by Zoey Ellis
Cailyn watched him. He seemed to be agitated even discussing it, but this was one of the things she needed to know. She had to press him. “How do you know?”
The Emperor chewed slowly for a long while, and Cailyn thought for a moment he wasn’t going to answer. “I knew an Alpha who had bonded with an Omega who was taken,” he said, finally. “He felt their connection every day, right up to the day of his death. The loss of her changed him, distorted him, made him vastly different to who he had been. I can only imagine the same fate fell on her.” His face clouded over as he spoke and Cailyn couldn’t look away from his eyes. They were stormy and hard yet tinged with something so slight she almost missed it; a subdued mellowness. It made his entire expression different. She couldn’t think clearly to ask her next question, so she kept quiet until she had eaten her fill.
“You don’t eat enough, kitten,” he commented, pushing his plate away.
The servants returned to collect the dishes and their plates.
“It’s Cailyn, Emperor.”
He turned to look at her, his gaze intense. “I know.”
She made a face. “You keep calling me kitten.”
“Yes, that’s what you are.”
Cailyn struggled not to bristle. He had given her a nickname as though she was his whore. Coupled with where she had been placed at the table, the insult was too great for her to remain quiet. “At the risk of insulting you, Emperor, I’d like to point out we are not familiar with each other in that way.”
The Emperor leaned forward. “Incorrect. I’m completely familiar with the kind of Beta you are.”
“And what kind am I?” she asked, evenly.
“The kind who likes to show their claws and nip and scratch, and make noise for the sake of it,” he said. “But ultimately, doesn’t make any real impact.”
Cailyn’s anger rose steadily. “So you’re saying I’m useless?”
The bastard had the nerve to smirk at her, his black eyes gleaming. “Even kittens have their uses.”
“Because they’re entertaining?” she spat. “Nice to look at and easily pacified?”
The Emperor broke into a grin as she spoke.
“Because they can be put in their place and are easy to confuse and distract?” She glared at him, grinding her teeth in annoyance.
He threw his head back, releasing peals of husky laughter.
Cailyn sat and fumed. He had already warned her of her impertinence and saying anything else would certainly cause her to be punished, but she found that she didn’t care. “I wonder if that’s how you see the Omegas you seek. Playthings to brush aside when you get tired of them.”
“An Omega has a lifetime duty to her Alpha just as an Alpha has a lifetime duty to his Omega,” he said, still chuckling. “It is a unique connection. You would do well to stop trying to understand it.”
At least he perceived Omegas as special, even if they were to be akin to breeding machines for his men. “Yes,” she muttered. “I think I will. Thank the stars I’ll be bonding with a Beta and not have to deal with being seen as ineffective and dumb.”
The heavy chuckle from the Emperor stopped abruptly. “Are you betrothed?”
“Why? Do you not think a Beta would be interested in a dumb little kitten?” she said, unable to help the retort.
“I asked you a question,” he snapped, his eyes suddenly hard.
She glared at him but backed down when she noticed the wildness in his eyes. He was angry. “No,” she said, tightly.
He relaxed back into his chair, observing her.
A servant entered and hovered by the door. “Would you like dessert, your Imperial Majesty?”
Cailyn stood up before he could answer. “I’m heading back to my quarters, Emperor. Thank you for dinner. Is there anything else?”
The Emperor’s jaw constricted and he straightened in his chair. “Sit down.”
Cailyn sat and waited while the Emperor told the servants to bring dessert.
“There will be a celebration in a few days marking the Lox victory in the Eastern Lands,” he said.
Cailyn’s interest peaked but she avoided reacting.
“Rulers of all the territories in the Eastern Lands will be attending, as will many Lox warriors. All who are in the Palace will be loyal to the Lox.”
There it was—her distraction. “It sounds like it will be an enjoyable event, Emperor,” she said, demurely. “I will not be a disturbance to you or any of your people during that time.”
“You will attend,” the Emperor said. “And you will pledge your allegiance to the Lox.”
Cailyn jolted in her seat, her eyes snapping up to his. “What?”
The Emperor’s eyes bore into her. “All who remain in the Palace must be loyal to the Lox.”
“I’m happy to give you my word about my loyalty, Emperor,” Cailyn said, as her horror rose. “But I cannot pledge it. I only have my sister. I will not sacrifice her just to make you feel more comfortable to have me here. I’ll leave if that’s what you need.”
Occasionally an innocent person would be caught up in the missions she undertook, but Miss Lefroy’s sister was only eight. Cailyn had always ensured that children were never affected by her missions, and this would not be the exception.
“And where will you go? The entire Eastern Lands is now Lox Empire. You won’t be able to escape pledging your allegiance and I will not end your employment.”
The servants reentered with more plates and bowls, but Cailyn’s eyes remained on Drocco. This expectation on her to pledge to the Lox would ruin her cover.
“Most of the files are organized now. A team of historians could find patterns one mind would miss,” she suggested.
Drocco didn’t even answer her. He bit into a slice of black crumble cake and chewed, watching her.
“I’m sure the keepers would also be very useful in assisting—”
“I’m not ending your employment.”
“You cannot kill my sister,” she countered.
