Page 6 of Sins of His Wrath (Myth of Omega: Wrath #2)

CHAPTER SIX

L onn charged out of the room. Naya reinstalled her blocks, then reached for magic and weaved together a portal directed at her father. She stepped through it into Papa’s battle strategy room. Papa was in deep conversation with Chief Kardos and King Malloron, but they stopped talking, startled at her sudden arrival.

“He’s here, Papa,” she said steadily.

All three Alphas bristled. Papa stormed to the door. “Where?” he bellowed.

“I don’t know,” Naya said, weaving another portal. “But he’s close—somewhere near the palace.” He had to be close in order for the wound to become invisible. Next, she stepped into the family armory, her breath tight in her chest. The familiar scent of oiled leather and cold steel filled the space, grounding her for a moment before the weight of what lay ahead settled in. Letting her mind go blank, focusing on the task at hand. Her fingers moved quickly, fastening the segmented cuirass over her tunic. Pauldrons clicked into place, leather bracers strapped tight over her forearms. She exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders, but the tension coiled deep in her gut refused to loosen. This armor had carried her through battle before, had shielded her from blades and arrows, but this time was different.

She slipped all her weapons into place with practiced precision, her mind sharping at the routine before grabbing her robe. It was woven from the finest black silk threaded with deep crimson embroidery, its heavy, fluid fabric designed specifically for her. When she swung it over her shoulders, the heavy fabric settled on the mantle of authority she’d been too insecure to face for six years. But now it served as a reminder of her true strength. She’d fought Akoro before, but not when she was properly armed and dressed in the colors of her empire. If he had come to take what was hers, he would reckon with her in her rightful position before he ever laid a hand on her lands.

Brassy war horns blared through the air like a deep, forced belch, startling her. They sounded much too close. Leaving the palace by the side door, she followed the sounds of the horns through the training grounds. Her heart jumped into her mouth as she came closer to the region of the Omega village. Sounds of steel clashing, grunts, shouts, and wails rose into the air. No.

Naya ran, dread coursing through her veins. As she rounded the palace grounds, the Lox were already pouring out of the nearest palace exit far behind her, led by Papa and Uncle Torin, but it was already too late.

Akoro’s soldiers flooded every inch of the Omega village.

Naya charged forward, drawing her sword, but the men didn’t progress past the village. They surged along its perimeter, creating a barrier of men, walling off the village, trapping the families in there and keeping everyone else out.

She stopped several yards away, sensing a strange magical structure past the village in the forest. Most likely a portal. Each soldier had some kind of magic around them too—a magical shield surrounding them that originated from a complicated structure on their armor. It was closed-off magic, like the dark red bands, but the armor had a strange vibration that she hadn’t noticed before. Maybe it was the symbol or language that controlled it. It wasn’t unexpected considering this culture’s extensive use of magic, but attacking them with magic while they had the Omegas would be risky.

The problem was disarming their magical shield. She had to figure out how to use the information the Mother gave her.

Then she glimpsed several Alpha bodies strewn on the ground behind the warriors. Naya’s breath left her. How many had been killed? Dread filled her veins. Had they killed Omegas? Several warriors shuffled to the front of the barrier, dragging women with them.

“Wait!” she bellowed as Papa and Uncle Torin came up next to her, all watching the enemy. “Wait.”

Papa held up his fist, instructing the Lox to fall back a few feet behind them. His eyes swept over the scene, assessing the situation. “What is it, Naya?”

“They have the Omegas,” Naya said breathlessly.

Akoro’s soldiers dragged forward wide-eyed Omegas and held the tip of their weapons at their necks.

A low growl rumbled in Papa’s throat.

“Surrender your empire!” The voice soared over their heads, deep and strong. “Surrender now, or we will kill every Omega in this land.”

“Is that him?” Papa growled at Naya.

“No.” It sounded like Nrommo. Her eyes flitted across the soldiers. His men were just as big as the Lox, but their armor and weapons reflected the intricate style and detail she’d seen on both Prillu and Akoro. The main difference was they wore helmets that covered their entire head. Nrommo must be farther back, projecting his voice.

Papa signaled to Lox with another hand gesture, telling them to prepare to advance.

“Papa…,” Naya said, a warning in her voice. “We cannot let him kill the Omegas.”

“We cannot let him take the empire,” Papa shot back. “This is his move, Naya. It’s the empire or the Omegas. We have to charge now and hope they won’t have time to kill them all.”

“No,” Naya said, a realization coming to her. “He has some kind of portal open in the forest. If we charge, he’ll kill them, then retreat into the portals and reappear somewhere else with another threat. It won’t end until the empire is destroyed.”

“Fuck!” Papa’s frustration was strong, but he kept the Lox back.

