’s face. While Azarn and Idaya were clearly worried, Drocan looked like he was raring to punch something. When he was younger, he got in these moods often and Papa said to just let him wear himself out, explaining that he himself was like that when he was that age and it came with being a pure Alpha. Apart from the shape of his nose, Drocan was indeed almost identical to Papa, from his dark looks and huge build to the dominance in his attitude. Alpha through and through.

“You planned a war without me,” he muttered, almost sulkily.

Naya had to force herself not to laugh. While she had been interested in history, Drocan, only a year younger than her, had been fascinated with anything to do with battle, war or conflict. He’d memorized all the battle strategies of the most famous conflicts and tried to attend as many planning and strategy sessions as he could. He’d become a Lox warrior almost as quickly as Naya, but although he undertook extensive warrior training, like Lonn, he had his eye on a command role from the start. “We had to move quickly,” Naya explained. “But I want to hear what you think about what we’ve planned.”

“Are you hurt?” Azarn asked softly. Naya’s heart melted at his wide brown eyes. Although Azarn was as big as Drocan, he wasn’t as forceful. He was more thoughtful, and as a result developed a sharp, cunning side as they were growing up.

Idaya elbowed him, scowling. “Of course she’s hurt. Look at her face.”

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Naya said, slowly sitting up.

Drocan got up first and the other two followed, crowding around her bed before climbing onto it and hugging her all at the same time.

“We missed you so much,” Azarn mumbled into her shoulder.

“I missed you all, too.” Naya forced herself to swallow the tears building. “I thought about you all, a lot.”

Drocan’s brow was raised when he pulled back. “Did you kill whoever did that to you?”

“I will,” Naya said. “I’m just so glad to see you all.”

They settled around her on the bed.

“Is it true we’re about to be invaded?” Idaya asked. The question was casual, but as fierce and brave and opinionated as Idaya was, but Naya could hear the edge of concern in her voice.

“We are, but you don’t need to worry, Idi.” She patted her hand. “You’ll be safe.” But even as she said the words, Papa’s warning came back to her… “Warriors will die. Citizens will die, palace staff will die, and possibly some of us in this room, too.” Although she’d told Papa she was prepared for it, the idea of losing any of her family horrified her. She pushed the thought out of her mind.

“What was it like there?” Azarn asked, his curious mind getting the better of him.

“It’s very different.” Naya thought for a moment. “It was like being in a completely different world. Their weather is different. It’s their day when it’s our night. The clothes and the city and the food is all different. I think you’d all find it fascinating.”

“Not if they’re our enemies,” Drocan said sharply.

Naya inclined her head. “So we can’t learn from our enemies?” Strangely enough, the raw edge of anger she’d felt yesterday had softened. Maybe it was seeing her siblings, or getting proper sleep, but her rested mind felt light and abuzz with new thoughts. Her conversation with Mama had felt annoying and heavy and burdensome before she’d gone to sleep, but now she was rested, she needed to think properly about what Mama had said.

“Did you see their army?” Drocan asked.

“No, but I heard they’re big—and their leader is….” Naya swallowed. “He fights well.”

“How do you know?” he shot back at her.

“I sparred with him.”

Drocan scowled. “They can’t be better than the Lox.”

An uneasiness squirmed in Naya’s stomach. “They’re bigger. Sometimes that‘s enough.”

A new voice came from the outer door. “Naya, are you awake?”

“In here, Aunt Vic,” Naya called.

“Everyone wants to see you,” Idaya explained. “But we told them we have to see you first. Mama left us in charge.”

“And they didn’t give us much time,” Drocan said, annoyed.

“Oh, you’re up.” Auntie Vic arrived in the doorway with her children behind her. The three girls peered around their mama with wide eyes. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said apologetically. “The girls kept pestering me to come and see if you were awake.”

Naya laughed, her heart warm and happy. She waved them inside. “Join us, Auntie Vic. There’s always space for you and our terrible cousins.”

For the next half hour, it was like nothing had changed in six years. Drocan scowled, Idaya rolled her eyes, and their mischievous little cousins laughed and teased everyone while Auntie Vic oversaw their reunion. This time, she fussed over Naya’s wound and tried, unsuccessfully, to steer the conversation away from the war. Even so, it felt like they were young again when they all used to pile into her room on national holidays and make plans of chaos for the day.

