Page 93 of Sins of His Wrath

She wondered if the idea of a bond—of something unbreakable—was something he had ever allowed himself to want.

As each day passed, her body's desire for him intensified. His possessive hands on her skin, his claiming mouth against her neck, the delicious weight of him on top of her—these thoughts plagued her at night, tormenting her when she should have been focusing on the Solution. She tried to blame her inner Omega, but the truth was more complex. It wasn't just hormones and instinct driving her toward him now. It was something else, something that had taken root at some point.

On the sixth day, the servant who had replaced Meiro forgot to bring herkkermowith her morning meal. By the time Naya reached the strategy room, her mood was foul, her head pounding with the beginnings of withdrawal.

"Someone's in a temper," Nrommo observed, earning him a glare that could have withered steel.

Tshel glanced up from her scrolls, brows raised. "Nokkermothis morning, highness?"

Naya's scowl deepened. "No."

To her surprise, several of the council members laughed, the sound startling in the usually tense atmosphere of their meetings.

"It's not funny," she complained.

"Forgive us, princess," Ranin said, failing to hide his amusement. "But your reaction is quite common.Kkermois notoriously addictive, even with moderate consumption."

“Most foreigners find it too bitter,” Akoro said

"I did at first. It's quite different from anything we have in the empire,” Naya told them. “I can’t believe I’ve lived without it.” She turned to Prillu. “Where is Meiro? I miss her attending to me.”

Prillu stilled over the map, her expression sobering. "She was injured during the attack, highness," she said quietly. "When… thennin-eellithientered the city."

A cold weight settled in Naya's stomach. "How badly?"

"Badly enough," Prillu said, her voice carefully neutral. "She was near the marketplace when it happened. The healers say she will recover, but it will take time."

Naya struggled to avoid the guilt this time. Another victim of her desperate escape, another innocent caught in the crossfire of her actions. "Can I—is there anything I can do for her?"

Prillu's eyes met hers. "Focus on finding the Solution, highness. That would be the greatest help to her and all those who suffered."

That night, when Akoro came to her room, Naya was already awake, sitting up in bed, a cup of palm wine in her hands.

"Join me," she said, gesturing to a second cup she'd had brought to her room. "In honor of Meiro’s healing."

Akoro hesitated, then moved to take the drink, his massive frame settling onto the edge of her bed rather than his usual chair. The proximity sent her pulse racing, but she forced herself to remain still.

They drank in silence, sip after sip, the earthy sweetness filling her mouth. Her mind swirled with thoughts. The drink made her drowsy, softening the edges of her thoughts, loosening her tongue.

"Do you miss her?" she asked, the question slipping out before she could stop it.

Akoro turned, his brow furrowed. "Miss who?"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "My inner Omega.”

Akoro stared at her, his body angling toward her. “What is your inner Omega?”

Naya found she couldn’t explain. “You know.” Heat crept along her neck and burned her cheeks. “Th-that part of me. The one that…” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “…wants you.”

A flicker of understanding crossed his face, though his expression remained intensely serious. "You shut away your desire for me?”

Naya opened her mouth but didn’t know how to answer, the heat now flaring all over her head.

A growl erupted in his throat, but he reached out, fingertips brushing a wave of hair from her face, the contact sending shivers down her spine. "I miss you every single night,tmot zia,” he murmured. “I miss you deeply, with every part of me."

The words settled over her like a caress, igniting a need she couldn’t act on.

The following night, Naya was already sitting up in bed as Akoro entered her chamber. She had lost track of the days, so consumed by her research that time blurred together. But as he stepped into the dim light, a realization settled over her. Over four days had passed since she’d been working with the council.

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