Page 72 of The Omega Slave

But his words were cut off when Kamir took his lips with his own and then led him to the bed. “I love you, in case I haven’t told you that today, but I want to talk to you about our life together.”

Tsaria felt a sickening drop in his stomach. This was it. Kamir was going to banish him to this cottage. Hide his embarrassment, hisshame, out of the way. Would he see Jael and Axel? Or would they live in the palace and grow up as princes and never see him because he would remind them of their old lives, best forgotten? Tsaria glanced over at the seduction scene, but it wasn’t necessary. Tsaria didn’t need to be seduced. He was a sure thing. He’d been a sure thing since he was ten summers old.

“I understand,” he murmured. Maybe Kamir would visit when he wasn’t busy. “I don’t need the guards.” He didn’t. They would accompany Kamir, of course, when he visited…if he visited.

Kamir frowned and seemed to study him. Tsaria drew back and pretended to look at the cottage.

“I need you to come outside,” Kamir said after a moment, and Tsaria agreed immediately. Did he expect Tsaria to move in right away? He could sleep on the floor. They walked through the double doors at the opposite end of the room that would look so sweet if they led to a garden. Maybe he would be granted the plants to make one?

Kamir led him until they cleared the house, then let his hand go and stepped away. In an instant, Tsaria was staring at Kamir’s dragon and, helpless to stop himself, Tsaria extended his arm, and the dragon nuzzled his palm. The same feeling of love swept over him and Tsaria’s eyes smarted. If this was the only thing he would ever get, he would be content.

Kamir changed back and Tsaria smiled at him being dressed. Apart from the first time, this was how he appeared. “I wanted to show you the ease of my change. You are present now, even though we weren’t touching, but I have done this three times this week.”

Tsaria gaped.Three times?Then that meant Kamir didn’t even need him for this. Tsaria bowed, more to hide his face than anything. “Highness. I am so pleased.” Could your heart actually break? It felt like he was being ripped in two.

Kamir didn’t reply right away, and when Tsaria glanced up behind his thick lashes, Kamir’s eyes were glittering, as if he was upset. But that didn’t make sense. Kamir crossed the space between them and Tsaria was helpless not to restrain the flinch. Not that he imagined Kamir would ever hurt him. Not physically, anyway.

“Beloved,” Kamir whispered, visibly distressed, and he very gently took Tsaria’s chin in his smooth hand, tipping it up so Tsaria was forced to look at Kamir properly. He knew what Kamir would see, but he couldn’t even summon the pride to stop silently weeping. “Let us get back to the fire and I will explain.”

Heart heavy, almost numb, Tsaria let Kamir lead him back inside. He settled on the cushions and drew Tsaria’s back against his chest. “I think we need to talk.”

Here it comes, Tsaria thought, and he tried to pull away, but Kamir didn’t let go. The dragon hadn’t only given Kamir his amber eyes, the purple in his hair Tsaria had found adorable, but his newfound strength as well. “I wanted to show you that Idon’t need you touching me or even present to change into my dragon.” He brushed a kiss on Tsaria’s neck.

Tsaria couldn’t help the sob that escaped his throat at the tender gesture. He knew he wasn’t needed anymore.

“Beloved,” Kamir whispered, horrified. “Of course Ineedyou.” Tsaria hadn’t realized he’d spoken out loud. “This is my fault. I didn’t mean I didn’t need you at all. I meant that I didn’t need you for my dragon. That’s so very important and I seem to be making a mess of this, but what I’m trying to say is that my dragon might not need you, but the man I am always will. I can’t breathe without you.” Another sob escaped Tsaria. “I can’t live without you,” Kamir’s voice cracked, and he tightened his arms even more as if afraid Tsaria would escape. “I can’t exist without you, but I don’t mean because of my dragon.” Kamir pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I know you were afraid of that, which is why I’ve spent so many extra hours perfecting my shift. You aren’t necessary for me to shift into my dragon. You’re necessary to keep my heart beating, because I adoreyou.”

Tsaria turned in Kamir’s arms and sobbed into his chest. “Beloved,” Kamir choked out.

“I’m sorry,” Tsaria wept. “I know you mean me to live here, but—”

“Tsaria,” Kamir almost shook him. “I mean for usbothto live here.”

Tsaria was so shocked his tears nearly stopped. “Both?But you can’t. The emir must live in the palace.”

Kamir smiled and gently drew a lock of Tsaria’s hair away from his eyes. “You know I was stuck in an endless meeting with the assembly today?”

Tsaria tried to smile, because of course he did. He’d felt every quarter bell.

“Well, the reason it lasted so long was because I enacted an abdication rule so old, many of them had never heard of until I produced the scrolls to prove it.”

Tsaria glanced back. “A what rule?”

Kamir smiled. “As of two bells ago I am no longer emir, and my cousin Damatrious now holds that title and honor.”

Tsaria swallowed. “I don’t understand.”

Kamir pressed kisses on Tsaria’s neck. “I never wanted to be the emir. You know that, or I think you do. I’m a historian. Damatrious knows how to lead his armies into battle.” Kamir chuckled. “I’d likely fall off my horse.” Kamir tightened his hold. “I am going to be an advisor. We haven’t worked out my exact role yet, but I want to make the people’s lives better, and Damatrious agrees. He loves being in charge of the army and our borders, while I would like to do things like open a university based on merit and not the ability to pay. Things like that.”

Tsaria knew his face was awash with tears because Kamir was gently wiping them away with his thumb. “I will still be involved, as Damatrious was the first to admit he is inexperienced in the law and diplomacy, but I will be able to be a general advisor, not the figurehead.” Kamir continued in between kisses. “I brought you here because I was hoping we could make this our home. I want Jael and Axel to move in, and I want many more babies with you, a family. But the most important thing is you. I absolutely cannot live without—”

But Tsaria cut him off with his lips. His hands became urgent, and he stripped his beloved as his beloved stripped him. He peeled off every stitch of Kamir’s clothing as they basked in the heat from the fire and the surety that they were loved. Tsaria rolled Kamir on his belly, then sucked up a mark under his ear, and Kamir moaned and trembled under him. “Please.”

“What?” Tsaria murmured, loving the sounds Kamir made.

“I want…”

Tsaria smiled. “Tell me.” But he thought he knew, and Tsaria moved down, following the ridges of Kamir’s spine with his lips. But as he got lower, he felt Kamir’s smooth skin change and he eased up, staring at the crisscross of scars on Kamir’s lower back. He hadn’t noticed them before, but he knew what they were and could imagine they came from the same man who had denied his son food. “You’re beautiful,” Tsaria murmured.And mine.No one would ever hurt this man ever again. He bent and kissed the first scar and with a sigh, Kamir relaxed some more. Tsaria carried on, smoothing the white lines with his lips. “On your knees.” Kamir moved quickly and Tsaria reached under him and stroked Kamir’s rapidly hardening shaft. Kamir groaned and let his head fall. “Bunch the cushions under your chest so you don’t have to take both our weight.”

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