Page 38 of The Diamond Dragon Prince
I wanted to open up a doorway and whisk my omega and his brothers off into our world so badly I had to clench my hands to stop myself from doing it. Emmerich was a fool if he thought this situation could have any sort of good outcome.
“Well, well,” King Freslik said as he reached us in the clearing, flanked by far more men than he needed to keep him safe. “If it isn’t my traitorous sons. I always knew you lot would rise up against me someday. Where you found yourself an army is beyond me, though. Did you enlist the help of that sorceress?”
I blinked, wondering if I’d heard the man correctly. He thought the princes were the leaders of Osric’s army or that Saoirse, who was long gone, had helped them?
“Your reign of tyranny is over, Father,” Leo began, stepping forward with more bravery radiating from him than all of Freslik’s army combined.
His defiant words went unheard as the commotion of Osric and his deputies riding up through the panting, sweating, bloody soldiers drew everyone’s attention. Even I had to admit that Osric looked every bit as powerful and regal as a king should.
Freslik definitely noticed. “Who are you?” he demanded, though the way his eyes widened and the color drained from his face told us all he had an idea.
“Don’t you recognize me, Uncle?” Osric called across the gap separating them. “Don’t you recognize the son of your own brother?”
“No!” Freslik gasped. His horse shied away, and for one, beautiful moment, I thought Freslik would take his entire army and run.
He recovered himself and nudged his horse forward instead, glaring at Osric.
“You are nothing!” he called out. “My brother died without giving birth. Even if he had, you are a bastard son of nobody.”
“I am Osric, the legitimate son of Lord Oberlin and his wedded omega mate, Florian, brother of Freslik,” Osric announced to one and all, including Freslik’s baffled soldiers. “I stake my claim to the throne of this land.”
“This kingdom is mine!” Freslik shouted in reply. “It is mine by right of birth and rule. But I see that you have all conspired against me, you and my wicked sons. You are the sorcerer!”
Leo swayed like he would step forward to join Osric. Prince Rumi and Prince Obi looked like they were ready to defend their cousin as well.
But Osric called out, “The princes? They are my hostages.”
A quick silence fell over the field. I understood what Osric was doing. He was trying to save the princes from whatever fate he might face as a rebel against the king.
“It’s not true!” Leo called out. “We fight with Osric. We will fight and depose you, and I, for one, will do whatever is necessary to?—”
A sudden pang stole Leo’s breath and doubled him over. More than that, I had the distinct feeling that his words had been heard by no one but our immediate circle. King Freslik didn’t tear his eyes away from Osric even for a second.
I caught a look from Emmerich that said he’d made an exception to his no magic rule for the sake of the princes’ safety.
“How dare you take my sons hostage?” King Freslikshouted, apparently changing his tune. “I take any and all such attacks against me as a direct insult.”
“Then take them back,” Osric said, nodding to the princes. “Take back your beloved sons and keep them safe and sheltered from what is to come.”
“What is he doing?” Leo growled in frustration. “We are here to fight with him. What sort of betrayal is this?”
“It isn’t a betrayal,” Prince Rumi said quietly. “He’s trying to save us.”
“I don’t want to be saved,” Leo raged on. “I want to fight.”
No sooner were the words out of his mouth than he groaned in pain again.
“We need to get back to the magical world as soon as possible,” I said as Osric and Freslik went on exchanging threats and challenges. “My omega needs to birth our egg.”
“The best way you can ensure that will happen is by letting King Freslik take the omegas back to their bedchamber in the castle,” Emmerich said.
“But what if he doesn’t take them there?” I demanded, frustrated that I was being asked to entrust the thing that was most precious to me to a vainglorious tyrant.
“Trust me,” Emmerich said, eyes trained on Freslik. “He’ll take them back to the castle, back to their bedchamber.”
He raised his hand toward Freslik, and a moment later, Freslik said, “Give my sons back to me! They belong in the castle, locked safely away in their bedchamber.”
A ripple of surprise passed through the armies witnessing the scene, as if no one had expected Freslik to make that declaration.
