by Zoey Ellis
She traveled over the landscape trying to think of where she should go, but her mind kept returning to Malloron, wondering if he survived the ball of ice, if it had trapped him somewhere and he was unable to escape. She pushed the thought out of her head only for it to return a few moments later. The urge to go back and see if he was all right crept up on her until it was unbearable, and she dug her fingernails into her palms as her frustration built. She didn’t want to be thinking about the bastard, she didn’t want to be concerned about him. This thing inside her was trying to pull her back to him, trying to sway her mind and feelings to entrap herself by returning to him. She had to do something about it.
Feeling out the ground, she located a vibration that felt familiar and navigated toward it, her mind skipping from thought to fragmented thought. The more she contemplated, the more she realized how trapped she truly was. She had effectively allowed Malloron to own her completely—every inch and ounce of her, including her mind. Her emotions darkened and stirred at how deeply he had tricked her and the magic in the air around her became unsteady and wild. He had never intended to let her go from the moment he saw her, regardless of whether she had agreed to his terms or not. Everything the Mothers had said about Alphas was true—they been right to keep Omegas hidden and out of their reach.
By the time she landed in the garden of the grand house in DarFara where the familiar vibration was located, a whirlwind of magic encased her, rushing around her in a violent ball that represented the dark nature of her disturbed emotions. Tears filled her eyes and this time she couldn't stop them from falling.
She sunk down to her knees, somewhat relieved to feel the soft grass under her skin, and pressed her palms onto the prickly, dewy leaves, the coolness calming her a little.
Feeling the familiar vibration in her presence, she looked up to see Kyus exiting the house, her whole body a shimmering vibration. Amara tried to focus on her face, but the wild magic around her kept jumping and twisting and she was unable to see anything.
Kyus tried to come closer, but the magic swirling around Amara kept her at a distance. They watched each other for a short moment and Amara wondered if Kyus was trying to speak to her.
She opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it again. What could she say? She wasn't even sure why she had come. What could Kyus do to help her? The Omega had her own mission and her own team to worry about. What did Amara expect from her? Validation? Reassurance that she had done the best she could? A reason to try to accept her feelings for Malloron?
Amara shook her head sharply again. She had no feelings for him! She must remember that. Kyus was the one that had known about Malloron’s last queen—obviously he had put this thing inside her too. She needed someone to know—she needed an Omega to be aware of what he was trying to do to Omegas. He said he needed an Omega for this purpose and as soon as she died, what was going to stop him from finding another? And another? Kyus needed to know.
Amara slowly rose to her feet and focusing, connected with Kyus’ vibration. But it wasn't the same as connecting with Malloron. There was a mess of emotions, confusion, and a sharp withdrawal. Amara leaned into the connection harder to try to connect, but Kyus dropped to her knees. Shocked, Amara pulled back and broke the connection.
She watched, concerned, as Kyus shuffled backward on her hands and knees and then rose upright to look at Amara. There was a moment of stillness again, and Amara huffed in frustration—clearly Kyus was trying to talk to her. How could she explain?
Kyus pointed to the revolving magical ball around Amara, but Amara shook her head. She couldn't control that magic. She didn't know how or why it existed. It seemed to be a symptom of her feelings.
Kyus stumbled backward, and at the same time something in the air changed.
Amara’s head shot up. He was here. Connecting to the magic in the air, Amara pushed Kyus as far as she could back toward the house. She wouldn't let her Omega sister, or anyone else, get hurt because of her choices.
Rising up into the air, she drew level with Malloron again, annoyed that the fear and fury at his presence was accompanied by a resounding relief that he was alive.
He connected with her, and the moment he did, her emotions darkened and the magic revolving around her became uncontrollable.
"Calm down, Amara.”
She tried in vain to pull away, becoming more and more desperate as she realized the strength of his hold. He seemed to be gripping deeper onto something inside her, not her physical body this time. It tightened the more she struggled and her body began to stiffen.
"Stop it.” His voice echoed within her, a deep growl. “You will hurt yourself.”
She ignored him, fighting with all her might to escape until the energy inside her was rock hard and she could barely move. The magic around her dashed and zipped about as she realized she couldn't retaliate using magic from her surroundings without potentially hurting Kyus. It was over for her. She burst into tears, squeezing her eyes tight as the raw pain in her chest bloomed. She had failed at even trying to warn Kyus of the danger King Malloron truly was, and now he would most likely never let her outside again.
She sobbed as she continued to fight against him, every inch of her rejecting his hold, every part of her trying to turn away from him.
"Amara, stop fighting me! Let me try to fix it.”
She didn't hear him. He was a liar, nothing he said was important.
His hold tightened again and suddenly the energy inside her… broke. It splinted and fractured into tiny pieces causing an unbearable agony to shoot through her as though a hundred daggers stabbed her insides. She screamed and screamed as her body shuddered and shook, the air escaping her lungs, but no sound reaching her ears. She counldn’t sense what was happening around her. The visual imagery of the vibrations faded to nothing, and she twisted into gravity’s grip as she lost all ability to hold herself upright.
