“Fuck. Has he been waiting long?”
“King Aurus doesn’t wait for anybody, not even a fellow king,” Ebel said. “You know that. He said you were to contact him the moment you received the message.”
I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck. This was unusual. Aurus takes only a passing interest in my travels, preferring to wait until after I return to hear if I have anything interesting to report. “Fine,” I said, suppressing the irritation in my voice, “get him linked up.”
“Right away, sir,” Ebel said, moving fluidly to the panel of controls. As he worked to establish a communications link between us and the Golden King, I schooled my face into an expression of boredom. The Nine rule Ulfaria equally, but we keep to our own kingdoms. There was no reason for Aurus to contact me. Had something happened at home? Was Ulfaria being invaded?
“Khan.” Aurus’s deep voice reverberated around the control room, his chiseled face filling the comms screen. His golden eyes flashed, and his lips were compressed into a tight line. Behind him, lines of Alphas in golden armor stood at attention. A show of strength. Perhaps wewerebeing invaded, I thought—but then Aurus would look gleeful and excited, not angry.
“Aurus. To what do I owe the pleasure?” I forced myself to be calm and polite.
“Come now, Khan, you know the answer to that,” Aurus said. “We were so excited when we heard the news, we decided to come and see for ourselves.”
“Sir,” Ebel muttered, and touched a panel to fill a second screen with a jarring image.
Even before I looked, I knew what to expect, and what I saw on the screen only confirmed it. The forest-covered mountains of my homeland. The palace of waterfalls—mypalace—with the pristine view marred by ship after golden ship. Aurus traveled to Altrim—tomykingdom—with his entire fleet. There were golden ships as far as the eye could see, glinting in Ulfaria’s three suns, blocking me from entering my own port.
“You’ve never sent me a welcoming committee before,” I said, my voice tight, forcing myself not to clench my fists in case he could see it.
“You’ve never returned with an actual Omega before,” Aurus retorted, his tawny eyes growing dark with an emotion I couldn’t identify. Lust? Anger? Irritation? “We’ve set up a council meeting to see for ourselves. You will bring her to the meeting, and tell us how you came to find an Omega—the first in an age.”
For a brief moment, I broke eye contact with him to survey my small crew. Aurus knew about Emma. Someone leaked the information and betrayed me. Ulf help them.
I gave Ebel a slight nod, which he returned. He will seek out the traitor and find out which one of them violated my trust, and told Aurus about Emma. Whoever it is, he will not live to see another dawn.
“The Omega is frightened and exhausted,” I said slowly. “We have traveled far. First, I will introduce her to her new home and then—”
“Did you evenintendto introduce her to me?” Aurus raised a brow.
I ignored the interruption. “As my mate and queen, my Omega will rule Altrim alongside me.” I forced my voice to remain calm.
“Yourmate?” Aurus’s eyes flashed. “You have already marked her?”
The possessive growl erupted from my chest. “Emma is mine. My Omega. My mate.”
“Is that so?” Aurus cocked his golden head to one side. Behind him, his warriors shifted slightly, and light flashed off their gaudy armor. “Would you stake your kingdom on it?”
“I’d stake my life.” I met the Golden King’s eyes, refusing to back down. The Golden Army is the biggest on Ulfaria, but my ships are faster. I can signal Ebel and disappear across the galaxy, far out of reach, and Aurus knows it. And now it’s clear: I’d give up everything for Emma. My life. My planet. My entire kingdom.
“No need for that,” Aurus murmured. He raised a hand, and his warriors marched out of view. I didn’t relax. I had more to barter with. “I’ve assembled the Nine Kings for a council. You and your Emma,” he purred her name, “are invited to attend.”
This wasn’t an invitation I could decline.
“Very well,” I grunted. Aurus blinked. Had he expected me to fight, or flee? I had another plan: barter. “At the council, we can discuss the new source I’ve found—one that can provide us with many Omegas.”
Aurus lost all semblance of arrogance. “Oh?” He leaned forward in his captain’s chair. “What is the source? Tell me.”
“I will. At the council meeting.” My reply must have sounded too smug, because Ebel cleared his throat. Toying with the Golden King isn’t wise. His army of Alpha warriors is larger than my entire country. I do not fear death, but if I were gone, there would be nobody to protect Emma.
“Very well,” Aurus barked. “We will discuss this at the council meeting. My ships will provide you with escort. And remember,” he pointed a finger at me, “bring the Omega with you.”
“I want your word that my Omega and I will be unharmed,” I snarled back.
“You have my word. Bring her,” he commanded.
The screen went dark before I could reply.Ulfdamn Aurus and his arrogance. If he didn’t have the largest and most lethal army of Alphas on all of Ulfaria, I would make him pay. And if he tried to take my Omega…
The blood roared in my ears. My cock raged with the need to repossess the Omega in question. Just the thought of anyone else’s hands on her was enough to send me blind with rage.
