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CHAPTER TWELVE

A koro pushed through the heavy fabric entrance of his tent, and the moment he stepped inside his eyes were drawn to the exact spot where Naya had shuddered in his arms just yesterday, her back arching as pleasure tore through her, those shapely thighs spread, the breathless sounds she’d made when his tongue laved her sweet, slippery clit.

The intoxicating scent of her arousal had lingered for hours after she left.

She stood near the table where his maps were scattered, studying them with careful attention. But when the tent flap fell closed behind him, sealing them in the intimate space, her shoulders tensed. Her breathing shifted, becoming more careful, more controlled.

Good. She remembered too.

Her pulse fluttered at her throat, and beneath the unfamiliar herbs clinging to her borrowed clothes, he caught hints of that sweetness that always preceded her body’s response to him. The knowledge that she was affected, still drawn to him, sent satisfaction curling through his chest.

“Sit,” he said, gesturing toward the cushioned area where he’d made her orgasm yesterday.

Instead, she moved to the opposite side of the tent, settling onto a smaller collection of pillows, putting deliberate distance between them.

The choice sparked quiet amusement in him.

Even now, even when she was here to negotiate an alliance, she was still trying to protect herself from the connection between them.

As if distance could diminish the way the air burned whenever they occupied the same space. He was already hard.

He lowered himself onto the main seating area, allowing his gaze to drift over her with open hunger.

The way the rust-colored fabric clung to her curves, her copper hair that caught the filtered light streaming through the tent walls, the careful way she kept her hands folded in her lap to prevent herself from fidgeting.

Beautiful.

Perfect.

Still his, whether she admitted it or not.

“What do the Omegas want?” he asked, settling back against the cushions.

Naya settled more comfortably on her cushions, her posture straightening, regal and composed.

She met his gaze, her voice measured and impassive.

“They live in a hidden canyon community that has existed since just before the first wave. They frequent the districts in disguise, but also… they work secretly as your nnin-shǔnn , maintaining all the magical tools in the region.” She paused, allowing him time to process the magnitude of her words before continuing on.

“They want to reintegrate with ssukkǔrian society, but they must do so in alliance with you.”

His nnin-shǔnn were Omegas? That truth hit him with uncomfortable clarity, threads weaving together.

Every seamless repair, every tool that had functioned beyond expectations, every improvement that had seemed almost intuitive.

The efficiency he’d attributed to superior ssukkǔrian craftsmanship had been Omega expertise all along.

Were his nnin-shǔnn really all females? He hadn’t even noticed.

A muscle ticked beneath his beard as the irony settled in his chest. He’d been managing a kingdom whose magical infrastructure depended entirely on the people his family had enslaved, the same people he’d banished for the protection of everyone else.

Of course they were Omegas. The signs had been there, and he’d been too focused on vengeance to see what was happening.

“If they want an alliance, why have they secretly seized control of the magical tools in the region?” The question emerged sharper than intended, territorial fury spiking through him at the thought of his rule being quietly undermined for years.

His hands flexed against his thighs, the urge to pace warring with the need to remain seated and composed.

Naya’s chin lifted, challenge flickering in her brown eyes—the same fire that had drawn him to her from the beginning. “Omegas are the only ones who can safely control magic, Akoro. It’s the same in my land. Your current society wouldn’t function at all without them maintaining those tools.”

He couldn’t argue with the logic, but irritation still burned in his chest like a molten breastplate.

The idea that his kingdom’s success had been built on invisible foundations grated against everything he’d believed about his own accomplishments.

“They conspire in the districts to get their tools into my palace.” His voice dropped to a dangerous growl.

“And I don’t appreciate having spies in Onn Kkulma in the form of nnin-shǔnn . ”

Naya was silent for a moment, her brown eyes narrowing. Then she shook her head, exasperation flickering on her face like lightning across a storm-dark sky.

“Can you just stop behaving like anyone with agency or power is out to destroy you?” Her voice carried that familiar bite that always made his blood heat, but beneath it lay something that sounded almost like pleading.

