Choose Me

by Hart, Delmire

  Dai nudged his arm, sitting next to him in front with the carriage driver, and pointed ahead. “That’s the main gate into Cosa. Are you ready to see a real city, country bumpkin?”

  Toru protested the name loudly and earned himself a chuckle. Dai must have noticed his staring. Well, it wasn’t like he had tried to hide it.

  It wasn’t long before they reached the large stone walls that framed the gate and were quickly waved through into the city proper. There were so many sights, sounds, and smells! And to think Toru had been awed just by the farmland that surrounded this place. Large buildings packed together alongside the road and the carriage had to slow to make its way through the crowded streets.

  They finally pulled to stop outside a building made of stone bricks and dark wood that Dai informed him was an inn. They would stay there until much later in the night before they sought out Kessler in the keep at the edge of the city. Toru was shown to Litton’s room and advised to get some more sleep before the evening.

  He curled up on the large cushion at the end of the plush looking bed and tried to will himself to sleep. It was no good. Toru was wide awake thinking about the mystery man he would soon be given away to. Was he a nice person? A good person? Was he like Litton, all sly cunning with a touch of cruelty? Dai had said he had no other pleasure slaves. Why? He was clearly powerful and wealthy enough if he ruled this city and the entire province. He was royalty after all.

  Did that mean he wouldn’t be wanted? Just an omega foisted off on a reluctant man to be occasionally fucked and then left in the corner? Was he a cruel man that killed his slaves and that’s why he now had none? No, surely not. He tried to remind himself of Dai’s words. He was a fair and well respected man. Rokereans took great care of their property, it was a matter of pride. If he had killed previous slaves, he wouldn’t be so well respected, right?

  Toru worried at his lip with his teeth while he tossed and turned, sleep eluding him. No matter what, he could not escape his thoughts. Who was this man and how would he shape Toru’s future? Because sure as anything, there would be no escape for now.

  ***

  The darkness outside meant that Toru could see nothing of their surroundings as they made their way to the keep where this Kessler resided. All he could do was keep his head down and feel the sways and bumps of the carriage. Earlier he had been dragged into the bath by Dai and scrubbed within an inch of his life before being doused in scented oils. He had then been dressed in nothing but a large black cloak and he felt incredibly exposed for all that he was fully covered.

  It felt like his nakedness under the heavy fabric was somehow visible and it made him uncomfortable. Dai had reminded him gently that he was a pleasure slave now, his body no longer belonged to himself and he would be inspected before being accepted by his new master. The man had probably meant it to be a comforting thought somehow but the very idea that his body was no longer his own was disquieting.

  All too soon, the carriage rolled to a stop and Toru disembarked along with Litton. It was just the two of them making this trip in the dead of the night. The quiet stillness of the night gave the entire journey an eerie feeling. Toru tried to see and take in what he could but the courtyard was dimly lit and he had to almost jog to keep up with Litton’s strides as they approached what appeared to be a small side door into what must surely be a castle.

  A disgruntled looking man in rumpled clothes met them at the door and led the way further inside. He stayed silent except for a curt greeting. Toru ignored the suspicious look thrown his way and kept his hood up and head down like Litton had instructed him. For all that taking orders irked him, he was deep in enemy territory now. A foreigner in a strange land with unknown customs and culture. He had to play it safe until he had enough knowledge of the people here to be able to formulate an escape plan. He was not one to bow down and give up his freedom so easily.

  The halls they walked through were nicely furnished and clearly well maintained. The furnishings and ornaments were not overly fancy in their design but there were multitudes of them and each were made with obvious care and quality. It spoke of a wealth and power beyond Toru’s wildest dreams.

  The feeling of dread only heightened as they wound deeper into the castle through the maze of corridors and staircases. Toru felt each footstep echo through his skull and forced his wooden legs to keep moving forward. Each step led him closer to his answers but he wasn’t so sure he wanted to find out what awaited him.

  They finally came to a halt in front of a dark wooden door and the man leading them knocked quietly. They waited in silence until a deep voice called for them to enter. Their escort opened the door and stepped aside to let Litton stride through, head held high with confidence, and Toru scurried after him. The omega stopped dead in his tracks after one look at the man standing before them.

  The man leant against a desk with a glass of clear liquid in one hand and dressed in a loose robe that did nothing to hide his height and width. His casual yet powerful stance and obviously muscled build just shouted warrior. Dark messy hair flopped forward onto his forehead framing golden eyes that glittered with interest. When he strode forward to clasp Litton by the forearm in greeting, he moved with the feline grace of a predator. His very aura demanded respect and screamed command. But none of this was what made Toru’s heart stop and jump into his throat.

  The man was an alpha. That changed everything.

  Perhaps it was because both Litton and Dai were betas that Toru was lulled into a false sense of security. Most of the world’s population were betas. A far smaller but still notable percentage were alphas. There were few omegas like Toru, they were relatively rare. Back in his home village there had only been one other omega that Toru had met, a soft spoken, sweet girl. He had always been warned to watch out for greedy alphas. He had learned why soon enough and it had only been even more obvious during his brief stint in the army.

