He looked at her intently for a long time, his eyes searching hers, his silver-gray irises flickering back and forth almost imperceptibly. “Good. You must understand, little Omega, that I am no more free to do as I please than you are. My uncle’s laws are alienating the general Beta population. There are rumors of an uprising. There is talk of other Omegas hiding away and breaking the law. Deimos claims to currently be in rut, and if that’s true, he’ll be even less inclined to curb his worst impulses than usual. As much as I want to stay here with you in bed forever, I have obligations to fulfil and problems to deal with. Do you understand?”
She nodded. This felt like the first real conversation they’d ever had, and she found herself enjoying it despite the subject matter.
“I understand how stifling it might be for you to be cooped up in here all the time. If there’s anything you enjoy doing, anything I can get you to help you cope, let me know. Do you like to read? To write? To draw? To dance?”
He looked so earnest, so utterly committed to her wellbeing that she felt herself smiling. “I’ve always loved to read. To study. I also like to go for walks, but I suppose that would be out of the question.” Her smile slipped at the thought. “I don’t know whether I can paint, or draw, or dance, or anything like that. I’ve never tried.”
He caressed her cheek. “My sweet little Saskia,” he murmured, “we have a huge library. I will escort you there personally to choose whichever books you want to read. As for the other things, I can arrange for art materials and music to be sent here so you can try them out. Discover what you enjoy doing.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. “That’s very kind.”
As he leaned in and brushed his firm, full lips over hers, lightly at first and then with more passion, she wrapped her arms around him and allowed his scent to surround her. Instead of the usual surge of desire, she felt strangely comforted and protected.
For the first time since she’d been kidnapped by the Trappers, she felt a glimmer of hope that perhaps things would work out after all.
Chapter Nine
Arius had wasted no time in instructing Cerus to organize some suppressants and find a way to ensure Deimos received them—in his food or drink, it didn’t matter. As he’d told Evander, spiking Deimos’s wine would be the safest way to ensure nobody else was at risk of accidentally taking them, but at this stage he was willing to risk even that.
Despite Deimos’s warning that he would have endless Omegas to choose from very soon, Arius’s servants had assured him that that was not, in fact, the case. While down in Sandor the night the women had been rounded up, Arius had been careful to let the troops know that the consequences would be severe should they ever attempt such a mission again. He’d even gone so far as to threaten the general.
Throwing his weight around didn’t turn him on, as it did his uncle, but Arius accepted that it was sometimes necessary in his role as leader.
It was a good thing Deimos hated to travel into town himself. He rarely ever ventured out of his apartments, and never off the Hill. There were some pretty gardens he sometimes strolled in if he wanted fresh air, but other than that, he preferred to rule from within the four walls of his home. This self-imposed imprisonment suited Arius well, for even he would be unable to stop his uncle from traveling wherever he chose.
So, for the past couple of days, Arius had spent a great deal of time giving in to his rut and enjoying the company of his new mate. Tavos and Cerus kept him informed of Deimos’s general whereabouts and behavior, and while Arius hated the idea of his uncle even being in the same building as Saskia, he reasoned that nothing could happen to her if he stayed close. And he intended to stay close to her until the suppressants kicked in. Either Deimos was telling the truth and he was in rut, in which case the medication would mitigate the worst of his impulses, or he was simply imagining it, in which case they were all no worse off than before.
Still, Arius wished he knew for sure.
As he pulled on his favorite emerald green shirt, he felt himself smiling at the thought of Saskia’s excitement. They had spent almost all their time together over the past couple of days; sharing meals, conversation and, of course, his bed. Their heat cycles were still in full swing, but even though his cock was practically raw from fucking the little Omega, Arius marveled at the way a simple glance from her could make him want her all over again.
