Page 36 of Impaled By His Omega Prince
Alluin, for his part, only nodded, his fists tightening on the chair’s arms.
“As for your status—I have to offer apologies, as I—I was mistaken. You are hereby acknowledged as Prince Askara. I was— Lyrica tried to explain. She was so weak after and—” Alluin cleared his throat. “It’s not very widely known that vitalis cannot help those in childbirth always.”
“I see. At least I have a better opinion of you on why she died,Father.” Askara’s tone remained small and polite, but the emphasis he put on that last word gave even Lumic the chills.
The tone didn’t escape Alluin, and he raised his shoulders a fraction of an inch, tensed and defensive. “I admit. I have not been kind.”
“No. You were cruel, but you allowed me to live, even if the goddess had to intervene to grant me that much leniency. So, yes, I will take Summer’s Keep, as I understand it was Lyrica’s castle to begin with, since her family originally owned it. Was it not a gift for your marriage?” Askara sat up straighter.
Alluin didn’t deny it and nodded. “I secede.”
“It will be a gift to my mate for our union. Present it as such.” Askara folded his arms.
Alluin didn’t hide the detest on his face but nodded all the same. “I know the answer, but I have to ask. That sigil, is he still under your control?”
“Until he can control his thalms, yes. Nobody ever thought to teach him.” Lumic sneered. “Though feel free to ask him any question you like. He cannot lie, and I’ve done nothing to manipulate him.”
“I see. And the mating. I assume it was to obtain the keep?” Alluin cleared his throat.
“The mating is because I love him so dearly that I would walk away from every farst of salicate to see him smile. He was kind to me when I was held prisoner by his captors. He saved my life a dozen times.”
Askara glanced over at Lumic, swallowing with a little blush that darkened his cheeks in a way that Lumic had only then become able to recognize with any reliability.
“You knew?”
“How many times did I have to wake with the taste of vitalis on my tongue only to realize Cilan had none?” Lumictook his hand and squeezed his fingers. “And he is an excellent conversationalist.”
“Apparently, he’s good at more than that. I apologize about having to break the news so bluntly, but Lumic is with child. Askara’s. Whether you wish it or not, our kingdoms are linked by blood.” King Pallosar leaned onto the arm of his chair and stared Alluin down as if daring him to rebut.
“It appears that our children are far more liberal with their bodies than I ever was. My daughter bore a child with her mates not too recently, far too soon after their own ceremony.” He cleared his throat. “It was an unexpected union, but the goddesses blessed them.”
Pallosar didn’t change his expression but flicked his gaze to Nemiah. As a Liaberian, Alluin was far more accustomed to meek and understated omegas, but Lumic’s masculinity and Pallosar’s dominance seemed to leave him at a loss of how to address and respond.
“I hope congratulations are in order? I am afraid all the gifts I bear have alcohol, but there will be a shipment coming along soon on the rail, that is, if you negotiate a route.” Nemiah’s sweet offer made Pallosar smile.
Alluin, for his part, stiffened and stared, wide-eyed.
“I was hoping so, because getting flashpine to you is becoming burdensome.” Pallosar nodded but turned his gaze back to Alluin. “And congratulations are very much in order. Askara is a wonderful child. He bears his dragon’s horns like my own mate, but more subservient and less aloof. He is certain of what he wants. I am proud to have your blood with my son.”
Pallosar’s wicked grin made Alluin squirm. Lumic wished he could gain half that brazen ability by the time he seated the crown.
“I wish to add one more condition.” Pallosar glanced from Lumic to Alluin before sighing raggedly. “My son Stamel needsto be removed from my kingdom. I do not wish to strip his title, but he has lost my faith, and I would like for him to find a mate and not be confined here.”
“He’s educated in war as all your sons are?” Alluin stared Pallosar down until he nodded. “Then I’ll bring him in to train my guards. We have precious little in the way of protections. The grace we’ve had for ages runs thin.”
“You’re being remarkably amenable…” Pallosar tented his fingers and stared Alluin down.
Lumic squeezed Askara’s hand.
Alluin, who had been a pale male in his prime, was a different sort of pale than the pure sun fae that Liaberos touted. While his hair was a steely black, not with age but in the spectrum of whites common in the crown, where Virion had gotten his paleness from, the rest of him mirrored Askara in form.
“Speak, Alluin. Forgiveness will never be earned from you, but peace can be given.” Nemiah turned his head to address Alluin but did so with intent, directing his speech back to Lumic, Pallosar, and Askara.
Alluin’s jaw ticked when he clenched his teeth. “I won’t ask for forgiveness. It’s abundantly clear that I cannot apologize enough for what was done. I’ve done poorly by all my children, most of which was you. Summer Keep is yours. The rail will come through without tariffs or fees for Croatens, as per Nemiah’s insistence. I will open my supply of vitalis to Croatens without question.”
Askara sighed. “Father, I do not need vitalis. The blood running through my veins, all the water in my body, it is all vitalis and bears the blessing. The moon has decided that Croatens will bear her healing blessing. Salus omni, which she has called Salusis. Vitalis can heal injury, where salusis will cure illness. There will be no opening of supply, but a trade.”
“By her name…” What little composure Alluin had fell from his face as tears glistened in those pale blue eyes of his.
