by P. Jameson
Where was he?
Zelene frowned, groaning as she rose to her feet. “King Adalai has also requested her presence.”
I rolled my eyes. “Does he really make you call him that? It’s such a dick move.”
“Charolet,” she snapped. “I’m the only thing keeping you from doing hard time in the dungeons with no questions asked. I begged him to give you a chance to speak your piece. You crossed a major line, and there’s only so much I can do to protect you. I’ll do everything I can, but I’m not sure I can keep you from being punished.”
My heart sank. The gravity of what I’d done hit me like a sledgehammer. I’d basically ran out of here, middle fingers blazing, ripped open a festering political wound, and started a war. All because my friend charmed the king. She could change the world, so why couldn’t I?
Because I was an omega. An omega with the queen on her side, but still one who was in a fuckton of trouble.
“Please do what you can for Rielle. This isn’t her fault. I made her come with me. She didn’t want to.” I shook my head, knowing Zelene would do everything in her power to help us. Even if it pissed off Adalai. Especially if it pissed off Adalai, I laughed inwardly. “What about Cassian?”
He could be punished too, for helping me. What was he thinking? He should’ve sent me to the dungeons when I first tried to steal the truck. Maybe I would’ve learned my lesson.
Probably not. But he was so kind to me, caring for my wounds and showing me his books that he loved so much when he brought me to the outpost. He’d saved me from the dungeons even then.
As I followed Zelene through the dank inner hallways deep inside the castle, I tried to imagine how divine it would feel to sink into one of those leather chairs in his cozy little outpost cabin and spend the afternoon reading one of those books by the crackling fire. To look up and see his gorgeous face, that salt and pepper stubble, the gray streak in his hair...to feel his strong hands on my body…
I whined. Just a little bit.
Zelene stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth hanging open. “Char, I thought your heat passed.”
“I don’t know how many days it’s been.” I shook out my body. “Maybe it’s just an after effect of the drug they used to knock me out.”
Zelene groaned. “Whatever happens today, promise me you’ll never pull a stunt like this again.”
“That depends—”
“Charolet.” This time my name was like a bullet. “As your queen, I command you to respect that we’re trying to make your life better and these little stunts really threaten to mess it up for everyone. Even me. Even Adalai. It’s bad enough that the betas are staging a revolt—”
“What?” I’d heard some rumblings when we were still in the Badlands. The betas feared if the omegas had rights, gasp, they’d be equal with them. I couldn’t understand why that was a bad thing. It wasn’t like they were losing anything besides their perceived superiority over us.
“Yeah. That one’s not on you, of course. Probably my fault, but we’re not talking about me right now. After busting you out of the keep, we have two new wars to fight.”
“The keep was a nightmare.” I walked double time to keep up with Zelene as she charged toward the royal quarters. “They were experimenting on omegas.”
Zelene didn’t respond.
“Tavia did the same exact thing and she was rewarded with some big reconstruction project,” I added.
Nothing.
She kept walking until she pushed open a giant door. “Your Majesty, I’ve brought you the omega you’ve requested.”
What the...had he drugged her, too? “My name is Charolet.”
“Oh, I know your name, omega. Many proud alpha soldiers will die to fix the mistakes you made,” The king growled as he rose from his throne. I’d been brought to some royal receiving room, probably reserved for dignitaries and other people they wanted to impress. The red oriental rug was plush under my bare feet. Red velvet furniture flanked the matching throne. Bold art hung on the walls that weren’t windows, revealing a beautiful blooming garden. It was like he wanted to show me everything I could never have.
But I didn’t want any of this. I wanted Cassian. And standing here, barefoot, filthy, and fighting off my heat in front of King Adalai, I realized I could never have him.
I’d hoped he’d be here. His absence was all the punishment I needed.
The door opened, and Evander appeared. My heart skipped a beat, hoping it meant Cassian would enter next. But it was Rielle behind him. My poor beautiful friend. She looked so tiny next to the giant wall of masculinity as she shuffled into the room.