And while he knew much of it was due to their hormones being perfectly aligned, he was surprised to find himself enjoying her company in a non-physical way. She was a bright young woman, full of ideas and random tidbits of knowledge. While still often visibly wary of him, she occasionally let her guard down enough to allow him a glimpse of her razor-sharp sense of humor. And she was so easy to please. While the other women in Arius’s life had always been accustomed to the very best, and the biggest sparkling jewels had often garnered no more than an arched eyebrow, Saskia displayed an almost childlike excitement when he gave her even the smallest tokens to show his affection. His latest gift to her, a sketchpad and colored pencils, had been received with infectious enthusiasm, and although she didn’t seem to display any artistic talent whatsoever, she delighted in every attempt.
Now he was getting ready to go down and receive her family, who should be arriving at the Hill at any moment. Oddly, considering his position, he felt nervous. Knowing how important her parents and sister were to his mate, he wanted them to like him. As someone who usually didn’t care how he was perceived, this was an entirely new, alien feeling.
It had been decided that he would go down to meet the car and escort her family up to his apartments. Saskia had begged to be able to go with him but he was wary of running into his uncle. She would be far safer where she was. Smoothing his hair away from his face, checking he had trimmed his stubble evenly, he left the bathroom and returned to where Saskia was pacing back and forth before the bed, almost gibbering with excitement.
As soon as she heard him enter, she spun around. “Are you sure I can’t go down there with you? You’ll be there! I’ll be safe!”
Reaching her in a couple of strides, he drew her against his chest, relishing the tingles her scent invoked in his body. “We discussed this, sweetness. You’ve waited this long, what are a few more minutes? Besides, you need to make sure the reception room is up to scratch.”
“It is! I’ve checked it so many times.”
For a second, he considered giving in and allowing her to accompany him. Then he had a vision of Deimos’s long fingers clawing at her bare skin. “You look lovely,” he said, allowing his palm to glide down over her backside. Violet suits you.” He’d had clothes for almost every occasion delivered to their door for Saskia to try on and keep or discard at will. While she seemed to have a penchant for comfort over style, he had been able to persuade her to keep at least a couple of pretty dresses for occasions just like this one.
“Thank you,” she muttered listlessly.
Leaning far enough back that he could make eye contact, he tilted her chin with a single fingertip and forced her gaze to meet his. “Remember our agreement,” he said. “That you will obey me.”
There was a long pause, during which a flicker of defiance passed across her features. Then she sighed. “Fine.”
“Good girl.” Dropping a brief kiss on her delectable mouth, he gave her a smile. “I’ll head down now. See you in the reception room in a few minutes.”
She tried—and failed—to suppress a pout. “Why don’t we just call it a lounge like normal people?”
Arius winked. “Doesn’t sound grand enough.” Without waiting for a reply, he set off down toward the underground garage.
While his apartments consisted of more rooms than simply the casual lounge, bedroom and bathroom, he rarely ventured into them. The reception room was, as the name suggested, a sumptuously furnished space where he could receive visitors. Saskia had spent the better part of a day fiddling with it: moving a vase of flowers ten times before she was satisfied, plumping the cushio
ns on the huge, luxurious couches, making sure all the pictures on the walls were straight, and ensuring there would be plenty of beverages on hand when her family arrived. She’d displayed such obsession that, for a moment, Arius had wondered whether it was nesting behavior. The mere thought of her preparing for the arrival of their future children with such determination and fervor had warmed him beyond description.
The underground garage wasn’t the most impressive place to first meet his mate’s family but he had arranged it that way on purpose. If word ever got out that Saskia had never gone to the Facility and that her family had helped conceal her for five years but that they hadn’t faced any consequences for their actions… it didn’t bear thinking about. Arius’s reputation as a ruler to be obeyed would be lost if it was discovered he’d let such a blatant violation of the law slide.
So he’d arranged for Mr. and Mrs. Cole and their daughter Natalia to be smuggled in secretly. He’d also opted to go down to meet them alone, without the usual royal reception retinue. As the nondescript car with heavily tinted windows pulled up, Arius thanked the gods again for his discreet and loyal servants. Tavos was just one of them.
