She shook her head, hopeless as ever. “They’ll know. They’ll see the dust on your skin and hear the rumble in your belly. You’re too skinny to be anything but an omega. Your cheeks are too pink from the sun. No dress can hide that.”
“After a few glasses of mead, all they’ll care about is a place to stick their dick.”
Tavia’s face paled. She’d been holding secrets from me too. “You know the laws. If anyone in the royal city attempts to mate with an omega, they’ll be killed.”
I didn’t need to mate with just anyone. I needed one male who wasn’t an omega, to take notice of me.
“I have to try.” I didn’t want to cry. I’d put on eye makeup, the little bit I was able to smuggle out of the castle, and I didn’t want to mess it up. Tonight, I wasn’t an omega. If my plan worked, I could lift up Tavia and all our friends. They could take everything away from me, but I’d tucked my dreams deep in a place where not even the king could reach. “If nothing changes, we’ll starve to death, and that’s if we’re lucky. I’m scared for you, Tavia. I’ll do whatever it takes so you don’t have to sell yourself night after night.”
“That’s exactly what you’re doing.” She clapped her hand over her mouth. Emotion raised the volume of her voice. She knew she couldn’t stop me, but she also knew better than to draw attention to herself. “You’re selling yourself to someone who doesn’t care if we live or die.”
“No one cares about us.” By design, there was very little loyalty among omegas. We couldn’t be a pack without an alpha. The women who lived in this shack did their best to look out for one another. But they’d taken our voices and our power. All we had was comfort and sympathy. We wanted so much more. “I’m willing to take this chance to make our lives better. What if one night could change everything?”
“You always were a dreamer.” Tavia’s shoulders softened once she realized there was no talking me out of this. No better alternative. She reached into the chest at the end of our bed. The intricately carved mahogany stayed covered in a layer of dust no matter how often we cleaned it, but was the only thing we had left of what belonged to our mom. Everything else we’d been forced to sell to buy food or make rent.
Tavia retrieved one of our everyday dresses from the chest and handed it to me. It was as brown as the dessert. “Put this on until you get to the castle. Don’t draw attention to yourself in the Badlands.”
I pulled it over my head, and just like that, the magic of my beautiful dress was gone. Only until I got to the castle. In my new dress, I could be whoever I wanted. Beta. Alpha. Royalty.
“Thank you,” I said. Tavia didn’t have to help. Even if she was my sister, all I had in the entire world, she could’ve reported me. If she did, I wouldn’t live to see midnight.
“I love that you can still dream.” She wrapped her arms around me. “One day, I hope I can again too.”
Chapter Three
Adalai
The sun was falling quickly behind the horizon of the city borders and the party was in full swing. I sat, watching from my throne as several beta females danced to the boisterous music that filled the hall. They thrust their hips and swung their bodies so their gowns swished this way and that, revealing bits of lush flesh to catch the attention of hungry males nearby.
The seduction was working.
Alpha warriors whistled and eyed the betas as if they were a new prize to be won in battle. But what kind of prize was won by submission? When they threw themselves at a man instead of making him prove he was worthy.
It was fucking boring.
And I wasn’t the only one who thought so.
At my right was Evander, dressed in the same formal attire as the rest of us, his face emotionless as a sheet of blank paper. To my left was Solen, fidgeting like he couldn’t wait to be done with the formality so he could lock himself away and do his favorite thing… fuck. Even Cassian, who was naturally more good humored than the rest of us, looked annoyed as hell. The only one who was nowhere to be found was Dagger.
But the masses, it seemed, were enamored by the dancing females. So I let it continue.
I let my chalice dangle between my two middle fingers as I held it over the arm of the throne. Without a word, an omega servant refilled it with strong wine. Omegas weren’t allowed in the city after dark but for special occasions such as battle celebrations, when they were needed beyond the hours allotted.
Bending rules was okay as long as you were king, and as long as they were of little significance. Slight curves instead of sharp angles.
So what if a few omegas had to find their way back to the Badlands by moonlight. It made them stronger didn’t it, the struggles they endured because of The Division? That’s what Dagger suggested. And besides, it wasn’t fit for a royal to serve himself.
Scanning the crowd as I drank, I took in the array of color that gave the room an almost garish feel. Brilliant silken gowns of blue and green and purple. Roses of blood red, deep pink, and yellow like the sun. Sprinkled among all the bright hues was the gleaming black leather of the alpha males. The crowd moved like a multicolored wave and my gaze floated above it to the farthest entrance, counting down the minutes until I could walk through that archway and back to my quarters. The ancient books that lined my shelves were greater entertainment than this, even being written by men who lived in an America of times past.
A female appeared in the entry as if I’d conjured her out of thin air. One I didn’t recognize. Not that I knew all the females of our pack. But she was definitely not one who frequented royal parties.
I measured her from across the dance floor.
Her gown would be called exquisite by the ladies. Her dark chestnut colored hair was braided into a crown around her head. She held her shoulders high, like she belonged here. Like she was born of royal blood instead of the more common blood of the betas.
