Reign To Rule (Myth of Omega Book 6)

by Zoey Ellis

  “It is essential that, as Queen and Empress of two of the known Lands, and as sisters, you and Cailyn have regular communication,” Orlee said. “I recommend you begin by discussing Mother Naysa.” She paused. “If that is all right with you, Your Majesty,” she said to Malloron.

  Based on the growing concern within the bond, there was no way he was going to say no, but the comment made him also realize her more subtle suggestion—that he and Drocco have regular communication too.

  “Of course,” he responded. “Emperor Drocco and I are allies.” But as he said the words, he finally realized what they actually meant. He and Drocco had never been real allies, not the way he and the shinno were, and yet Drocco assisted Malloron at a time when he desperately needed him. And hadn’t asked for anything in return.

  He stood abruptly, keeping Amara close to him. He hadn’t failed to notice that Mother Azia had been completely silent on the topic of this missing Mother and her tortured expression wasn’t something his Amara would miss. “Thank you for your help with the children. Amara will be in touch about her team visiting. My Lord Chamberlain, Emric, will assist you back to the portal.”

  After they said their goodbyes, he whisked Amara back to their nest to soothe the anxiety and uncertainty he could feel flowing through their bond.

  ***

  “I need you to stay completely out of it.”

  Suspicion entered Amara's gaze. “Why can't you tell me what it is?”

  “Because I know you will disapprove,” Malloron responded. “But it's not something that can be helped.”

  Amara's eyes narrowed and she shook her head. “If I won't like it, let me help you find a solution that we will both be happy with.”

  Malloron pulled her to him roughly. “I thought of all potential options and there is none,” he growled. “This is not the kind of scenario that you would ever be all right with, but it was agreed before I even knew how much I needed you, and how much you would change what it means to be royalty.”

  Amara's eyes softened and she smiled up at him, but it was sad. “Someone will be hurt?”

  “Potentially,” Malloron confirmed. “It's very difficult to say. But once we go in that room, I need you to stay out of all discussions and negotiations. You cannot say a word.”

  Amara lowered her eyes, her lashes flickering as she thought. “Why do you want me there if I cannot say anything,” she murmured. “You know it will be very difficult for me.”

  “Because, it is part of our vows to be a ruling couple,” Malloron said, gently. “And even though you did not make this decision, you should know that it has been made.”

  Amara nodded glumly. “I will stay out of it.”

  Malloron pressed a kiss to her lips. “Thank you.”

  He took her hand and led her out of their bedroom. Of course, some of the children followed them, but they seemed to sense the tense mood because they didn't cling to Amara like they usually did. They simply walked alongside them.

  As they did, many of the servants they passed grinned at the children as well as bowing to the king and queen. Emric reported that the servants seem to be happier and much more productive since the children were allowed free reign of the castle. Although no one could touch them other than the king and queen, many of the servants had taken some of the children under their wing, chatting to them doing their duties and showing them things they found fascinating about the castle. Emric kept a close eye on them to ensure that none were putting the children to work, but it seemed that they simply enjoyed having children to talk to. The children never responded, but maybe that was why they felt comfortable to do it. The result was that servants moved around the castle much more willing to smile and talk to each other, as well as communicate better with Emric and even greet the ruling couple. It had been a drastic change for Malloron and made him feel that suddenly what he felt was his home had completely changed, and the one constant was Amara. As long as she was in his bed and by his side, his home could be anything they needed it to be.

  He paused outside one of the meeting rooms. “Ready?” he said to Amara.

  She knelt to tell the children to stay outside and then rose to her feet and nodded.

  Malloron opened the door and strode in.

  “Greetings, brother.” Elion's voice was hopeful but Malloron ignored it. He felt Amara tense beside him.

  Standing next to Elion was his future wife, Kyus, and her servant girl. Kyus looked a little disheveled from when he last saw her—dark circles stretched under her eyes and her usually vibrant red hair was somewhat dull.

