by Fiona Archer
Elyana resisted glancing at the end of the line to see whether Margot stepped forward or bowed. She wasn’t sure what any of them were supposed to do.
“Second, presenting Princess Gretchen.”
Elyana relaxed into the drone of his voice. If this was all it took, she should be out of here in the next few—
“Yemet!” The king rose from his seat and made his way to the platform steps. Elyana couldn’t help but watch him. He moved with an agile weightiness and clearly held the power of ten men in one arm. It was unnerving, and her stomach twisted as he began walking along the line.
Elyana dragged her eyes from him, keeping her head straight and holding her breath so she wouldn’t be noticeable when he walked past, but to her horror, he slowed to a stop in front of her.
A rough forefinger and thumb pinched her chin, dragged her head up, and pulled her onto her tiptoes until her eyes met his.
Her body flooded with shock. She was looking directly into intriguing dark green eyes, filled with a ferociousness tempered only by a tinge of curiosity. A burst of color flashed at the corner of her eye, but she couldn’t pull her eyes away from him. The roughness of his fingers on her chin made every part of her tingle, but nothing could prepare her for the enticing scent that seeped from him, working its way into her lungs before she even had a chance to realize that it was coming from him.
“Desaas ak dim pwuen.” His gritty voice rolled over her, agitating the already strange heat staggering over her body. She tried to ignore it, but it wasn’t as though she could focus on his words. She’d never heard such a language before—the words sounded clipped, as though they were never quite finished.
“Desaas ak dim vetch pwuen.” He spoke harder, but Elyana still didn’t understand. She tried to shake her head before remembering he held her by her chin.
The Alpha king was silent for a moment, his head tilting as his green eyes darted over her face. “Your name.”
Though his accent was thick, something told Elyana that he wasn’t completely unfamiliar with her language. “Princess Elyana Montrea.”
The king held her gaze for a moment longer, a strange expression forming on his face. His eyes drifted to her hair and then trailed down to her body. Heat grazed her cheeks as embarrassment hit her. The one man in the entire kingdom everybody else was trying to impress was looking at her filthy gown, her smeared skin, and her mud-soaked slippers—in close detail. At once, she wished she could disappear, but the king seemed to sense it because he gripped her chin even harder. As his eyes traveled back up her form, rippling sensations blossomed in her stomach, her nipples hardened, and the tingle caused by his touch swelled between her legs. What was happening? Her heat wasn’t due for another few weeks—she never had this kind of reaction before. It had to be the potency of this Alpha’s scent. Every inch of him oozed strength and violence and power; it was only right that such qualities, which were inherently pleasing to an Omega, laced his scent.
When his eyes reached hers again, the wild look in them had become even more savage, and, embarrassingly, slick began to gather between her legs.
“All royalty in this land was required to learn my language,” he growled. “Why have you not?”
Elyana opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say. How could she explain that she wasn’t really royalty, just a misfit who’d been unfortunate enough to be born an Omega princess? Besides, she couldn’t concentrate. Her body had come alive in ways she couldn’t process, and it didn’t help that it was so quiet—
Drawing in a sharp breath, she suddenly realized no sound of magic resounded in the air.
Before she could think about it, the king released her chin, and she stumbled forward. He strode back along the line, and the sound of magic slowly returned, melodic and sonorous as it soared through the hall.
A handful of women along the line glanced at her, some in disbelief, others scowling. Her mother grinned and wriggled her eyebrows.
Elyana dragged her eyes away so she wouldn’t laugh. This would undoubtedly be the wrong time to giggle.
The king left the hall after barking something at Gray Beard, who turned to the waiting women. “You may return to your residences.”
The tense anticipation and excitement drained out of the hall, but Elyana was relieved. She headed toward the doorway, her mother hurrying after her.
“What did he say to you?” The hope in her mother’s voice was a bad sign.
“I don’t know,” Elyana replied irritably. “You heard him. Did you understand what he said?”
