Page 47 of The Omega Slave

“I love you,” Kamir whispered in his ear as his eyes grew heavy so quickly. “You are the best of me, and I want you to be happy, but more than anything, I want you to be free.”

Tsaria hadn’t realized that it was a goodbye until he woke and he was in a carriage.

And instead of Kamir attending him, it was Tam.

Kamir bent and kissed his beloved’s cheek after his eyes had fallen shut and stayed that way. Tam had promised the sleepingdraft was mild and if anything, sleep aided the body to heal. Kamir took a moment to gather strength. He’d never had a purpose. Growing up as almost an afterthought, he’d never expected to become the emir, and he had died a little with every female baby born that couldn’t replace him.

Every new queen his father paraded had made him pray she would be the one to give birth to a son. Even knowing that the moment he got a brother, his life would be forfeit so he didn’t inherit. Then the war had come, and his father had been distracted and then killed.

Kamir had become something he never expected nor wanted, and now his final act couldn’t even prevent his uncle from assuming the throne. All he could do was save a hundred young, innocent lives.

He had a choice, as Raz’mar had told him the evening before he left.

“I would never make you return. You are both welcome to live your lives in Cadmeera.”

Kamir had thanked his highness, but then shrugged. “I often wondered what my purpose in life was. I am not fit to command a kingdom, so if I can do nothing other than save a hundred children, then I consider my own life well spent.”

“Brother,” Raz said, which brought tears to Kamir’s eyes. “It is just such a statement that proves you are an emir.”

But Kamir shook his head. “Please, just promise me that Tsaria will be safe, and you will never stop trying to find Jael.”

Raz smiled, but it was melancholy. “You never need to worry on either score.”

Kamir stood and bowed. It wasn’t usual for one ruler to offer another deference to another, but they had both opened their lands and hearts. “I ride in an hour.”

There was nothing more to be said.

“Mansala?” Kamir met Mansala’s gaze. “I wish you would accompany Tsaria and Tam.”

“Except he wouldn’t be your life sentinel if he did that,” Tam said, following Mansala into the room. Kamir caught the hitch in Tam’s breath and watched as Mansala’s eyes darkened briefly in sorrow, but only as he looked at Tam. Kamir’s heart ached for them both. Another love that would never have a future.

Mansala glanced at a sleeping Tsaria, then turned to Kamir. “I took the most important vow of my life when I was but four summers old.”

Kamir didn’t deserve such loyalty, and he pulled the other man into his arms, which he hardly ever did, and they were silent for a moment. Kamir had even asked Tam to drug Mansala to prevent him accompanying him, but Tam had told him he couldn’t do it because he was in love with him. In love with his honor. In love with his big heart. In love with his strength. And he could never be the one to take any of that away.

So, Kamir had given up on trying to prevent Mansala from accompanying him. He wouldn’t give up trying later once they were at the palace. He knew Gabar needed him as a figurehead to assuage the imperial guard and the people while they became used to either his uncle or his cousins taking the crown.

So, he needed to save Tsaria, a hundred children, and then Mansala. And when that was done, he didn’t care what happened. He would give his own life at that point with no regret.

Or maybe one. The silver-gray eyes he saw every time he closed his own.

Chapter twenty

At Mansala’s urging, Kamir didn’t slip into the palace unseen like some thief, but made sure with Tam’s help, before Tam left, that the whole city was expecting him.

Or his people, anyway.

Not that it took long for the imperial guard to surround them, but Kamir still took his time, greeting the people that lined the streets to welcome him, so humbled that any cared to do so.

He was surprised when his uncle met him on the steps of the palace, bowing low. But then he knew it was all for show.

“Highness, we are so glad you have returned safely after your state visit.”

State visit? That was a good excuse. He greeted his cousin Damatrious, who was standing stiffly behind Gabar, and followed them inside. He cared not where Iskar was. “I would appreciate some time to discuss your appearance before the ruling assembly tomorrow and then your presentation to the imperial court. In particular, if there are any special guests you want invited.”

Kamir almost laughed at Gabar’s attempt both to appear as if the assembly was a mere tiny detail and didn’t involve the murder of children, and to find out if he knew where Tsaria was.

“We expected her highness, Princess Veda, to accompany you?”

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