“I will have your loyalty.”
“You have it,” she hissed, leaning forward. “Just don’t hurt my sister.”
“It is the way of the Lox,” Drocco said, somewhat nonchalantly. “It is the only way to ensure true loyalty.”
“Do you intend to ask everyone to pledge?” she asked, her voice rising. “Your entire Empire? Because you’ll have no one left.”
“Just the people who have access to this building,” he said, taking another bite and shooting her a look that said he had noticed her tone.
Cailyn fought against the effect his glance had on her, choosing to focus on the utter disgust at his methods. This man had no business running an Empire. It would indeed be dark times ahead for the people of the Eastern Lands.
“Your sister will be brought here for the ceremony,” Drocco said, once he’d finished the cake.
“No!” Cailyn tried a different tack and burst into tears. “No, Emperor, please.”
“The quicker you accept it, the quicker you can move on,” he said, irritably.
Cailyn’s anger built steadily. Of course he wouldn’t be affected by tears, the man had no compassion. She quietened and began picking at a bowl of fruit. They ate in silence for a while until Drocco had finished, and Cailyn stopped the pretense of eating.
“A dress has been left in your quarters that I expect you to wear to the celebration,” Drocco said, as the last plates were cleared. “I have been told it’s in your size.”
Cailyn took a sip of the spiced tea that had been poured for her. “Yes, Emperor.”
As soon as he dismissed her, Cailyn returned to her quarters and pulled a sheet of parchment from her writing equipment. Clearing her mind, she gently filtered magic into the ink of her quill-pen as she wrote.
Prepare for distraction. Signal will follow.
Protect loved one or unwanted reveal inevitable.
She inspected the ink and, once satisfied, sealed the parchment with magic. This hid the ink, p
rotected the message from the casual Talent-crafter, and made it a beacon for her contact. She folded it and placed it in the trash. If Miss Lefroy’s sister suddenly went on a trip or in some way became inaccessible, there would be no one else for the Emperor to threaten her with.
She entered her bedroom and noticed the dress laid out on the bed. It was a close fitted, long dress with a slashed neckline that would reveal the tops of her shoulders. Cailyn fingered the soft deep red material. It was beautiful, of course, and reminded her of the sophisticated stateswomen and regal royals she had seen during her work in various cities. She never thought she would ever dress in such quality material or in such a graceful design.
She pulled her hand back sharply. She would be leaving the night of the celebration. As soon as she showed her face for the Emperor to tell her that her pledge would be delayed, she would escape. He would be too busy drinking himself into a stupor and fucking his Lox women to notice anything.
She dropped onto the bed breathing a sigh of relief. She was going home.
CHAPTER FIVE
DROCCO
The Great Hall had been decorated to Drocco’s liking. The elaborate ornamentation and gleaming weaponry on display reflected the impressive Lox might and wealth. Thick, long tables had been organized in the space, as well as circular areas with plush seating to watch dancers, musicians, and single combat challenges. Lox colors—red and black—coordinated the entire display and were echoed in the chosen clothing of his most experienced warriors who prowled the hall like wild animals.
Drocco noticed his visitors were very nervous anytime a warrior sat near them or even passed by. It was a good sign. Fear was one of his greatest weapons.
The evening was going well. He hadn’t yet spoken to all the rulers of his territories but they were all in attendance. Some had bought their nominated family member in preparation for their pledge and others didn’t yet realize that a random family member had already been collected for that required purpose. Annoyingly, there had been three whose family members had proved difficult to reach, including the historian’s sister. He had demanded to know if she had sent any communication out of the Palace since their dinner, but it had been reported back that she hadn’t. It didn’t matter though. He would get her sister eventually.
Family sacrifices were the most effective way to weaken a family structure and ensure the whole family felt threatened enough to pledge loyalty to him. Cailyn might not have any other family, but he wanted her unwavering loyalty. And she would give it to him. Maybe not tonight, but it would happen.
Drocco sat up on the platform watching the festivities in the Great Hall become rowdier as the evening wore on. The wide, heavy throne he rested in had been a gift from the Grence cities who were known and celebrated for their quality furniture and upholstery. It was positioned in the center of the platform with only a small table to his left where his tankard of ale sat. Before the platform stood a row of guards. Every-so-often, a warrior would pass and call to him to join in; to eat, cheer the dancers, encourage those in combat, and boast their achievement. Drocco would cheer and call back to them, but the guards would wave them on so he wasn’t too disturbed.
His Talent-crafters claimed that each entrance to the Great Hall had been fitted with a charm, made of a collection of specific gems and crystals, that would disable any use of the Talent within the hall. Of course, that wouldn’t tell him if any of his visitors used it, but it should prevent anything untoward from happening at the event. He watched Torin move through the crowd, his steel eyes taking everything in. There was a chair for him on a separate lower stage on the far left, but Torin never sat idle. At least Drocco could count on Torin to see the things he wouldn’t.
