Page 16 of Alpha's Magic

“Is that acceptable to you?” he asked Leo, and the boy glanced at me as if to see what he should say. I had to clench my fists to keep from answering for him.

“He can challenge me if he wants to, but I’m telling the truth. I may have been young, but I knew what was happening.”

“He’ll need someone to speak for him,” I finally said, relenting a little.

“I can speak for myself.”

I shook my head. “No, it’s not proper for an omega to speak at court to an Alpha King. I’ll do it.”

He nodded. “All right then, you can tell them if you like. But every word of what I said is true. And you must say the words exactly as I told you.”

“I’ll try, but you were only ten years old and traumatized by what was happening. Anyone would be. They’re going to have questions. I’ll need to gather some witnesses and talk to them if I can. And I’d like to talk to the people in Sudfarma who are familiar with the history of the late king’s succession to the throne.”

Leo made a little snorting sound. “Succession? More like an insurrection or a coup. I told you that members of the army were split. Some backed my father, and some backed him. That’s why Rozamond wanted him dead.”

“If that’s true, then there will be those who remember. We’ll talk to Harrison about it.”

“Why would your king care one way or the other, and why would he help me? I know he was married to that horrible witch. If he was really a good person, like you seem to think, then why didn’t he know what she was all these years?”

Lex’s cheeks grew red at the boy’s criticism of his brother. “It’s more complicated than that.”

“It doesn’t seem all that complicated to me. Either she was just as bad as I said she was, or I’m a liar. And I’m not a liar.”

Lex got to his feet impatiently. “I understand that you’ve been through a lot, but I won’t hear these insults about my brother. All we have to prove what you say is your word. Yes, I tested you for veracity, but if you truly believed what you said, then that can defeat the test. My brother has the right to hear your claims and decide, since you also claim this murder happened in Morovia. Though I want to find some witnesses, like Asher said.” He looked over at me. “I’m going to bed, because it’s late and we have a lot to do tomorrow before we leave. I suggest you both do the same.”

With that, he turned on his heel and went over to a far corner of the room to wrap up in his own furs and turn his back to us. Leo glanced over at me and stood up. I noticed he was practically swaying with fatigue.

“Go over near the fire and lie down. I need you to stay here where I can see you. And Lex is right—we need to get an early start tomorrow and we have a great deal to do.”

“Lie close to me then,” he said, his eyes imploring me. “I’ve never slept in this room before, and it frightens me. What if Grimora’s ghost comes to check on me?”

“Grimora wasn’t anyone to fear. He’d never hurt you, and neither would his ghost, if such a thing exists.”

“It would frighten me though.” He held out his hand. “Please stay close to me.”

I sighed but did as he said, and he gave me a long look over his shoulder to make sure I was complying. I was behind him, closer than I should have been for my own peace of mind. This close to him, his scent was almost overpowering, but because I was so tired, I fell asleep right away, the damp, warm smell of the packed earth beneath my head, as well as the soft crackles of the fire were comforting and warm.

But I dreamed of burning, my nostrils full of smoke and the flesh on my body a burning coal, slowly crisping and blackening as I was consumed by the flames. I startled awake, gasping for breath, and I realized that Leo no longer lay within arm’s reach, but now was snuggled up in the circle of my arms, lying so close it was hard to know where he stopped, and I began.

“What are you doing?” I whispered hoarsely to him, pushing him away enough to take a deep breath. “You can’t do this.”

“But why not?”

I gripped him by the arms. “We barely know each other. This isn’t right. It’s improper.”

“Oh, hush,” he whispered to me, his face up against mine, his mouth honey sweet and feverishly hot as he pressed it to mine. “I need you, and I don’t care what’s right. You’re the one I want, and I know you want me. I can feel it. Grimora said Alphas take what they want, so do it. Take me.”

“Leo,” I said, low and urgent. I feared I wasn’t strong enough to resist this. I gathered him closer to me and that’s when I felt the nudge of Lex’s boot on my hip.

“What’s the matter with you, Asher? Have you lost your mind?” I opened my eyes and looked up into his furious face.

I suppose looking at it from Lex’s point of view, I probably had, but I still felt irritation. “You didn’t allow any of your pack mates to come between you and Rory. Now afford me the same courtesy.”

“That was a different situation entirely.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

“What are you talking about? Of course it was!”

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