Naya breathed shallowly, her thoughts swirling. She knew Papa. He’d rather attempt to fight them multiple times than concede. But Akoro had them in a choke hold. The Lox Empire had the most Omegas in the Known Lands. If they were killed, it would have repercussions for decades. There would be no Omegas to pair with Alphas, and both the Alpha and Omega dynamics would eventually die out, not to mention that the purity of the dynamics—Alphas and Omegas born of Alpha and Omega couples—would weaken considerably and put their society at risk.

Naya watched the barrier of soldiers. Some Omegas were attempting to fight, but they couldn’t twist themselves out of the soldiers’ grip, while others—the younger ones and children—were frozen still. Clearly, they hadn’t created the forcefield Mama had mentioned—it was debatable if any of them could still use magic. They’d spent so long focusing on pairing and their dynamics that they’d let learning about magic take a back seat.. Mother Freya’s words haunted her. “…the way you and your parents have left Omegas vulnerable and weak…” As she glimpsed beyond the men, she saw some Alphas being held as well, farther back. They’d definitely fought and been injured. A few had had limbs severed, but she couldn’t see any Omegas that had been severely hurt.

Naya’s heart beat wildly. She couldn’t allow this to happen. She was supposed to be the one fucking protecting them. When she had spoken to Akoro and his counsel, she hadn’t highlighted the importance of the area, and the Omega village hadn’t seemed relevant to them. Yet it looked as though most of his soldiers were in this one spot. She scanned the soldiers again. This couldn’t be his entire army. Her stomach dropped. Where were they? Why wouldn’t he bring all of his army? Akoro had figured out that the Omega village was the most important area of the empire and was using his army more carefully. She didn’t know why, but that didn’t matter right now. The Omegas were her only concern.

Papa signaled again to the Lox, telling them to fan out, moving to align with the row of soldiers on the outskirts of the village.

“Papa, wait,” she ordered through gritted teeth.

“We need to have the upper hand, Naya,” Papa said. “They cannot dictate the terms.”

“You said I was in charge?—”

“Not if your hesitation will get people killed,” Papa fury-whispered. “This is what I tried to warn you about. You have to accept that there will be a loss of life.”

“No!” she barked. “Not Omega life.”

“Then give me an order, Nayara.” Papa’s voice was deep and demanding. “Tell me what you want the Lox to do, but this enemy must pay. There are dead Alphas all over this fucking village. He needs to know he doesn’t have the right to come here and kill a single citizen.”

Naya opened her mouth, but couldn’t answer. Yes, he had killed Alphas but she just couldn’t order an attack when Omegas would be the collateral. It wasn’t an acceptable risk. “Give me a moment. I’ll think of something.”

But Papa was already moving away, spreading out with the Lox to match the width of the enemy soldiers.

Naya clenched her fists, annoyed with herself. She couldn’t argue for control of the Lox if she couldn’t make these kinds of hard decisions, but when would she ever be able to? Mother Freya had been right—Naya was ornamental to the empire, and she’d stay that way unless she changed it. Now that she had the opportunity to do something instrumental for the Omegas, she could. But how?

She watched the wall of soldiers, Mama’s words repeating in her mind. She had the power to solve this, and it couldn’t be Papa’s way. Her nails dug into the flesh of her hand and, at once, her awareness jumped outward in all directions. She could sense miles around her. Beyond the City of Ashens and out into the White Ocean, vibrations and echoing to her from across the empire. She gasped, feeling the width and breadth of her connection to the empire, and a sudden realization hit her so hard she was breathless. She hadn’t been using her awareness to sense magic. Although the portal vibrated in the forest, and magic pulsed from the soldiers’ armor, she hadn't used her awareness to sense them. She was still deeply connected to magic. Naya loosened her fists, rapid thoughts snapping into order, shaping an idea she could finally grasp.

“Decide now!” Nrommo bellowed. “Or we will start killing Omegas.”

The Lox froze in place, and there was a horrible silence, interrupted only by the shuffling steps of the Omegas struggling against the invading soldiers.

Papa gave the signal for his warriors to charge, and at the same time, Naya ran forward, drawing on magic. It funneled toward her like gushing water, fluid, easy, and smooth, more plentiful than she’d ever felt it. It was as though it had been waiting for her to call on it, and it embolden her even more for what she was about to do.

Directing the magic behind her, she spread a wall of glistening, transparent gold in front of the Lox army, preventing them from traveling forward. And at the same time, weaved magic around her body and launched herself into the air.