An undercurrent of urgency flowed through her time with her siblings and cousins, but it didn’t feel as raw as yesterday. Mama was right—if she didn’t spend time with family now, when would she?

After about an hour, Auntie Vic ushered everyone out and left Naya and Drocan to talk. Naya filled him in on the strategy plans and some of her conversation about the plans with Mama.

Drocan thought for a long moment and then sighed. “I mean, Mama’s not wrong, Nay. You’ve always had a different approach to Papa. I can see why she’d expect something different from you.”

“But does that mean the strategy is wrong? Should I be thinking about avoiding war even though they’re the ones coming here to start it?”

“No,” Drocan growled immediately. He paused and then sighed. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I can’t see how you can, but you always think of things that I don’t. If it were me, you know I’d want nothing but war.” He was quiet for a moment, his eyes drifting up as he thought. “But in everything I’ve read, most civilized nations avoid war as much as possible because the devastation is always more than everyone expects. The society is never the same afterward. You heard what it was like here after Papa won the throne. It wasn’t like it is now. If he hadn’t brought Omegas back, I don’t know if the Lox Empire would be as strong as it is now or have allies.”

Naya nodded and then exhaled. “So either way we lose our way of life, no matter what. A war will change life as we know it, but if we don’t defend ourselves, we’ll be wiped out.”

Drocan nodded, his eyes hardening. “We have no choice in this instance, no. But maybe when you speak to this ‘Mother’ you’ll figure out how to defend against their use of magic. That’s the most dangerous thing about them.”

Naya nodded in agreement.

“And I think you were right to challenge Papa. He hasn’t had a battle that has excited him in years. I know he sees the dangers, but I’m not sure he is minimizing as much risk as possible. You’re more thoughtful about those things, and you have to forge your own way.”

Naya observed him. “Has he made you marshal yet?”

“No.” The word came out as a rough growl. Drocan had been training with Uncle Torin, the Commander of the Lox army, since he was nineteen, and even oversaw Commander duties for half of the empire, but five years later Papa still hadn’t officially awarded him a role yet.

“What does Uncle Torin think?”

“He thinks I’m ready, but says it’s up to Papa. I think they’re worried about my battle experience.”

Naya exhaled long. Drocan had fought in plenty of battles, but it was obvious he wouldn’t have the extensive experience that Papa and Uncle Torin had. The older warriors had fought constantly when the army was first formed. They honed their skills. Drocan had probably fought more than any other soldier, but it wasn’t enough for Papa.

“I guess this war will give me the experience I need,” Drocan said with a smile. “Either that or I’ll die and it won’t matter.”

“Don’t say that,” Naya said sharply.

“But it’s true,” Drocan said, his smile fading. “I need more battle experience and this is a good way?—”

“No, Drocan,” Naya said fiercely. “This isn’t a good way for anything.”

Drocan’s eyes were dark and serious. “Unless you can think of something else, we have to make the best out of this opportunity, Naya. I think that’s what Mama is trying to tell you. Don’t waste an opportunity. We aren’t at fault for what’s about to happen, but we can at least be smart about it.”

“We need to talk.”

Mother Freya didn’t even turn to look at her from where she sat on the bed. “I was expecting you.”

Naya nodded at the two guards stationed outside and slowly entered the room, glancing around. It was a simple bedroom, only marginally better than a prison cell, but Naya wasn’t surprised. If Papa had his way, this woman would be in a cell—permanently. She paused, realizing something. “You came to the palace willingly?”

“Of course.”

When she offered nothing more, Naya asked, “Why?”

The old woman shrugged. “I wanted to see you for myself.” She turned to look at Naya—her eyes bore into her. “And I wanted to see what you had become.”

From the woman’s expression, Naya guessed she didn’t find her exceeding any expectations. “You never wanted to visit before?”

The Mother scoffed. “Not particularly. Your father would have burst into a thousand pieces if I were anywhere near you or the Omegas, and I have no desire to be anywhere near him. So this is a one-off. When I want to leave, your mother knows I’ll have no problem doing so. Those guards are for show—to appease your father.” She held her pointed gaze on Naya. “And that represents the entire problem with the way your parents have dealt with magic.”

Naya moved to stand in front of her. “I need you to tell me about the magic in the Wastelands.”

The Mother snapped her gaze away, turning to face the wall. “There is no information I’ll give you if it will be used to help your father.”