“The Omegas have only done what’s needed to protect themselves.

They haven’t shared information with any of the soges or harmed anyone. ”

Akoro scowled, his pride chafing against the accusation.

Had he spent so many years defending his throne from potential threats that he’d started seeing enemies in every shadow?

These Omegas had kept his kingdom functioning while remaining hidden.

If they’d wanted to destroy him, they’d had plenty of opportunities.

The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken tension.

He could smell the shift in her scent—the sharpness of stress mingling with that underlying succulent sweetness that never failed to affect him.

Her fingers had tightened on the fabric of her tunic, and he found himself wanting to reach across the space between them, to soothe away the lines of worry around her eyes.

“How are they able to help with the storm?” he asked, forcing his tone toward neutrality.

“They have very sophisticated magic. They’ve offered to give me guidance on how they use their tools and support my experimentation to find the Solution. They’ll keep me safe while I figure things out.”

Akoro made a gruff sound. “Good.”

“This alliance offers the possibility of genuine safety for your people. That means no more storms, no more random wild magic attacks, no more nnin-eellithi .”

Akoro stilled, the implications spread through his mind like wildfire.

Complete protection from the magical disasters that had shaped the region since the height of the Tri-Dynasty era.

That was a feat that would reshape the region.

No one could reject that offer. But even as hope kindled in his chest, reality intruded with cold fingers.

After his no-Omega law, people would be terrified by the idea of Omegas returning to the region and inviting wild magic with them.

“It will be a complete culture shift,” he said slowly, thinking it through. “ Ssukkǔrians will be frightened. I’ll need to introduce the idea properly, reassure them, address their fears. It’ll take time.”

“The Omegas are your people too,” Naya said softly, an intensity in her gaze. “You need to show them they can come home.”

That truth of that twisted in his chest. These women weren’t foreign enemies or political adversaries—they were ssukkǔrians who’d been driven into hiding by his family’s crimes.

They were reaching out, and ultimately, they were his responsibility.

The recognition sent something loosening in his chest, weakening the careful walls he’d built around his guilt. “What would this alliance involve?”

“That’s what needs to be negotiated.” The shift in the air between them was subtle but unmistakable—an easing of tension. “The Omegas want recognition, protection, and the chance to contribute to their homeland’s welfare.”

“That’s fair,” Akoro said slowly. He watched her for a long moment. “You intend to go home after the storm is stopped?”

“That’s what we agreed, isn’t it? I help you find the Solution, and then I go home.”

“What will happen when you go home? What will you do?”

She pressed her lips together. “Do you still intend to invade my empire?”

Silence stretched between them, heavy with everything that had gone before—his raging need to conquer the Lox Empire, her desperation to save it.

Finally, reluctantly, the words forced themselves from his throat.

“If there is no danger to my region, there’s no reason to invade anymore. ” He paused. “But you are still mine.”

She broke eye contact, her head lowering slightly as she blinked rapidly. “I have an empire to lead, Akoro. Omegas to protect.” When she looked up again, distance had crept into her expression. “Once this alliance is settled and the storm is dealt with, there’s nothing keeping me here.”

The words struck deep, and his darkest instincts roared to life—the urge to simply take what belonged to him, to ignore her protests and keep her regardless of consequence. But things had changed since yesterday, and coupled with Oppo’s impactful words, Akoro needed time to think.

“What are the terms of the alliance?” he asked.

Naya’s brows rose at the sudden change of subject. “They want to keep their canyon hidden initially, but eventually integrate safely into the Tsashokra structure. They want their canyon to be recognized as a new district—called Ilǐa—with the same protections and trade rights as the others.”

Akoro nodded slowly, his mind engaging despite the chaos in his chest.

“They’ll keep maintaining the magical tools as a responsibility of their district, but want to enter into discussions about how they’re used. Be aware, they won’t teach their methods to anyone.” Her tone sharpened slightly. “That part isn’t up for discussion.”