Page 12 of The King's Omega
Something passed over Axe’s face. A shadow, a pain. “Are you all right?”
Axe grimaced again. “Yes. I… yes.”
It was time to prepare for dinner, and then take my mate, the miracle who would grant Rimholt the power to defeat our invaders.
The Omega who would save us all.
Vali
The king’s dining hall was immense, so wide and long that I wondered if it even ended. Dozens of tapestries depicting bloody methods of dispatching one’s enemies adorned the bare stone walls. I followed Lorn and Tarn into the hall, examining the wall hangings for ideas.
Beheading seemed overdone. Same with disemboweling. But boiling in pitch had potential if I could find enough tar. One of the tapestry devils was doing a lot of limb-rending with a great wooden wheel that looked excessively painful. I stored that one away to contemplate later.
After all, I would have to kill both men for forcing me into this dress. It was a hideous, smelly thing, dark brown, scratchy, and uncomfortable. Rips and holes marred the hemline, and suspicious stains discolored the skirt.
I was fairly certain it had belonged to a servant who spent a lot of time in the stables, on her back, andnottaking care of horses.
I hung back when Lorn and Tarn halted at the head of the table and bowed to the king, whose eyes never left Selene. She hadn’t noticed me yet, and I wanted it to stay that way, so I slipped around the table to an empty seat where the enormous deer antler candelabras might obstruct her view.
That meant, however, that I sat between two strangers. Men who leered, greeting me with nods and pointed stares at my small breasts, which were nonetheless pushing their way out of the tight dress. One stranger, a skinny man with bulging eyes dressed in black, demanded to know my name and national origin.
I sniffed at him, not deigning to answer. For this evening, I’d adopted the persona of the Unknown Visiting Princess. If anyone in the hall realized I was really a brothel servant, they’d probably horsewhip me. Good thing I was a phenomenal actress.
Luckier still, no one other than the man in black bothered to talk to me. It was probably because my dress was so hideous, they all felt pity. I know I did. Selene was wearing a princess dress while I was probably getting fleas from this one. At least I didn’t stink anymore.
A servant passed, handing out goblets of wine. I snagged one, lifting my pinky finger to take a sip. “By the Goddess, that’s strong,” I muttered, and took another large swallow, then another. A different servant refilled my cup. I’d never had wine like this; Madam only gave me water, or half wine and water on holidays. “Reallystrong, and fantastic. I like it.” My shoulders relaxed and my chin lifted as I drank. Now I understood why people called this stuff liquid courage.
If I drank another goblet, I’d bemadeof courage. “More wine for the princess!” I called to a girl carrying a jug, who curtsied and filled my chalice a third time.
I was invincible, and as I lifted my glass for another gulp, a giant hand clamped my arm, stopping me. “Axe!” I spoke a little too loud, and the people near me fell silent.
Or that could be Axe’s fault. Everyone stared as though they expected him to draw his weapon and slaughter them all. I ignored them entirely. I peered along my too-short nose, curling the edges of my lips downward, and tried for sophistication. “These dinners are such a bore, aren’t they, Axe darling? I do wish you were sitting beside me; I have so much to share with you. Have some wine?”
The men next to me abandoned their chairs as if someone had set them on fire. With dark eyes sparkling, Axe sank down onto one of the cushioned seats, causing the woman next to him to flee for her life. He waved a servant over with a plate of food for me, and handed me a fork, mouthing the words,“Axe darling?”
“Come closer.” I pulled at his arm and he leaned down. “I’m pretending I’m a princess,” I whispered into his ear. He closed his eyes when I spoke, and a shiver ran through his frame. Was he cold?
He must be. And I bet no one ever thought about a man like Axe feeling cold. Everyone expected him to be strong all the time, just because he was a giant.
I grabbed a bit of the full skirt I wore and draped it over his lap, then took my cloth napkin and did the same. My hand landed on top of something quite hard and long, too long to be natural. Did he have an axe handle in his pocket? I gave it a brief stroke.
A thrumming, low growl emerged from Axe’s chest, and my eyes flew to his face.
Oh, sweet Goddess, not an axe handle at all. I’d just grabbed his privates. The ladies back at the Sow were never going to believe this.
“I am so… sorry,” I lied. “I didn’t mean to. I was just trying to warm you up.” I let my hand stay there, though.Madeof courage, I was.
I hiccupped slightly, staring into Axe’s dark, glimmering eyes.
“Warm me up as well, little one?” Lorn’s voice came from right beside me, and when I turned, his lips brushed my cheek. Suddenly, I was the one shivering.
“I… I don’t have any more napkins,” I said, mentally slapping myself for turning into a simpleton again. What was it with these gorgeous Alphas? I decided I wasn’t getting enough air, with all the mouth-watering, masculine aromas that swamped the place. I lifted a hand and waved it around, with great swooping fancy motions, like a visiting princess would.
I gave my hand a few more swishes, enjoying the fuzzy feeling in my fingers. Why couldn’t I feel my fingertips? Humph. At least I wasn’t cold like Axe.
Lorn let out a short cough. Or a laugh. “What are you doing, darling? Trying to speak Axe’s sign language?”
I whirled around to Axe, knocking over a glass of wine and a small bowl of jellied fruits. “Oh! You speak with your hands? That’s amazing.” I grabbed one of his large hands in both of my own. “Say something, please. I want you to teach me.”
