Page 70 of The Omega Thief

“I can’t believe you got here first,” Ash said for the hundredth time. “The bells warned the nearby towns, and people got out of the way, but they found you before the bells reached here as there were so many missing. I think if we’d have relied on the warning, it would’ve been too late.”

He met Ash’s gaze and acknowledged they both knew it might still be too late.

Then they both jumped a little as trumpets sounded from the courtyard. The ones that normally sounded an important arrival. Then more sounded, and they carried on as if demanding the whole kingdom should wake. The door slammed open, and Raz strode in. But Attiker knew what he was going to say before he spoke. “The Abergenny army has been sighted at the northern markers. They’ll be here in less than one whole bell.”

Chapter thirty

Somehow,eventhoughRazhad barely moments to spare, he found himself outside his father’s study. He’d never entered this room after his father’s death, even though he’d spent hours here as a child. Listening at all the important meetings that he never had a hope of understanding, but that wasn’t why he’d always enjoyed being here.

As a child, he’d understood the demands on the king. Knew the times he’d seen him were few and far between and missed him so much. He’d known about many of the secret escape tunnels as soon as he could walk, and he explored even more well after his nanny thought him asleep for the night. In one of those times, he’d found the paneling behind his father’s bookcase opened when he pressed it in a certain way. The first time he’d found it, the office had been empty or his secret would have been discovered. But over the following months, he crept down the passage so many times until he got near the entrance to the war room, as he’d heard his father call it, and could listen behind the wall.

For a long time, Raz didn’t understand what was said. It was confidential information, dangerous to their enemies, and likely to give certain generals apoplexy if they knew a nine-year-old child could hear them. But night after night, when he crept down there, he started finding certain things. The first was a pad to sit on, then a blanket, then a carafe of watered-down wine. Candles to light the wall sconces. As he grew, maps appeared, ones to better explain certain problems, and they helped Raz visualize what he was hearing. Parchment, ink, and pens. By the time Raz was fourteen, he knew troop size and movement and had even left his secret benefactor suggestions and opinions. And as Raz listened, he knew some of his opinions were acted on.

He knew it was his father. Of course he did. And maybe if the war and their deaths hadn’t overshadowed the last few years, they would have spoken of it. Raz would have told his father how honored he was to know the king could trust his son, and maybe the king would have told Raz that he knew his secrets were safe with him.

Or maybe it was unspoken, anyway.

“It’s going to be a long night.”

Raz turned and saw his bonded.

“Sorry if I’m interrupting.”

Raz held his hand out, and Attiker took it.

“I’ve never seen in here,” Attiker said and let Raz tuck him close.

“It was my father’s study.” He pointed to the shelves. “That’s the entrance to one of the secret passages. I’ll show you them all when this is done.”

“What’s the plan?” Attiker said. “I’m good at sneaking around to find things, but I don’t know the first thing about fighting a war.”

“I’ve summoned the emperor and his heir to the throne room. I’d very much like you to accompany me, People’s Champion.” Raz held out his arm, and Attiker took it. It was ridiculous to smile.

“Is the Emir still here?”

“Yes, technically, we still have a bonding ceremony to do. But I have warned our guests, and I believe there are some that have already left.” He pulled Attiker close, nuzzling into his hair. “I can’t believe you did—” His voice cracked, and he took Attiker’s face in both his hands. “What would I have done without you? If you had been lost.”

Attiker chuckled. “Find an omega?”

Possession swirled inside Raz, almost as if it was trying to find a way out. “You’re mine. You know that? I don’t even care about the throne.”

“Yes, you do,” Attiker said softly. “Let’s just hope you can care about both.”

Raz held Attiker’s gaze.

“I know,” Attiker said softly and kissed him. They stood for another few seconds pretending the outside world didn’t exist, but it was Attiker that finally drew away. “Go be the king.”

Raz smiled. “Only if you’re always by my side.”

They walked to the throne room, and one by one, people fell into step beside them. Ash, Pinkerton, Carter, Grandmother, Benta, Thakeray. When they entered the throne room, the justices were present, as were Kabir Anslar and his sister, Veda. And, of course, Markell and his father, the emperor.

Carter, the chamberlain, was handed a parchment from the Abergenny delegation as soon as they entered, and Carter stilled while he read it.

Raz noticed, but he didn’t comment, simply striding to the twin thrones, settling Attiker solicitously, even though he knew Attiker was hiding a smile, before he sat down.

Carter looked at Raz, and Raz knew immediately something was wrong. Carter’s face was always polite and expressionless, but he had a tightness to his lips that gave him away. A spark of something that looked like fury. And his, “Your Highnesses, the Abergenny delegation is challenging the result of the last trial and insisting as the rules weren’t followed, the result is false and declare Sovereign Markell the victor.”

“Utter nonsense,” Grandmother interrupted before Raz got the chance. “And I suppose you thought you would march on Cadmeera, which is a blatant act of war, simply to offer its citizens something to look at during the upcoming bonding celebration?”

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