“Dad, you can’t just plan my life. You can’t just—just buy me an omega because you’re ready for me to have kids. What the fuck?” Malin shook his head, then let out a harsh laugh. He wasn’t happy and I hadn’t expected him to be. At least, not at first.
“He’s a prince. He’s educated. What’s the problem?”
“What’s the problem? Dad, get with it. You’re so old-fashioned. This is why we don’t get along lately. You think I should live the life you want or wanted for yourself. But I’m not you!”
It wasn’t why we didn’t get along, but he could believe as he wished.
Malin took a step forward and looked Kirion up and down. “He is cute. At least you have good taste.”
Now Kirion looked like he’d swallowed something bitter. The little set was strong, though. He held his ground.
“Malin. This gift I have for you is not something you can just throw over your shoulder. There are contracts in place.”
“Are you saying I’m already legally connected to him? Dad, really?”
“No. You’d have to sign the papers and all the agreements first.”
“Well, he’s nice looking and all that, but I’m not ready.”
If I could reason with Malin, he’d see what I saw, how things needed to be. “He’s not going anywhere. You don’t have to sign right away, of course.”
“Great. That gives us time to date, then, right?” Malin spit out a gush of air. His tone bordered on disgust.
“You’re being sarcastic, now. This is a person. He has feelings, too. I never expected either of you to marry tonight. He’s going to live here and you can have time to get used to each other.”
Malin rubbed his forehead. “You sound like you’re from another century.” He grunted. “Fuck. My friends are going to freak. I’ll never hear the end of it.” He took a deep breath. “You want him to live here? I can’t stop you. But he’s not living inmyroom.”
I took it as a partial win.
“Of course, Kirion will have the third-floor suite. And I’ll provide whatever he needs. But will you at least make an effort to get to know him?”
“Sure, Dad.” He turned away from me. “Whatever. Your house, your rules. You’re always reminding me of that, right?”
I kept glancing from Malin to Kirion. What I did hadn’t been wrong. My reasons were sound. But Malin was too spoiled to see what I had done for him. Too fulfilled on being the gallivanting playboy.
But the good thing was they would both be here. They would not be able to avoid getting to know each other.
“Good.”
Maybe this wouldn’t be a total disaster. Maybe they’d hang out, come to like each other. They were only two years apart. Both sons of wealth. Plus, the alpha/omega dynamic was always in play. Malin would come around. He’d see and scent the young omega every day. Soon, he’d want him.
5
Kirion
When I heard Tane say I would have my own suite on another floor, something in my chest let go. Since leaving my father’s castle, I could finally breathe deep again.
The disaster that had seemed so immediate—Tane giving me to his son to have as he pleased—had passed. I was safe. At least, for tonight.
Malin showed no interest in me. Good. I was going to do whatever it took to keep it that way. Make him not want me.
I didn’t trust dragons. This was the best scenario I could hope for.
Maybe down the line it would mean I’d be re-sold, but for now, this situation was survivable. I wasn’t going to be brood stock. I wasn’t going to be raped. That was all I cared about.
Malin was a typical brat. I’d met a hundred like him in boarding school. Self-absorbed. Embarrassed by his father.Rude. Even I’d been that way sometimes, especially when I was younger and still in school.
Malin was no one I ever would have looked at twice. Not as tall as his dad. Plain in the face. Hair hanging in his eyes. I’d be avoiding him for as long as I could.