  He was being given as an omegan pleasure slave to an alpha. Suddenly his plans of escape seemed like the dim daydreams of a wilful child. He was brought back to the chilling reality by the sound of voices. Kessler’s, Toru noted dully, was far deeper than Litton’s and made something twist deep inside of himself. He shivered, uncomfortable with the feeling.

  “I would speak with you alone, if I may.” Litton’s voice was soft and sweet as honey. A deceptive tone for such a conniving man. The alpha nodded and gestured for their escort to leave. The two men stood silently observing the other while they waited for the soft click of the door to indicate the man’s departure.

  “Now, what business do you have with me that my steward could not be present for, Litton?”

  “I bring a little gift. One I’m sure that you will be exceedingly interested in.” Toru could almost hear the greedy smirk he was sure adorned the beta’s face. He shot a glare at the man’s back from the depths of his hood.

  “Really now? And just what would a notorious pleasure slave trader have with me, someone who has no outward interest in such things?”

  Litton turned side on to Kessler, keeping their gazes locked while he moved around to stand behind Toru. “I bring a perfect little treat that matches your tastes quite remarkably. Young with soft skin, pretty blue eyes, and honey coloured hair. A little omega that is completely untouched and ready for training with a wilful spirit that I was sorely tempted to beat out of him. I’ll leave his discipline to your capable hands though.”

  “And somehow that makes you think I would wish to purchase him?”

  “Ah, not purchase. He is all yours. A gift from myself.” Toru felt Litton’s hands on his shoulders and tensed.

  “Oh? And what, pray tell, is the catch? Surely you wouldn’t come all the way here personally to gift me with a pretty omega. The bragging rights for you if I were to show at court with one of your slaves is not worth so much.”

  “This is a gift to clear all debts between us.” The alpha’s eyebrows jumped in surprise. “How about I show you the offer?”

 
Toru squeaked as Litton disrobed him in one grand movement. He wrapped his arms around his naked form and felt the tell-tale heat suffuse his cheeks. He could feel the alpha’s gaze burning into his flesh and kept his eyes riveted on the plush carpet at his feet. Litton’s arms reached around his shoulders forcing Toru to lean with his back against the man’s chest as he traced the delicate silver tattoo that adorned his chest. The omega risked looking up and found the man’s golden eyes locked on his tattoo.

  “How the hell did you get hold of a Tysealean elemental?” the alpha exclaimed, clearly shocked. Whatever he had expected, it was not Toru.

  “Such an exotic treasure, isn’t he?” Smug satisfaction laced the betas tone. “He was brought to me half dead, an extra thrown in because the people who picked him up didn’t want him on their hands anymore. Imagine my surprise when the hideous scarring on his chest changed as he healed. It was soon very obvious what he was. To me, at least. I doubt many would understand the implication of such a marking. I knew you would though. And look how he blushes under your stare, isn’t he precious?”

  Kessler’s gaze moved higher and he locked eyes with Toru. The omega quickly grew uncomfortable under such a heated gaze and his eyes slid away. He could feel his cheeks heating up even more. Litton’s words made him all the more aware of his naked state. He was exposed and up for inspection like a prime piece of meat.

  “So, Kessler, how about a gift to clear all debt?”

  The alpha took a moment to reply. “I’m surprised you brought him to me and didn’t sell him on the free market. You would stand to make far more than even your debt with me is worth.”

  “I considered that,” Litton admitted. “But that would just end with another broken useless elemental, don’t you agree? This way I clear my debts with you and perhaps you can be the first Rokerean to tame a wild little elemental to your hand. I would be very interested to learn what this one can do. You might be interested to learn that he was found near the location of our halted forward advance. Now, do you accept my exotic little gift?”

  Kessler nodded slowly, his eyes still looking over Toru’s frame. “Yes. All your debts to me are paid upon this exchange and we are once more working upon a clean slate,” he intoned formally.

  “Excellent.” Litton moved out from behind Toru and stepped forward holding out a small plain box to Kessler. “A symbol to seal the exchange.”

  Toru could not see what was inside from where he stood rooted in place and the man’s face gave nothing away. They two clasped each other’s forearms again and Litton saw himself out. The beta looked like a cat who got both the cream and the bird. The omega was left standing naked and vulnerable in the middle of a strange man’s study. In front of him was the large and imposing figure of his new master.

  He shifted uncomfortably under the unreadable stare and wished that Litton hadn’t taken the cloak with him. He didn’t feel the cold like normal people did but that intense gaze boring into his skin once again sent shivers down his spine. He wanted to sink through the floor and away from those burning eyes.

  “So, little omega.” Toru glanced up again from his further inspection of the carpet. “You have a choice to make.” The man held up a white leather collar that he had pulled from the small box. “You can become mine in all ways, I will mate and bond you, or you can be sold as an exotic little pleasure slave to the local brothels. I will have you willingly or you will be broken so that no one can have you. You have until your next heat to decide.”

  Chapter 3: Impossible Choices

  Toru stood and stared in shock. What kind of choice was that? Death or an entire lifetime of servitude. He would take his own life before he allowed himself to be sold to a brothel but the other choice removed his freedom, the one thing he truly valued, and tied his very soul to this unknown man. Both choices were incomprehensible to Toru.

