Page 79 of The King's Omega
“H-he killed her?”
Sorcha rolled her eyes. “Nah. Richard’s a sweetheart. I woulda killed her right off. He gave her a bunch of his strongest brandy, and when she blacked out, he shaved her head and had his lad carry her into the center of Turino. Dumped her in the middle of High Street.”
“That’s all?” That didn’t seem like nearly enough for a woman who’d helped take down her king.
She scratched at her neck. “There may have been some of the bright orange laundry dye involved.”
The image of that made me grin. “Ah, so she’s running around Turino like a plucked duckling?”
“Richard said he thought she resembled a pumpkin. And he told quite a few of his friends in town what she did.”
I nodded. The people of Turino would not be kind to a traitor.
“Enough,” Lorn interrupted and grabbed my hand.
I blew a kiss to Sorcha, and we fled back into the walls, following Axe this time. Vilkurn’s third dungeon was in the west wing, as far from Milian and Rigol as we could get. After arriving, we could do nothing but wait to see if Sorcha had bribed trustworthy men.
Would they betray us to Milian? I prayed they would carry Rigol to us… and that when he arrived, I had the ability to heal him.
I stumbled as we hurried through the passage, but Tarn was there, his cedar wood and sage enveloping me as his arms lifted me. “The tunnel is wide from here, Peaches. Let me carry you.”
I did, his steps becoming a drumbeat that lulled me to sleep as he walked.
* * *
Hushed voices drewme slowly from a dreamless slumber. I had no idea where I was, but I could feel Axe’s warm, muscular arms around me. If Axe was holding me, I must be safe.
I smiled in my sleepy haze, amazed that I could feel that way about an Alpha. I had been afraid of them for most of my adult life. Now, I trusted an Alpha more than anyone else in the world.
The voices were Tarn and Lorn, hushed but relaxed. “Vilkurn brought bedding into his secret torture chamber? What in the name of the Goddess for?”
“It’s obviously not for torture anymore. Not real torture, anyway.”
“I can’t believe he’d give up his secret space for anything.”
“Wouldn’t you give up anything for her? I would.”
“Goddess, yes. I’m still going to tease him about the jewels when he returns.”
“If he returns. He was in Verdan City, at the palace. He should have been here by now, and I know he wouldn’t leave her to linger here. He would have come if he could.”
I forced my eyes open. “Maybe he’s still helping the other King’s Omegas.” The room was lit by a few candles and nothing else. It was a much smaller dungeon than the last two. A cell, almost, with one corner of the room covered with a mattress and pillows, and stacks of soft furs and blankets. There was no fireplace or windows, and no obvious doors. I had a strong feeling only the generals and Rigol knew this room even existed.
Tarn brought me a cup of water, and I drank, feeling three sets of eyes on me. “What other Omegas?” he asked softly.
Right, he had been mostly dead when I’d told Lorn about them. “I guess I should tell you what happened while we wait for the king.” They sat quietly, only asking a few questions for clarification, as I shared every detail of the horrendous experience in Verdan with them.
Tarn reached out and stroked my hair. “Peaches, you were so brave.”
“No,” I denied his praise. “The Omegas there were the brave ones.” They had shown me how to be brave as well.
That bravery started with believing you could make a difference.
Tarn tugged on one of my curls. “You left your only protector to save them, and came here alone, in the enemy’s grip. You were very brave, little one.” I shook my head again. But this wasn’t the conversation that we needed to have right now. “How long was I asleep?”
“Three hours,” Axe signed.
My stomach sank. We might be safe, but Rigol was not. Sorcha’s men must have run into trouble or betrayed us. “They’re not bringing him. We’re stuck here, and Selene knows about the tunnels.”