One by one, the Coles exited the vehicle, all clad in their drab, shapeless overcoats which instantly marked them as Betas. Arius recalled Saskia wearing just such a coat when they’d first met, which only proved how pointless and deceptive a uniform could be.
“Allow me to introduce myself,” he said a little too loudly once all three had emerged from the car. His face felt stiff and his smile awkward. “I’m Arius Sandorus. And you must be the Cole family.”
Saskia’s father, a very tall, lean man in his late forties, gave a little bow. “It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. Allow me to introduce my wife, Felicity, and my daughter, Natalia.”
Arius regarded the women curiously. Saskia’s mother had the same prettily shaped eyes as his new mate, although they were a vivid blue rather than aquamarine. The streaks of brown in her hair were, however, the same shade of chestnut. Natalia was almost as tall as her father, with his coppery locks and dark brown eyes. She glanced shyly at the ground and gave an awkward curtsey. “Pleasure to meet you, Sire.”
“Please, call me Arius,” he said.
“Oh,” Natalia exclaimed, “I don’t think we could ever do that.”
Deciding that that was probably an argument to be saved for another time, Arius drew himself up to his full height. “Saskia can’t wait to see you all. Please follow me.”
Pacing back and forth in the now pristine reception room, Saskia smoothed her skirt with her sweaty palms for the umpteenth time, unable to keep still. What was taking them so long?
She was well aware that Arius had been under no obligation to make this visit happen—especially in light of her crime—and yet he was doing so anyway.
For her.
At last the door opened and he emerged, the green of his shirt setting off his tawny skin and piercing eyes. For once, Saskia’s gaze moved beyond him almost immediately to the three figures following close behind.
“Mama!” With a squeal of delight, she launched herself past the Alpha and threw herself into her mother’s arms, inhaling her familiar, comforting scent. “Gods, it’s so good to see you! And you, Dad. And Nat!” Saskia embraced them each in turn, barely aware of Arius hovering nearby.
The Alpha cleared his throat. “Please, come in and make yourselves comfortable.”
Her parents’ eyes were on stalks as they moved slowly toward the sumptuous silver-thread couches, and Saskia realized with a pang how small and impoverished they looked against such a luxurious backdrop. “Can I take your coats?” she said.
Her father quirked an eyebrow. “No servants?”
She smiled. “Not right now. I—we—wanted to be assured of privacy.” A flicker of something passed over her dad’s features at that statement but he allowed her to take his coat all the same. Once she’d set all three garments aside, she ignored the yawning space on the couch beside Arius and instead squeezed herself between her parents on the opposite sofa, wriggling until they both shifted enough to give her room. Nat had opted for an armchair. Saskia took her mother’s hand. “I still can’t believe you’re here!”
“Neither can we,” Nat muttered drily.
There was an awkward pause.
“Coffee? Tea? Wine?” Arius said, indicating the beverages spread out on the low table.
“Got any beer?”
“Dad!” Saskia whispered. “Isn’t it a bit early for beer?”
“It’s fine, sweetness,” Arius said smoothly. “This is a special occasion.” He popped the cap off a frosty bottle and was about to pour it when her father stopped him.
“I’ll take it just like that, thanks.”
Her mother opted for coffee; Natalia—obviously determined to wring the most out of the situation—asked for wine. Saskia remembered the effect her first taste had had on her and shot a nervous glance at her sister. “That’s strong,” she said, “so take it slow.”
Nat took a long swallow. “It’s wonderful.”
Suddenly Saskia became aware of how bizarre and awkward the entire situation was, and wished Arius would leave the room, give them some space. She wondered whether she’d ever be alone with her family again. Probably not now that you’re nothing but a royal brood mare, she thought bitterly.
“So…” her father began, obviously desperate to break the near-tangible silence that had settled over them like a lead blanket.
“So,” Arius countered. “I wanted to thank you for coming. I realize this entire situation is a bit… unusual, but I appreciate your cooperation.”
