I thrust a tightly rolled paper between us, darkened with age and wrinkled with my own frustrated attempts to make sense of my situation. He reached to take it, and for a moment my grip tightened. What I was doing would have consequences. Even if I succeeded, even if the alpha stepped in—especiallyif he did—Malcolm would be furious.
"It's late," I rasped out, wishing I could turn back the hours, that I might remain ignorant in my cottage, as if none of this would matter by morning. "I didn't think, there's just?—"
"You won't be evicted from your home," Alpha Feargus said.
The words drummed through me, beautifully certain, a reassurance and a command all in the same statement. I straightened myself. I was not a coward, and I forced my shoulders to relax, surrendering the contract to the alpha. I meant to move away, to leave the keep perhaps, but I found myself meeting the alpha's stare. He had a surprisingly warm gaze, shades of copper and chocolate. He seemed to surround me, even from an arm's reach away, and once more I was in a kind of trance, one of safety and heat.
"How far did you travel to get here?" he asked, his words rousing me.
I blinked and tore my eyes from his, the heat I'd felt a moment ago now rising up into my cheeks. "I'm just an hour's ride from the keep," I said, and I tried to smooth my skirts, hide my worn and dirty boots from the long walk here. If I'd had a horse, it would've been an hour's journey. On foot, it had taken all morning and some of the afternoon.
His eyes narrowed, not missing a detail. "The night is too late now, even for anhour's ride. And you might've guessed from the state I was in when I walked in, there's been revelry outside of the keep. Many betas are still outside, and not in their best behavior. We'll find a room for you," he said, and I opened mymouth to refuse but wasn't given a chance to speak. "I'll have a solution to your problem in the morning."
I crossed my arms over my chest and glared up at him, because glaring reminded me not to fall back into the hypnotism of his gaze. "By 'the state you're in,' I'll assume you mean the whisky you reek of."
He grinned, and it took all my control not to lose my breath. Boyish beauty and charm struck me hard in the form of a man who towered over and around me, who swallowed up light and warmth and then shone it back at me.
"Good whisky," he corrected before subduing his smile, but not the brightness in his eyes. "You came to your alpha, Brigid Grant. You're my responsibility now. Come." He held his hand out to me, not touching, but offering to guide.
His confidence was a horrible temptation. I reminded myself that he was drunk tonight, cheerful on the success of his rise as alpha. In the morning, he would recall this vow to me, an omega who'd been seemingly discarded by her beta, and decide it might be better to wash his hands of me. But it was late. And Malcolm might be outside the keep. I stepped into his wing, caught the brief sound of his breath, and then we moved together toward the stairs.
The keep was old, had been here for many generations of dragons, but I'd been here once years ago with Malcolm, and it'd been busy and full of life, gleaming and ancient and proud. Sometime in the past decade or so it had started to show its age, dusty tapestries hanging from the balcony wall, a cobweb here and there.
Alpha Feargus hailed a maid on the upper floor, and she scowled for a moment before approaching us.
"Show Omega Grant to a guest room," he said, and then seemed to consider something for a moment before leaning inwith more authority. "I trust you to know which might be best ready. She'll need a fire, and fresh water for bathing."
"That's not?—"
"Did you eat?" he asked.
I wet my lips, prepared to lie and say I had a full meal. Maggie had managed to smuggle me scraps at least.
"Some food as well. There should be plenty left over from the feast," he said.
"Of course, milord," the maid said, not looking at all pleased with her assignment of me. I had a feeling my water would be cold and my food thin, but since I hadn't expected either, I didn't mind.
"Goodnight then," the alpha said, with a sort of silly smile on his face and a bow that wobbled.
I sighed, realizing the man was too good at faking sober, and that meant there was no real promise for what would happen in the morning. "Goodnight, Alpha."
He stood straight at that, his eyes darkening, his body seeming to swell, the word conjuring the reality out of him. For a moment, his hand twitched at my back, finally touching, almost grabbing. Little pinpoints of heat appeared on my spine. And then he stepped away, turning in the opposite direction of us, heavy wings in shadow turning the hallway into a black void.
"This way, if you please, madam," the maid said reluctantly, and with a bit of impatience.
My fate was up in the air, spinning wildly in front of me, and I had even less of an idea of where it might land in the morning than I had before coming here. There would be no sleep for me tonight, but there would be a bed at least. I followed the maid to a musty but otherwise fairly decent guest room, the sound of men's shouting voices from outside the small window convincing me to stay. I would wait and see what the new alpha might have in store for me.
Chapter Four
TORION
Iglared back at the sun streaming through my bedroom window, far too high in the sky for my body to feel so leaden and my eyes so wooly. I needed to give the keep staff new instructions to wake me earlier. As the alpha's son, it had been easy enough to get away with sleeping until I woke naturally. Now there was too much to be done, too much that my father had let slip off his plate after my mother's death.
First and foremost, however, I had to deal with the matter of the omega in my keep. A hazy vision rose from the night before—a petite woman in shabby, too large homespun clothing, but with clear bright eyes, handsome features, and a heavy braid shining like a ruby in the firelight. I scrubbed my hand over my unshaven jaw, thinking of the woman. She'd been prickly and sharp and nervous, and every word she said had sobered my mind with a new, unfamiliar urgency toact.I'd thought at first she might've been another trap set by Barr, but the spiteful way she'd spoken of him had been too convincing. She needed my help. As alpha, it was my duty to do something for her.
That was the cause for my determination, naught else. I was alpha now, and it was my responsibility.
It had nothing to do with that first breath of her, a fresh scent, like a clear day in the hills, the sharp promise of rain in the air, and then a deeper sweetness, a syrupy and yet almost savory note, like molasses. She smelled like the very definition of home.