“Even if it will help the people of the empire?” Naya’s voice was harder than she’d intended. “Even if it will help Omegas? Even if it will stop the empire returning to a time when Omegas were forced into hiding?”

Mother Freya finally lifted her eyes. “I no longer bear that responsibility. You and your parents do.”

“So you don’t care anymore? You just switched that concern off?”

“You expect me to hold on to my worry and fear for years when I can’t do anything about it?” The Mother shot back, her brittle voice hard. “You expect me to make myself sick with anger and anxiety at the way you and your parents have left Omegas vulnerable and weak?”

Naya’s mouth tightened. “They are not weak. Many of them are with their Alphas and they have families.”

“Do you think that is all we are?” The Mother’s voice deepened, and she rose from the bed, face contorted in fury. “Do you think being bred is the sum of what Omegas are good for? So just because we’re no longer being abused to the degree we were, our lives are perfect and fulfilled?”

Everything in Naya tensed, but she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn’t argue with this woman, not with the empire at stake. Besides, they wouldn’t get anywhere if they were both angry.

“Omegas are the most special dynamic in the Known Lands,” the Mother continued. “Only we can naturally and inherently control magic with harm. What makes you think that we’re not meant for more than fucking Alphas and raising children?”

“I’m not saying we’re not. I’m just pointing out?—”

“Have you even spoken to any of the Omegas in the village?” the older woman continued. “Do you know if they’re satisfied?”

“Yes, they tell me they’re happy,” Naya said forcefully. “They’ve been telling me and my mother that they’re happy for years. Just because they’re satisfied with their Alphas and their families doesn’t mean they’re weak and vulnerable.”

The Mother was silent for a long moment and then sat back down on the bed, her face still in a sneer. “What would you know? You have no interest in magic or how it could enrich Omega life. You are a trophy child, celebrated for what you represent, not for anything you’ve done.”

The words hit Naya like a pail of cold water, drawing out all the insecurities that had been smothered by Akoro and her experience in his land.

“You are paraded around as some kind of important symbol, but what do you actually do?” The Mother leaned forward, a hint of malice in her eyes. “It was me and the other Mothers who took steps to actually preserve Omega life for over a hundred years—made the hard decisions and took an incredible risk to keep Omegas safe—and yet we are considered criminals.”

Naya kept her expression neutral, though her heart thrummed rapidly. “You have a conveniently rosy view of your own actions, but let’s not pretend that’s the full story.”

Mother Freya’s gaze turned steely, but she didn’t reply. Something shifted in the way she held herself, and the air between them suddenly felt charged.

“Regardless of what happened in the past or what you think of me and my parents, that has nothing to do with the dangers we are all facing now.”

The Mother shook her head slowly. “It has everything to do with it.” Her low voice was heavy and weighted. “You’ve studied at the Records Keep. You know exactly how history impacts the present—you know how opportunity and risk can be tied to certain choices and decisions. Your parents’ lack of interest in magic has directly left you at a disadvantage now.”

That was debatable, but Naya wasn’t going to argue about it now. She waited for her to continue.

The Mother looked her over for a long moment, her eyes roaming over her body as if assessing her. “You were destined to be strong even without help from me and my sister,” the Mother murmured after a silence had built. “With the purity of your parents, you were always destined to be incredibly powerful, but you haven’t honored that at all. Neither has your mother or father.”

Naya had heard that the Mothers had helped her before she was born, but the terrible things they’d done always outweighed that moment. “How did you expect us to honor it?”

“By making sure that you, the most powerful Omega in the Known Lands, were well trained in all aspects of magic available to you. It isn’t good enough to have magic at your fingertips if you do not know how to use it; if you don’t know its true strength and power; and if you don’t use it in ways to benefit other Omegas.”

“My mother trained me in every way that you trained her.”

“Your mother doesn’t know everything,” the Mother shot back. “Yes, she is powerful in her own right, but you have the potential to levels unseen before, Naraya. I saw that yesterday and so did you. You can do things that even Mother Azia had trouble with. But, you require training from the best.”

Naya pressed her mouth into a thin line. Mother Azia had been the most notorious Mother—the leader—but she was dead. “You mean learn from you?”

“No. It’s too late for that.” Her voice was brittle and dangerously quiet. “My sister is dead—they all are. So much talent and knowledge gathered over decades gone. Wasted! Your mother was willing to let it disappear forever, so I don’t see why I should entertain your questions now.”

