Page 109 of Shadowlands Omega

“They don’t need air to breathe so they fucking…” I growl, gripping the edges of my desk. “Theywalkedfrom the North Island. They must have weighted themselves down by some means and walked on the sea floor where Zaoul’s foulest creatures cannot reach, and they simply walked ashore. Many others were buried in Paradise Hole, but the majority came from the sea.

“They overwhelmed the docks, destroying many in the process, killing two Riders who fought them there and ensured the safety of the citizens through Paradise Hole.” I sigh, furious that I had to leave them. No, not that I chose to leave them, but that it was required at all. Two Riders’ lives were lost in their battle to save their people. They honored themselves and their sacrifice was a worthy one.

I clear my throat. “We have rebuilt the majority of the docks now, though,” I say, nodding. “Our people have truly come together in ways we haven’t seen in years. I credit our Lady. She has rallied them with her strength and determination. I believe she is the Lady that the Shadowlands need — have needed for some time — she is the fire in the darkness that will lead our people to safety, to hope, when all other lights are out.”

“You’re making me blush, my Lord,” comes a voice I have no right to hear — until tomorrow. I look up, my attention homing in on her, the scribe immediately forgotten as my gaze snags on the vision of perfection standing in the doorway to my throne room.

Her hair is freshly razed down to the scalp, and I fucking love the way it accentuates the stunning features of her face. I do not understand how she could think herself ugly, though I know her youngest “pretty” sister many times made her feel that way. I have vowed to help her see herself as I see her — as anyone would see her — for the rest of my days.

But not today.

Today, I clamp my lips shut. I ignore the pulse of cum that spurts — not leaks, not drips, not dribbles, but fuckingspurts —from the tip of my erection. My penis is on fire and my knot is pulsing at the mere sight of her. I lift my nose to the air, hoping to catch her scent, but she’s too far. When that smell remains elusive, I make the dangerous and altogether unwise decision to transform my nose and mouth into a snout so I can smell her better. As I do, I can only hope that my beast remains caged and does not lose his ever-loving mind, as he’s done already many times since I first met Kiandah.

The scent of her carries and it’s a lovely thing. Not fire or flame but almost like rain. It reminds me of the first time I ever rutted her in the woods. This time will be different, though. I stopped taking the herb eight days ago and I will not give her the elixir tomorrow unless she commands me to. I want to breed her too badly to stomach anything less. It’s dangerous, I know, but she has something I want. A big family that’s alsohers. I want to add to what she already has, building on it, protecting it with everything that I am.

I inhale a little more deeply and frown and grip my desk even harder, with all my might. Kiandah giggles and drifts further into the room.

“Uhmm, should I depart? Come back later, my Lord?” the scribe asks.

Kiandah shakes her head, her skirts swishing over the floor — cream, with white embroidery…fuck, she looks lovely, the colors bring out the vibrancy of her brown skin. “No, no don’t worry. I’ll go. I didn’t mean to intrude.”

I keep my eyes shut tight, my grip slipping on the table, on control too. “Why are you here?” I say between clenched teeth.

She’s on the other side of the table, her fingers on the corner. I canfeelher through the massive slab of wood. “I missed you.”

“Scribe, out!” I roar.

The male all but sprints out of the room. Meanwhile, Kiandah makes the unfortunate misstep of backing away, too. “Not you, my Lady,” I hiss, the smell of her even stronger now, and I’m more certain she is nearing heat, that I could trigger one with my pheromones alone. Now that she’s been bonded, she’d survive it…or is it too risky? I don’t know and hate that I do not know.

What Idoknow, however, is that Kiandah should have come to me days ago if she was in need. I frown at the thought.

“Yaron?”

My hallucinations fade, leaving me restless and needy. My cock is misbehaving, as is the beast within me. I keep both hands visible, because if I touch my cock, even to reposition it within my trousers, it’ll all be over. I try to remember honor and decorum or the fact that her entire family is busy preparing tomorrow’s feast, including Zelie, after having been safely returned to the castle by passing steel workers, as well as the new staff of ten they have hired. The menu will be based on old Orias cooking methods passed down from their ancestors so as to honor her, and by honoring her, honor me.

“Yes, Omega? What do you need?”

Her breathing changes, becoming more shallow. She licks her lips and I inhale deeply, frustration tickling my nostrils as I breathe her in.

“I was asking about the stock?”

What? My mind skips, imagining her in stocks. Ah. Perhaps, this is what she means. “You’d like the stocks?” Chain her head and her hands so that her ass is presented for me at all times. Yes, I could see that as an acceptable alterna…

“Yes, the stocks for the kitchens?” She smiles, licking her lips again. Her chest is rising and falling in small waves.

I shake my head. What is she on about? Stocks for the kitchens? There are no stocks in the kitchens. I frown. “Speak plainly, my Lady.”

She bites her bottom lip. “My family is low on flour for the festival tomorrow. We need a few other last-minute supplies as well. The spice selection from the Night Market was amazing. I found a rare northern spice that tastes incredible in the cake I’ve prepared. I was hoping to get some more. Cyprus can take me.”

“You’re joking.”

“No,” she pouts.

Even though Cyprus has proved himself capable in battle, he is not capable of standing up to his sister and neither am I. We make a poor protection detail, but I won’t allow any other. And even though the docks have been fortified, reinforced by hideous, yet necessary walls and gates to prevent any off-shore entry except through a single well-guarded point, a zombie horde just passed through. If she thinks I’m letting her leave to go fucking shopping a day before our bonding ceremony, she’s lost her goddamn mind.

“Have you lost your senses?”

“No,” she says again, slightly more breathlessly this time. I can’t believe this. This is actually unbelievable. She truly came here for this?

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