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Arlen shared a therapeutic moment with his tiny friend, pouring his thoughts and concerns over a jar of wine. The Razzordra snapped at most of his words, but its company brought comfort to the lonely omega. "The wine here is not bad at all. I miss Ari so much. Do you think I'll ever get to see her again?" He moped. "Maybe I should retire to bed. Off you go, into your pouch. We wouldn't want that mean ol' Alpha to find you," he rubbed the creature's head as the world went a little woozy before him. The creature shortly craned its neck at the door, alert. The spikes on its head spread over its spine as it rattled strangely. Arlen repeatedly fought with his eyelids since Luca had not returned. "Oh, what the heck, I could use the nap," he claimed. The Razzordra rebelled against the idea. It swiftly climbed up Arlen's arm, growling and pulling at his bathrobe. "What's wrong little dragon? Why so feisty all of a sudden? Auch, hey," Arlen endured a couple of nibbles to catch it. "Into the
Three days later... Arlen thought he was living a nightmare when he woke up on a bed in clean clothes. Someone heard his shuffles as he forced his chest up and entered the bedroom. "Young flower, you need to rest." It was a male attendant. From his orange appearance, Arlen could tell he was also like him- a flower. Arlen's throat was sore. He had to slow down when talking. "Luca?" "The Prince is in a meeting with my King. I've been assigned to take care of you." The servant was quite friendly. "Oh...but where am I?" Arlen's eyes were a bit heavy to be lifting his head anyhow. "You're in the capital of Cloverdale. This is one of the guest quarters in the King's abode." The attendant sat on the bed. "You've been asleep for days; you must be hungry." Arlen flinched when the servant tried to touch his face. "I don't think I have the strength to eat." "That's alright; I'll feed you." "When will he be back? I mean the Prince of Damaris." "I'm sure he'll return soon." "Did he, by
Luca ran like the wind, carrying the young flower on his back. The faint drizzle in the night dampened their clothes as he took shade under canopies of people's homes. He was angry. For some sick reason, this omega always attracted the wrong crowd and constantly landed in life-threatening situations. Luca feared the worst. No. He knew the worst would have happened had he not found Julius. 18 hours ago... "Where is he?" Luca glared daggers at the servant before he could even set the food on the table. Axel had to step in to keep Luca from overdoing it when he aggressively approached an innocent caretaker. "I didn't help him get away, I swear. He asked when you would return, and I said soon. I just left him to get this." The servant took cover behind Axel. Axel: "Brother, he couldn't have gone far. You still have his sword, right?" "No, I don't... but he barely touches his weapon; unless," Luca suddenly recalled the pouch the omega kept clinging to. He dashed to the drawer to ch
Arlen was sold, and the auction continued. The Merchant jubilated at how much the newbie fetched him. It was irregular to earn ten times the amount he often received for one of his slaves. Before a slave was transferred to his new home, the buyer was entitled to taste what he bought. This buyer liked having his victims at their peak of fear. He became impatient after getting a whiff of Arlen's distress pheromones. 'What do I do now? I can't reach out to Moon or Kraken. Have I always been this weak?' Arlen could hear his heartbeat through his stomach and ears. He tried hard to use his powers but was as hefty as a rock. Fisher entrusted the bedding preparation to his right hand and continued his business. He was about to sell the fiftieth slave when a blast resonated somewhere in his compound. This startled the buyers. "Please stay calm; my men will handle any disturbance." His hand was up, relaxed and confident. Luca jumped onto a roof, watching Fisher's minions rush to a decoy he
At dawn, the Beaumont brothers set off with their prisoner. It was the first Arlen had seen or entered an airship. Such inventions were best pioneered by the people of Damaris. Candor had its fleet, but Claude kept him away from such technology for his sake. Luca continued to harbour the omega in his bunker during their three days journey in the skies. Axel felt like a third wheel to the suspense that refused to fade. The omega had his eyes on the ground the entire time they sat together to eat, and Luca was constantly stealing glances at him. To an extent, Axel was amused because Luca did not realise he was being watched. Each time they made a stop, the prisoner became Luca's responsibility- glued to each other through and through. On the second day, Axel became invested. Luca had described the youngster as talkative, but Julius had not said much so far. Not to rebuke, rant, mock, or plead. "Julius." Arlen's heart clenched when a soothing voice called out a name he had borrowed
Luca walked Axel to his quarters. The events would have been different had his younger brother not intervened. "Your friend is safe now, so you can stop worrying." Axel freely welcomed his brother into his room to review the details. "He is not my friend," Luca's tone was lower than usual. Axel smiled, not wanting to make fun of the other in plain sight. "I'll be heading to bed then. Or is there any other issue you wish to share with me?" "No, I'll get out of your hair...Axel," Luca called out after reaching the door. "Thank you," he said. "Anything for you, dear brother." Axel had no regrets. For Luca, this was a deed he could never repay. A lot was said during the discussion with their father. Still, his brother convinced everyone else that Julius could become their pawn against the Braddocks. Although it seemed tricky at first, Luca came to terms with it. Now all they had to do was turn the omega into one of them by showing him the beautiful things about being a citizen of Dam