  “Amara!” Kyus exclaimed. “It's so good to see you…” She paused, a sparkle entering her eyes and looked at Amara pointedly, suppressing a grin. “Your Majesty.”

  Amara laughed. “I'm still getting used to that. I had no idea you were here! How long have you been here for?”

  “A while,” Kyus said, glancing at Malloron, and as she did the mood in the room sobered. Amara quietened and Malloron decided it was time to get things moving. He nodded at the assistant standing just inside the door, and the man slipped away as instructed.

  “Is there something that we can help you with, brother,” Elion said nervously. “You haven't allowed my future wife to leave the castle yet, even though you have pardoned me.”

  His words sent a ripple of anger through Malloron, but he tempered it down, knowing that Amara would expect him to behave reasonably, and since he knew she was about to be upset, he decided to try his hardest. “Your future wife has not yet finished her duties to the royal family,” Malloron commented.

  “We had a potion ready to try with you,” Kyus pointed out. “You said you didn't want any more.”

  Malloron nodded. “I had no further use of it.” He was glad that he didn't end up using that potion. When Amara was feeling distressed and upset, it was the worst experience of the bond, but now it was something he couldn't deny himself, even when she was upset.

  Kyus smiled. “I'm glad to hear that, Your Majesty.”

  The door opened, and Malloron turned to see the shinno stalk in, accompanied by two of his warriors. He came to a stop, assessing everyone in the room as though they needed to meet his approval. Interestingly, his eyes lingered on the servant girl before turning to Malloron. “I leave within the hour, King Malloron,” he said solemnly. “I hope that by requesting my attendance here, you are fulfilling our deal.”

  Malloron nodded. “I am.” He pointed to Kyus. “There is your Omega.”

  Everyone looked at Kyus and gasps punctuated the air.

  Amara snapped her eyes to Malloron as she took a breath in. He could feel the horror twisting the bond, but she said nothing and he didn’t look at her.

  Elion shot from his seat. “What?” He stood by Kyus’ side. “What are you saying, Malloron?” he said, somewhat sharply.

  Kyus, for the first time, seemed speechless. She spluttered and took a tiny step back, placing a hand on her chest. Her wide eyes flicked between the shinno and Malloron, disbelief filtering through her face.

  The servant girl clutched her dress, her face a picture of horror. “No!” It was the loudest Malloron had ever heard her speak.

  The shinno, surprisingly said nothing at first, then he glanced at Malloron. “Are you sure?”

  Malloron frowned. “I know for a fact that she is an Omega. You wanted one, there she is. You may take her.”

  “You may not!” exclaimed Elion. He turned to Malloon. “I know you wish to punish me, but this is not the way to do it, Malloron.”

  “This isn’t about punishing you, you have been pardoned.”

  “Of course this is about punishment,” Elion snapped. “She is my future wife. I will not allow you to take her as well.”

  “You will allow whatever I say you will allow,” Malloron barked at him. “Just because the queen has been lenient toward you does not mean that I have any allegiance to you.”

  “She is not an Omega! You are mistaken.”

  “She is
,” Malloron said calmly. “She targeted you, Elion. She is only with you as a deception while she works on whatever meddling mission she has been sent on. She is not loyal to you.”

  Uncertainty entered Elion's hardened expression, and he glanced at Kyus. “It doesn't matter,” he said, but he didn't sound as fierce as he had.

  “Do not stand in the way of this, brother,” Malloron said fiercely. “You do not love her. You have never loved her, all you care about is the Beta woman who never wanted you. If I give this woman to the shinno as part of an agreement, it does not impact you. Do not pretend that it does.”

  Elion's face dropped and Kyus stepped forward. “I understand, Your Majesty,” she said, her voice shaking as her eyes filled with tears. “I’m ready to go.”

  “No.” Both the servant girl and Elion spoke at the same time, but Elion rushed to her side.

