Elias and I just stared at him with incredulity. They’d do anything to cling to their power and the wealth that came with it.
“Right,” Briar muttered, his cheeks pink with embarrassment. He still wasn’t used to speaking his truth, having kept all his thoughts to himself about his father for so long. He was slowly learning to trust us and speak his mind without fear. It would take time, though, since the habit of trusting his father blindly was so deeply ingrained in him.
My stomach cramped, and I cradled it as I winced. “Ow!”
Elias shot up from my bed, kneeling in front of me seconds later. “Are they coming?!”
I shook my head. “Just a well-placed baby foot to the rib, nothing else.”
Patting my belly, I saw Gus’ face before me, and his evident pride over being told he’d fathered twins. That his seed was so strong, it had granted us two wonderful sons. The thought made me smile as determination suddenly built inside me. This was wrong. So wrong.
“I need to find Gus!” I declared, my tone firm with a finality to it.
Elias nodded as if he’d only been waiting for my cue. “We’ll help.”
Briar nodded too, his green eyes full of determination.
“But how can I escape withoutthemknowing?” I wondered aloud.
“I’ll get help.” Elias gave me a sheepish smile. “I speak to many of the alphas here, and they all just want to be accepted. Trust me, they will do anything to help you escape unnoticed.”
I raised a brow at him. “You haven’t told me this.”
Elias sighed. “I had to hear you admit your feelings for Gus before I dared. You aren’t the only omega to have fallen for an alpha. Many of the servants here are coupled up with the guards, all deeply in love but forced to hide it.”
Briar’s huge eyes filled with tears. “That’s so sad.”
I nodded in agreement. “Hopefully, things will change soon. I just pray I won’t end up sharing the same fate as my father.”
“You won’t,” Elias spoke firmly. “You will bring our world back to what it should be. You and Gus. Together.”
I sighed. “I hope you’re right, but I don’t even know where he lives.”
“Adrian does!” Elias blurted, surprising me.
“He does?”
Elias nodded. “You pack what you need and at midnight, you’ll make your escape. I’ll tell Adrian to have your horse ready.”
“Okay,” I breathed. Melancholia was a fierce horse, a fast rider. Even if my advisors got wind of my escape, I doubted they’d be able to catch up with me.
It seemed I would soon be back where I longed to be: in my alpha’s strong arms.
Adrian stood in the stable with Melancholia, ready to go with some supplies fastened to her saddle.
“Here, Your Majesty.” He offered me his hand to help me up. I hadn’t ridden in months, and now I had to do it with my huge belly.
I tentatively took his hand, not because I didn’t trust Adrian, but mostly just from fear of hurting my babies during my travels.
“Thank you,” I whispered once I was secure in the saddle. “Elias told me you know where Gus lives?”
Adrian nodded. “I described the village, and Elias told me you’ve been there yourself many years ago. It’s a small village called Savilla.”
“Savilla.” I remembered. I’d visited the cozy small town once with Elias, both of us shopping at a local market. It was lovely there, and I’d felt strangely at home. Safe. Knowing that it was where Gus lived, it all made sense to me. I knew that wherever Gus lived would be wonderful in my mind. Gus just had the ability to brighten up any space with his beaming smile and kind eyes.
“We don’t know exactly where in Savilla, but I reckon the locals will know,” Adrian continued, looking my horse over once more before giving me a thumbs up.
“Here goes nothing,” I said, then urged her forward, my heart beating too fast for my liking. I was leaving my palace. My safety. For love. For a better future. For my Gus.