Ignoring the question, Mother’s hands clasped together, her body practically vibrating. “It’s a good sign, though, isn’t it? That he spoke to you? He didn’t speak to anyone else.”
“That’s because nobody else presented themselves as disrespectfully as I did,” Elyana said darkly. She bumped into the guard at the doorway. “Pardon me,” she murmured as she moved out of the way. But the guard moved with her, blocking her way.
“Please return to the hall,” he said stiffly.
Elyana stared up at him, the relief in her chest turning sour. Glancing behind at the other exits, she saw guards blocking several other princesses. She turned to face the guard, wondering if she could somehow run past him, but her mother now stood a few feet behind him, elation on her face as she flicked her hand for Elyana to go back into the hall. Even if she managed to escape the guard, Mother would likely wrestle her to ground rather than let her pass.
With a sigh, she turned and joined the small group of women. There were six others—it seemed the king had whittled down his selection after all. The women once again arranged themselves into a line, this time with Elyana in the center. Surprisingly, at least two of them were Omegas. Elyana wondered how the royal Alphas would react if the new king hoarded three Omegas to himself. Catching the thought, she pushed it out of her head. The king would not have three Omegas because he would not have her. She had only come to this event to appease Mother. She was not a true royal and was incapable of being a wife to one. While Mother enjoyed entertaining the fantasy, she didn’t understand the risk if Elyana failed at whatever duties were expected of her or brought shame to someone important. She had to find a way to get out of here.
When the hall was empty, the king reentered but frowned at the line of women. His eyes once again locked onto Elyana, and he headed toward her.
“Litnayum tisset akkfar-rrow caret verr paddref,” he said, stopping in front of her.
Nerves rose within her, but she gripped hard on the sharp annoyance that joined them, pushing away the intimidation that lingered from his last examination of her. If she was going to make sure she was not chosen as his wife, she had to be herself without fear of consequence. “I have not magically learned your language from when I stood over there a few moments ago”—she pointed to where she had stood in the line before—“to standing here, your majesty. I’m sure if you speak to one of the other beautiful women, they will be able to understand you.”
The Alpha’s expression hardened as his eyes flashed, but Elyana held firm to her resolve, hoping he would immediately dismiss her.
“He asked where you were before you came here,” the girl next to her whispered.
Elyana glanced at her, a little annoyed. “I was at home.”
“Dakkg par-tiss ednow ver.”
“He said…” The girl swallowed. “Do you live in a hog pen?”
“Yes,” Elyana snapped, anger surging in her veins. “I follow them all day listening for the brassy magical sounds they make when they fart and trying to recreate it with my own.”
The booming chuckle that came from his chest shocked her. As did the sultry mischievousness that lit up his green eyes and the smile that curved his mouth. Elyana’s anger fell away as a realization hit. This man was incredibly handsome. Possibly the most handsome man she’d ever seen.
He stepped forward until he almost hovered over her, the look in his eyes tugging on the strange sensations that still lin
gered in her. “Tisset cin vak bevvut-nell pokke meddwen; tre chenet xarren yeydar.”
“He said you are little and full of fire, but it is obvious you would be.”
Elyana’s nose wrinkled. “Why is that?”
“Tisset pwep oysh kemsi.” He turned slowly and stalked out of the hall.
When the girl next to her didn’t translate, Elyana glanced at her, only to find her shoulders dropped and her eyes on the ground.
“What did he say?”
The girl didn’t answer, merely shaking her head. The other girls seemed dejected too. Before she could ask why, the gray-bearded man spoke.
“Follow me, please.”
The princesses all moved to follow him, but Elyana only followed after realizing guards still blocked each doorway of the hall.
Gray Beard led them through the castle until they arrived at a corridor with some doors on either side.
He gestured for one girl to enter each one, and when Elyana stepped through hers, she found herself in a luxury bedroom decorated in gold and red, an enormous bed the dominant feature in its center.
