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  “But is it true, my lord? Did Borgan really die of poison?” the beta pressed.

  “It does not matter,” he snarled, leveling the other man with a glare so menacing that it would have broken many a weaker soul. The beta shuffled anxiously from one foot to the other. It appeared that he knew better than to say anything further. For a long and extremely tense few seconds, Neegan stared back at him before he turned away.

  “I would like an update on the king’s activities. Does he seem bothered by the omega’s disappearance?”

  “He seems indifferent, my lord. I haven’t noticed much of anything outside the usual,” he answered.

  “Such as?” Neegan questioned.

  “Sometimes I catch him staring off into the distance for a period of time. He’s been mildly distracted, but that’s all,” he replied.

  Neegan tapped his fingers on the desk. He appeared to be mulling something over, but he thought better of whatever it was and waved the beta away. Once he left, Neegan opened the drawer once more and pulled out the journal he’d been reading. I couldn’t make out the words written in it from my position. From the look on his face though, I could tell they were important.

  Eventually, he grew tired and placed it back inside the drawer. He left the room, and I waited several minutes before I slipped out of my hiding place. I stayed silent, maneuvering into the room through a hidden door without a sound and opened his desk. I reached inside and slowly removed the journal and sat down behind the massive piece of furniture.

  The moon cast enough light onto the book so that I could read it without any issue. At once, I saw that it was a detailed account on Magnar. It described his life, from his birth to what he’d done a week ago at the crowning, to smaller details such as his favorite foods and what he preferred to do when he didn’t think he was being watched.

  I perused the journal, more curious than I cared to admit. Magnar enjoyed mead and wine, as well as more traditional dishes such as smoked pork and baked vegetables. The more I flipped through the book, the more I wondered what had steered him into a life as a Cult member. According to record, he had grown up far away in the wilds. His parents had died, but he was raised to be a fierce warrior. His village had been raided long ago and he’d been conscripted into the city’s army. At first, he fought his new position, yet after about a year or so, he accepted it without protest.

  I turned the pages, and I came across a written record of his ascension in the Cult. He’d started as a foot soldier, running small errands and performing tasks for someone called the Recruiter. There wasn’t enough information for me to guess as to his identity. Several years later, Magnar was assigned to someone else nicknamed the Acolyte. Now though, he answered to someone called the Prophet. From what I could gather, those three names were quite high up in the Cult’s power structure.

  A beam of light peeked in through the window and I gasped quietly, realizing that I had spent the entire night reading about Magnar. Quickly, I slid the book back where it belonged and slipped back into the hidden passageway. Not a minute later, I heard the door lock creak and Neegan stepped inside with a mug of steaming coffee.

  I’d have to be more careful.

  I left him in his study. I’d come back that night to read the rest of the journal, but I would have to wait until it was safe. I returned to my bedroom, suddenly feeling exhausted. I slept for much of the day and when I awoke, I made my way toward the kitchens and donned the servant’s dress I’d stolen the other night from the stores. When no one was looking, I slipped into the pantry, poured myself a flask of coffee, and took a basket of food. Just before I left, I saw a small wine barrel hidden in a corner on the shelves. There was a message carved into the wood.

  “A special gift for King Borgan.”

  Unable to stem my curiosity, I lifted it and looked at it more closely. I hadn’t thought much of the king’s death since I’d arrived, but the beta’s words last night had sparked my suspicions.

  There was a very small insignia engraved onto the bottom that I recognized as my father’s seal. The small barrel still had some liquid inside it. Quickly, I took it as well as the other food I’d gathered and escaped back into the passages once more.

  I returned to the room I’d claimed as my own. As soon as I made myself comfortable, I ate and drank my fill, all while staring at that small wooden keg. The sound of a rat skittering across the floor echoed nearby and I chewed my lip.

