But the silence was shattered by the rapid approach of multiple footsteps, loud as many sets of heavy boots crashed against the marble pathway.
Adrian appeared first in the courtyard, the sounds of pursuit still sounding from not far behind him. His normally placid face was as dark as a storm cloud. “I apologize for the interruption. But the exterior defenses have been breached. Forces from the Crown are right behind me.”
“I’m aware.” Standing from the table, Legion made a quelling motion with his hand. “Calm yourself. You’re upsetting my mate.”
Half-rising from the table, Ianthe looked from one man to the other. “What is going on?”
But there was no change for either to respond as the courtyard burst with movement. A handful of men wearing black armor and helmets with full visors marched into view.
And they were led by Undersecretary Barnard.
Legion evidenced no surprise when the guardians appeared. Although the extent of his rage was palpable through the bond despite his lack of visible expression.
“We have orders for your arrest,” the Undersecretary said, voice triumphant. “You have been named as co-conspirator in a plot to overthrow the Crown.”
Legion’s voice remained level. “On what grounds?”
“You have been specifically named in the confession of one of your former compatriots. I suggest you come quietly. We have been authorized to use deadly force.”
Ianthe watched in mounting horror as three of the guardian Alphas surrounded her mate, who did not resist as his hands were bound behind his back.
Legion spoke directly to her as they led him away. “Stay silent and trust that I have planned for every possible outcome.”
A fourth guardian loomed over her. “Is this the renegade Omega?”
The Undersecretary’s gaze roved over her, making her feel overly exposed even though the heavy dressing gown revealed little more than her face and hands. “Take her as well.”
Adrian moved to interrupt and was blocked by one of the guardians. “Is this truly necessary?”
“The Omega faces charges of dynamic concealment. She will be detained and questioned.”
A numbness settled over her as she was escorted to the door with a guardian Alpha on either side of her. Unlike her mate, she had not been placed in zip cuffs, likely because they did not seen her as threat.
Legion was being forced into one of the waiting skycars as she reached the landing pad. His expression was one of reassurance through the glass as the skycap lifted away, but Ianthe felt nothing but a yawning emptiness as he disappeared into the clouds.
The Undersecretary moved in close to her as she was bundled into the second skycar. He made no effort to hide his intent as he leaned close to scent her, inhaling deeply in a way that flared his nostrils and made him look like a snuffling pig.
“Don’t worry yourself, my dear.” He spoke on a breathy exhale that caused spittle to explode from overly wet lips to strike her face. He brushed a curled strand of hair from her face. “The courts will have mercy on a pretty little Omega like you. When this bond is broken, you will be re-bonded to an Alpha deserving of you.”
Ianthe pulled away in disgust, very aware of the fact that her mate’s claim on her could only broken in the event of one of their deaths. And the odious man’s overly familiar tone made it clear that he had a specific Alpha in mind to serve as replacement.
“Don’t touch me.”
He growled at her, fingers pinching the tender skin of her upper arm. “Your mate is bound for execution and I will make sure that you are there to see it.”
She slapped him full across the face before her hands were caught by the guardian on the other side of her forced back into her lap. “I said don’t touch me!”
“Perhaps a tour of the work camps will change your mind. After a few cycles of hard labor, you’ll be begging me to take you away.”
Ianthe straightened her shoulders, her manner that of a deposed queen. “I’ll die before I submit to you.”
The Undersecretary’s cast her an unpleasant smile. “You might just get your wish.”
Their skycar lifted from the landing pad with a lurch and an answering wave of nausea rose within her. She had forgotten until that moment of the very real possibility that she carried her mate’s child. It was not simply her own life at stake, but the innocent one growing inside of her.
She glared at the Undersecretary’s profile. All of the anger, confusion and fear of the last few weeks had entirely slipped away. The only emotion she felt was hatred of this external threat that consumed the entirety of her awareness.
In that moment, she understood herself to be capable of the most heinous violence, able to inflict any amount of pain or suffering, if it was in service of the new life just now taking root in her womb.
This was truly what it meant to be Omega.
She would survive any indignity or passing suffering. She would rise up like an avenging angel protect the ones she loved. She would be reunited with her mate. And this man would suffer for tearing them apart, as would anyone else who dared to stand between them.
No matter what the cost.
To be continued….
Omega’s Release (Omegas of Pandora, Book 3)
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Omega's Capture (Omegas of Pandora Book 2) Page 12