Take Me

“Not to buy from me, eh?” He laughed good-naturedly. “No matter. I take it you have yet to meet our new king.”

There was no shortage of disapproval in his voice. “On the contrary, Theon introduced me to him not half an hour ago.”

“There you have it.”

I never did care much for word games. At least not when I was at a disadvantage. “Explain.”

“He brought countless maidens with him. I'm sure you must have made the acquaintance of at least a handful of the most wretched of them as you walked the streets.”

“That I did.” But again, the only thing the memory of those creatures did was stir up thoughts of my Omega.

“The useful ones are kept underground and pampered for as long as their blood is worth drinking. You must have noticed the new well in the square. That was the result of King Jett’s powers. He brought the maidens, and the maidens need water to survive.” He waved a hand. “Suddenly, water bubbled forth.”

I should have known this was his doing. “And what has been said of the new king?”

“Theon and he are planning an attack on Sypani, intending to destroy the Fae. The fresh maidens were meant to strengthen the army leading up to the invasion. King Jett appears to have the matter well in hand.” He snorted as if something amused him. “And there's a prize on his sister's head.”

“Jett’s sister?”

“The very same,” he replied.

It wasn't until his good eye widened that I realized my claws had begun to shred the bolt of fabric I'd only just stroked. There was no satisfaction in it, though. No, I would not be satisfied until it was flesh I tore to pieces.

A price on Jaide's head? Not for her appearance but for her head. That very subtle difference in word choice meant everything. Theon did not want Jaide alive. He wanted her dead.

My Omega. Mine.

“Are you...feeling quite yourself?” he said, backing away slowly, one hand reaching out behind him as he felt for the curtain separating the shop from the back room where he lived.

I answered by tearing the bolt from the wall and throwing it through the window at my back. A display of gold chains meant to decorate the withered bodies of dried-up maidens hit the floor, jangling discordantly.

But that was nothing compared to the sound of my roar, which was loud enough that I was certain for a moment it would send the walls crumbling down around us.

Jaide. My Jaide. He intended to kill my Jaide, his own sister. This was not the Jett I knew and had enjoyed. Yet he must still possess some part of his old self.

I tore out of the shop without acknowledging the destruction I’d caused, and bolted for the castle. I would tear it down to its foundation if need be. I would move heaven and earth and everything in between if it meant sparing my Omega’s life. She was all there was. My endless obsession. The only thing that could quench my endless thirst. If ever the day came when it was her time to die, it would be my decision. That was how much her life belonged to me.

And if I was going to align with Theon, we would need to get that straight.

The throne room doors were closed, but that was no matter. I flung them open, prepared to wreak havoc, only to find the point of a spear in my face.

“You must be joking,” I snarled, taking hold of the weapon in one hand and tearing it from the hands of the weak Synian charged with guarding the king. “Threaten some child with your toys. They will not work on me.”

I turned my attention to the thrones ahead, and once again, I found Jett. This time, he was not seated on one of the two remaining symbols of how we had once ruled this land. He was on his knees in front of Theon, his head bobbing up and down while Theon’s was thrown back in abandon.

“Yes, my husband,” he sighed, one hand on the back of Jett’s silver head. “Oh, yes, suck your husband’s cock before I bury it in your sweet ass.” His breathing was loud, nearly labored, but there was no mistaking the pleasure radiating from his face. I’d never seen him look so satisfied which meant it was time to bring this to a halt.

“I’d say I was sorry to break in on your connubial bliss,” I snarled, “but that would be a lie. Get off your knees and tell me what in blood you’re doing giving orders to my kind.”