Page 36 of Sins of His Wrath

Naya glared at him. He didn’t care. Everything she said about the cost of war, the suffering it would bring—it meant nothing to him. He cared only about conquering her empire.

And her.

He expected her to accept their bond, to stop resisting, to stop fighting. Because in his mind, being true mates meant she belonged to him. That he could do whatever he wanted with her.

She wanted to scream. To call on magic and destroy him and every one of his invading assholes. And yet, she couldn’t ignore the chance in front of her. If she succeeded, she could stop the war. End it before it began. And even if she failed, at least the fifteen days—however long the war was paused—would give Papa time to mount a proper defense. A delay was better than the war starting now. And if she was going to be a responsible ruler and protect the Omegas, she couldn’t ignore that.

She forced her voice to remain level. “Will the fifteen days be together?”

“That will be at the zmola’sdiscretion,” Prillu said.

Naya made a face. “How am I supposed to make any progress if the days are split up? Why not put them together?”

“Because thezmola’sdiscretion is thezmola’sdiscretion.” Prillu’s eyes slid to her and Naya was shocked to see a flicker of anger on her face.

She blinked, startled. Prillu had never revealed strong emotion before. Something had definitely happened. “You will get days together if he allows it,” the diplomat added.

Before she could respond, Akoro’s voice cut through the space between them, low and unrelenting.

“Let me be clear,” he said. “If you come back to my land, you will be mine. You will be held. You will be fucked, and you will do as you’re fucking told. Any deviation from that, and we will invade.” The words tightened around her throat like iron chains. “But you will have your fifteen days.”

Naya’s glare sharpened, fury seething in her chest. That’s what this was. Not diplomacy. Not war. But her being back at his mercy.

He was clarifying that if she agreed to this, she would return to where she had been before—his captive, his possession—but this time with a countdown looming over her head.

Her voice was low, sharp as a blade. “You have no fucking grace.”

Akoro stilled.

Naya stepped forward, her words carrying the grit and fire that churned in her gut. “I stand here after everything you did to me. You violated me. You tortured me. And yet, I am still willing to stand before my people and offer to bring peace between our lands.

“You are barely owed my presence, let alone my consideration. And even now, when I offer you something that will save your people, you have no humility, no recognition of the rage and retribution I’m keeping from you to make this possible for the good for your land, in recognition that maybe the Known Lands may shoulder blame. Instead, you dismiss it and demand I return to be your Omega fuck! What kind of leader cares so little about his own people that he would make this as difficult as possible?”

Akoro’s eyes flashed. “You’re the one who wants to do this.” His voice was sharp, ringing with unshaken certainty. “I am more than willing to fight every Alpha here, including your magic and claim you now.”

He was so sure. So determined and willing to spill blood to get what he wanted. Even at the cost of his own people. But he also wanted to treat her like his mate while she was there to prevent war. So the question remained: What was she willing to do to save her people? To save Omegas? She already knew the answer.

Naya stepped forward, this time being the one to advance and close the gap between them. His fury met hers. She held his gaze, her next words spoken deliberately, slowly. “You think I won’t whore myself out for my empire?”

Akoro’s face dropped, his jaw hardening.

“History is littered with queens and princesses who have done exactly that—through arranged marriages, through kidnappings. You could fuck me until I’m a shell of an Omega who doesn’t know my own name. I’ll never really be yours, I’ll never accept you, and I’ll never be your mate, no matter what hormones draw us together.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw.

“I just want your word that when I permanently disperse the magic and find your Solution, you will negotiate in good faith.”

Akoro’s fury had returned, burning even stronger than at the start of their discussion. For a long moment, he didn’t move or even blink. Then he nodded—slow, deliberate, precise. “I give my word.”

Naya’s throat felt tight. “Release the Omegas,” she said, voice steady, “ then I’ll agree.”

She stepped back, her stomach twisting as she dispersed the magical barrier around them. Quickly, she sucked in a measured breath, hoping he couldn’t see how shaken she was.

Akoro said something to Prillu in their language, his tone clipped. She nodded and turned, making her way back toward the wall of warriors.

Auntie Vic cleared her throat. “I have a message from the empress.”

Naya turned to her, but she was addressing Akoro.

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