by Sara Fields
Everything about his words was sincere. He was genuinely concerned and afraid for me and my city but what touched me the most was his worry for my people. There wasn’t any mention of taking power for the Brotherhood, simply the protection of those who couldn’t protect themselves.
My people. The ones who roamed the streets of my city. The ones I’d fought with side by side all my life.
I stared into his eyes.
“Can I trust the Brotherhood to protect my people? They won’t do the very same thing as the cult would to them?”
“You can trust my word, Freya. The Brotherhood don’t engage in any sale of human individuals or needless death and we won’t ask for your support in battle unless it’s absolutely necessary,” he answered.
He didn’t look away. His tone didn’t waver. His body remained still. I reached for the connection between us, testing him and finding nothing that made me think that he was lying. Every single word out of his mouth was true. I could feel it deep in my bones.
“I believe you,” I said softly, and he took my hand in his. He pressed his lips to the backs of my knuckles, kissing me softly. I sucked in a heated breath at his touch, feeling the first tentative flames of desire deep within my core since I had awakened.
I did believe him. I trusted in the bond between us. Our link opened a line of communication that only an omega and alpha pair were privy to, allowing us to become one in the most complete sense.
“I will remain by you side however you wish me to. No matter what you need, I will support you,” he reassured me. I shook my head, coming to a swift decision on my next move.
“As soon as I am able, my people will prepare for a great feast like they’ve never seen. At that celebration, I am going to announce two very important things. One, that the city of Valgertha is to begin to ready themselves to go to war. Second, that their queen has chosen to crown a king to rule by her side,” I replied brazenly.
Aric stared at me, trying to hide the surprise in his eyes, but I saw it anyway.
“Will you accept the title of King of Valgertha, Aric? Would you protect its people like you would me?” I pressed.
“I would be honored, Queen Freya. You have my vow,” he answered. His fingers squeezed my own and I smiled.
“I’m glad, because soon, the two of us are going to war.”
* * *
In the next two weeks, Aric ensured that I had everything that I needed to heal properly. For pressing issues, my advisors came to me and he sat by my side. He didn’t make any effort to take over my role as I gave them instructions to begin storing as much excess water and food as possible or to ramp up weapon production. I adored him for it. He simply let me lead as I saw fit and it made me respect him all the more.
Once I had healed enough to get back to normal life, I started to direct for the preparation of the war feast. Massive amounts of food were brought in and orders for mead and ale were put in. In no time at all, the kitchen had begun their own preparations.
When the night of the celebration finally came, I dressed in my best red battle leathers, ensuring that the still pink scar of Thranar’s attack was clearly visible on my chest. The bruising at the side of my head had faded, but I braided my hair in a way that exposed the place where he’d hit me. By now, my people were more than aware that he had attacked me, and they would be looking to the feast to learn what my command would be. I painted my face with dark black paint. A dark line bisected my eyes, giving me an ominous look that would inspire fear in my enemies. I added an additional streak that painted the center of my lips that dropped to my chin. Lastly, I added a vertical line at the center of my forehead, completing the fearsome look. Once I was satisfied, I left my bathroom. I opened my armoire and lifted my sword from its hooks. I slid it into its scabbard at my waist and then slid my battle axe into place on my back.
I was ready to come forth as the ruler of Valgertha once more.
My people expected to be given the right to defend their queen. It was the way of the city. I was going to give it to them.
I emerged from my bedroom and walked down the stairs to where Aric was waiting. He was dressed in simple dark gray leather armor that looked regal on him. He looked up at me as I descended, his gaze one of awe.
“You look beautiful, Freya, like a magnificent flame of beauty,” he murmured. With my red hair and the dark burgundy of my leathers, I understood. “A fiercely beautiful and powerful queen.”
He offered his hand and I took it.
“A queen worthy of a king,” I said with a smirk.
“Indeed,” he grinned in return.
The two of us emerged from my chambers and descended into the depths of my castle. There was a pair of horses waiting for us just outside the entrance, dressed in their best battle regalia. I climbed on top of a black warhorse and he climbed on a dappled gray one of his own. The two of us rode into the massive gathering center in the city, where countless long tables and a royal stage was prepared for us all. I rode up to the platform and dismounted with grace, before climbing the stairs and taking a seat in the magnificent throne of human bones that had been prepared for such a special occasion.
Aric sat by my side in a seat that was much less ostentatious than my own. Wine and mead were served in pewter goblets on our table, and I watched as the tables began to fill with men, women, and children of all ages. Within an hour, the tables were full and beyond that were areas to stand and those quickly became just as crowded.
Big baskets of bread were put down at the center of every table. Ale was served to the masses in great quantity, along with mead and wine. In no time at all, the tables were laden in great trays of pork and turkey, as well as fruits and vegetables. Sides of rice and cheese were provided along with salted meats. I had spared no expense on this feast because Valgertha was about to engage with their most formidable foe in its recent history, so I had wanted to give them a full night of celebration before I asked them to pledge their fealty to me on the battlefield. Before I asked them to live or die for me.
