Page 61 of Sins of His Wrath

Akoro nodded. “They think you came from the forests and found your way into the city, and then attracted the wild magic.”

Naya faced front, her brow furrowed. “Could that happen?”

“It’s unlikely, but possible. Omegas haven’t ever tried to get back into the city, as far as I know.”

“So what’s the punishment? What do they think you’re doing with me?”

His body tensed around her again, and the grit in his voice was a clear sign of annoyance. “One of the soges wanted me to kill you, another wanted you to be handed over to him. I told them that neither of those things are part of law. Omegas aren’t supposed to be hurt if they haven’t committed any intentional crime.”

Naya turned and shot him a look. “That isn’t what you told me.”

“You’re a stranger whose people caused the destruction of mine,” Akoro said. “Omega law doesn’t apply to you.”

Naya snorted. “I thought I had to answer for my crimes? Why didn’t you just tell them who I was?”

Akoro looked down at her, his expression fierce. “You will answer for them. But no one punishes you but me,tmot zia. That right belongs to me alone. You disobeyed me when you escaped, and I won’t have your actions negatively affect my people more than they already have.”

“Disobey?” Naya repeated, fury clawing her chest. “I’m not your child, or your wife, or your?—”

“You are my true mate.” His vicious rumble jostled her insides. “Obeying your Alpha isn’t a choice, it’s what you’re supposed to do.”

Naya’s rage flared, her fingers digging into the pommel of the saddle. “That has no meaning for us,” she bit out. “Our bodies are compatible, Akoro, but our hearts aren’t. You know that—you feel it. We won’t ache for each other any more than physical need when this is over. You’ll easily find someone else who’ll react the same way and give you everything else you want.”

Thenniarelurched, abruptly slowing, and then stopped. Before Naya could brace herself, Akoro’s fingers caught her chin, forcing her face toward his, twisting her body awkwardly in the saddle. Her eyes widened at the dangerous glint in his dark brown eyes, pinning her in place.

“You didn’t ache for me when we were apart?” he thundered. “You didn’t need me in the Sands when you worried about thennin-eellithi? You didn’t lie awake, slick coating your thighs, inviting me into your camp?”

“It was all physical,” Naya ground out. “It has no meaning.”

Akoro’s face twisted, his nostrils flaring. “No meaning?” he repeated, incredulous. “So if I were to tell you that you could go home right now, would you go back to that pathetic excuse of a male? Let him mount you, let him rut you like a weakling? Would let yourself pretend you’re happy?”

Naya held his gaze, calm against his anger. “I won’t ever be truly happy—not like I thought I would.” She inhaled a long slow breath. “I’ve come to terms with that. You should too.”

The muscle in his jaw ticked as he studied her face, his thumb pressing into the soft flesh beneath her chin. A nerve flickered at the corner of his eye, and the air around them grew heavy. Even thenniraeseemed to sense the tension, shifting restlessly beneath them.

“Give me your heat.”

Naya blinked, her brows drawing down. “What?”

His eyes flicked down to her mouth. “Give me your heat again.”

Naya’s mouth tightened, her temper flaring again. She spoke with force. “No. You already fuck me whenever you want, however long you want. You don’t need my heat unless you’re trying to get me pregnant—and I’m not agreeing to that.”

“Oppo will have something to prevent that.” His voice was even, measured. “That’s not what I want.”

“No.”

He was quiet for a moment. “I thought you wanted to negotiate?”

Naya’s anger dropped away. He wanted to negotiate now? Looking at him closer, there was something different his expression. Something guarded and maybe even desperate. It threw her off guard. “W-what do you have in mind?”

“I will give you an additional fifteen days working on the Solution if you go into heat for me again.”

Naya shook her head. That was a trap. She had no idea when he’d even let her use those days. “I want ten days together in a row instead.” To her surprise, he didn’t balk.

“Two,” he countered.

“Eight.”

---