“Of course,” I said. “But this is my body. And who I let inside of it ismyfinal decision.”
Father didn’t reply. He couldn’t. What could he possibly say in argument? An omega’s body was sacred ground, a place where no one but the omega himself had control. Therefore, Father could not twist my arm this way. He’d reached a blockade in logic.
“Then what is your suggestion, Sebastian?” he asked. “Will you let Elian take the throne when he turns of age?”
“You would allow an eighteen-year-old to take the throne?” I countered.
The shadow of a smirk played at Father’s lips. It was times like this where I thought, uncomfortably, that he resembled me—and Elian. I saw glimpses of us in him when he was at his worst. It was a thought I didn’t like to dwell on.
“I would allow it, if he produced an heir before you did,” Father said slowly.
“He is immature.”
“Your crude behavior today was not much better.”
“Elian cannot even wake up on time without a servant’s help,” I said, getting angry now. “Do you honestly believe he could take care of a child?”
Father wasn’t shaken. “Then it is a good thing he has servants to aid him.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Was my father truly threatening to choose Elian as his pick for the throne before me? All because I didn’t want a snivelling insect of an alpha throwing himself at my feet?
“Iwillproduce an heir,” I stated. “Make no mistake about that.”
Father nodded slowly. “Good. See to it that you do because Elian’s birthday is not far off, and I have a suspicion he will not be as finicky as you.”
I suppressed a shudder of disgust. Despite my frequent irritation with Elian, I hated hearing Father discuss him in such a vulgar way. Just as I was not a womb to be filled, neither was my brother.
I’d had enough of this conversation. Turning to leave, I said, “Excuse me.”
“Where do you think you’re going, Sebastian?”
“I’m glad you asked, Father,” I said with a smile. “I’m going to choose my own alpha.”
8
Rourke
Ahurried knock at my door jolted me. I swore, hating how sudden noises still startled me enough to make my heart race. I put the old yellow paperback novel I’d been reading face down on the bed and went to the door.
Shep’s panicked expression greeted me. There was a wild look in his eyes.
“What the hell’s wrong?” I asked.
“Rourke, he’s here,” Shep said under his breath.
“What are you talking about?”
“The prince. He came back.”
My stomach twisted and turned cold.
Shep spoke quickly. “Some of the other guys overheard the guards talking about him. The sticks are higher up their asses than ever ‘cause they’re all busy sucking up to the prince.”
I didn’t want to speak the words. Saying them out loud would make this feel all too real. “You don’t think…”
Shep swallowed thickly. “I don’t know, Rourke. I hope not.”
I took a step back from the door and muttered, “I’m not going with him. Hell no.”