  “He’s telling the truth, Elion,” Kyus said, quickly before he had a chance to say anything. “I am an Omega. I was with you under false pretenses.” Elion grabbed her hands, but she shook herself free. “I’m sorry for deceiving you. I-I-I…”

  Elion’s face was stricken. “So you don’t love me?”

  “Of course, I do.” Kyus’ voice broke and she reached up to stroke Elion’s cheek. “Marrying you wasn’t part of any mission. But I’m happy to go because I know you don’t feel the same.”

  Elion began to protest, but Kyus shook her head.

  “Your brother is right. You don’t care about me the way you did about her. I am an afterthought, something to claim you are proud of because maybe I’m all right to look at and I have some status in the Lands. But you don’t truly care.”

  “I do,” Elion bit out fiercely. He grabbed her hands again and yanked her toward him. “I do, Kyus. You have misunderstood.”

  “There is no such thing,” Kyus smiled, tears trickling from her eyes. “Never once has any Alpha been misunderstood about his feelings toward his betrothed.”

  Elion’s face dropped and there was silence.

  Amara sobbed quietly next to Malloron, and it took all of his power not to draw her close to him. She most likely hated him for this, but it couldn’t be helped. The shinno asked for an Omega and she was the one he could give him.

  Elion’s face hardened and he turned to the shinno. “You cannot take her.”

  “But you can take me.” The servant girl stepped forward.

  Kyus gasped. “Shaya, no!”

  Shaya ignored her. “I am an Omega too.”

  Surprised lurched through Malloron. He had been surrounded by Omegas the whole fucking time? These Mothers were truly taking Alphas for fools.

  “No! No, no, no,” Kyus exclaimed. She turned to Malloron. “She’s lying,” she said hurriedly. “She’s not an Omega.”

  Malloron looked at the girl closely, and she was indeed small, a little less curvy than Amara, but it was difficult to see in her servant clothing. She was also very pretty, but it wasn’t something he would have noticed if he hadn’t been looking. She could be an Omega. Or she could just be a good-looking Beta who was small.

  “I’m ready to go,” Kyus insisted.

  “Kyus,” Elion said gently. “She has served us well. If she is indeed an Omega, let her make this choice. We can find another servant for you.”

  “She’s not my servant!” Kyus snapped.

  Once again the room stilled, and suddenly Malloron saw the resemblance. Their skins were different shades of brown—Kyus’ was a rich cinnamon, while Shaya was about two tones lighter and creamier, but their deep brown eyes and shapely mouths were almost identical. Shaya looked young; she had to be in her early twenties or even late teens while Kyus was older, but not old enough to be her mother.

  “You are sisters,” Malloron confirmed.

  “She is my only family in the Lands, Your Majesty,” Kyus said desperately, fighting against Elion’s hold. “She’s not like other Omegas. She wasn’t bought up in the compound and hasn’t been trained. She cannot even block herself. Please don’t send her. I will go. I promise, I am proud to go.”

  “This pleases me,” the shinno announced, speaking for the first time since questioning Kyus as the choice. “Take her to the boat,” he ordered his men, gesturing to Shaya.

  “No!” Kyus screamed, as the men came for her sister. Elion had to hold her back from running over to her.

  “You don’t need to drag her there,” Amara said sharply, stepping forward. “She is willing to go. Let her walk.”

  The shinno inclined his head and uttered a few words to his warriors, who stopped by the girl’s side.

  The girl glanced at Amara and nodded her head in thanks, then turned to Kyus. “You have looked after me all this time, Ky,” she said gently, “and taught me so much.” She gestured to Elion. “You love him. So let me do this for you. Please.”

  Kyus burst into tears and her words were indecipherable.

  Shaya turned slowly and headed toward the door, passing the shinno on the way out.

  Malloron was intrigued by the way he watched her. It was as if she fascinated him—but it wasn’t like he hadn’t been in the presence of an Omega before.

  The shinno turned back to Kyus as they exited. “She has no Omega scent. Why?”

  It took a few moments for Kyus to control her sobs. Her whole body shuddered as she bawled and Malloron saw Amara press her hand to her mouth.

