But he isn’t.
He has only shown kindness and adoration toward Omegas.
Wraith told me that Shadow Vampires revere Omegas. They put the creation of the nest with the Omega blood bond, Blood Lover, and sometimes a Beta consort before anything.
I didn’t believe it before. But now I do.
“I will notallowher to do anything,” Lanlin replies, “because my Omega does not need my permission to tell anyone within this kingdom tofuck off.”
With an unnatural speed, Lanlin dives off the throne, dragging me out of Daire’s arms.
Adrenaline surges through me, as the wind is knocked out of me.
I don’t even have time to react, before Lanlin firmly places me into the vast throne.
Shocked, I stare out at the Blood Court from its bone throne.
I used to peer into the Great Hall at Fang Kingdom and wonder what it would feel like to sit where King Ulf did.
I never once guessed that his ass was firmly seated where mine had always meant to be.
He stole my birthright.
I will get my kingdom back.
Yet now I am looking out at Lanlin’s world fromhisthrone, and I can feel the sharpness of the bones underneath me. It makes my stomach churn to think how many dragons and fae died just for anyone to be able to sit like this in a position of power.
My chest is rising and falling fast. My hands curl around the lion armrests.
I tilt up my chin, as a sense of strength surges through me: The magic of generations of Kings and Queens before me.
When I glance up, Lanlin is standing fiercely by the side of the throne like he would take on the entire room, which is now in uproar, his entire kingdom,all the realms, for me.
He pushes Daire behind him as well.
I smile
I love that Lanlin is also protective of hisSweet Dove.
Although maybe that makes him a bad judge of character.
“I said,” Nebet’s ribbons are now weaving around her in fury; the other priestesses are closing ranks, preparing to attack, “that the Shadow Devils reject this Omega.”
“Then I reject them!” Lanlin roars.
The court falls silent in shock.
Why do I think that somehow, Lanlin has walked into a trap?
“Sacrilege,” Ruin splutters. “You are damned.”
“Better damned with my Omega, than blessed without her.” Lanlin’s dominant pheromones become even stronger. “No one will harm my royal nest mates, or I will devour their souls. Freya is my consort. And she will be my Queen. The next Queen of the House of Sin. She will sit on that throne, and if you refuse, then I will simply fly us away from this realm.”
I twist to Lanlin in shock.
He would give up his kingdom for me…?
Warmth floods through me, especially when I see the glint of pride, with which he’s looking down at me.
