Page 3 of The Ruby Dragon Prince
Without a word, the six of us got up and formed the dutiful line that we were always forced into when we walked through the palace. None of us were allowed to walk side by side, because Father didn’t want us speaking to each other or seeing each other’s faces when we were being paraded around to suit his vile purposes.
There was no point in arguing or resisting. I was a thousand times more excited than usual about the prospect of that night’s ball after Rumi’s story, though. As we were paraded from the quieter, private part of the palace into the crowded, noisy, teeming, public part, I kept my eyes open, searching the throng of guests to see if I could figure out which of the hungry alphas gawking at us might be Rumi’s completely ordinary man.
I didn’t see anyone ordinary before we were marched into the ballroom and up onto the small dais, where Father waited for us.
“It’s about time,” he snapped, glaring at the six of us as if we had purposely held up the opening of his ball. “Wretched, disobedient omegas, all of you. I’ll see that you are brought in line if it’s the last thing I ever do.”
I ignored Father’s cruel words. He said more or less the same thing every time he saw us.
“Lords and gentlemen, alphas and betas,” he called out to the guests filling the ballroom. There were no other omegas, of course. Father despised omegas of every kind. And there were only a few women, because Father despised them as well. “Welcome to my mid-spring ball.”
Most of the courtiers applauded, not because there was anything to applaud, but because they would have bent down to lick Father’s boots if they thought it would win them favor that would lead to a trade deal here or an exemption from taxation there. Or, of course, a heat with one of the princes.
“At last, my wayward, whorish sons have deigned to join us,” Father went on. “They were probably lazing about in their room, preening and discussing ways to offer themselves to beggars in the street. We all know how omegas are.”
The courtiers laughed and sneered at us, the alphas among them with hungry looks and lust in their eyes.
“You can probably smell how close to heat some of them are,” Father went on. “Wouldn’t it be a laugh if one of them went into heat while dancing with one of you? I’d be tempted to let you have the hussy right there in front of all of us were that to happen.”
The courtiers laughed. My face heated with shame, even though it was Father who should have been ashamed. Treating omegas like chattel was bad enough, but hinting that he would condone the public rape of one of his sons was horrific.
I closed my eyes for a moment and wished more than I’d ever wished for anything that there was some way to escape from this cruel, disgusting life. Father would only make jokes about us for so long before he would attempt to make one of those jokes a reality.
“But enough about these omegas,” Father went on, moving his hand like he could brush us away. “It’s time for dancing and wine!”
The courtiers cheered, and moments later, not only did the orchestra in the corner begin to play, but a veritable army of servants came out of the small side doors with trays of wine and sweets.
Father wasn’t completely done with us.
“I want you all to behave tonight,” he growled. “I need you to be biddable with my guests. A war is brewing with the southern kingdom, and I need the support of every one of these noblemen if I am to conquer it.”
I fought not to roll my eyes. There was no war, at least not one instigated by anyone other than Father and his ambitions.
“I may need to offer some of these noblemen more than just your heats,” he went on. “The time has come when I will offer all of you to secure long-term alliances. So be on your very best behavior or else.”
“Yes, Father,” We all answered dutifully. We had long since learned that it was easier to pretend to go along with Father so that we could keep to ourselves later.
“Now go and make yourselves available,” he ordered us.
I swallowed as all six of us turned away and faced the eager, frightening horde of untrustworthy alphas who wanted to paw us and slobber over us. Rumi set off right away, as if he’d seen his ordinary man and planned to go to him. Obi and Misha clung to each other as they stepped warily into the throng of guests. Leo held his head high and marched right into the center of the alphas, daring them to touch them.
I exchanged a look with Selle, who shrugged, adjusted his glasses, then sighed and stepped forward, knowing he didn’t have any choice but to comply.
I was about to do the same when Father grabbed my arm and yanked me back.
“You’re slower than the others,” he growled, tugging me to the side, where a particularly sour-looking, middle-aged nobleman with a too-large nose was smiling at me with crooked teeth. “You’ll do for Lord Groswick.”
I swallowed, dreading what he might mean by that.
“Your Majesty,” Lord Groswick bowed as Father dragged me close to him. “You do me such an honor with your favor tonight.” He glanced up at me with a lewd look.
I thanked whatever god or goddess ruled this miserable world that I was not in heat or anywhere close to it.
“It is you I have to thank for your ingenious plan, Lord Groswick,” Father said. I wondered what sort of plan it was. “As promised, I give you the entertainment of one of my sons for the night. It’s a pity none of them are in heat, but this one will do for a dance or two, possibly more, if I think about your idea and decide I like it.”
“I am most pleased, Your Majesty,” Lord Groswick said, bowing low from his waist.
He sniffed while still bent double. His huge nose was far too close to my crotch.
