Page 36 of The Omega Slave

Tsaria knew exactly what chores Alain would have to do if he was running the farm, and Kamir offered help. “I can arrange a carriage easily,” he said cautiously, but Alain shook his head.

“I have one waiting, your highness. The same I arrived on. It was sent for me just after the prefect left.”

Tsaria met Kamir’s gaze. They were supposed to be visiting Eldara, but he couldn’t just let children be hurt.

Mansala stepped forward and whispered in Kamir’s ear, and Kamir inclined his head. “We need to discuss a plan.”

Alain bobbed his head at Kamir, clearly overwhelmed, then turned back to Tsaria. “I know what I’m asking. Don’t ever think I don’t. It’s just they’re…”

“Innocents,” Tsaria finished for him. He understood. He didn’t want to die. He definitely didn’t want Kamir’s uncle to get hishands on him again, but he couldn’t allow children to be harmed in his stead.

Alain stood at the same time as Tsaria, and Tsaria watched Alain go with a servant to freshen up. He was numb. Then a hand clutched his arm, and he turned to Kamir. “You really think I’m just going to let you just leave?” Kamir said. “Let’s investigate first.”

But what was there to investigate? Two children would die if he didn’t return. But then, more children would die if Kamir didn’t find his dragon. What a choice. And what about Jael? He couldn’t just leave him.

“Come with me,” Kamir said softly and Tsaria let him draw him away. He took Tsaria into the bedchamber and closed the door, then drew him into a hug Tsaria felt in his bones.

“I have no choice.”

“I wouldn’t love you if you didn’t say that,” Kamir whispered. “These are children.”

Love? Tsaria’s heart beat madly. He’d called him beloved many times but Tsaria had treated it as a throwaway nickname almost. This felt different, or maybe it was that Tsaria was finally paying attention. Did Kamir expect him to say it back?

Kamir cupped his face between steady hands. “But you’re mine, or I’m yours, whatever. I know who I am erects this huge, impenetrable wall between us, but I am convinced. I know we are bond mates, and this is much more than releasing my dragon. I’ve never said that. I won’t forbid you to do what you need to do, but I also won’t stand by while you put yourself in danger.”

Tsaria’s heart settled slightly because Kamir wasn’t going to try to forbid him to leave. “But we cannot just surrender,” Kamir said. “We need help and I think we can delay Alain long enough to come up with a plan, and there’s Jael to think about.”

Jael. He loved that brave little boy with all his heart but he couldn’t take him back to Rajpur.

It turned out that Alain was happy to bathe while they made arrangements, and Ash arrived. “Do you trust him?” Tsaria glanced at Ash, the no-nonsense man that seemed to occupy a huge position of trust with Attiker.

“I don’t know him,” Tsaria finally admitted. “Up to today, the last time I saw him was when I was sold to Ishmael at ten.”

“Then let’s err on the side of caution,” Kamir said.

“Caution?” Tsaria said with incredulity. “But children—”

“Yes,” Kamir said. “I know. Let’s take the time to see Eldara. I think she’s important.”

Tsaria looked around at the faces staring at him. Mansala was always there. Kamir looked earnest and truthful. Ash the same, but could he really believe them? Kamir had so many political needs and responsibilities that Tsaria could never hope to compete with. He worked in a whorehouse. However you dressed it up, whatever words you used, he still sold his body for money.

Sold his body for money.

But wasn’t that exactly what he was still doing? When they worked out how to make it happen, Kamir would need Tsaria to bring forth his dragon. He knew in his heart Kamir was a good man, but that didn’t alter their circumstances.

He needed time to think. He needed to work out what he wanted, and not get caught up in the royal hoopla, in case it didn’t last.

“Tsaria?”

He glanced at Kamir. “Can you just give me a little time?” The fact was that as a pleasure slave he was often in control, even if it was an illusion. Kamir gazed at him with those huge amber eyes, but for once Tsaria couldn’t work out if they were hidingsomething. He inclined his head and ushered everyone out of his rooms to leave Tsaria in peace.

And obviously once Tsaria had gotten that, it quickly turned out to be the last thing he wanted. What he wanted was a guarantee from Kamir, which was utterly ridiculous. He couldn’t give him one. He had to take Kamir on faith.

It took a bell, but he finally acknowledged that Kamir really did love him. He had no idea why, but Kamir had proved it over and over, and Tsaria believed him. He stood deciding to search Kamir out when a servant brought Alain back. “Brother,” Alain’s smile was cautious, and he twisted his shirt. “I’m sorry, but I had to see you before I left.”

The confusion must have shown on Tsaria’s face because Alain hastily added. “It’s all arranged.”

And now he was even more confused. A hundred images flew through Tsaria’s brain. The day he fell, and it was Alain who picked him up. Tsaria was crying because his knee was scraped and if he looked very carefully it might even have been bleeding. Father had told him to stop being a baby. Tsaria never knew why his father had never liked him. He’d been told his mother had died when she bled so badly giving birth. It wasn’t Tsaria’s fault, but Father had always treated him like it was.

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