Naya stared at her for a moment, then drew in a deep breath and lifted her eyes to look around the room, thinking quickly. She had to try a different tack. Mother Freya was angry and bitter, with long-held grievances against her parents that had festered over the decades. Mama had told her that the five Mothers had been very close and now the last remaining one was alone and old, and she clearly missed the others. Why should she care about what happened to the empire?

Naya watched her settle back on the bed, facing away. So much about the upcoming war hinged on their understanding of magic. Her people were trusting her to protect them, and she’d told Papa she could get this woman to help them. She moved over to the wall opposite where Mother Freya sat. “Over in that other land… the Northern Lands, as my parents called it,” she began, “there are no Omegas in the city.”

Mother Freya’s back stiffened.

“I thought they were dead or didn’t exist, but they’ve been banished because they attract the white fire,” Naya said. “They’re expected to fend for themselves in a desert environment unlike any I’ve experienced before. It’s brutal. Their society and culture doesn’t include Omegas out of necessity to survive the white fire. So when those people come here and conquer our lands and kill our people, they’ll no longer have a need to banish Omegas, so what do you suppose will happen? How do you think those Alphas, who have never been around Omegas before, will behave? They have none of our history to learn from. It’ll be a society without me or Mama or Papa. No Lox army for protection, nothing. It will be a society who will make enemies out of our allies and roll back time on Omega treatment.”

The old woman’s entire body was rigid now.

“That is what will happen if the Lox Empire is conquered by the Sy Dynasty. That’s what will happen to all those Omegas. That’s what will happen without your help.” Naya exhaled slowly and waited for a response, but long moments passed and Mother Freya said nothing.

Finally Naya walked toward the door, keeping at bay the jitter of urgency getting stronger in her stomach. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I needed to know more. Maybe there was a need for Omegas to train in magic and make their Alphas and the public fearful of them for their knowledge and power. But it’s too late for blame. I need to understand the white fire so our people, including all Omegas in our lands and theirs, have a chance. If you don’t teach me, I’ll figure it out.”

The Mother made a sound at the back of her throat, so Naya continued, “The question it is, how long will it take and how many will die in the meantime? How many Omegas will die? You’re the only Mother left, but at least you’re still here. You can still help. Their knowledge lives on with you. You want to shut that knowledge away and restrict access, knowing that an entire generation of Omegas will almost certainly head back to the suffering that you protected their mothers and grandmothers from for over a hundred years. Are you happy to let that happen?”

The Mother was silent, and Naya knew she hit a nerve. Everything she knew about the Mothers was part of recorded history and one thing was clear—the infamous Mothers always insisted that everything they’d done was to protect Omegas. If that was true, no Mother could be happy with the idea of Omegas going back to the abuse they once suffered, regardless of what other issues they may have.

“Their knowledge doesn’t live on in me,” she muttered after a long moment. “They were all powerful in their own right—we each had different skills.”

“But you are still powerful.”

“Not without my sister,” she snapped, her voice hoarse.

Naya nodded in understanding. Twins had an enhanced magic—one that was more powerful than an average Talent-crafter. It was what made Papa’s Alpha Talent-crafter twins so powerful. But Omega twins were even more powerful. Mother had mentioned them once or twice over the years; Mothers Freya and Fern. She’d said Fern was the friendly one.

“It’s complicated magic, even for us,” Mother Freya continued. “Mother Azia was the most powerful Omega before you were born—she was the one who knew everything about it.”

“But you know it too?” Naya asked.

Mother Freya half-shrugged. “I know the theory of it. My sister and I were capable, but we left it to Mother Azia.” A smile ghosted across her lips, her eyes shifting to an unfocused softness. “Azia was always saying that we could be as powerful as she if we made the effort, but we didn’t need to. After Azia, Naysa was…” The old woman’s voice trailed off, and she stiffened as if realizing that she was reliving her memories.

Naya breathe shallowly and watched her. This woman was steeped in the love that she had for the fellow Mothers. People who’d fought her cause, who were now all gone. She was alone and disappointed—her cause failed, and in some strange way, Naya could relate to her. “Did she teach anyone else?”

“She tried. But a lot of it was too difficult for most Omegas. Very few truly learned how to do it. So even if I wanted to, there’s no way I could teach you everything. Too much has been lost with them.”

“For now, I just need answers to my questions.”

