Page 64 of Shadowlands Omega

“I am, andthat’sfinal, Yaron. The only question is whether I go with or without you.” She steps forward and places her hand on my forearm. I cannot help the rush of warmth that flowers on my skin beneath her fingertips. “I won’t do anything stupid or crazy. I just want to help. Youaskedmefor help. Let me. We’ll just talk to some people. Peasants are more likely to talk to me than to you. I might be able to get answers you can’t.”

“Many of them will still hate you. Why would they want to talk to you?”

“People say stupid things to people they hate. But to people they fear, they say nothing at all.” She’s right. Damn her. “And besides,” she says more loudly when I don’t speak. She takes two steps away from me and holds up her hands, fingers gesturing down at her garments. “You keep calling me your Lady, but is this really how you’d dress your Lady? If we’re headed to the ports, we can stop at the vendors there. I need clothes befitting a cook, at the very least, not a whore.”

I lunge forward and grab her throat. I can’t help it. I’d thought Dragnovic weak and a fool for his impulsive and tempestuous behavior around his Omega, but I’m starting to grow concerned that my behavior is far worse than his ever was. She’s making me a beast of me, regardless of what skin I’m wearing.

“Do not manipulate me, Kiandah.”

“It’s true,” she says, her so recently battered throat working beneath my palm. She licks her lips. “You know it’s true. I’ve had nothing to wear this whole time but your clothes. I don’t even have underwear or a bra.”

“What makes you think I’m going to purchase either underwear or a bra for you at the markets?”

“But you are going to take me, aren’t you?” A smile tugs her mouth up at the corner, just the one. She knows she’s got me. She knows she’s won.

I curse and step away from her at the same time that there’s a knock on the door. I leave her and open the door to find Cyprus there, Zelie beside him. Surprised, I glance between them, my gaze lingering over Cyprus. “What are you doing here?”

Cyprus looks just as surprised by my question as I am by his presence. “I understood you wanted me to join you and Kiandah at the ports.”

“When did I give such an order?”

“To Malik? When you were first brought in? I… Am I mistaken?” He shines in his red cloak, but right now, he shuffles, looking around me at his sister in discomfort.

“I…” I start, and then sag. “No. You are not mistaken.”

Kiandah makes a squeaking sound behind me and rushes forward. She hugs both of her siblings and I try not to be angry that she’s touching anyone but me. “Zelie, so good to see you well. What are you doing here?”

Zelie tucks her long twists over her shoulder and glances at me, her gaze dropping to my bare chest before she blushes. She tries to drop her voice, but I don’t move to give the females any additional privacy. “Hey, Kandia.” They have so many nicknames for her, I feel put out not knowing all of them, and not having more of my own. “I just was coming to see you off and to see if you wouldn’t mind picking up more batiks? We’re…” She glances at me, her blush deepening, before returning her gaze to her sister and saying even more quietly, “You know, if you can. I know you don’t have any money, but if you are able to…get us some fabric, we could use it. You know…” She makes a small, surreptitious gesture to the garment she’s wearing — the almost exact same gesture Kiandah made moments earlier.

I glance down at what the sister is wearing — a simple, burlap shift sporting threadbare patches. I know my face is likely red and splotchy as I look down at this interaction. I am ashamed. I should not be, for a plethora of reasons, but I am. Shame by proxy. It is unpleasant.

“How much?” Kiandah looks concerned. She’s picking at her bottom lip in a way I don’t like.

“Well, I think my dress can hold a little longer and Cyprus has been newly outfitted by the training guards. Audet’s dress is…”

I slap Kiandah’s hand away from her mouth, more irately than I intended to and she swats my hand back. Cyprus’s mouth parts in shock at our interaction, but he’s a clever male and doesn’t give it voice. “We’ll procure whatever you need. Return to your family and make a list — not only your clothing requirements but anything you need to improve your living conditions. Cyprus will bring it. Bring the list with you when we convene at the stables.”

“Truly?” Zelie says, gaze shifting nervously to mine. “My Lord. Apologies.”

“Yes. Don’t cut corners because you’re worried about cost. Tell me what you need, both for yourselves and for the kitchens. We will procure as much as we can with what time the day allows.”

Zelie shifts her weight between her feet. She dares me another look. “I don’t think I can accept that. After what you’ve done for us, my Lord.”

“Accept it, you will. You are royal cooks, staff of Shadow Keep. It is a disgrace to me to have underserved you.”

“You haven’t,” Zelie and Kiandah say in unison.

They’re watching each other with big brown eyes that they share, communicating in silence in a way I don’t like. I want Kiandah’s words. All of them. Spoken or otherwise. They’re mine. She’smine.

I don’t know why I’m feeling so sensitive. Must be blood loss or residual venom still lingering in my veins. I shake my head. Cyprus says softly, “You haven’t, my Lord,” he offers even though — or perhaps, because, the words sound so unwilling, the moment feels rather big.

I am uncomfortable and so is he. We make brief eye contact before I nod my head. He bows sharply. “We will…be off then, my Lord.”

“Very well. Be ready to depart within the hour.” I quickly turn from them and close the door. I lean against it, breath caught in my throat. My discomfort spreads as I slowly swivel my gaze back to Kiandah, but the moment our eyes connect, it dissolves like dust in water. The look on her face erases it.

She’s looking at me like I’m her hero.

A sudden need floods my bones, but it is subtle enough to overcome. Just subtle enough. “I…” I start to say, but she places her hand on my chest, right beneath my throat.

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