Her eyes were vacant when she looked my way, and she barely acknowledged me.
“What did you do to her?” I asked.
Evander never took his eyes off Rielle. My heart ached, missing Cassian. Wishing he was here to defend me like this.
“The poison’s still in her system,” he said softly, his gaze like a caress against her skin. “But she’s feeling well enough to stand before you, Your Majesty.”
“Like hell she is.”
“Omega, that’s enough,” Adalai roared. “You’ll speak when spoken to.”
I glanced at Zelene but she shook her head. The king was still glaring at me.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” I lowered my gaze and clasped my hands behind my back. Time to show I could be a good omega. I’d caused everyone enough pain.
“That’s better. I want to make sure you understand that your queen’s privileges do not extend to you simply because she’s chosen you to be a member of her court.”
“I understand, Your Majesty.”
“Good.” His tone had softened to the point that he sounded like someone who could be reasoned with. Maybe not by me, but by his queen, who I knew still had my back, even if I was a giant fuck up. “Now, tell me in your own words what happened.”
I took a deep breath. I only had a split second to decide if I’d tell him absolutely everything, or if I’d sugarcoat it. Not to protect me. But I couldn’t stand to think of Rielle being punished on my account, and I didn’t know what this meant for Cassian.
I went with the whole truth. Including all the times Rielle and Cassian tried to stop me, all the wonderful things they did even when I was completely reckless. I told him everything about the omegas, the ones we found who had gone feral, and the ones who were still suffering. The juice, and what they planned to do to Rielle. Heat rose inside my body, and there was no way he couldn’t see the sweat beading on my brow. Soon everyone in the room would be able to smell me. Whatever they’d given me to subdue my heat was making it come back with a vengeance.
“I accept full responsibility for my actions,” I said at the end. “Your Majesty, I beg you to show mercy to Rielle. She’s already suffered more than she deserves. It’s my fault. And Cassian—”
His eyes widened when I referred to his general so intimately. “I didn’t ask for any advice on making my decision, omega.”
I nodded. If I opened my mouth I would have whined.
The king shifted his weight from one foot to another. My impending heat had to be making him uncomfortable, and I prayed it wouldn’t factor into my punishment.
“Let me make sure I have all the details of your little adventure straight, Charolet.” He referred to me by name, which I took as a good sign. “You attempted to steal a military vehicle, caused damage to castle property, potentially shared Weren secrets in the Human Keep, and helped incite a war. A beta would already be dead for those crimes. An alpha wouldn’t fare much better. Why should I show you mercy?”
I closed my eyes for a long blink. “Don’t. But please be kind to Rielle.”
***
Despite Zelene’s protests, my sentence was forty-five days in the dungeon. At that time, my crimes would be reassessed, and it would then be determined if I still deserved to be a member of Zelene’s omega court. If I was allowed to remain in Luxoria.
I could’ve been here for hours, day
s, or weeks. In the darkness, with the howls and cries of other prisoners who’d gone fully feral from too much time here, it was impossible to tell.
I didn’t care anymore.
At first, I had this fantasy of Cassian appearing and saving the day. I’ll always protect you. His last words to me haunted the empty space.
The truth Zelene had couldn’t save me, and he didn’t want to.
Every time a guard went by, I perked up, hoping it was him. But it never was.
The bed was cold and hard, but it didn’t stop the sweat from pouring out of me. Didn’t stop the heat from rising. There was no need to suppress my whines, my cries down here. Soon another guard would go by, maybe throwing some gruel at me if I was lucky. If I wasn’t lucky, they’d decide to help me with my heat.
Cassian.
Tossing and turning, I dreamed of his touch, the way he felt inside me, hoping it would be enough to make these unbearable cravings subside. Forty-five days meant I’d suffer through two heats down here. Open season on the omega. The other prisoners could riot, trying to get close to me…
No, I couldn’t think about that.