But it was her eyes that held my attention when nothing else could. So wide and filled with wonder that I could see the blue of them even from a distance. Her face wasn’t heavily made up like the other females in the room. Her decorations were faint, allowing me to take in her every expression.
Awe and surprise and hints of doubt that were quickly covered up by delight as her eyes danced around the room taking small sips of it all. Her gaze seemed to linger the longest on the roses. Did she like them?
I found myself wishing there were even more filling the hall just so I could watch her experience them longer.
Never taking my eyes off her, I leaned over to ask Evander, “The female who just entered. Who is she?”
“I am not familiar with her.”
The tone of his answer had my attention snapping sideways to gauge his expression. He watched her just as I did, with interest.
A growl rumbled from my chest, not animalistic enough, not nearly. I wanted my beast now more than ever. My wolf would be out of my body so fast and at his throat—
“Stay away from her,” I warned.
I watched his forehead fold up into a scowl as he turned to look at me. “Is that an order, my King?”
“Yes. And that goes for all of you,” I told the others just in case they wanted her too.
She was mine.
Mine until I grew bored with her.
And it would happen. Of course it would.
Because this existence was too empty to expect anything more. I lived to defend our people from the humans. To make sure they thrived and multiplied and grew strong. I lived to guide them into tomorrow, whatever it might hold. And then the next day, and the one after it.
Having someone by my side was never part of the deal.
Having someone soft to come home to was so far out of reach I couldn’t even let the idea take root in my mind.
I swallowed hard as I watched the pretty female take a step into the crowd, her wide eyes constantly moving.
Until they landed on me. And she went utterly still.
As if she forgot to breathe.
Or was that
my own lungs failing?
Her sapphire gaze clashed with mine for countless seconds before fluttering away. It fell to the floor like a cascade of autumn leaves and my heart picked up speed.
My mysterious beta was submissive.
But then her gaze lifted to mine once again, blatantly staring. As if she was deciding her next move. Measuring her next step using my reaction as a meter.
I stood, feeling more invincible than I ever did in battle. I had already captured her attention, now I was going to conquer her. I’d start with a dance. Ask as many questions as it took to learn her. And then take her to my bed and keep her as long as I wanted.
“More wine, my King?” the omega servant asked, pulling my attention away.
“No.” I gave her my chalice and turned back to find my female.
But she was gone.
I scanned the crowd looking for her magenta dress, but she was nowhere to be found.
Where have you gone, female. Don’t you know you can’t hide from a king?
Chapter Four
Zelene
I passed my first test, keeping my eyes averted as I went through the checkpoint on my way into Luxoria. The same guards traded shifts everyday, and they knew me. I didn’t need to show the identification omegas had to keep on them at all times. That way, we could never be mistaken for someone we weren’t. Someone who belonged in the royal city.
“Working the party tonight?” the guard asked. I made sure to get in the line of the one who smiled and told jokes almost every day. Not all of them were as kind as him. If I got in the wrong line, I might have blown my cover.
“Yes.” Something like that.
“Be careful.” He moved aside to let me pass. Only then did I notice all the guards held semi-automatic weapons. “The castle isn’t always the safest place to be in the city.”
I was a female omega. Nowhere was safe.
The other omegas working the party had been on shift for hours. Slipping in the service entrance, where I usually entered the castle, I made sure no one was around as I pulled my shapeless uniform dress over my head and hid it and my ID card on a pantry shelf, behind a bag of sugar. Pots and pans clanged in the distance, and I didn’t have time to linger. I worked in the kitchen, and being here, dressed like this, was dangerous. My coworkers weren’t necessarily my friends. They’d report me to save themselves from getting punished.
After twelve years working at the castle, I probably knew my way around the labyrinth of back hallways better than some of its inhabitants. I had to move quickly. No Alpha or beta would have any reason to be in the kitchen, especially one considered a guest. Anyone invited to the castle only saw the absolute best the king had to offer, and the staff saw everything else.
I emerged from the shadows before I caught my breath. My heart raced as I entered the grand hallway, as if I only now realized what I’d actually done. The enormity of it. The consequences.
My beautiful dress had seemed so luxurious against the backdrop of dust and despair. Compared to the gowns that surrounded me, it was too short, too tight, and not enough to sell the story that I belonged here. Worse than that, the knee-length skirt showed the dirt on my feet. I hadn’t thought about shoes until it was too late, and I wore the same tired slippers I wore every other day I came to this castle. Tavia helped me braid my hair. But I didn’t have the flowing curls, the flowers, or the jeweled tiaras of the women around me.
I swallowed the lump in my dry throat. I’d die in this dress tonight. But first, I’d experience a royal ball like I never had before.
A waiter I didn’t recognize offered me a drink in a fluted glass. Maybe he wasn’t omega. The castle brought people in to help with the big parties, for the important ones, they’d even hire betas. I’d watch him. Perhaps he was the answer to my problems.
I took a sip. Champagne. How long since I’d tasted the crisp drink? I had once risked a taste in the kitchens when no one was looking. Now, I could drink it freely. I indulged another long sip, savoring the sweet taste of liquid courage. I couldn’t back out of my plan now, it was a surefire way to get caught. I had to own my faux beta status. If I didn’t believe in myself, no one else would either.