  I had an idea. I grabbed a small metal plate and poured a small amount of wine into it. Then I carefully placed it in the hallway outside my room and left it there. I sat quietly on my bed, listening for any sound and then I heard a small coughing noise. Carefully, I got up and tiptoed so that I could see outside the door.

  The rat that had been wandering the halls would no longer be bothering me. Whatever was in that wine had made sure of that. I turned away. I didn’t want to see anymore.

  The discovery of the poisoned wine changed things and the longer I sat there thinking on my bed, the more questions I started to have.

  Why would my father’s mark be all the way here in Kingsworth? Was he responsible for the late king’s death? Were there other members of the Brotherhood stationed here in Kingsworth with me? Lastly, if he was responsible for Brogan’s death, why had he planned it to coincide with my arrival?

  I needed to figure out what was going on. I needed answers.

  Quickly, I made my way back toward Neegan’s study. The sun was beginning to set, and I happened to notice he was at a late dinner with the rest of the advisory council along the way. His office was empty, and I slipped inside. Silently, I explored the rest of the room. I found nothing more of value other than the journal. I watched the trajectory of the sun in order to track the time and when I felt like I’d been inside the study long enough, I vanished back into the castle walls.

  Neegan returned a short while later. I watched him work for a few hours after that, until he finally disappeared once again. When I was sure he was gone, I went back inside and took the journal back out.

  For a while, I continued to read under the light of the moon. I told myself it was simply to learn more about the Cult, but I knew that I was also curious about Magnar. For some reason, I wanted to get to know him better. I told myself I hated him for what he’d done to me, but the more time I was away from him the more I realized that I was only lying to myself. I was drawn to him and as much as I denied it, part of the reason I’d stayed in the castle walls for so long was that I wanted to be close to him.

  He was the man on my mind when I went to sleep at night, and he was the one I thought of when I woke.

  The sound of the lock turning caught me off guard and by the time the door swung open, it was far too late for me to slip back into the hidden passageway. Swiftly, I put the journal back into the drawer, pressed it closed, and concealed myself beneath his desk. I held my breath for several long moments before a man cleared his throat.

  I recognized that sound. It was Neegan. I closed my eyes and he chuckled softly.

  “When I sensed the fragrance of a defiant omega in my office this morning, I had thought it was my mind playing tricks on me,” he murmured.

  What was he doing up? It was the middle of the night. He should be asleep in his bed, not here in the same room as me.

  “I could come in there and drag you out by your hair,” he warned and still I stayed silent.

  “The king is too gentle with you. If you were mine, I’d chain you up and teach you what it means to truly be taken by an alpha,” he growled. “You’d learn your place once and for all.

  “But maybe that’s what you want, you dirty omega cunt. Maybe you want a real alpha to smack you around?” he threatened. There was a perilously dangerous edge to his voice, and I decided it would probably be best not to push him any further.

  It was no use hiding any longer. He knew I was there. I wouldn’t be able to run or hide. I’d been caught.

  With an increasing sense of dread, I climbe
d out from under his desk. I held my head high and tried to appear brave and unafraid, but deep inside I was scared. Would he touch me? Would he beat me or even kill me?

  He stared back at me like I was his next meal. His gaze traveled down my body, settling on my breasts and then further down between my legs. His nostrils flared and I took a step back in defense.

  “Relax. I will deliver you to the king untouched,” he spat, and I turned away. “Follow me,” he demanded cruelly. He turned away from me, expecting me to follow and I did, but not before I snarled in silence behind his back. I knew better than to openly challenge him. I had no doubt that he wouldn’t hesitate to really hurt me given the chance.

  The walk back to the king’s chambers was long. I kept my head down as he led me into my abandoned bedroom and locked me inside. I pressed my ear against the door and tried to listen when I heard the murmur of voices not far away.

  “Your omega, my king. I found her in my study,” Neegan began.

  “What was she looking for?” Magnar answered, but his voice was strained and that scared me.

  “I don’t know,” he replied.