  “W-what? You can’t be serious!”

  The alpha merely raised an eyebrow and swirled the glass of liquid in his hand. “You should be more thankful, omega, it is rare for a slave to receive a choice. I could just as easily take that choice from you and claim you as mine whether you like it or not.”

  “Why don’t you?” Toru stood with his arms still wrapped around his frame but stared up at the large man with all the defiance he could muster. Anything to focus his attention away from the sheer horror at the choices presented to him. Anything to take his mind away from the fact that he was a very naked little omega and in front of him was a very powerful alpha.

  “I know little about elementals.” The man took a sip of the clear liquid and placed the glass down on the desk behind him. “They are preciously guarded by your people and I know more myth than proven fact. But there have been elemental slaves in the past. High stationed and powerful men within the Rokerean court have paid vast fortunes to get their hands on Tysealean elementals that have been put up for sale. These slaves have been flaunted in front of the court and asked to do little party tricks with their power. Yet not once were their owners able to get a single thing out of the slaves.

  “There have been two within my living memory, each with the tattoos that symbolise their power. Both had small tattoos in easily hidden places and were closed lipped about it, thus most of the population, including their masters, did not know what they were for. Both were broken into hollow-eyed obedient little slaves and suddenly those tattoos scarred over. Interesting, is it not? My personal belief is that your power is tied to will.

  “After their tattoos scarred, neither lived for more than six months. It was like they gave up, completely lost the will to live, and so they withered and died. So, I give you a choice, little one. You become mine willingly or no one can have you. I do not see how that’s so hard of a choice.”

  Toru stared in silence. He had not known that there had been others of his people that had been captured and sold. The very thought appalled him. He had known about the tattoo scarring and honestly, if he lost his elemental power, he wouldn’t want to keep living either. It was a part of him, a part so big he wouldn’t be whole without it. But that didn’t make the man’s offer any less ludicrous.

  “But that’s…what you’re suggesting isn’t some simple mating bond. You’re an alpha. Bonding to me is for life. A soulbond. You want to tie our very souls together for the rest of our lives? That’s stronger than any marriage. Aren’t you a lord or something? Aren’t you supposed to get married and have heirs? Why the hell do you want to bond with me?”

  Kessler only looked amused. He raked his eyes over Toru’s frame again and the omega was suddenly reminded how naked he was. He took a small step back at the sheer heat he saw in the other man’s eyes. He struggled to school his expression to not give away how uncomfortable that gaze made him but the heat in his cheeks told him how futile that effort was.

  “Things work a little differently in Rokere. I forgot how traditional and dated Tysealean culture could be.” Toru gaped at that comment. “Marriage is only used as a more binding contract, usually for the joining of physical assets like land. Heirs are any of my offspring, from any source. There is no illegitimacy here. Pretty or intelligent slaves are often sought out to be bred for the specific purpose of heirs if there is no one of your class that suits your taste. Pleasure slaves, on the other hand, are usually treated to become barren and thus more suitable for their purpose. You are an omega, are you a bearer?”

  “I-I don’t know.”

  “Either way it doesn’t matter. If you are it will only make things easier. If you choose to be mine, then I will look after both yourself and any offspring that may arise as befits your station; personal property of a prince. It is your choice but at most you have three months to decide.”

  “I could have my heat tomorrow,” Toru snapped out, seizing on the anger fully to push the swirling confusion back out of his head. “I have no idea when it’s due, what kind of time frame is that?”

  “Litton really didn’t touch you, did he?”

  The sudden cha
nge of topic took the omega by surprise. “No, he didn’t.”

  The man stalked closer, his muscles rippling under his clothes as he rose to his full height and loomed over Toru. “So I see, he likes them obedient and subservient. You must have made him itch for a cane.”

  The omega scrambled back in alarm and there was a soft thump as his back hit the closed door. Hands caged him in, one on either side of his head and the man’s face inched too close for comfort.

  “Personally, I prefer spirit and fire, a rare trait in an omega. You are quite an interesting specimen.” They were almost nose to nose and Toru remained trapped in place. “A little warrior, hmm? I bet you taste delicious.”

  Kessler suddenly stepped back, leaving Toru plastered again the door, wide eyed and trembling. The sheer magnetic force of the alpha when he stood so close was insane. His heart raced in his chest and his thoughts had scattered completely. No wonder alphas were so dangerous to omegas. He flushed in shame when he noticed the man’s eyes flick down and Toru realised that he was aroused. He could feel the slick just starting to drip out from between his cheeks and his little cock attempted to stand straight.

  What kind of reaction is that? The atmosphere around the man screamed danger, yet he was getting turned on by it? He was mortified by his body’s reaction.

  “How cute. What is your name, little omega?”

  “Toru Medina.”

  “Toru…” The way the man spoke his name was dark and seductive, it sounded as though he was tasting it on his tongue. “You may keep Toru then.”

  “Keep?! That’s my name! Of course I’m keeping it!” Toru exploded. The anger from before re-ignited, the flames fanned further by the feelings of shameful embarrassment. “You can’t take away my name.”