All the gryphons--and Neil--turned to me.
Blaze didn’t seem offended by my outburst, only confused. “What is it?”
“You can’t breed me,” I said, too panicked to call himsiror be respectful in any way. “I’m already pregnant.”
Blaze was visibly shocked. The feathers on his neck inflated and his ears swivelled back. “What did you say?”
“I’m pregnant,” I repeated firmly, putting my hands on my belly.
In the awed moment of silence that followed, I grew more fearful. Had I made a mistake by revealing that? I cursed myself for not holding my tongue. Now that they knew, what would they do to my baby?
Blaze took a step forward. I shielded my belly and I shrank back with an instinctive growl that was laced with my wolf’s voice.
I shouldn’t have growled at a king, especially not one with unknown powers and the ability to end my life. But I was armed with knowledge. I knew I was too important to harm. And on top of that, when anyone--anyone--threatened my baby’s life, I would’ve been damned if I didn’t fight tooth and nail to protect my child.
All eyes were trained on the two of us, king and omega, locked in a silent argument. I didn’t budge.
Finally Blaze’s eyes softened. “Is this true?”
“Yes.”
Blaze glanced to Torin--the one who abducted me--but I shook my head.
“It’s not his,” I said. “The fathers are wolves. My mates.”
Their faces flashed in my mind, and I felt a horrible pang of grief.
I’d give anything for them to be here right now...
Unlike the Moon Meeting where I’d spilled the truth to the rest of the packs, nobody in this hall of gryphons laughed. There was only a dead, serious silence hanging in the air.
“The fathers… And they are wolves,” Blaze added. His eyes shifted, as if wanting to look over his shoulder at Neil but didn’t quite reach.
“Not him,” I spat, making sure everyone heard the venom in my voice. “I would never bear his child. I would rather die.”
Neil’s hackles rose and he looked like he wanted to attack me, but I knew he wouldn’t put a paw out of line unless he wanted to be torn to shreds by every gryphon here.
As the king ruminated, everyone was quiet. An eternity seemed to pass before he landed on a decision.
“Very well,” Blaze said. “Nothing has changed except the timeline. Matheson will bear this child.” He lifted his head with a slight smile. “And gods willing, the child will also be an omega. Let’s hope we have excellent news!”
I stifled a sick gasp. Blaze only wanted my child for the same reason he wanted me.
I have to get out of here!
There was no running now, though. Torin and some other high-ranking gryphons created a vanguard around me and escorted me to Blaze’s guest room. As we left, I caught Neil glaring at me again. I didn’t back down. I fiercely returned it. I had other things to worry about right now, but I would pay that son of a bitch back for what he did to me. He wasn’t going to get away with this.
But why? Why did he do this in the first place? He was supposed to be loyal to me, and he sold me right into the hands of the enemy…
The guest room was undeniably luxurious, in that strange gryphon-y way. The high ceilings and marble gave everything a grand atmosphere, which only served to make me feel small and insignificant--even though right now, I was everythingbutinsignificant.
There were down pillows, comfortable blankets, clean towels, and all the things I needed. There was even a private tub and bath section, pure white and spotlessly shining.
None of the gryphons touched me, almost like they were afraid to, as if I were a delicate and expensive item. I couldn’t deny that it was better than what I had been imagining when I was stolen away that night. There was no dirty prison, no handcuffs… And I didn’t think Blaze would touch me until my baby was born.
But I had to get out of here before that happened. There was no fucking way I was letting my child be born in a society like this, in which the people valued my omega body for one thing only.
I had two options.