Freya turned on the bed to look at her, her face solemn. “It won’t be enough,” she insisted. “Magic is much more complicated than it appears to be. It requires serious study to master.”

“We don’t have time for that,” Naya said, trying not make her impatience obvious. “I just need to know how you created the rule-based magic and created a shield for your compound in the wastelands, and if there’s a way to—disable it or redirect that kind of magic.”

Mother Freya was quiet, but Naya forced herself to let the silence build.

“You recognize that all magic is not equal?” the old woman said finally.

Naya nodded. “It has different moods.”

Freya’s stiff lips softened into a smile. “Naysa used to say that.”

Naya swallowed. Mama had named her partly after Mother Naysa, who’d died before Naya was born.

“But no, while you can describe it as having different moods, it’s more specific than that. It’s not the same magic with different moods, it’s different magic of varied strength and purpose.” She paused. “You know that Omegas absorb magic before we’re born?”

Naya nodded. Magic naturally weaves into Omegas’ physical being while they are growing in the womb, making it an intrinsic part of who they are. The early exposure and absorption of magic in this way was why Omegas could command magic so easily without having to use spells or hand movements like Talent-crafters.

“Because of that, the way magic interacts with us is different,” Mother Freya continued. “You have been taught to control magic the way your Mother does—to reach out and manipulate using your will. But your entire body can hold magic.”

Naya stared at her, brows furrowing. “What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said,” Mother Freya said. “If we are strong enough, we can hold magic inside us, like you did when you returned. We can also act as its conduit.”

“But how does that help me with rule-based magic?”

“I don’t know what rule-based magic is,” Mother Freya said nonchalantly. “That’s not a term used by Omegas.”

“Then why didn’t you say so?” Naya snapped, finally losing her temper. This woman was wasting precious fucking time. “I just need to know how you controlled the dome that protected your Omega compound.”

“I know,” Freya said bitterly. “I’m telling you from the beginning.”

Naya forced her voice to calm. “I need the specifics about that first.”

The Mother shifted on the bed, her expression pinched. “The information I’m giving you is more useful for context.”

“Maybe so, but you can tell me about that after we’ve mounted a defense against their magic. This is urgent.”

Mother Freya sighed. “The dome that surrounded and protected our compound needed to be maintained constantly, and we didn’t have the time to give it the attention it needed. We weaved raw magic into the dome, creating a pattern—a symbol that served as an instruction it would obey. Then, whenever magic encountered it, it followed the instruction.”

“How would someone unravel the symbol?” Naya asked. “If I wanted to stop or interrupt the magic, how would I do it?”

“It is difficult if it isn’t your own magic; you have to know the shape of the symbol to feel and disrupt it. And you have to be careful—it can cause serious harm if you’re careless. You need to understand the symbol to be able to sense it.”

Naya thought for a moment. “What kind of symbol is it?”

“It’s a language,” the Mother said, a strange look coming over her face. “The Ancient Tongue.”

“The Ancient Tongue?” Naya made a face. “I thought you Mothers hated the Ancient Tongue?”

“We hated what Alphas used the language to do,” Mother Freya corrected. “And we never needed it, particularly. But it is the only language that magic responds to. There was no use letting it go to waste if it could be useful.”

Naya frowned in thought. She had used the Ancient Tongue to control the white fire when she escaped Akoro, so everything the Mother was saying made sense, except that Ancient Tongue couldn’t be the only language magic responded to. Akoro’s people had to have developed another language that worked with magic, otherwise their application of it wouldn’t be so varied and sophisticated. “The Royals created that language, didn’t they?” The moment the question left her lips, she knew it was a mistake.

Mother Freya’s face shuttered, transforming into something hard and closed.

It was the king’s line from across the White Ocean, who had overseen and encouraged the most brutal violence against Omegas. They had developed the language over centuries and used it to position themselves as tyrannical rulers. That was over now, but those wounds would always run deep with the Mothers.

“How well did you learn it?” Naya asked tentatively. “I thought it was restricted to Talent-crafters back then.”

Mother Freya’s face was sour, but she still answered, her voice harsh. “We raised an army of Omega spies, princess. We learned anything we wanted.”

