Page 32 of Sins of His Wrath

Naya didn’t flinch. “If you touch me, so will mine.” Magic still hummed in the air between them, her control unwavering. “I want to speak, yes. But I don’t need your hands on me to do that.”

His voice was a rasping, gritty growl, which reignited the yearning in her lower stomach. “You belong to me. Your displeasure doesn’t change that.”

“I don’t belong to anyone,” Naya thundered. “And yes, I can change that if I want. I was about to before you arrived.”

Akoro’s eyes widened—and then fury erupted from him, a wild, vicious stream of booming foreign words. His features twisted with raw anger, muscles straining as he fought against her magic, his body jerking like a caged beast. He had to be hurting himself with how violently he struggled, but he didn’t care.

Shock slammed into Naya. She’d almost forgotten how delusional he was about being her mate. She shouldn’t have said anything.

Behind her, Lox warriors erupted, their voices rising in a cacophony of threats and insults. Akoro’s soldiers stiffened, hands tightening around their weapons, but he never spared them a glance. His fury was entirely focused on her.

Veins rose along his neck, his face contorted in pure rage—and, of course, he was still the most handsome Alpha in the vicinity. A ridiculous, unproductive thought.

Naya lifted her hand, and the Lox warriors fell silent.

Akoro switched to the Common Tongue, his voice raw and unrelenting. “Show me your neck.”

Her stomach flipped. He wants to see if she bonded with Lonn. She resisted the instinctive pull of her Omega nature to obey. He had no right to demand anything from her.

His eyes darkened, and then he bellowed. “Show me your fucking neck now, Naraya!”

Her emotions yanked her in a dozen directions at once. Defiance. Frustration. A sharp, treacherous flicker of surprise. Had that been the first time he’d called her by her full name?

It didn’t matter. This obsession with Lonn would only derail the negotiations. And if she had any hope of stopping this war, she needed him listening.

Slowly, she lifted her chin and turned her head to each side, baring her throat.

When she lowered her head again, Akoro was breathing hard, his fury still a storm on his face. He lifted his gaze to the gathered Lox warriors. “Where is he? Is he here?”

Naya steadied herself. “I have a proposition that will solve your problem. Are you ready to listen?”

Akoro’s eyes burned into hers. “You intend to surrender your empire and hand me that worthless Alpha? That is the only problem I have.”

She took a measured breath before responding. “This is about our people and our lands. Will you listen?”

He didn’t answer immediately, his breathing quick, his entire body rigid.

Naya slowly released the magic binding him—a show of goodwill—but let it linger in the air, shimmering like a silent warning. It was still there. Still waiting.

The Alpha slowly lowered his arm, but didn’t say a word or move.

“Nayara!” Papa thundered from behind her. “What are you doing?”

Akoro’s gaze flicked past her, to the gathered Lox warriors, then back. “If you don’t intend to surrender, why are you keeping your army back?”

She gestured to the village. “You’ve killed Alphas. If you think you’ll leave here alive?—”

“You killed over athousandinnocent citizens when you drew that magic into the city,” Akoro bellowed. “Women. Children. Hardworking, innocent people.”

Naya stared at him. A thousand? He had to be exaggerating and yet... that magic was completely destructive. But then, she hadn’t exactly thought too hard about it at the time. Swallowing, she tried not to let him see her shock, her words sharp and steely. “You were keeping me against my will. I didn’t intend to harm anyone, but did you think I wouldn’t try to escape?”

“It was fucking reckless.” His voice dropped, still burning with anger but now layered with something else. “Dangerous for everyone. Including you.”

Something inside her softened at the idea that he might have been worried. She tensed and shoved the ridiculous feeling away. These fucking instincts always latched onto the wrong things. “I have a proposal,” she pressed on, “one that will help you and your people. Let’s talk. If you agree, you’ll gain far more than you would by attacking us.”

His jaw clenched. “And if I don’t agree?”

“Then we go to war, and many of us will die.” She met his gaze head on, unwavering. “I notice you didn’t bring your whole army.”

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