Page 67 of The King's Omega
“How did it go?”
“As you said, the servant women were his spies. He believed all they reported, so he didn’t try much. I pretended to build a nest for twenty minutes, then hinted at how I’d get it right soon. Then a message came, and he sent me out.”
“Much?” Rage turned my vision red. I could kill Milian in more than a hundred ways. “What did he do?”
“He kissed me, Vilkurn!” She was careful to keep her voice low, but her eyes practically ignited small fires everywhere she looked. “He put his tongue in my mouth, and I had to pretend it wasn’t like a dead piece of rotten eel!” She spat again and rinsed her mouth with some water.
I handed her a towel from a table by the basin. “Wipe it off.”
“I’ll need sandpaper,” she said. “Possibly a torch. I’m not sure I’ll ever get over that taste.”
“It’s almost over.” I tamped down the fury and helplessness that filled me. “Now I need to share something with you.”
The hope bled from her eyes as I shared the message my spy had intercepted, the one that had interrupted her wedding night. “It’s not true, is it, Vilkurn? Rigol can’t be dying.”
“I can’t believe he is. Rigol trusts too easily; he has a soft heart for an Alpha king. But poison? There’s almost no way he would be taken by surprise. His father’s death left an impression.”
“Are you sure? He seemed to fall under Selene’s spell so easily.”
“No. And there’s no time to discover the truth. I only have one spy left in Verdan City, and we’ll need him to get us clear of this cesspit tomorrow.” Her face brightened. “Kitten, Milian will leave for Rimholt by morning. Then you and I will make our escape—”
“We have to rescue the Omegas, too.” Her brow wrinkled. “The best time would be when he’s gone to Rimholt. Fewer guards, all of his officers will be with him and his army.” I started to protest, and she put a finger to my lips. “Vilkurn, we can’t leave them here. They are brave, and they helped us. If we don’t save them now, we never will.”
Her eyes told me all I needed to know. She needed me to be her hero. How could I tell her I was a murderer, a man who had done evil deeds for so many years they’d all bled together? For her, I would risk everything, and attempt the impossible. “I can extract them the way I’d planned for you, with a few adjustments.”
Her eyes glistened with tears. “Please, Vilkurn, do it. If Milian locks me up here, I’ll be fine. If he takes me with him to Turino, even better. I can keep up the act for as long as I need to.” She curled her lip. “Even if it means kissing the monster.”
I wanted to argue, but saw from her determined expression that it was not negotiable. Her bravery astounded me. “I’ll get them free, kitten, and then come to you.”
“Thank you, Vil. And the next time I see you, I’ll do something nice.”
“What is that?”
“I’ll tortureyoufor a change.” The wicked promises that spun in her eyes made my breath stutter.
“I can’t think of anything I’d like more.”
“Hold me,” she demanded, her arms reaching for me. “I don’t want to be alone.”
I knew it was unwise, but I couldn’t tell this woman no. I would break the world for her. I would torture every evil man in it to free her. “Kiss me,” I pleaded.
Her lips found mine in the darkened room, and I allowed her to lead this time. Her small tongue explored the seam of my lips, and I opened to her, my own tongue dancing against hers, my lips trying to find a way to show her my love, to give her strength and courage to face the coming day.
I may have bound her and given her pleasure in Turino, but somehow, without my knowledge, she had tied invisible, unbreakable chains around my heart. I was hers, her prisoner, her captive, for as long as she would have me.
I kissed her until she assured me she could no longer taste Milian on her lips, then held her until she fell asleep.
Before light was even brushing the corners of the sky, I slipped out a window. My final spy—whose name I had been careful not to learn, so I could never reveal it—met me in the stables.
“Lots of news,” he breathed, saddling a horse for me. He wore nondescript clothing, all faded and dark colors, nothing to draw the eye, no obvious detail. I had seen his face before and knew there was one detail worth remembering: a scar that ran from his forehead to his chin in a giant crescent. But when he wore a hood, like he did this morning, he was utterly forgettable. A perfect spy.
“Tell me.”
“Milian told his officers last night he’s taking the lass with him to Rimholt. He wants her to see Rigol executed. Says it’s his wedding gift. Also, some talk of the youngest broken Omega planning a jailbreak for tonight.”
“Right.” My mind spun. “Tell her, tell Roya, that the Omega she suspected is also a spy. They’ll know how to handle her. Once she’s gone… I need a favor.”
He stilled. “My favors come at a steep price.”