"Julius, have a seat." Axel pointed a spot beside his brother. Arlen was uneasy but said nothing after the greeting. "Im glad you came; we were just talking about you," said the second Prince. The omega did not find that amusing. "In two weeks, Princes, Princesses and elites from across Slora will troop in to continue their studies. My father has agreed to let you join a class." Axel went straight to the point. Arlen remained silent, his eyes fixed on Axel, pretending the Crown Prince was not beside him. Axel took matters into his hands when his brother continued to behave hostilely. "Julius, would you be kind enough to grind some ink for me? I prefer the old-fashioned way to modern pens and whatnot," he said. "Sure," Arlen folded his sleeves over his wrist and got to work. Luca's expression tightened, staring at the omega's hand. Axel smirked discreetly when his brother's plain face twitched into a visible frown. If Luca did not care, he should not be mad at a couple of cuts and
"Is that how to address a senior hunter?" Arlen was confused by the statement but still readied an apology. "Sorry, Sir, I didn't mean to upset you." He bowed as he tried to go around the alpha. "I've never seen you before. Who are you? Which house do you belong to?" Those questions landed so quickly Arlen did not know how to answer. "Beaumont's Grey Feather," Arlen said. "You're a Beaumont?" "No! I mean..." As Arlen stood there fumbling, a group of students passing by paid respect to the man beside him, addressing him as Prince James of Prescott. That was the first time Arlen met his sister's mate. "Pardon me, your Highness. I'm new here and didn't realize your status. I'm looking for Sphinx Hall, that's where my class is. It'd mean a lot if you could help." James did not fathom that the smile of the stranger could leave him in awe. He had come across many faces, yet this one was certainly not boring or average like his betrothed. James averts his eyes to break contact.
Axel barged into his father’s tent as the troops waited for orders to march. “Father, perhaps you should reconsider this war. I spoke to Lady Maren… It seems Luca is already in Ingram.” Theoden adjusted his outer robe. “And she knows this because?” “Luca came to her. He was with Rufus Loughty and David. We can’t proceed without considering their safety.” “You’re mistaken. This gives us even more reason to take down Ingram.” “Father, I beg you, let’s approach this with caution. What if my brother was right and the real culprit wasn’t Arlen? If the other kingdoms lose their heirs, all of this will have been for nothing.” “I forbid you from mentioning this to Zavian. Claude’s son has always been a rebel at heart-it’s not my concern if he gets caught in the fire.” “And Luca? Are you going to doom him as well?” “Think of the people who have died because King Caesar and his son are still alive! Your brother has been brainwashed, Axel. Once that family is dead, we’ll finally be
"Master David, your brother must be very proud of you," Zariah said, clearly impressed by David's wittiness. David chuckled. "Haha, thank you, General, but my brother thinks I’m a wimp." Zariah smiled at the alpha. "Clearly, he’s blind. Stick close to me for the time being. You might learn something new." Her eyes lingered on David for a moment before shifting to the couple in the room. "Arlen," she began, "You will help the citizens hide and use the dead to steer those armies as planned, but not away from the main city. Instead, toward it, closer to Kraken Mountain. If we can get through to the kings, we can offer them the real criminal who burned down their towns to appease them." Arlen’s heart clenched. "What?" Zariah continued as if she hadn’t noticed his distress. "Your father is meeting with the council as we speak. He’s waiting for me to give the final word because he trusts me, as you should. This is my decision. While your ghouls draw the armies towards the coastal
Arlen had summoned only Zariah to his quarters, but she arrived accompanied by Rufus, David, and Nathan. "They wanted to help," Zariah shrugged casually. Arlen glanced at the people now gathered around his table, silently calculating how to keep them safe when the time came. "This is insane, Arlen. You'll be outnumbered," Zariah said, shaking her head. Arlen met her gaze steadily. "The aim is to save as many lives as possible. By the time the clans reach the main city, I’ll have hidden our people. I need two-thirds of our men to make sure my father and uncle are well protected." "And then what?" Zariah asked sharply. "You’re setting us up to fail here." "With all due respect, General, let him finish," Luca interjected, squeezing Arlen's hand. The quiet gesture conveyed his unwavering support. Even if Luca didn’t fully agree with Arlen’s methods, he had no intention of abandoning him. Zariah exhaled silently, her arms folded as she studied the pair. With a slight nod, she