“Thank you for the invitation,” her mother said, “this is a very nice… place.”
Not at all like our sparsely furnished little hut in town. Suddenly Saskia was overwhelmed with longing for the familiar scrubbed kitchen table, the smells of her mother’s cooking, the freedom to come and go as she pleased. She blinked back tears.
“I’ll get straight to the point,” Arius said, then paused for another long gulp of wine.
Before he could continue, Saskia took advantage of her opportunity to jump in. “What happened when I didn’t come home? I felt so bad, I thought you must be so worried!”
“Gods, we were!” her mother said, her grip on Saskia’s hand tightening almost imperceptibly. “I had all kinds of horrible images in my head of what might have happened to you—none of them good.”
“But we figured they got to you,” her father added, shooting a thinly veiled glare in Arius’s direction. “It was only a matter of time.”
“Before a fully grown Omega who was blatantly disobeying the law by hiding and shirking her duty was caught? Damn right,” Arius growled, his nostrils flaring. “I’m amazed she was able to avoid detection for as long as she did.”
Saskia could feel the tension emanating from her dad’s body as his spine straightened and he drew his shoulders back. “My daughter is witty, intelligent, and independent,” he countered, “so surely you can understand my not wanting her to be wasted as nothing more than an… incubator for some Alpha!”
“Some Alpha?” Arius shot to his feet and Saskia was unable to suppress a moan as her father followed suit. The two men glared at each other across the coffee table.
“Markus, sit down,” her mother hissed. “Remember your place.”
“My place is to protect my daughter! Sure, this is a palace and not a hut, and she’s wearing a pretty dress instead of a threadbare sweatshirt, but surely you can see she’s nothing but a prisoner in a golden cage! Damnit, I want her to be happy!” He turned to Saskia and her heart clenched in her chest at the sight of the tears in his eyes.
“Dad,” she said, getting to her feet and pulling him into her arms, “please don’t. It is what it is. We were breaking the law and we all knew it. Thanks to you, I had five extra years. And, believe it or not, I am happy. Arius treats me well, and—”
“I don’t believe you,” her fathe
r interrupted her, his voice gruff with pain. “You’re obviously brainwashed and probably in estrus. You know hormones can cloud your mind.”
“Yes, they can and they do,” Saskia replied, leaning back so she could look into his eyes. “But honestly, as you yourself said, it was only a matter of time. I’m an Omega, Dad. Nobody can change that, not even you. And let’s face it,” she gestured around the room with a sweep of her arm, “I could have had it a lot worse. Arius treats me very well and gives me everything I could possibly want.” Almost everything. “That’s why you’re here now. I asked him to invite you here. He didn’t have to do that for me, for us. He did it because he wants me to be happy.”
Her father grunted.
“Is there any more wine?” Natalia said, thrusting her now empty glass toward the table.
Arius stared at Saskia, then her father before bending down to fill it.
“Can you please sit down again, Markus? Saskia’s right,” her mother said. “We should be grateful to… His Highness… that we’re here instead of in the dungeons.” Then, to Saskia in a stage whisper, “Do they have dungeons here?”
Unable to suppress a smile, Saskia shook her head. “I don’t know, Mama.”
“We do,” Arius said curtly, but he sat back down and refilled his own glass with wine.
Saskia followed suit, tugging her father’s sleeve until he was forced to join her on the couch once again.
“This really is delectable,” Natalia said a little too loudly. “I wish we had wine at home.”
“I can arrange to have some sent to you,” Arius told her. “As a token of good will for my mate’s family. You just need to make sure nobody finds out or sees you drinking it.”
Saskia felt her father’s entire body tense up at the possessive term and she nudged him gently, praying he wouldn’t kick off again. “That’s very kind of you,” she said. “Thank you.”
“I don’t see the mark on her,” her dad muttered. “So you haven’t claimed her yet.”
Primal Possession: A dark Omegaverse Romance (Alphas of Sandor Book 1) Page 9
