My own privilege stopped at fifteen only to plummet into what felt like negative space. I still had nice things and a good education, but I couldn’t dream of the normal futures others did whether omega, alpha, wolf, dragon or any other sort of shifter.
Tane did not deserve to have that look. I did. And he shouldn’t have bought me as some sort of consolation for a son who was probably spoiled and able to live any way he desired.
I fumed until the plane landed, happier now that I had anger to latch onto as I was led, a slave, to my fate. At least anger felt like a solid force, a sharp curtain I could hide behind.
On the tarmac, as we got into the waiting limo, Tane’s hand pressed the center of my back as if to steer me inside.
“Don’t touch me,” I snarled.
He stepped back, his elegant shoes tapping the pavement. “I won’t.”
I was already inside the car, looking for a place to sit on the couch as far back as I could be. I scrambled backward, grabbing the seatbelt, trying to ignore Tane on the parallel couch facing mine. He was smart enough to settle up front so we didn’t have to face each other.
I plopped my hands in my lap. The delicate gold slave chain winked up at me from my wrist. I put my free hand over it to hide it, the coolness of the metal stinging against my palm. For a moment, I considered tearing it off and throwing it on the floor. I didn’t think Tane would care or punish me for such behavior. I wasn’t afraid of him. But something else held me back. Maybe shame. Or embarrassment. I didn’t want him to think I was some sort of delinquent, or an omega without pride and self-worth.
Why did I care what he thought of me? I only knew I couldn’t wait for this day to end.
4
Tane
As my limo pulled around the circular drive, I saw several cars parked in the side lot, including a couple of Porsches and my son’s red Lamborghini.
Kirion had his head down, refusing to look out the windows. He sat at the back of the limo, an unhappy purchase. Could I blame him? It had been a legal transaction. It was the way things were done for set omegas. It was an unfortunate but necessary law left over from our world’s more barbaric days. Especially for dragons. Our omega population had dwindled severely over the last dozen or so generations. We needed omegas imported to keep our breeding numbers stable.
I had been lucky to find an omega mate at a young age. Before Rupert vanished, we had planned to fill our household with heirs. Now it was up to Malin to do that. He was the perfect age and had plenty of my wealth to give to any children he conceived. I wanted grandchildren. Even if I had to buy them through a set omega.
The driver held the door as we got out of the car. “I’ll have his things brought inside.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
Kirion still would not look up. He shuffled his feet as he followed me to the front entrance.
Elias, my butler, greeted us, trying not to stare at the new occupant of the house.
“Where’s Malin?” I asked.
“In the upstairs game room with two friends.” Elias cleared his throat. “Sir, shouldn’t he be chained?”
The question annoyed me. It made me double-think my decision. The purchase was done and that was that. I couldn’t undo it.
“He has a chain on his wrist.”
“I understand, sir.” Elias knew when my word was final. He kept his silence as he led us to the stairway. He didn’t follow as we went up.
I could hear my son and his friends, their loud voices floating into the hall. I only hoped they weren’t drunk.
At the door, I turned to face Kirion. “Wait here.”
Kirion glanced up, eyes big, and backed up toward the wall.
I pushed the door open all the way and stepped into the room. The boys were playing pool. Beer bottles sat half-full on a side table. All looked up as I entered.
I recognized one of the two guests. Blaze. Not my favorite of Malin’s friends. He was rude to my servants while putting on airs with me. I saw right through him. His father was a gambler and a cheat, though the family was still well-off. Or pretended to be. They had substantial debt, though, and I knew Malin paid for Blaze to go with him on some of those expensive trips he always took.
The other friend was someone new.
Malin stood up straight. “Hi, Dad.”