Papa bellowed, and the Lox roared as they found they couldn’t progress farther than a few steps, but Naya tuned them out. A powerful sensation of calm and justness entered her as she rose higher into the air, her awareness spreading farther still, her robes billowing around her. Mama was right. Naya wasn’t Papa. She had to carve her own way and claim her throne with honor. It wasn’t about proving it to Papa, it about proving it to herself. She’d withdrawn from her people and her family for six years because of fears she couldn’t rule on her own, but she was on her own. She would never have the mate she’d wanted—he didn’t exist. So if she was going to rule, she couldn’t do it Papa’s way, especially not if it involved the mass death of Omegas. She was supposed to be the Keeper of fucking Peace—she couldn’t justify a war that killed most of the Omegas in the Known Lands. And this wasn’t Papa’s fault. It was hers—she was the one who’d carelessly made it obvious to Akoro that the Omega village was special, so she had to think for herself and use the information she had, and fix it.

Akoro’s soldiers stared as she rose higher, and even though their helmets covered their faces, the way they stepped back, their heads arching back, she could sense their awe despite themselves. The higher she got, the more the rest of the village came into view. Enemy soldiers covered every inch of the village, but they stilled when they saw her in the air. Soon everyone was frozen, watching her. She couldn’t tell where Akoro or even Nrommo stood, but there were fewer dead bodies than she’d thought and none of them seemed to be female or children. Akoro was keeping them as leverage.

Naya pulled violent, shimmering magic around her, swirling around her robes, and called out, drawing on magic to enhance her vocal range into the forest, just in case Akoro was back there.

“I am Princess Nayara Andaus, first daughter of Drocco and Cailyn Andaus, heir to the Lox Empire, Guardian of Omegas, Keeper of Peace. I want to speak to Akoro.”

There was silence for a moment.

“There is nothing to discuss,” came the fierce reply.

Her eyes slid to where she heard Nrommo’s voice, but she couldn’t tell exactly where he was. All of their soldiers wore full helmets. “I will to speak to him only. I have a proposition. One that will gives you what you want.”

Everything went still.

Then a group of soldiers at the back of the village started walking. Naya stayed alert, watching them closely. The magical structure in the forest didn’t fluctuate. If it was a portal, no one was coming through it. When the group reached the row of soldiers at the front of the village, it parted to let them through.

Naya lowered as they came forward, her robes billowing, her magic bright.

As her feet touched the ground in front of them, the soldier in the middle of the group lifted his helmet.

Akoro.

Her stomach tightened, and a warmth reverberated within her, swooping through her lower stomach. The unwanted memories that had plagued her couldn’t compare to his presence. Donning his full armor, he was bigger than she remembered. The beard around his mouth had grown, making him scruffier and more rugged. His dark hair was braided against his scalp in what seemed to be a ceremonial style, but once again, it was his eyes that captured her. Dark and haunting, they were filled with the anger she expected, but alongside it was an anguish that stole the breath from her lungs. He was furious, as she suspected, but there was something else. And somehow that made him even more handsome.

Naya forced herself not to be distracted by the spark of yearning that lit up her body. Even though she was thoroughly blocked, and couldn’t even scent him, her base instincts could sense her mate.

His eyes swept the Lox and the magical barrier holding them back. “There is no negotiation.” The deep rasp of his rich voice sent shivers down Naya’s spine. “You surrender or the war begins.” He walked forward, away from the group that surrounded him, into the large space between the two armies, the saunter of his walk making her stomach tighten. His warriors starting walking alongside him, but he signaled to them to stay back.

“Even if you could get what you want and avoid war?” Naya called.

“I will get what I want,” he shot back, his voice fierce and demanding. He kept walking, his dark and gleaming eyes already claiming her and his broad build dominating the space. His fury radiated from his whole body. “I’m not leaving here without you, princess. Offering yourself won’t stop the war.”

Heat flared up Naya’s neck. “I’m not offering myself.”

Alarm slammed into her when he didn’t stop walking, the space between them vanishing in an instant. He reached for her—his hand aiming for her throat—and for one fleeting moment, she wanted to let him.

To feel it. To sink into the grip that would tell her she was his, safe in her Alpha’s hold, her body yielding, soft, waiting for him to claim her.

But fury crashed through sharp and consuming, scorching away that dangerous flicker of longing. What the fuck was he doing? A surge of anger overwhelmed Naya, stoking her outrage. He had no fucking right to her at all.

Behind them, their armies stood still, watching. No one spoke. No one moved. The air hung thick and tense in expectant silence, as if the outcome of this moment would decide everything.

Magic flared at her command, surging through the air. It lashed out, wrapping around his thick arm, twisting up to his shoulder like an iron vise. He jerked to a stop, muscles straining against the too-powerful force.

She met his dark gaze with a fierce one of her own, holding it and daring him to push further.

The magic coiled tighter. His jaw clenched. His warriors shifted uneasily, but no one dared interfere.

Her army remained still, waiting to see if she would break him.

Naya lifted her chin, her voice low and lethal. “You are in my world now, Akoro. And I will break your fucking arm before I let you touch me again.”