Hearing the door lock behind her, Elyana took her time examining the room. A beautiful emerald gown hung next to the mirror, and in the corner was a small but lavish washroom.
Elyana thumbed her dirty gown. It couldn’t hurt to take advantage of what was available, especially since her escape would be better aided if she didn’t look like a poor thief sneaking out of the castle. She quickly stripped and bathed, thoroughly scrubbing every part of her from head to toe.
Once she was clean and dried, she put on the emerald dress, surprised by the softness of the cotton and the perfect fit. She looked decent enough to be able to claim she was an important visitor to the castle. Her curly mahogany hair was a little wild, and clearly had not been styled, but it was unlikely a guard would notice.
When the door opened, she was dismayed to see the king enter. His eyes flicked down her body and back to her face, and the heated look in them did strange things to her stomach again. He stepped toward her, but she held up her hand. “Your Majesty,” she began.
“Allandis,” he said.
Elyana hesitated, then started again. “Allandis.”
“Elyana,” he growled in response, stepping closer to her.
A pleasurable rush swirled through her at the sound of his deep, gritty voice saying her name, but she forced the words out before he said anything else. “I’m here by accident. Please allow me to remove myself from consideration.”
His green eyes intensified on her. “There is no accident.” Before Elyana could even process his words, Allandis swiftly lifted her into his arms. Turning, he pinned her against the wall with his body.
Elyana gasped in shock, the warmth of his body rousing something volatile. “I-I assure y-you,” she stuttered, distracted by the feel of his muscles contracting under her hand. “I am n-not suitable to b-be in your group of w-wives.”
The Alpha leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. “No, you are not.”
Elyana relaxed at that. He could sense she wasn’t right for him. However, when he captured her mouth with his, she couldn’t help but kiss him back. The rippling desire that she had experienced in the hall came rushing back tenfold, storming her body until she struggled to breathe. He deepened the kiss, his tongue grazing hers as his beautiful scent curled into her nose. When he pulled away, Elyana whimpered for more, tightening her legs around his waist in protest.
He smiled, his green eyes triumphant, but it only served to heighten the longing within her.
The Alpha leaned forward and scented her, running his nose along her neck and up her face. The groan that escaped him set her entire body aflame, and all thought was cast aside.
Her hands squeezed his muscles as she marveled at their size, and when her nose pressed against his neck, his scent was so potently delicious, it made her shudder in anticipation. Why did he smell so incredibly appealing? Was this how all Alphas smelled? As soon as her lips touched the Alpha’s neck, he growled, twisting the raw need within her into a raging force. She kissed and licked his neck, enjoying the guttural sounds in his throat and his hands all over her. He tore the front of her dress and lowered to capture a nipple in his warm mouth, his tongue flicking and brushing while his thumb found the other.
Elyana’s eyes rolled back, and she cried out, grabbing on to him, urging him to ease the need that had so drastically risen.
When his hands reached underneath the skirt of her dress and ripped away her panties, she rotated her hips, eager for something she didn’t even know she wanted. It pressed between her legs, blunt and hard. She pulled him closer, impatient, but the Alpha stilled. Pulling his mouth from her nipple, he whispered in her ear, “Tisset pwep oysh kemsi, Elyana.”
Elyana had no idea what he’d said, but the lustful richness of his voice was almost too much. She pulled him toward her with her heels, and his cock pressed in, stretching her wide with a glorious sting that made her hiss. Her body shuddered with a carnal recognition that he was where he was supposed to be, but she couldn’t process the thought. When he reached the hilt, filling her completely, she let herself go limp, stroking his chest and threading her fingers through his curly hair as he worked in and out of her. The exquisite sensations that tore through her were merciless. Soon she couldn’t get enough, humping her hips forward as he became rougher, thrusting into her succulence so hard, her bottom thwacked against the wall.
