“How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine,” Kari grumbled sulkily while trying to remove himself from the alpha’s clutches.
Ryedir was having none of it, however.
“You were having a bad nightmare last night.”
Kari pulled his chin out of the large hand and lay his head back down on the man’s chest. It was still embarrassing, but he was still too tired to care too much. It was better than looking into those knowing eyes, anyway.
“I’m fine.”
Ryedir made an unconvinced noise in the back of his throat but said nothing else. Instead, he sat up, pulling the omega into his lap and pursuing the tray of food. Kari groaned and was about to protest any more hand feeding but they were interrupted by a slightly ruffled looking Trois.
Apparently some merchants fr
The entertainmentroom had been all set up and Nevishad been helping Karipractice pouring when Ryedir, Trois, and a large, round bellied man Karididn’t know came in. Nevisleft with Troisand the other two sat at a small round table.Karistepped forward and set to carefully pouring both men a glass of the expensive alcohol before folding himself up at Ryedir’s lap. It made Karibecome conscious of what it means as he recalled his talk with Nevis earlier but he pushed it away from his thoughts. Thiswas far better than sitting on the flooranyway.The omega huffed and had to fight a scowl from his face when Ryedir ran his fingers through his hair as though he was petting a favored animal.The talk was all business and bored Karito no end as he idly listened in. They seemed to be bartering over a shipment of silks in exchange for a mix of
Karigroaned as he missed Jaid’s lunge and was knocked to his ass. It was like training with Ryedir all over again except that this alpha would politely avert his gaze from him while the omega righted himself. So at least he didn’t have to deal with leering golden eyes while he picked himself up off the ground.It didn’t lessen the knock to his ego every time he hit the groundthough.Ryedir had given Karipermission to seek out training with the quarterstaff from Jaidand it had taken a week to convince the hulking alpha to agree. He wasn’t entirely sure if it was his perseverance finally winning the man over or if Ryedir said something but Jaideventually agreed and even had a custom-made quarterstaff commissioned to Kari’s size.And much like Ryedir, every time he crowed in delight over having ‘mastered’ something, Jaidquickly knock
Ryedircarried his dead-to-the-world omega into the main entertaining room and carefully laid him on the cushioned bay window. The lacy curtains kept out the harsh light of the sun and he leaned over to open the window so the omega could take advantage of the cool breeze. He had only given the omega a cursory wash down before stuffing him full of his favourite fruits. The omega promptly passed out in boneless exhaustion and would most likely sleep for some time. He smelt of sweat and sex and Ryedir. Karismelt and looked thoroughly used and Ryedircouldn’t help the fierce grin of satisfaction. He hadn’t wanted to do that so soon. He had wanted to wait until Karicame to him and was rewarded with the satisfaction of the omega willinglyasking for it from his own free will. But having Karitrust him enough to agree was still a win. As much as he pref
Big blue eyes blinked sleepily at them and it seemed to take a moment for him to register that there was another person in the room. He reeled back and looked to Ryedirin alarm. He beckoned his little mate forward. No doubt suddenly being in the presence of an unknown alpha was alarming. Karislid off the window seat and padded across the room to sink carefully onto his lap. He settled quickly and wrapped an arm around Ryedir’s neck, pressing his body close and resting his cheek on his chest. Oh, how Ryedirenjoyed that. It just screamed possessiveness. “My, my. He really is a pretty one.” Hanzengave a delighted laugh. “And what an expression! I can see now why Orangave him to you untrained. What a pleasure it must be to discipline his unruliness.” Ryedirreached out to stroke a hand through Kari’s hair in a soothing gesture.Ryedirfelt a thrill of sa
Karisighed as he dragged his feet towards Ryedir’s private quarters. He had spent the afternoon helping Nevisrun errands in the market square and was tired after all the activity. Not to mention that his head still reeled over what had happened that morning. Yhieris, what had possessed him to agree to let the alpha touch him so intimately? Instincts most likely and he had let himself be carried away by the situation. Had it been anyone else, he would have been mated and bonded by now, Kariwas sure. Ryedirmust have legendary self-control. He had seen other alphas lose their mind over just the scent of an omega, let alone touching them so intimately. Ryedirhad sent him over the edge of pleasure multiple times and at the end came again virtually untouched. Which showed just how much Kariaffected him and yet he didn’t act on it. Sure, the man too
Ryedirheard Kari’s scream and was up and sprinting to the bedroom before he consciously registered what he was doing. He was stopped in his tracks by the sight that greeted him. An unknown man lay dead on the ground, surrounded by a pool of blood and with a large, bloody shard of ice protruding from his back. Kariknelt a short distance away, arms wrapped around his torso and mouth open in an unending scream. He immediately noticed the familiar faraway look in the omega’s eyes and started to croon as he slowly walked forward. He had only gone a few steps into the room when massive shards of ice shot out from around Kari. They had a different quality to them from the ones Ryedirhad seen before and it set alarm bells ringing in his head. The omega hadn’t been triggered in their sparring sessions for some time now so it could only be the blo
Ryedirdidn’t miss the suggestion that he would die if he ever lost his powers. It was not something to bear thinking about, but it was the reality of the situation. While Karimight not want to say his choice yet, Ryedirknew he needed the omega to come to him because if he broke the young man’s will then he would lose him irrevocably. Their power was connected to their beliefs and their own wills, of that he was certain. Force him into something and the doubt would eat away his power as had happened to the two previously captured Daiyans. Silence reigned while those words sank in. It was Jaidwho finally broke it. “That may be, but that’s not common knowledge here. Who would know about such things and have been in contact with him? Few notice a slave, even out in the city.” “Knowledge about Daiyansis more prevalent within the army as they are something that has been fought against in the past.”
The younger man stiffened in his arms and Ryedirknew he had hit the truth. He remembered how he had seemed to be torn between clutching at himself or tearing at his own skin while he trembled on the floor. How his ice seemed different compared to what he had seen before, almost as though he was trying to forceitout of himself. It had seemed sharper somehow, more dangerous, and lacking the usual soft beauty that Kariseemed to unconsciously imbue into the ice. Dumping the omega on the bed, Ryedircrawled on top of his prone form and pinned him in place. Karikept his face averted to the side but Ryedirgrabbed his chin to force him to meet his eyes. “Look at me.” Blue eyes looked up at him in a swirl of stubbornness, confusion, and guilt. “Never again.” “But-” “Never. Again. What you did is nothing to feel shame over.