King Adalai knew I was in heat. Knew what it would do to everyone around me in the dungeons. Maybe he wasn’t as lenient as I’d assumed.
I made myself as small as possible in the darkest corner of the cell, hoping no one would track the scent to me.
A dark shadow appeared at the door of my cell, and I had a feeling what little luck I had just ran out.
Chapter Twenty Three
Cassian
I typed a code into the keypad and gave the machine my thumbprint. The door to my mate’s cell swung open on a slow and steady track. I wanted it to hurry before I ripped it from its hinges and made the king even more angry. When I was able to step through, I closed us in, setting the code to remain unlocked for the next three days, and turned to find Charolet.
She was huddled in a dark corner, her heat causing her to whimper. Fucking Adalai and his political bullshit. He’d put her here to show the kingdom that even the highest level omegas weren’t immune to punishment if they broke the laws. It was his attempt at showing the unhappy betas that there was still a hierarchy, even if it would from now on, be a fairer one.
I crossed the cell in three steps and knelt to see Charolet’s face.
“No, no… get away,” she protested, scrambling away to press her back against the stone wall. “I’m mate to an alpha. A king’s general. You can’t—”
Shit. Here she was writhing with need, and she thought of the promises she’d made at the keep and protecting our bond first. I marveled at the ways she revealed how much she cared. It was never with direct statements. She wasn’t an I love you girl, though it wouldn’t keep me from telling her. No, Charolet’s love was the kind showed in action and with loyalty.
The same loyalty that had her putting herself in danger just to be sure the omegas had the best future, whether that be here in Luxoria or with the humans.
I finally understood why the trip to the keep was so important to her. She couldn’t trust that the Weren royals were offering the best option. I only wished it hadn’t ended in more war and her friends being hurt.
I pulled her up from the floor. She didn’t belong there, on the dirty ground, and if I had my way, she’d never be there again. I would lift her so high, but never let her fall. That was my purpose now.
I brought her to my chest to wrap my arms around her, tilting her face up to mine. She blinked, her blond hair hanging in her eyes.
“Cassian.” When she saw who I was, her panicked expression screwed into despair and a sob ripped from her throat. “I didn’t think you’d come.”
She lowered her face to my neck, drawing in a long breath, scenting me like an animal would. The move made my cock rock solid for her.
“An army of alphas couldn’t keep me from you.”
She stared at me, worried. “Did you fight your way in here? You shouldn’t have done that. I’ve messed things up so much already. I don’t want to make things harder for Zelene and Rielle.”
“Shhh,” I said, brushing my thumb over her trembling lips. “I didn’t fight anyone, but I might give His Majesty hell for leaving you down here with the criminals.” My voice was sharp and she shivered in response.
“Cassian, I’m a criminal too.” Her fingers curled into the fabric of my jacket. I could feel the desperation throbbing through her. The scent of her arousal clouded the air, but it was mixed with so much sadness.
“I know we can’t be together now,” she whispered, tears streaking her cheeks. “Not forever, like you said. A King’s General can’t bind himself to a criminal omega like that. I’m so sorry I ruined what could have been. Rielle is right, I should have been satisfied with what I was given—”
“No, Charolet. Never settle for something you’re not sure of. You hear me? Never. That’s not who you are. That’s not the omega I fell in love with.”
“But look what I caused—”
“You brought attention to a faction of your people who were being held against their will. You made the king follow through on his promises. You made me realize breaking the rules is worth it sometimes.”
“But it’s cost me… cost me you.” Her voice broke and I soaked up a rare moment of vulnerability that had nothing to do with her heat.
“Did you even hear what I said?”
“Yes,” she snapped, her body undulating against my erection. The motion drew a brief moan from her before she continued. “Did you hear what I said? I don’t know if any of it was worth it, if we can’t be together.”