Naya returned to her rooms in deep thought. The first days after Akoro had taken her were almost a blur now, but in the desert when he’d had those horrible dark red bands attached to her, the women traced symbols on the fabric with their fingers. That seemed to support what the Mother said. The question was, what symbols were they using? If Akoro’s people had developed their own magical language, Naya wouldn’t be able to interfere with it without learning that particular language. Though… when she’d escaped using the Ancient Tongue, did that mean she could use it to interfere with their magic language? Did the Ancient Tongue override the language they created?

Naya sighed and moved in front of the mirror to check her bandage—peering at the seeping red wound before re-dressing it. Whatever theory she comes up with interrupting their magic, she needed to try it before they arrived, and she’d have to think quickly. The knot in her stomach coiled tighter at the thought of Akoro arriving in her land. Wrapping her arms around herself, she pressed her face into them. A deep-set longing and sadness overcame her that her Alpha wasn’t here to do this. That was his responsi?—

Naya inhaled sharply and dropped her hands, a sharp gust of guilt bursting through her. No. She would not pine for him. He wasn’t what her stupid Omega side thought he was, and the sooner he was dead, the easier it would be to move on.

Pushing all thought of him out of her head, she changed into something more formal. Her parents had met with the other rulers, so they were going to fill her in about what had happened between the Southern Lands and Akoro’s land. The fact she hadn’t attended the meeting herself niggled at her, especially after Mother Freya’s words about the ornamental nature of her existence. The old woman hadn’t been completely wrong. Even without her total absence from her duties for six years, Naya had never been as meaningful to Omegas as her mother. She’d never passed a law or passed a decree or led the army. She’d done nothing.

Pushing the guilty feeling away, she opened the door to leave again and froze.

Lonn stood outside.

She was surprised to see him for a moment, forgetting she’d asked Auntie Vic to find him. He still had that hardness she’d seen in the Great Hall, and it took some getting used to. The man that’d sat opposite her in the pairing room had been attentive, serious, confident. But she had to remember he was a fierce warrior and Alpha first, and he had the height, width, and demeanor to prove it.

She averted her eyes from his body, suddenly guilty that she was looking at him like she was assessing him. “Thanks for coming.”

His eyes roamed her face, lingering on the wound, before darting back up to meet her gaze. “He really did this to you?”

Naya nodded.

His face turned hard. “I will kill him.”

“You’re in a queue behind my parents, Drocan, Uncle Torin, Auntie Vic, and probably every general across the realm.”

“I am a general.”

Naya pursed her lips, quirking them up in a smile. “I noticed. You were promoted?”

Lonn nodded. “Soon after your disappearance.” He paused and then stepped closer. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Naya said, aware the words came out a little too quickly. “But I need something.”

He searched her eyes. “What?”

“I need you to bite me.”

Lonn’s brows furrowed, and his head titled slightly. “What?”

“I want us to bond. Now.”

He was silent for a moment. “You rejected that idea the last time we talked.”

“I know. Things have changed.”

Lonn’s gaze lingered on the bandage on her face. “Your beauty has not changed, Naya. You will find a mate, possibly quicker now.”

Naya blinked. He thought she was beautiful? “Um. It’s not about that.”

“Then what?”

A heat spread over her chest. “If you’re not interested anymore, that’s all right. Just say that.”

“I’ve always been interested,” he said tightly. “You know that. It’s not about my interest. It’s about why you’ve changed your mind so suddenly.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“It does. You were adamant that you wanted your true mate. I’m not going to bond with you now only for you to regret it when whatever lingering insecurity you’re going through right now passes.”

“I’m not going through anything,” Naya said, her voice rising. “I just want to us to bond before the war starts.”

“Why?”

“It just needs to be done.”

Lonn’s brows continued to inch together. “Is this something to do with you leading the army? Do you need to claim the throne now for some reason? Is the emperor all right?”

“He’s fine,” Naya insisted. “This just needs to be done.” Turning, she stepped back inside her room and beckoned. “We can do it now if you’re available?”

Lonn didn’t look convinced, but he walked past her into the room.

Naya watched him. No one needed to know that the alpha coming to invade their land was her true mate. In fact, the fewer people knew, the better. Carefully, she removed her blocks.

“I thought you didn’t want to be bonded to me,” Lonn said, turning to her as she closed the door

“No… I.” Naya sighed and turned to him. “Well, I just didn’t see the point if….” She allowed the end of her sentence to peter out. “I was looking for something unrealistic—something that would never be an option. After I left our meeting, I thought about it and I planned to meet you again that week to talk about it. I hadn’t decided it would be a firm no.”

