I noticed he hadn’t answered my first question, an oversight made on purpose. “Regain my strength for what?”
The Arch-Hierophant turned towards Victor. “Would you like to explain, or should I, Premier Corvane?”
The question was meant to show deference, but it felt more like an order to a subordinate.
Victor was too distracted to notice, though. The red of his irises had grown dangerously dark, as they often did when he needed to feed, and he was looking at me like he was ready to strike at any moment.
He took a deep breath, composing himself, and then stalked towards me, his hands behind his back. “Everything I’ve done since I found you has been in the interest of your protection, and in the strengthening of our bond.”
I ground my teeth, feeling a very un-omega-like growl building in my chest. What absolute kraken shit.
“Because even before I understood the… unique nature of our relationship, I could tell something was off. That things weren’t clicking between us the way they should have. And due to my growing desperation, I made some, let’s say, poor decisions.”
“My, how generous of you to admit that,” I replied flatly, crossing my arms.
Victor bared his teeth but stopped when the dark priest raised his hand. “Come now, I see there’s anger here on both sides, but let’s be reasonable.”
“Anger?” I scoffed. “Anger? Anger doesn’t even begin to describe the feelings I have towards my so-called ‘mate.’”
One second Victor was about six feet away from me, and the next his hand was on my throat, my back slammed against the wall. “Just give me a reason to forgo all civility,mate. I’d happily chain you to the bed and cut out your tongue, so I can feed and fuck to my heart’s content without your needless—”
The priest raised his hands, muttering Old Lundarian under his breath. The light from the chandelier began to flicker out, the air growing heavy and oppressive, making it even more difficult to breathe than it already was with Victor’s hand crushing my windpipe.
His body stilled, a flash of terror in his eyes, and then he finally released me, his own chest heaving. It took a moment for the room to return to normal, and then Victor shook his head to clear it. “Th-thank you. I lost myself for a moment.”
My knees trembled as I caught my breath. If it weren’t for the wall supporting me, I’d have fallen over. Not just from Victor’s attack, but from the strange power the priest had unleashed. It was unlike any magic I’d ever felt before, and strong enough to stop Victor in his tracks.
Who, or rather what, was he?
“Perfectly understandable,” the priest replied, his voice still calm. “In that case, why don’t I finish explaining everything to Sage, hm?”
Victor nodded in agreement, backing up as the priest came forward. He sat on the bed and then patted the spot next to him. “You are still weak, witch. Best not to overextend yourself. Join me.”
Hecara, he was scary. And while I wanted to run away, obeying felt like the smartest option. I took a few shaky steps, and then sat on the mattress with my back against the headboard, curling my knees into my chest as I stared at the two of them.
Victor took a seat in a chair on the other side of the room, resting his elbows on his knees, his chin on his clasped hands as he observed us. Tense and ready to strike.
The priest looked at me. “First things first. I was remiss in introducing myself yesterday.” He tittered. “I was just so excited.We’ve been waiting a long time for the right moment to begin, you see, and things are finally falling into place.”
I stared at him, still having no idea what he was talking about.
“My title is Arch-Hierophant, but it’s such a mouthful, so please, call me Vorthain.”
He waited expectantly, and when I finally gave a small, tentative nod in understanding, he continued. “The mate bond is sacred, blessed by the gods, but the bonds between chosen partners, especially the union of an alpha and omega, are not without their own expectations and challenges. What Victor meant to say earlier is that he failed you on both accounts.”
My focus shifted towards Victor, and I waited for him to retaliate against such a bold, negative claim, but he didn’t even move. Did he actually agree, or was he too scared to disagree?
“It is in the alpha’s nature to protect, and the omega’s nature to submit. But you never felt protected, did you?”
I looked at Victor again, but his eyes were firmly set on the ground as he listened, so I turned towards Vorthain and shook my head.
“Did you feel cherished? Loved?”
Tears pooled in my eyes, and I shook my head again.
“And this is why you did not submit.”
Victor grunted softly, but still didn’t look at me or move.