“Charolet…” I sighed. I fucking loved arguing with her, it was true. Maybe I had from the very beginning. But right now, I wished she would shut up and listen.
“This is going to be it, isn’t it?” she asked, new tears falling as she pressed her body into mine. “You’re going to see to my heat. Fuck me through it and then—”
I kissed her to stop whatever was going to come next. I kissed her hard, plowing into her mouth with my tongue, licking away every doubt one by one. I kissed her to dominate. I kissed her to remind her of my promises.
I broke away, leaving her mewling. “When I said forever, I meant it. You can’t change my mind now, and neither will any rule or law.”
“Did you mean it? That you love me?”
“I never say things I don’t mean.”
“I know,” she moaned. “But did you mean that?” Her eyes met mine and she looked truly terrified for a breath. “Did I imagine it?”
“No, Char.”
She went still. “Wait, which question are you answering?”
I growled, ignoring her to grab the collar of her tunic, tearing it down the middle so her breasts were exposed. Sweat beaded at her sternum and I watched a drop trickle down the valley of her tits as her breath came faster. I palmed her throat, pushing her back against the wall, and dragged my nose along the line of her jaw, relishing the desperate sounds she made.
“One day, my sweet omega, we will make love leisurely, in a bed. My bed. Instead of a hurried encounter to stem our hormones. Unfortunately, today is not that day. Neither is tomorrow.”
“Cassian,” she breathed my name like a prayer as I undid my pants and freed my cock. With my hand still around her throat, she shoved my jacket down my shoulders, revealing my chest. She dug her claws in, drawing blood and driving my animal to the brink of insanity.
“Today I will fuck you, little rebel. Knot in you again and again until neither of us can breathe enough to argue.” I could feel the alpha in me rising, ready to mount her, breed her. It was going to be quick and dirty, and then we’d do it all over again. “By the time we leave this cell, you will be so fully mine, that doubting my intentions will feel like a fucking sin.”
I slid my hand past her waistband, feeling the slickness that coated her.
“Mine,” I growled, finding her eyes to drive my point home. I pressed a finger inside, watching how her br
eath caught at the invasion. “Mine.”
“Yes,” she gasped.
I moved my mouth to her breasts, sucking a hard, swollen nipple between my lips, and Charolet screamed. “Does my mate ache for this?” I whispered against her skin before drawing it into my mouth again.
“Yes,” she cried. “I ache everywhere. I need you. Want you. Cassian, please.”
I thrust my finger softly in her pussy and let her nipple pop from my mouth. “These are mine.” I licked a path up her sternum and across her jaw, tugging an earlobe between my teeth. “These are mine. Say it.”
“M-my ears?” she stuttered, and I found her eyes.
“Do not test me, omega. You know what I want.” Her admission.
Her head thrashed from side to side and her hips moved to get more friction from my hand. “I’m not. I can’t think,” she murmured. “You’re making me crazy. Please… just, please…”
God, she begged so sweetly. Made the alpha in me want to roar.
I dragged her pants down her long legs. Charolet’s body was amazing. Flawed in the way a warrior’s was, telling of her struggles. But to me it was more beautiful than anything I’d laid eyes on. No sunset could compare to her, no flowers from the castle gardens. Neither of those things made me want to die in her arms if it would bring her a goddamned smile.
How could she doubt me the way she did?
I lifted her legs to let them wrap around my waist, positioning myself between her slick folds. One thrust, and I was buried deep. “Tell me what I want to hear.”
“I don’t know what you want,” she gasped, raking her hands through my hair.
“You do.” I dragged myself from her body and slammed deep again.
“Cassian, I…”
“Say it.” Each thrust grew harder and more desperate, our bodies slamming together, pleasure building. “Let me hear it from your own mouth, mate.”
Charolet’s moans reverberated against the walls. My pulse pounded in my ears.
“I’m yours,” I breathed.
“That’s right. You’re mine. Every part of you. Even the part I’ve worked so hard to win.”