Before she lost consciousness, she felt him around her, his arms holding onto her, his chest against her cheek, his hands threaded in her hair, and she knew if she survived this, she was truly trapped.
CHAPTER FIVE
MALLORON
Malloron rose high in the sky as he raced Amara back to Eiros. He kept her close against him and checked her breathing regularly as he soared over the Lands back to his castle.
Anger and panic bounded through him so completely that he could barely focus on the pain that scored across every inch of his body as a result of her attack.
Something had happened to the tenebris when he was trying to drag her to him. It seemed to crack and break apart in a way he had never known it could. The raw coarseness of her screams had him roaring with her, angry that she had made him hurt her, and concerned that he had done something she couldn't recover from. He couldn't feel her hum anymore—and that panicked him more than anything else.
Everything she had been able to do with the tenebris inside of her hadn't ever been done before, and certainly hadn't been mentioned in any record he had. She was unique and special—not only because of the tenebris but because of what she was to him and he would not lose her.
He held her to him tighter, pushing harder to get back to Eiros Castle so he could make sure she survived. His chest tightened at the idea he might have damaged her even more by gripping onto the tenebris so hard, but he hadn't seen any other way around it. Her will was strong—stronger than anyone he had ever encountered. She would not follow her instincts to submit to him even with the tenebris inside her. But then… she never had. The realization hit him hard, but it was the truth. Amara barely respected or feared him enough to even use his title when she addressed him. It was no wonder she would fight all of her instincts in order to try to get away from him.
His mind raced as he entered over Eiros, and curved toward the castle. The prevention spell still held firm and now that the attack from Norryth had ceased it should remain steady. No doubt he would be hearing from Brecc before the day was out.
He
flew through his bedroom window and carefully placed Amara on his bed, laying her on her back. Closing the window and weaving a spell to lock all the windows in the room, he called for Emric, before remembering that he sent him to collect the Southern Lands visitor. Another thing he would have to deal with.
He returned to the bed to examine Amara. She didn't appear to have suffered any significant physical damage from her time out of the castle, but he wouldn't truly know until she woke up if anything was painful. Once he was finished, he stood and stared at her. She was still stunningly beautiful, of course. He stroked his fingers through the crown of her hair, a harsh desperate edge rising in him that cut through everything else.
He climbed over her and covered her body with his, propping himself up on his elbows so he could examine her deeper. He took a breath and connected to the tenebris.
His heart sunk. It was shattered inside her. No doubt she would be in immense pain when she woke up. He tightened his arms around her head and pressed his forehead to hers. She was the only thing that mattered and not only had he ruined her, he had broken her as well. He had to fix it. He could not allow her to exist in this fashion.
As he contemplated, she stirred underneath him, whimpering with each movement she made.
Instinctively, he breathed out a deep rumble, pressing himself against her to try to soothe her with it. She sighed and stilled, then pressed closer to him, even murmuring out loud a little as she settled. A deep satisfaction spread through him and he lay on top of her, snaking an arm underneath her to pull her even closer to him, he continued to console her with his rumble. His purr.
He never purred before, but he knew of it. He heard of Alphas who had soothed their mates this way, but nothing prepared him for the profound contentment that embraced him that he was offering a source of comfort to his mate.
He buried his face in her neck as he purred and breathed in her scent—that scent he had been craving to overwhelm him for so long. Finally, he was able to fully experience it and, not only did it arouse him, it strengthened his desperation to ensure her well-being. He couldn't be without it—without her. It was clearer to him than ever before and yet the revelation conflicted with every belief he held about his own approach to Omegas.
He felt for the tenebris as he deepened his purr. It seemed to soften and drift slowly within her, no longer sharp and jagged. His heart lifted. It shouldn't hurt her so much if it was soft within her, but it still needed to repair itself. He had never heard of the tenebris existing within anyone in a fractured state before. He wasn't sure if it was even possible for her to survive it. He might have to try to get it out of her. Just as he began to consider how to do that, he noticed part of the tenebris slowly knitting back together. Exhaling in relief, Malloron settled in place, wrapped his arms around her and continued to purr.
He lay with her for hours monitoring her progress. She remained unconscious as the tenebris slowly rejoined, but her breathing eased and deepened, and she still clung to him for his purr, which he never let up. She could have it for as long as she wanted. That desperation still bounded in him, and he battled with it every time he wondered what state she would be in when she woke up. Regardless of her clear hatred of him, she belonged to him, and she would have to accept that. Maybe it would be easier for her to do so if she was suffering and could only turn to him.
He stared at her, absorbing her beauty, hoping there was a way to return her sight and hearing. There had to be. The tenebris worked differently within her, she had proven it. He just had to figure out why it had the result it did. With her eyes closed, she just seemed asleep, those long lashes fanned under her eyelids, her mouth relaxed. His eyes lingered on her plump lips. He had never kissed anyone before, not even his own mate when they had mated in the casting room. He leaned forward, angling his lips to hers.
“Your Majesty?”