I walked into the ballroom with my head held high, mimicking the actions of the royalty I served. They’d never be caught looking at their dirty feet, avoiding eye contact.
A band played in the corner, and couples swirled around the room, dancing. Other groups had formed around the perimeter of the dance floor, and once again, I stood out. Everyone I knew at this party was getting paid a pittance to serve the revelers--that is, if they were lucky enough to get paid at all. Many weeks went by with nothing but excuses in exchange for our work, if they didn’t find it satisfactory. As omegas, we had no recourse, and quitting was a death sentence. A bad reference from King Adalai himself would ensure no one else would take a chance on us. Tavia was living proof of that.
Again, I wondered what had caused her termination. But it didn’t matter really. She was why I was willing to take this chance, to find a beta that would help me break the cycle. Then I’d be able to help my sister and our friends do the same. Somehow.
The wall near the window was lined with roses. Cool succulents accented the arrangement. Before The Division, my mother had lined our yard with blooms just like this. Back when our life had color and was full of hope. She was killed in the omega battles, on the front lines, doing whatever she could to give us a better life.
I couldn’t let her down.
My eyes blurred at the memory, and I had to look away from the flowers. No one cried at royal galas, well, not in front of the guests, anyway. I’d shed more than my fair share of tears in the deep caverns of the kitchen.
Someone was looking at me. My wolf senses were at full attention. No, please don’t shift, not here…
Omegas had one thing that no one invited to this castle had—the ability to shift into their animal form. It was our biggest and best-kept secret. No one from Luxoria knew we could access our animals. No one watched us close enough to know. We were pushed beyond the gates and forgotten until we were needed to serve.
If I sprouted fur here, in the king’s ballroom, I’d be dead before I fully transformed.
I turned to look into the eyes of King Adalai. He stared at me as though he planned to mark me.
Frozen in place, I didn’t know what to do. I’d never been so close to him before. I worked in his house, helped prepare his meals, but we’d never been face to face. I couldn’t look away, it would be disrespectful.
Or was it protocol not to look royalty directly in the eye? It wasn’t something I ever had to worry about before.
The corner of his lips turned up in a smile that warmed my body from head to toe, and made the muscles between my legs pulse in time with my thundering heart. He was a beautiful man, with tawny skin and eyes that glittered, even from this distance. He rose to speak to a man dressed as richly as he was, in black leather pants and a matching jacket. This man wore a badge full of medals on his chest, so he was important too, but he didn’t wear a crown.
There was only one king.
Dancers bumped into me, apologizing as what was left of my champagne rolled in my glass. Both men were looking at me now. His Majesty said something else to the other man, and Rielle, my roommate, walked onto the stage with a fresh chalice full of wine for the King.
The men ignored her, but Rielle was one of the smartest women I’d ever met. We’d fought side by side for survival many nights, and there was no one I’d rather go to battle with. We didn’t celebrate our victories so grandly in the Badlands, we just thanked the universe we lived to see another day. She looked into the crowd, her mouth gaping into an O when she spotted me.
Shit.
King Adalai turned to his friend once again, looking away from me, breaking the spell. My champagne glass shattered as it fell to my feet. The dirty slippers I’d tried so hard to not draw attention to would likely be streaked with blood when the b
roken glass hit my ankles.
Dancers gasped, and omegas were coming to clean my mess.
I had to get out of here.
Rielle would never tell His Majesty what I was, but I couldn’t risk her slipping to another omega, or being questioned about her reaction. I hadn’t thought this through. The pretty dress made me feel special, but it didn’t change the fact I was so woefully unprepared to live in a world that didn’t belong to me.
Guests were still arriving, and I bumped against them on the way out of the ballroom. I couldn’t go out through the kitchen. Too risky. I wasn’t as familiar with the castle on the grand level, where the royals loved to show off the riches and conduct business. I ducked into a side room, believing it would get me closer to the door.
Without my plain omega frock, I’d catch trouble as soon as I left the castle in this dress. No omega was allowed in city limits after dark. My dirty and bloody peasant slippers would give me away. My pale exposed legs. Even if the guards let me pass, the residents of the Badlands would make sure I never forgot my place again.
But the room wasn’t an exit. Its walls were made of glass, and the rest of it was drenched with color. An oriental rug, leather chairs, and flowers everywhere.
And there wasn’t anyone else in it.
I sank into one of the chairs, giving myself a chance to catch my breath. To think of a way out of this mess. I looked down at my legs. Spilled champagne carved rivers in the dust on my shins. There was only one little nick from the broken glass, and the blood graciously had decided to stay near the base of the cut. The last thing I needed to do was bleed on this rug. The royals had technology that could track me with one drop of blood in seconds.
A door closed on the far end of the room. I pushed my body against the chair, not to be seen. My wolf was rumbling inside me, getting ready for a fight.
I smelled him before I saw him. A mix of whiskey, vanilla, and pure power. The King had found me.
What would a beta do? I smoothed my skirt and sat straight in the chair. Proud. Like I belonged at a royal party.
His Forbidden Omega (The Royal Omegas Book 1) Page 2