Lonn’s gaze on her was unflinching. “And now, after being kidnapped and tortured, you want to bond with me here and now, without your parents’ knowledge and approval? Without the empire first celebrating our union, and hours before we could be invaded by one of the most powerful enemies we could ever face?”

Naya opened her mouth, but didn’t know what to say. He was right to question her. Clearly, he could tell something was wrong, and while she wasn’t being upfront about her reasons, she also wasn’t going to outright lie to him. If he didn’t want to mate her, she could find another Alpha within a few minutes of walking around the palace. She just wanted it done. Once she was mated, Akoro wouldn’t be able to scent her anymore, and she wouldn’t be so affected by the memories of him. Once she was mated, he wouldn’t be able to make claims on her or demand anything of her. Once she was mated, her stupid body, and the clueless Omega that surfaced any time she was in her heat, wouldn’t be able to get in the way anymore.

The nightmare would be over for good, and it would make things easier when she killed him.

“I’m not stupid, Naya,” Lonn said, after the silence had stretched too long. “There’s a reason you want to be mated immediately. Just tell me what it is.”

“If you don’t want to do it, that’s fine,” Naya said, brushing past him to head back to the door.

He grabbed the crook of her elbow and pulled her back into him, grabbing the back of her head.

Suddenly he was so close, his brown eyes looking down at her, searching her face as though trying to find clues to the mystery of her behavior. His scent hit her instantly, deep and mellow. “Once I do this,” he murmured. “That would be it. We will be mated forever, regardless of what comes next. Yet, as you rightly pointed out last time, we are not true mates. Even worse, we are strangers.”

Naya frowned up at him, ignoring how wrong his scent was. “Why does that matter to you?”

His eyes flashed. “Why wouldn’t it?” The question was almost angry. “I may be fine about not waiting for my true mate, but I want a mate who is with me because she knows who I am and likes me.” His nose flared and his breathing deepened. Naya watched him in surprise. Lonn always had two states; fierce and strong on the battlegrounds, but calm, reasoned, and mostly silent otherwise. This was the first time she’d seen him even close to irritated. “Do you know what it is like being mated to a stranger?” he asked. “Someone you don’t know who could be completely wrong for you in every way unless in your Haze? Our instincts can’t be the only reasons to bond.”

“How would you know what it’s like?” she whispered.

Lonn’s breathing calmed. “My parents.” He didn’t say more, but the tenseness of his shoulders spoke volumes.

Naya lifted her hands. “I understand you want a successful pairing?—”

“I want a meaningful one,” he corrected. “If we’re not mates, then it will take more work, but I’m not looking for a convenience match, your highness, regardless of your status.”

The heat at her chest crept up her neck. She nodded, unable to hide her disappointment. “All right.”

A struggle played out on Lonn’s face. Suddenly, he leaned in and ran his nose along her neck. Instinctively, Naya shivered and then recoiled. Lonn froze at her reaction.

Naya stilled, her heart dropping. Their unsuitability was too glaring to ignore. While he was a very good-looking Alpha, she would always unfairly compare him to her mate. She cursed inwardly, annoyed that she hadn’t prepared for this. Other Omegas had settled with Alphas that weren’t their true mates, but they’d never met their true mate. Maybe Naya could’ve gotten used to Lonn if she’d never experienced the deep, complex, heady scent of Akoro, but Lonn couldn’t compare. Akoro had basically spoiled her for anyone else. What if she still remembered Akoro’s scent once they were mated? That would be unfair to Lonn and torture for her. Maybe she should just be alone. If she could lead the Lox, surely she could rule.

Naya placed her palm on Lonn’s chest and opened her mouth to tell him to stop, disappointment flooding her as she tried to find the words.

Lonn grabbed the back of her head, forcing her eyes to his hard gaze, but his eyes lingered on her face, down at her wound, and then they widened, alarmed. He flicked back up to look at her eyes. “Naya…”

But she could already feel it.

A sharp, crawling sting spread through the wound, like tiny claws scraping beneath her skin. Cold crept over it, tightening, sealing. The pain flickered, then faded. Naya pressed her hand against her face, and there was just smooth skin, not even a mark or a scar.

Her whole body went cold.

“What’s wrong?” Lonn asked, alarm in his voice. “What does that mean?”

Naya gritted her teeth. “He’s here.”