  “She’s hiding something. I’m sure of it,” Magnar growled furiously.

  A cold shiver raced down my spine.

  “I’ve locked her in her chambers for you, my king,” Neegan said.

  “Good. I will deal with her very thoroughly tomorrow.”

  My stomach danced with butterflies at his words. What was he going to do with me? Would he kill me for something like this?

  “Sleep well, Magnar.”

  “You as well, Neegan. Goodnight.”

  I pushed away from the door, anxiously chewing on my lip. The thought of him dealing with me caused a shiver of fear to plummet straight down to my core. Would he want to see me? Did I want to see him?

  I tried to distract myself by taking a bath, but I couldn’t turn my thoughts away from the alpha just in the other room. As I washed the filth of the past several days away, I couldn’t help but notice that I was more sensitive than ever. Even though he was several rooms away, I could have sworn that I could smell him.

  My pussy clenched down with need.

  I swallowed anxiously. I did everything I could think of to keep him from my mind, but when I finally lay down in my bed to sleep that night, it was knowing that I would see him tomorrow that finally settled me enough to fall asleep.

  Chapter 7

  Ariana

  I slept fitfully that night, far too anxious to keep myself from tossing and turning. When I woke, I dressed and brushed my long blonde hair, deciding to leave it down rather than in my usual braids. When I finally heard the doorknob turn, I was seated on the bed. By the scent of him, I knew it was Magnar and I didn’t turn back to face him. I didn’t want to see the look on his face.

  “I am pleased to see that you’re safe and unhurt, Ariana,” he murmured softly. The sound of the door shutting behind him was jarring and I sucked in an anxious breath in the resounding silence that followed. My heart felt like it would beat right out my chest.

  “Look at me, omega,” he demanded gently, and I finally turned my head to gaze back at him. I don’t know why I obeyed him. Maybe it was instinct, or pure curiosity, but I couldn’t be sure. As my eyes met his, I found that I didn’t care either way. His eyes were soft and if I looked closely enough, there was something of a reluctant sadness hidden in their depths. In that single moment, I found it hard believe he was the enemy, that he was one of the malicious members of such a powerful segment of the Cult.

  I expected him to strike out at me, to hit me for running or chain me up as Neegan had threatened to do, but he did none of that. Instead, he just stood there and gazed back at me.

  “Why did you run?” he asked. His voice was still quiet. Nothing about him suggested that he wanted to hurt me. I wasn’t sure if that scared me or comforted me.

  “I had my reasons,” I answered cagily, and his jawline tensed the slightest bit.

  “I had planned to be gentle with you, Ariana, but your disappearance calls for answers. The castle has been searching for you for days. I’ve wasted time, resources, but most important, the Cult demands that I handle your insolence,” he continued.

  “An answer?” I asked.

  “If I don’t handle you properly, the kingdom will think me weak. In Kingsworth, an alpha is expected to deal with an omega’s disobedience firmly and without hesitation,” he explained. I watched his hands flex and I pushed myself off the bed. I took several steps away from him and he shook his head.

  “Don’t touch me,” I blurted out with a snarl.

  He growled, the sound loud, punishing and consuming all at once. The power of his alpha descended over me, forcing me to bow to him at once. My omega responded and I found it impossible to fight back against it no matter what I did.

  “You forget the natural order of things, omega. I am your alpha. You will submit to me without question,” Magnar said firmly and I whimpered softly with nervousness. “Kneel before me, Ariana.”

  A powerful wave of submission rolled over me as my omega answered to his alpha. Slowly, I fell to my knees before him and he gently took my chin in his fingers. I flinched and he hushed me softly. I wanted to push myself back up. I wanted to run, but the natural instinct to bow before him overwhelmed me. Nothing I did could push it away.