The whisper was so quiet it was barely audible and although it was uttered in a non-threatening way, Malloron jerked to attention and instantly wove a shield that bloomed around him and his mate and numerous spinning orbs that surrounded the speaker.
“It’s just me, Your Majesty,” the voice squeaked.
Malloron peered over the edge of his bed to see Emric crouched on the floor. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“I’ve come to see if you are well, Your Majesty,” Emric replied, his voice slight. “It has been hours.”
“You did not knock.” Malloron dispersed the orbs but kept the shield intact.
“No,” Emric admitted, wincing. “I thought not to disturb your… guest.”
“My mate,” Mallron corrected. “She is my mate, Emric.”
He was shocked to see Emric grin. “I was hoping so, Your Majesty.”
Malloron frowned. “You were? Why?”
Emric nodded and tucked his legs under himself on the floor. “She is strong-willed, and perhaps disobedient, but I think she is very well suited to you, Your Majesty. She is nice and smart. She gave me advice even though we are not friends.”
Malloron’s arms tightened around Amara, a hot blade of jealousy slicing through him. “You spent time with her?”
Emric’s smile faltered. “No, it was one of the times you told me to collect her.”
“What was her advice?”
“It was just about friendship, Your Majesty.” Emric stammered as he spoke. “Nothing important.”
None of Malloron’s interactions with Amara had been anything close to the nature of her offering him advice. Yes, he had constructed their interactions in a certain way, but it was still displeasing she could so easily offer it to someone else—someone she barely knew. “What is it you want, Emric?” Malloron growled.
“I just came to update you,” Emric said hurriedly. “Our Southern Lands visitor and his followers have been allocated the solar wing. They are settling in but I suspect he would like you to greet him personally—”
“He can fucking wait.”
Emric swallowed. “He has very strict traditions, Your Majesty. I feel you would offend him if you do not—”
“What else?”
Emric refocused his thoughts. “Duke Brecc has publicly announced that you attacked his manor with some kind of magical creature that was not disclosed to the rest of the Western Lands. He is campaigning that you intend to use it to cause havoc in the Western Lands and that you must be stopped.”
“I don't care about that, what else?”
Emric paused. “Your Majesty, members of his family were killed when his manor was destroyed. He will not let it lie or easily be removed from this opinion.”
“He attacked Eiros first,” Malloron shot at him. “He and all of the other rulers on your list attacked Eiros without provocation. Make sure my people are aware of that as well as the territories that are neutral. Does he still have at least one of his sons?”
Emric nodded.
“Then he still has an heir. What else?”
“Your brother left to return to DarFara. He said he would be happy to receive you.”
Malloron frowned. “I will not be visiting my brother.”
“I told him as much, but he was insistent I give you the message,” Emric said. “What would you like me to do next?”
Malloron thought for a long moment, his gaze returning to Amara. “The temple is no longer protected so I need trusted guards on it every moment of every day.” He shot Emric a look. “Not Talent-crafters. Long-serving guards only. I want you to hand select the most loyal.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I will come and greet the Southern Lands visitor once I am sure Amara is well, not before. Make excuses, get him hooked on a group of restrained, do what you have to do to keep him appeased. Keep all information about the other rulers out of his reach—he will certainly leave if he hears of more disruption here.”
Emric nodded again.
“Bring water, medication, and soup for Amara.”
Emric murmured in understanding and then made to leave,
but stopped.
“What is it?” Malloron asked.
“Your Majesty,” Emric said hesitantly. “What about your injuries.”
“They are not serious.”
Emric grimaced. “Please look at yourself, Your Majesty. Perhaps you would like a change of clothes or some medicine to soothe your face?”
Malloron glanced down at himself and was shocked to see his clothes soaked with blood. The strain of having to crack through the enormous ice ball Amara encased him in caused shock waves that had ripped into his skin. At the time he considered it an inconvenience and firmly blocked out the pain. As he became aware of the injuries, his entire body began to ache. He pulled an arm out from under Amara and felt his face. The ice pelts from her attack had torn deep gashes and the blood that oozed from them had crusted on his skin.
“Yes, all right,” he told Emric reluctantly. He would prefer not to have to do anything that would remove him from being in direct contact with Amara, but he’d been bleeding all over her. “Bring her wardrobe from the Caradoc rooms too.”
Emric slipped away as quietly as he came and Malloron turned back to watch Amara. The tenebris was continuing to reform but the process slowed while his attention had been diverted elsewhere. He had to pay attention to it for it to heal significantly, which made sense, since he was connected to it.
He closed his eyes and pressed his face into her neck, breathing in her scent again while focusing on the tenebris and deepening his purr to a stronger rumble. It would be a hard job trying to fix the effect the tenebris had on Amara, but at least he could relieve some of the pain he caused by healing it within her.
***
It took five days.
During that time Amara remained mostly unconscious, only waking slightly when Malloron fed her water and medicated soup before returning to her slumber. When she did, she seemed to be in a lot of pain, which was expected, but Malloron hated hearing her gasp and groan in agony.