As the time for pledges drew closer, Drocco became restless. The celebration wasn’t lifting his spirits as he thought it would. All it did was remind him that there was a long way to go to unite the Empire. The challenges still remained; eliminating the small resistance who remained loyal to the dead King of Ashens, solving the puzzle of the missing Omegas, and uniting all the territories under his rule. He looked forward to tackling them but the celebration felt like it was at the wrong time. He should be spending time working on his investigation. He glanced around. Cailyn hadn’t yet arrived. He sent for her and then stood to give his celebration speech for his warriors and visitors. He spoke with all the passion and fire and impatience bounding through him, and the hall erupted with crazed roars and boisterous cheers.
As he sat down, he saw Cailyn enter. He couldn’t take his eyes from her as she threaded through the crowd toward him. He almost held his breath as he stared. The woman was utterly gorgeous. Her hair had been swept up again revealing that delicate neck, and the dress clung to every delicious curve. Finally he could see her luscious figure in detail and it had been worth the wait. With the cut of the dress revealing the tops of her shoulders, her simple elegance seemed out of place among the raucous crowd.
His guards let her through at his instruction and she climbed the platform and stood before him, her head low.
“I’m not pleased you had to be summoned, kitten,” he said, lifting his ale and keeping his eyes on her.
“I’m sure you can understand I wasn’t eager to attend, considering your plans to…” Her voice petered out, her head lifted and she closed her eyes, swaying slightly. Then her eyes opened, widening as an expression of horror seeped into her face.
Drocco frowned, confused, and then a scent hit him. A rich, luscious, sublime scent, like nothing he had smelled before. It penetrated every part of him, causing a yearning so powerful that suddenly every fiber of his being switched to high alert.
“No,” Cailyn whispered, taking a step back. “No. It can’t…”
Drocco ignored her and leaned forward, trying to decipher what he was experiencing. A fog began to swamp his mind, and the only clear thought emerging was that he needed that scent—it belonged to him. He turned his head slowly seeking it out, and then snapped back to Cailyn. It was her.
Cailyn glanced around wildly as she backed away, her whole body tense and poised to bolt.
Drocco rose slowly, every inch of him aware of every inch of her. A raw hunger developed as he took in her terrified expression, her scent blossoming into an aroma so enticing, so complex, his cock hardened to rock. At the same time, the guards behind her began to turn and look at her, their nostrils flaring.
Something snapped in Drocco. He swept forward and lifted Cailyn, throwing her over his shoulder before storming out of the Great Hall. He maneuvered through the corridors of the Palace to the nearest private space he could find, trying to ignore the sweet aroma filling his nostrils. He could barely think. All he knew was that he needed to be alone with her. His guards would be following him; he wanted to lose them.
He arrived at his barely used office and entered without breaking his stride. Heading to the center of the room, he put her down, keeping his hands on her soft body as he breathed her in.
She looked up at him and he froze. Her brown irises had morphed to include a hint of gold—a gold he had only ever read about, a gold that no one had seen in one hundred and eleven years.
“Are you an Omega?” he said, his voice hoarse with disbelieve.
She took advantage of his shock to stumble away from him to the far wall. “What did you do?” she cried. She pressed herself up against the wall and almost sobbed. “They’re gone. They’re all gone! What did you do?”
Drocco watched her eyes turning more golden as the seconds passed. “Explain yourself, Cailyn Lefroy,” he demanded. “Are you an Omega, or have you taken something?”
The woman moved along the wall and then back again, looking around frantically. Her scent seeped into the room almost lazily, and it called to Drocco to cease all the questioning and rip that dress off of her. But he forced himself to resist. He needed to know what had changed. How could she suddenly smell so good and have acquired the infamous golden eyes of an Omega in her Haze? Was it a trick? Ha
dn’t Malloron mentioned Haze recreators coming into the city more often? She could be trying to trap him as revenge for her sister. And yet, as Drocco continued to watch her, she became more desperate.
“Tell me,” he demanded. “Are you an Omega?”
She bent over, pressing her hands between her legs, and groaned. That groan shuddered through him, and his already hard cock jumped painfully. He stepped toward her.
Her head snapped up. “Don’t move!” she snarled at him, holding out a hand. “Don’t come near me.”
Drocco stopped, tilting his head to observe her. Although his mind was clouded, he forced himself to think.
If she were trying to trap him she wouldn’t want him to stay away from her. Plus, he had never known of any Haze imitation drug that caused such a powerful scent; in fact, nothing that existed caused the golden eyes… which meant she was truly an Omega. Amazement leapt through him, quickly followed by a blast of glee. He smiled.
The door opened behind him.
“Is everything okay, your Imperi—”
“Guard the door,” he bellowed at the guard, his eyes still on Cailyn. “No one is to enter. No one.”
The guard sniffed once. “Yes, your Imperial Majesty.”
The door closed again and Drocco stood in a wide stance, his arms crossed, watching every move Cailyn made. If this woman was truly an Omega, she was going into her Haze. It was unstoppable and would render her incapable of anything but the need to mate. He had already been waiting for her for so long, it was almost poetic that he would finally get to experience her in this most beautiful state. And not only that, she would come to him—no submission training necessary. For all her defiance and strength of personality, she would have no control over wanting him. His questions could wait. He intended to enjoy every moment of what was to come.
CHAPTER SIX
CAILYN