KelletTheoden sat among the circle of leaders, listening to their strategies for the upcoming war when the news arrived. Ingram's border was falling apart. The announcement shifted their battle plan entirely. Instead of laying siege to a fortified city, they would be strolling in with minimal resistance."I hear there are mortals within the walls. Do we evacuate them and deal with the undead?" someone asked.Theoden’s voice was firm. "No. Every man and creature within that place is no ally of ours. They are foes. We must wipe them out.""Are you certain about that?" Zavian interjected, raising a brow. "Wouldn’t it be wiser to focus on the main target - capture the nation as a whole, rather than burning it to the ground? Cut off the head, and the body will fall."Theoden’s gaze sharpened. "King Zavian, the first time we marched against Ingram, we underestimated its strength - its people. That misstep cost us dearly. And while we succeeded in bringing down Pandora, here we are again, c
"I didn’t do anything, Uncle. They left on their own," Arlen mumbled, pouting. Claude sighed heavily, the little one’s stubbornness wearing him thin. This wasn’t the first time Arlen had driven servants away - he had a habit of summoning ghouls to torment them. Just days ago, the previous batch of servants was found in a ditch full of rotting animals. Now, the castle staff lived in fear of the young prince, who acted as though every abandonment was their fault. Queen Basma was the only one capable of reining Arlen in. She had tried reasoning with him but her influence was fleeting; sooner or later, the next set of servants would meet unfortunate fates. One day, Claude returned home with a boy about a year older than Arlen. Julius had been rescued from a group of human traffickers. Julius was a broken soul. His body shrank away from the slightest touch. He spoke to no one and preferred hiding in corners to lying in a bed. It was clear he had endured unimaginable trauma. Claud
By the time Reed realized he had been used- again- it was too late. Julius gently set him on a shabby bed of hay, crouching beside him with an expression of childlike curiosity. "Are you feeling better?" he asked, patting Reed’s head."What happened? What time is it?" Reed groaned, pressing a hand to his throbbing temple. He tried to get up but found his legs numb and unwilling."Wait, don’t try to move. You're still recovering," Julius said, pressing him back down."How could I sleep so deeply? My men… the carriage…" Reed’s voice was dazed, his words scattered.Julius dismissed Reed’s fragmented concerns, believing him to be rambling. "It’s alright, Owen. This will be the last time I take your energy, I promise." He leaned in, brushing a gentle kiss across Reed’s lips.Reed’s brow furrowed as he pulled away. "What did you do, Julius?"Julius’ smile faded. "What are you implying?""What did you need my energy for?"Julius’ face hardened. "If you must know, I collapsed the fog at the b
"Did you miss me?" Arlen asked as Luca thrust into him for what felt like the hundredth time."Every hour, every minute… every second," Luca replied, voice thick with longing."Then kiss me harder. Show me the depth of your despair," Arlen cooed.Luca held Arlen close as if he could disappear at any moment. The memory felt lucid, almost unreal. It was harder for him not to bury himself deeper. It was in an alpha's nature to bite and knot his cherished omega, and Luca was nearly numb with excitement as Arlen wrapped around him like a vine, making desperate, teasing sounds that ignited every instinct within him."Arlen, if we keep going like this, I might fall into a rut.""That's not... fair," Arlen murmured between breaths.Luca lifted his gaze to meet Arlen’s. "Is this not to your liking?""No, that's not what I meant. I have to claim you, Luca.” Arlen averted his eyes, his voice dropping to a whisper. “What if you woke up and changed your mind?"With a steady rhythm, Luca pressed g
Arlen led David to the guest quarters, leaving him in the care of capable servants. He then continued along a different path, Luca close behind. Every now and then, Arlen glanced back with a smile, ensuring that Luca stayed close. As they neared a large compound, Luca presumed the inevitable meeting with his father-in-law was approaching. He braced himself. It was unlikely to be a pleasant encounter given their family history, but it had to happen. The structures of this place felt different from the cold, mechanical landscape of Damaris. The statues here were immense, fearsome, and far removed from the serene ones back home. Guards stood at every corner, their expressions stern and lacking any warmth. For Luca, walking side by side with ‘the’ Arlen Braddock still felt surreal, and yet his heart was overwhelmed with love. When they entered a large room, the doors shut behind them with a quiet snap. Luca turned at the sound, only to notice a faint blue hue glowing over the ex
For a moment, Arlen studied Luca’s face as if caught in a daydream, focusing on all the features he longed to touch- his eyes, ears, cheeks, lips. Luca, however, stood motionless, like an old tree rooted in place.But Arlen dropped to his knees. Luca clenched his fists as he struggled to find a way to redeem himself. The sight of Arlen touching his feet, as though a lowly servant, made Luca feel like the monster Rufus had always claimed he was. It was a sharp reminder of the blind hatred he’d harboured for over a decade before their paths had crossed. “I should’ve told you the truth. I tried, but…” Arlen’s voice was frail. Somehow he couldn’t shake the fear that Luca had come to end his life. His heart sank further when Luca hesitantly pulled his feet away. However, Luca had other other plans. Arlen watched, confused, as the alpha knelt, lowering himself until their eyes were level. His breath caught when Luca’s forehead dipped to touch the hem of his robe. “Forgive me, Your Highn