After the cheers and songs began, I stood up, knowing it was time that I spoke to my people. I pressed my fingers to the table and waited, my gaze searching over the rampant joy of the crowd. Gradually, a hush fell over those before me, and when all was finally silent, I cleared my throat and all eyes turned to me.
“Valgertha, it brings me great honor to stand with you today as your queen,” I began. They roared with their approval and I waited until they quieted once more before I started again.
“Tonight, I have come to celebrate with you a great many things. First of all, you have made me exceedingly proud with all of our victories over the past several months in our raids and conquests. You’ve brought great wealth to our city and I thank you for that. I’m so proud of each and every one of you. You honor me.”
I waited again as they cheered with excitement.
“Second, I wish to bring you some news of my own. As some of you might have guessed, there is a stranger sitting at my royal table tonight.” I looked pointedly at Aric before turning back to my people. “I have decided to take a mate. He is bonded to me and I expect that you all will give him the same respect as you would me.”
Once again, the crowd went wild.
“Furthermore, I’ve decided to crown him as king by my side. With all that being said, let me introduce you to King Aric,” I continued.
The excited cheering echoed loudly all around me. At the same time, one of my advisors walked out with a crown similar to my own on a small beige pillow. He knelt next to me and I took it in my fingers, before placing it delicately on top of Aric’s head. My people began chanting his name over and over as I took his hand and guided him to his feet. Aric boldly pressed my fingers to his lips as he bowed his head to me in a public gesture of deference.
Aric may be king now, but I was still queen. He would rule, but it would be by my side.
“Long live Queen Freya,” Aric roared.
My people repeated
his words and the effect on me was visceral. Gooseflesh popped all over my skin and I smiled, more than pleased with their reception of him.
I cleared my throat once more. It took much longer this time, but the crowd eventually quieted down and I began to speak again.
“I have one other item to address tonight, my people of Valgertha. Not long ago, I suffered an attack from an outsider, a man sent here to secure an alliance with us but when I refused his offer, he tried to kill me instead,” I said, ensuring that the weight of my words fell heavy on them. Their excited faces turned more serious.
“This scar here was from him,” I explained, tracing my finger across the nearly healed wound on my chest. “He almost killed me, but he underestimated me. He underestimated Valgertha, didn’t he?”
They whooped in approval.
“Do you know who this man was?” I asked, pausing and watching as my people waited on the edges of their seats. They screamed for me to tell them. At the same time, they started clamoring for the honor and glory that would befall them if I granted them the right to avenge me.
“This man was King Thranar, ruler of Ravenrath,” I finally said.
They shrieked and chanted my name.
“As your queen, I ask that you defend my honor. I ask you, the mighty warriors of Valgertha, will you stand with me and protect our city walls? Will you help me to conquer Ravenrath as our own? Will you go to war with me?” I asked, my voice growing louder and louder as I poured every ounce of emotion into my words. I wanted them to come with me. I wanted them to fight with me.
The resulting commotion was so loud that the very stage I stood on trembled with it. They shrieked and shouted with their excitement. Every face in the crowd was laced with eager anticipation. Swords burst up into the air, waving back and forth as my people begged for the right to fight for me and I took Aric’s hand in mine.
“Together, Valgertha, we will achieve great things. We will fight for honor and glory. The gods will smile upon this day, knowing that soon our city will be even greater than it ever was before,” I yelled.
I raised my goblet and drained my cup of mead. I swallowed every last drop and slammed it down on the table.
“Tonight, we celebrate! Tomorrow, we go to war!” I shouted.
My people roared at the challenge. They were ready. I grinned back at them, extremely pleased.
I watched as they all chugged down the remains of their drinks. They started drumming the metal cups on the wooden tables, and then they started chanting my name.
This was going to be an evening to be remembered.
That night, we drained the stocks of alcohol that had been prepared for the feast. The food was eaten, and the celebrations lasted far into the night. There was music and dancing. There was singing. There were axe-throwing contests and sword-fighting competitions, and I even took part in a few drunken arrow-shooting matches. Aric and I took part in the festivities until we were both exhausted and after we left, it continued.
I had no doubt that it would go until morning.
Chapter Eight
Freya
When Aric and I returned to my bedchambers, I took the lead this time. First, I took off my weapons from my belt and returned them to my armoire. Then I unlaced my top and threw it on the chair next to me. I slipped off my boots and shimmied my pants down my legs, laying them across the chair too. Lastly, I took off my panties and placed them aside too.
I was bare for him now and he didn’t say anything. At least not yet.
I undid his dark gray leather vest, then unbuttoned his shirt and slowly pushed both off his shoulders. His clothing fell to the floor in a quiet rush. He stayed completely still as I knelt down and unlaced his boots, taking them off one at a time and putting them to the side. I removed his thick socks next, before reaching up to undo both his belt and his pants. Carefully, I pulled them down his hips and removed them completely. Once he was fully undressed, I gathered his clothing and laid all of it aside in a neat pile.
