Something in Talon’s gaze wavered, and I softened my voice, so he could hear the truth in my words. “Omegas are not like other women, King Talon. If you had one, and she gave herself to you, you should know this: Omegas can only open themselves to a man they find worthy. One they love. One they choose. If an Omega chose you, then you threw away a treasure for what? A rumor that your mate was unfaithful? Did you bother to ask her what happened?” His brow furrowed the slightest bit. “Did she like this friend of yours? Did she melt when she was around him, did she smell sweet when he came into the room?”
“No,” he managed to say through gritted teeth.
“What about Icarus? When he came near, did she touch him, did perfume fill the air?”
“No. They were close, though. Together all the time, from when she was young.”
Icarus’s breath shuddered out. “She was my best friend, Talon. You knew that.”
Icarus’s pain weakened me, blurred my focus; I closed my eyes to his despair and faced Talon straight on. “But did she smell sweet around him? That’s all that matters.”
Talon growled. “No. That only happened…”
“With you.” I let my final words plunge deep into his heart. “If you threw up my skirt, you would find my entrance closed. The Goddess makes it so. I can only give myself to someone I love. Your Omega was the same. If she died after you drove her out, she died innocent and alone. Betrayed.”
He stood, his hands trembling, though his face was stone. “Icarus, is this true?”
Icarus sighed. “That Omegas are closed until they find their true mates? Yes. I didn’t know then, but I learned it in the past forty years. I tried to tell you, so many times. You had your guards fire on my fucking ship anytime I sailed too close.”
“You never sent a bird.”
“I sent dozens, brother. Ask yourself who intercepted them.”
Talon flinched, and I smiled. “Her death is on your hands, King Talon.”
His eyes were like whirlpools of agony, vast reservoirs of pain. “She is not dead.”
Icarus shook his head. “I know. She was your sky bond—if she had died, Rabbas would be king now. But she died to you forty years ago. Stop seeking her, stop hoping for revenge. Stop ruining the lives of those who love you because you failed her.”
“She was not my mate,” Talon growled. “I never fully claimed her.”
He leaned closer and the movement carried his scent to me. He smelled strongly of leather and salt, and a faint but distinguishable hint of… “Lavender and caramel?”
His eyes shot to mine. “What did you say?”
“Oh, Goddess.” I let out a breath. It was her. “She is still alive. And youaremated. Your scent is mingled with hers.”
He seemed to grow larger, taller, and I had a sinking feeling he would strangle me or worse before I could get my hands on anything other than the one knife I had. It would have to do. “Impossible. I didn’t bite her, never marked her.”
My eyes fell on a small, semi-circular silver scar on his neck, half-hidden under his long hair. “She marked you,” I whispered. His hand flew up to cover the scar, and his pupils shrank to almost nothing. “You may think you didn’t mate her, but she marked you. Chose you.”
Goddess, I almost felt sorry for him. He hadn’t known.
“You cannot mate me, Talon. Not only because I won’t have you. But because you are already mated.”
His eyes filled with shock and something close to terror. “I can’t listen to these lies. Stay in here. I’ll be back for dinner. Branton, leave them tied for now.” He was gone so fast I had no time to use the knife.
I almost shouted with glee. The other guards filed out, followed by the Alpha, Branton, who stood right outside the door. I waited a few seconds, listening, then silently used the knife to cut myself free.
Then I cut Icarus’s bonds as well. He took a step back, unsure. “Are you going to kill me?” he asked quietly.
I took a moment to answer; I wasn’t sure what I would do. “You didn’t tell him I was an assassin. Why not?”
“I wanted you to have the upper hand. He hit you. He should die for that, even if he is my brother.”
“He’s a shitty brother,” I agreed. “How is it he’s older? He looks younger.”
“Wyverns stop aging when they mate.”