Wild and animalistic, Elyana revelled in every feeling, every moment. As she climbed toward a searing crescendo, promising a brilliant devastation she couldn’t avoid, the Alpha’s tongue flicked across her nipple again, and frenzied ecstasy seized her, exploding throughout her body. Elyana screamed, her entire body tense as she clung to him.
The Alpha grunted, hard and brutal on her body until finally, he jerked hard once, twice, and then on the third time slammed in, locking her with the bulk of flesh at the base of his cock—his knot—that stretched her wide open.
Elyana cried out again but clenched hard on to his knot as he spilled inside her.
It was a few moments before she could think, her body automatically milking his cock as he groaned into her neck. Was this what she had been missing all along? The completeness Mother had talked about? She noticed again that there was no sound of magic—only the thumping of her own heart in her ears. She couldn’t deny it was a peace she’d never thought she’d have—and one she hadn’t known she’d appreciate.
The Alpha kissed her again, dragging his tongue along hers with a deep groan. Elyana simply let him, enjoying his every touch until his knot shrank and released them from their intimate hold.
“Why is there silence around you?” she asked nervously.
A heavy knock interrupted his answer.
Allandis called out, and the door opened, revealing the gray-bearded man. Elyana tried to cover herself as they spoke, but the king gently placed her down before heading to the door, fixing his pants as he did.
When the door closed, she took a breath and sank to the floor, her common sense returning. What had she done? She was supposed to be trying to dissuade him that she could be a candidate for his wife, not encouraging him to take her against the wall.
A burst of regret rid her of the lingering satisfaction and bliss that had seeped deep into her bones. She’d always known that Alphas and Omegas had perfect compatibility, but what had just happened was a complete shock. How could she have been so enticed to kiss him back, to urge him on? Besides, there were at least four other girls in other rooms who wanted to be his wife—that was probably where he’d been called to. Horror and disgust moved her into action.
Elyana cleaned herself the best she could in the washroom and fixed her dress, pulling a shawl from one of the drawers to hide the tear at the front.
Allandis had left the door unlocked, so she slipped out into the empty corridor. All the other girls’ doors were closed. Elyana tried not to think about the fact that the k
ing could be in one of them as she passed. But as she turned into the next corridor, Allandis was striding down toward her. Surprise jumped into his face at the sight of her. Panicked, Elyana turned back the way she’d come, preparing to run.
Ribbons of colorful magic curled into the air, twirling and intertwining around each other. They emitted pure, rich melodies, creating an intricate symphony that blared through the whole corridor.
Elyana stilled, staring at the magic before turning to the Alpha approaching her, her eyes wide. “Are you doing this?”
“We are both doing it.”
Elyana shook her head, looking at the magic swirling around her head. “How? I can only hear magic.”
The Alpha grunted. “And I can only see magic. Except I can’t see it on you.” He lifted her into his arms again, settling her against his chest.
Elyana slipped her arms around his neck as she thought. “What does that mean?”
“Tisset pwep oysh kemsi.” He kept saying that, but she didn’t know what it meant. When she made a face, he finally translated. “You are my true mate.”
Elyana’s jaw clenched. “I cannot be one of your wives.”
“You won’t be,” Allandis said. “You are my true mate. My queen. There can be no others.”
“I’m too strange to be a queen,” she whispered. “I don’t fit in with the other royals.”
Allandis tilted his head toward the beautiful magic still swirling around them. “It doesn’t matter. You are a perfect fit for me.”
If he could see magic, he was just as strange as she was, wasn’t he? She couldn’t imagine anyone telling him that to his face. She relaxed in his arms. “Mother will want to meet you.”
Allandis’ chuckle was gruff. “She has already claimed her quarters. We have escorted the other women out. I only await your agreement, Elyana. I can install a hog pen if that will persuade you.”
Elyana laughed before sinking into thought. It was so much to take in, but the most crucial part was the magic. She would have to marry eventually, but she wouldn’t be a misfit with this Alpha. Ever. “All right,” she said quietly.