“Claim you?” I ask, feeling hesitant. “That’s part of the… bond thing, right?”
“In a way. The bond is brought on by the claiming bite. Your Alpha literally bites you, making you his forever. It’s like their version of marriage—only there’s no divorce. As scary as it sounds, it feels amazing,” Kim says.
“Has your king claimed you yet?” Emma asks.
I take a deep breath. There’s a sad, gnawing feeling in my chest. “No. Not yet.”
“I’m sure he will soon,” Emma says.
“Yeah, I’m sure he’s just making sure you want it,” Kim adds.
Is he? I do—I think. All those times I tipped my head to the side, baring my neck to him, my Omega side was begging for the claiming bite. I just didn't know what I was asking for.
But Bestian knew. He had to have known. He’s a nerd about this stuff, he can’t be as clueless as I am. Does this mean he doesn’t want to claim me? Maybe he doesn’t feel what I feel.
A cold wind passes through my heart. If Bestian doesn’t want to claim me… it doesn’t bear thinking about. His rejection would be even worse than Russell leaving me at the altar.
“Besides,” Kim is saying. “You guys just met, and you’ve been through a lot—”
“Khan and I had just met,” Emma says. “It’s an instinct thing—”
“Yeah, but that’s Khan. Rose’s guy is different. They’re all different, in their ways. It took a while to get Aurus’s head on straight, he kept sticking me in with the other concubines—”
“His what?” I ask, not sure I heard correctly.
“He had a whole bunch of concubines. A harem of them. I think he liked to pretend they were Omegas. He kept claiming I was one of them. I nixed that idea pretty quickly, but it still took a while before he officially claimed me, marking me as his queen.”
“Your king doesn't have any concubines, does he?” Emma asks.
“Oh hell, no.” But that could change. There were plenty of Ulfarri females eager to meet him at the Queen Covenant.
“I wouldn’t worry about it too much, Rose,” Kim says. “Maybe, if you want to, you could claim him. Give him a big old bite on the shoulder. Show him he belongs to you.”
“I guess,” I mutter. She makes it sound so easy.
“I’m sure he’s just busy,” Emma soothes. “I’ve heard your kingdom is struggling right now with the spread of a plague of some sort? A curse?”
My stomach drops down to my toes. “The Red Death? But… I thought that was cured.”
“Khan told me the neighboring kingdoms to Medela have stopped all trade at the border, just to keep it from spreading. But maybe I’m mistaken?”
There’s a roaring in my ears. Could it really be true? Could the Red Death be back? Again? I shiver. “I have to go.”
“Of course,” Emma says. “It was good to meet you, Rose.”
“And now we have a way to check in with each other,” Kim adds.
“Yes, thank you, lovely to meet you too,” I say, rubbing my arms. Rogue brings me a cloak and I wrap it around myself gratefully. The chill has spread through me. My fingers and toes are freezing.
“Till next time!” Kim calls. “End communication.” The lava lamp goes dark.
I pull the cloak tighter around my shoulders and hurry out of my study and through the Queen’s lush gardens. The waterfall crashes in the distance as I exit the gallery and march down the corridor, my cloak streaming out behind me. Orbs light up as I pass.
The door to Bestian’s study is closed. I’ve tried not to disturb him, even though he’s obviously avoiding me, but right now, I don’t give a fuck if I’m intruding.
“Open,” I bark, and the door glides open like I’ve said the magic words.
Bestian is standing bent over his table, studying something, his back to me. Need rushes through me at the sight of him. I suck in deep gulps of his scent, but reach for my rage.
