Page 95 of The King's Omega
He stepped forward, sword raised again, and I kept my eyes open. I would meet my death with courage.
“I never thought—” His speech halted abruptly, his eyes growing confused and glassy. He blinked at me, head tilting to the side as though I was an unsolvable riddle, mouth opening to ask something… but only red-tinged foam fell from his lips.
What? I glanced down and saw a bloody sword tip emerging from his chest. Milian fell slowly, almost gracefully, sliding off the blade and into the straw. He twitched like a marionette with only one string left uncut, then ceased to move altogether.
As he let out a last gurgling breath, I stared, unable to comprehend what had happened. He died, and I was still alive?
“My sweet Omega, did you mean it?”
“R-Rigol?”
The king stood in the doorway, and Milian’s end became comprehensible. Of course, Rigol had killed him. He had saved me, and now I could go.
“Did you mean it?” he repeated, checking Milian’s body for signs of life, before stepping past him and kneeling in front of me.
Was he being cruel again? How could he ask if I meant what I had said about my worth? I knew as well as anyone that I had no value. He didn’t need to rub it in. “What do you think, Rigol? Like I said, I know who I am. I had no grand plans. You can relax.” I would make it easy on him and vanish quietly while the kingdom celebrated victory.
But his voice shook when he spoke again. “Did you mean what you told him—you love me?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said, searching for Mischief and hoping to hide the tears that stung my eyes. “I’m glad you got what you wanted, your gifts. I’m glad you’ll stay king. T-tell Axe… tell him I had to go…” A sob bubbled up, and I clenched my teeth to keep it from bursting free.
“Go?” Rigol’s tone was raw. “You’re leaving?”
Unable to speak, I shrugged.
“I don’t fucking think so, little warrior,” he growled. I yelped as his arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me up. He carried me out to the courtyard, where soldiers and nobles gathered on the blood-stained grass.
Stained with the blood of Milian’s men, I realized. They had not injured any of our people.
For a moment, pride puffed my chest. My Omega nature had done that. Then Rigol hoisted me onto a wooden bench and shouted for attention.
“People of Rimholt, hear me! Months ago, I learned of a powerful weapon, a magical being who could save the kingdom. A tool that would defeat the armies of Verdan.”
I hated the confirmation that all I had been was a tool. Something to be used and then set aside. Tears streaked my cheeks, but I refused to wipe them away.
When the crowd cheered, I tried to get loose, but he held me fast and continued. “I am your king, but I did not save this kingdom. This woman, Vali, did that.” His eyes were still glowing slightly golden as he spoke. Axe stepped up in front of us.
“Help me,” I signed. “I want to go home. Rigol has gone crazy.”
A few people in the crowd laughed at my silent conversation. Axe just smiled and signed, “Wait.”
“I want you all to know,” Rigol went on, “that I did not see the worth of this woman when we met. I was cruel and thoughtless. I fell into the arms of a traitor because I couldn’t see what was right in front of me.”
The crowd had grown silent now. “But when I did come to my senses, when Vali healed me from Selene’s poison and torture, when she brought me back from the brink of death, I fell again.” He kneeled in front of me. “I fell into her arms, and that is where I want to stay. We owe her our lives, our homes, and our families.
“We owe her our country. I owe her my life. Without her, I am nothing.
“Vali, you are the only Omega in our land. Stay with me, with us. Let us learn what it means to have an Omega in our midst. Teach us how to meet your needs, how to care for you, to protect you, and to become Alphas you can love. Who deserve your love.”
Suddenly, my hand was in his, and his forehead ducked down as he bowed to me. Behind him, the people bowed as well. “Sweetheart,” he said, his voice deeper now. “Please be my queen. Stay with me and my brother, Axe; be our mate.”
A few people gasped. I was one of them. Axe’s eyes were wide.
I signed to him. “Do you want me to stay? Be my mate?”
“You are already my mate,” he said and pulled his shirt open, exposing the marks from my teeth on his bicep. I was pleased to see they hadn’t vanished like the rest of his scars, but stayed golden and glimmering. Good job, Goddess.
“I will go where you go.”
