“Indeed, they are,” he answered. His tone was ambiguous. I’d have to give a bit more if I wanted him to open up to me.
“Sometimes when I look up at the sky, it reminds me of how very big the world is out there,” I said.
“So full of possibilities,” he answered, and my heart leapt with hope.
“Have you always lived here in Kingsworth?” I asked.
“I grew up outside the city walls in a small village far from here, but I’ve lived here so long that I don’t remember much of anything about it,” he answered.
“Someplace in the wilds? Another city?” I pressed.
“I remember a place built right into the mountains. The views from the cliff sides were beautiful,” he murmured.
“Were you born there?”
“I was,” he replied.
“Your mother and father? Family? Are they still out there?” I turned my face toward his. As much as my questions were to further my mission, I found myself curious. I actually wanted to get to know him.
“I have no family. They died long ago in battle. I was too young to remember them,” he answered. His voice had softened.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
Someone nearby cleared his throat and the two of us visibly stiffened. I turned my head to see a man sitting on a bench in the corner of the gardens. He was wearing dark colors and when he leaned forward, I saw the silver flash of his necklace against his chest. It was a fist emblem, a mark that signified the hand of the king.
“Neegan,” Magnar greeted.
“King Magnar,” the man answered, bowing his head with respect. His eyes were dark in the moonlight, but he didn’t really look my way. Instead, he seemed more intently focused on the king. “Taking your omega out for a walk?”
“Yes. She’s been remarkably well behaved for me these past few days, so I thought I should reward her,” he replied. Magnar’s voice had noticeably hardened. I chanced a glance in his direction, noticing that his jawline had tensed and his body language had stiffened markedly. It was as if he was a snake readying himself to strike.
I stepped away slightly in defense. I didn’t respond to his remark, thinking it would be best not to provoke him even though I wanted to.
“Keep her on a short leash, my king. It is never advisable to spoil an omega. They’re best dealt with using a very firm hand,” Neegan replied, and I bit my tongue hard.
“I’ll keep that in mind the next time I remind her who is king,” Magnar answered curtly.
“From the ancient texts, it seems that sigmas are especially volatile,” Neegan continued.
“My sigma knows her place,” Magnar replied. “Don’t you?” he asked. His tone had turned especially dangerous and it was then that I knew better than to push him. He wouldn’t hesitate to show off just how much he was ready to make an example of me.
“Yes, Alpha,” I answered carefully.
Neegan’s eyes searched mine. They were especially cold.
“Kneel, omega,” Magnar commanded. I knew better than to argue. Tentatively, I lowered down to one knee and then the other as I stared up into his eyes. What did he want?
He reached for my face, cupping it with his palm. I tensed slightly as his thumb caressed my cheek. He lifted my chin and gazed into my eyes. His stare was hard and just as cold as Neegan’s. It was as if he’d become a monster and I hardly recognized the man looking back at me. It was so very different from the man he’d been just ten minutes ago.
“She has such pretty lips, doesn’t she, Neegan?” Magnar began.
“That she certainly does,” the king’s hand answered boldly.
Magnar’s thumb grazed along my lower lip. He gripped my chin even more firmly and pushed inside my mouth.
“So soft and wet,” he whispered and Neegan chuckled knowingly.
I whimpered, the sound almost silent, but I knew Magnar heard it by the way his lips turned up in a knowing smirk.