  “I’m not sure where you come from, Ariana, and you might have heard terrifying things about what may happen between an alpha and his omega. I’m not going to do any of that. I may punish you from time to time, but I won’t ever truly hurt you. I will never blacken your eye or leave you to rot in chains. You were given to me and I will protect you whatever the cost,” he explained. His eyes were hard. He was telling the truth even though I didn’t want to believe him.

  His words tugged at my heart. I didn’t want to trust him. I didn’t want to feel for him.

  I was afraid I was already too far gone.

  “You understand that the Cult expects me to deal with you quite firmly for this,” he said.

  “And if you don’t?” I asked.

  “They could decide to kill me. Even worse, they may decide to kill you,” he answered. “The Cult does not tolerate insubordination.”

  It would do no good for either of us to die. I could never figure out who he was and what was really going on in the dark corners of the city.

  I lifted my gaze to face him. He leveled me with a hard stare as his thumb traced my cheek.

  “I think you’re trying to hide something from me, little one. I don’t think it was what happened in the gardens that really made you run from me. I think you’re afraid, not of me, but of yourself,” he observed quietly. I glared back at him. It felt like he could see right through me and I hated that. I rolled my upper lip. I’d never show him that he was right.

  He sat forward and a dangerous gleam came over his eyes. His grip on my chin tightened just firmly enough to hold me captive, but not hard enough to be painful.

  “You don’t need my gentleness, do you, Ariana? You need me to show you how a real alpha handles his omega when she needs to be reminded of her place. You need me to punish you and you need it to hurt,” he said, his words dark and far more menacing than before.

  I openly snarled, not even bothering to hide my challenge.

  His other hand snaked around to firmly grip the side of my neck. He stood up and pushed me back several steps until my back pressed up against the wall. There was nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.

  “The entire castle knows that you’re going to be punished. They expect to hear your screams. I have to give them that,” he declared sternly.

  “You wouldn’t dare,” I growled.

  He cocked his head rather arrogantly and my stomach dropped precipitously.

  “We’ve spent some time together, you and I, but you don’t know me, little one. You don’t know what I’m capable of,” he warned.

  My pussy clenched down hard at his threat. I pushed back ag
ainst his chest, fighting him every moment that I could.

  “Let me go,” I snarled.

  “You’re playing a dangerous game, omega. There are plenty of alphas that would have already punished you for challenging them like you are doing to me,” he growled.

  The rising tension between us was so thick that I could cut it with a knife. With him so close like this, his scent surrounded me, and I could feel my body responding to him. I could feel the slick gathering between my thighs. Since I’d escaped into the inner walls of the castle, those needy feelings of desire had faded, but now with him in such close proximity once more, they had returned with a vengeance.

  Maybe that’s why I continued to push him.

  Maybe I just wanted his attention focused on me.

  Maybe I just wanted him to touch me.

  I growled at him again.

  His eyes darkened and his hands descended to my dress. He tore the thin fabric straight down to my belly as if it was made of paper. With purposeful intention, he stripped me. He didn’t say a word, which only added to the growing fear simmering deep inside my belly. When he’d ripped every last shred of clothing from my body, he slapped his hands against the wall to either side of my head. I jumped, but as he stared into my eyes, I found myself unable to look away.

  A hard shudder of anxious arousal shook me from within. My nipples pebbled into firm little peaks and my pussy couldn’t stop tightening with need.

  “Are you afraid, omega?” he asked.

  “No,” I spat. I lied straight through my teeth.

  It was then I really focused on how much bigger he was than me. He stood a least a foot and a half taller. He was wearing a simple beige cotton shirt and tightly fitted cloth pants that showed off his muscled physique. He towered over me and I could see those muscles rippling with restraint. I found myself questioning just how strong he was.

  “You should be, little omega. You’ve got a hard punishment coming. It’s going to hurt. Before it’s over, you’re going to scream. You’re going to sob. You’re going to beg for mercy but I’m not going to stop until the entire castle knows that you’ve been thoroughly dealt with,” he warned.