  “Why does she have no scent?” the shinno repeated.

  “She is… blocked,” Kyus heaved. “I blocked her myself… but it will… wear off.”

  “Magic has been used to suppress her Omega scent and urges,” Amara explained, though her voice was thick with the threat of her own tears. “But it will wear off.”

  “After how long?” the shinno asked.

  “Three months,” Kyus answered. Her eyes lifted to Amara and were filled with pain. “In three months she will be completely vulnerable, Amara. She isn’t like us. She…” Kyus took a breath and pressed her lips together, thoughts clearly racing through her mind.

  The shinno turned to Malloron, an extremely smug look on his face. “I am very, very pleased you have held up your end of our arrangement.”

  Malloron nodded. “I’m glad. I will come to the port to see you off.”

  “Please, wait,” Amara said, stepping forward.

  Malloron tensed, but she placed a hand on his chest.

  “I promised Malloron I wouldn’t interfere,” she said to the shinno, “but please, I have to know. What do you intend to do with her?”

  The shinno raised his head as he looked down on her, silent for a moment. “She will be a gift,” he said bluntly. Dipping his head at Malloron, he left.

  Malloron finally turned to Amara. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears and resignation. The bond was flooded with sorrow, but he could feel that she understood. “Please don’t do anything like this again, Malloron,” she whispered. “Please.”

  Malloron nodded and gathered her into his arms. He was actually shocked that the girl had chosen to go on behalf of her sister. It didn’t make any sense to him. Why would anyone do that for someone who is not their mate?

  Out of the corner of his eye, Kyus ripped herself away from Elion. “I hate you,” she snarled. “Why did you let that happen?”

  Elion held her gaze, uncomfortably. “Kyus—”

  “She is my sister,” she snapped. “And she cannot protect herself. Why didn’t you just let me go? You don’t love me anyway, and at least I can take it. She’s a baby!”

  “I do love you, Kyus,” Elion said firmly. “I love you very much. You’re the reason I wanted to stay—”

  “You do not love me!” she shouted. “You love your dead, perfect Beta! And I will never marry any man who forced me to sacrifice my sister to those savages.” With that, she stormed out of the room.

  Amara pulled away from Malloron. “Let me speak to her,” she said, but Malloron held onto her. He didn’t want Amara running after an emotional Omega who h
e had just forced into such a situation. No one was going to have the chance to turn her against him.

  “Malloron,” Amara said. “She is my friend. Let me calm her down. I’ll meet you back in our rooms.”

  “No,” he decided. “I will come with you.”

  “I think you should talk to your brother,” she said, lowering her voice.

  Malloron made a face and glanced at Elion. He was sitting on a chair, his elbows on his knees, staring at his clasped hands. “Why?”

  “He is upset.”

  “So?”

  Amara smiled at him and pressed a kiss on his lips. “Do it for me. Please. Just let him talk to you, you don’t have to say anything.”

  Malloron huffed, agitation ready to blast through him.

  “Please.” Amara blinked those eyes at him, and he found himself relaxing. “For me.”

  “Fine,” he muttered.

  She grinned, kissed him, then rushed out of the room while he turned to his brother.

  Sighing, he sat down next to him. The things he did for his Omega.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  MALLORON

  The wedding was beautiful. And it made sense for it to be as no expense was spared.

  Amara spent three months planning and preparing everything down to the final detail, even going as far as to ask Malloron for wedding portraits and documents of any previous royal weddings so she could keep everything in line with tradition.

  Malloron was impressed with her desire to maintain the Visant ways, but he was pleased and grateful that she understood it was important to him. Even though they were in many ways discarding the Visant expectations of times past by creating a new life, a new land, a new family, she recognized that he wanted his family line to be something that they could both be proud of. They discovered that there had indeed been an Alpha king and Omega queen ruling the Western Lands in ancient times. It was so long ago that there was very little documentation about their rule, but two things were clear; they both had ruling responsibilities, and they ruled under the Visant name.