I knelt back down and boldly took the head of his cock in my mouth. He groaned in appreciation, allowing my brazen act to continue. I surrounded him with my lips, working up and down his shaft as enthusiastically as I dared, and he hummed in pleasure.
“Do you remember what I told you, Freya?” he asked. For a moment, he was silent before he continued, “I told you that outside this bedroom, you may reign as an alpha of your own right, but here in this room, you are my little omega. I’m your alpha and now I am your king and I will do with you as I please tonight.”
I groaned around his cock. He fisted his hand against my scalp, causing me to whimper when he thrust hard into my mouth. I struggled to breathe as he pushed past the muscle in the back of my throat, and I whimpered as I drew in as much air through my nose as I could.
“Do you understand me, omega?” he asked.
I tried to push back against his thighs, but he didn’t let me get away.
“You will answer me with my cock in your mouth like a good little omega should,” he commanded, and I felt myself blush deeply. I knew the sound of his demand would be shameful, but at the same time, my core pulsed hard with need.
“Yes, alpha. I understand,” I finally forced myself to say. The sound was just as mortifying as I thought it would be. The growing wetness between my legs said something different though, giving away my desire even though I didn’t want to admit it.
“You’re going to suck my cock, little omega, and you’re going to do it with as much enthusiasm as I expect from you. If you’re a very good girl and suck me very well, I will only welt your bare little bottom with my belt. If you’re a naughty though, you will be fetching your hairbrush for a thorough paddling over my thighs until you’re sobbing. Either way, after your backside is as red as I want it to be, you’re going to be taking my cock nice and deep into that pretty little pussy until you’re screaming my name into the sheets. Is that clear?”
I shivered with unquenchable desire, still with his cock deep in my mouth. I knew he was waiting for me to answer him. And I did, all with a shameful blush heating up my cheeks and him still entirely in my mouth.
“Yes, alpha,” I breathed around his shaft, feeling my own arousal grow with every last syllable.
He purred and my core clenched down hard. A rush of my own wetness poured down my thighs and I whined desperately around his cock.
I didn’t wait for him to tell me to begin once more. I leaned forward and sucked him as vigorously as he wanted, not caring that his girth was making my jaw sore. I struggled to open the muscle at the back of my throat, gagging on his length again and again. Finally, he gripped my hair just a bit more firmly, causing pain to radiate across the back of my skull and I forced myself past it. I opened for him and then he thrust hard into my mouth. He took charge after that, fucking my throat hard enough that I knew it would be sore in the morning.
I swirled my tongue all around him, suckling him to the best of my ability despite his rough claiming of my mouth. The wet sounds emerging from me were utterly shameful, but I didn’t care. My alpha wanted this, and I was going to give it to him, even it if hurt or made me quiver with shame.
His thrusts were hard and swift, claiming my mouth as thoroughly as he wished. I moaned around his length, taking every inch he gave me and then some. Spittle dribbled down the side of my face, but it didn’t matter. I sucked him hard and when he purred as his cock throbbed against my tongue, I gave even more than I had before.
I could feel his length growing even harder and I stroked around the base of his cock with my finger. His knot fluttered and his thighs shook just the slightest bit. I prepared myself for the inevitable and then I was rewarded with spurt after spurt of his seed in my mouth. I swallowed as quickly as I could, taking everything that he gave me into my belly and enjoying the taste of him as it spread across my tongue. He reached down and gently tweaked my bared nipple, causing me to whimper softly around him. I wondered if he would be pleased with me. I hoped that he would
be.
“Such a good little omega. Now you’re going to be shown how good little omegas get the belt,” he murmured, and my pussy tightened with anticipation. “I’m going to enjoy leaving my mark on that beautiful bottom. I think you’re going to enjoy it too.”
He withdrew himself from my mouth and I licked my lips, making sure that there wasn’t a drop of his seed left. He dragged his thumb across my sore lower lip, purring softly with satisfaction.
“You’ve got such a soft pretty mouth, omega. I’m going to use it often,” he murmured, and a hard shiver raced down my spine only to settle deep in my core. I knew that my thighs were soaked by now, that my body was preparing itself to be claimed as thoroughly as my alpha wanted.
“Did you know, little one, that I fucked your mouth hard enough that there’s tears dripping down your beautiful face?” he added next and my lips opened just wide enough for a soft cry to escape through them. He grinned wide, before grasping my upper arm and roughly pulling me to my feet.
“Now bend over the bed. I want to see that bare little bottom marked by my belt,” he said gruffly. He led me over to the end of it by my arm, his grip tight enough to warn me not to disobey but not enough to hurt in any way.
The bed was the perfect height to my hips, allowing me to straighten my legs and relax my torso on the soft blankets comfortably. I knew though, that soon my thoughts would only be focused on the burning ache in between my legs and the welts that would soon mark my naked backside.
