Page 4 of Owned By Four Alphas

“Of course, the lesson to be truly learnt is that the Forest God would always protect us. And now that his magic has been claimed by his daughter, I am sure Queen Selena will defend us with equal ferocity.”

Her throat turned dry as a hundred pairs of eyes turned once more to her. Strength. She had to show strength. That was what Elian had said—more implied. He rarely said anything directly.

She jolted forward out of Malek’s arms, all too aware that as she fought an internal battle, people were still looking, stillwaiting for her response. “We look forward to celebrating the end of winter, and commemorating my father’s deeds, with you all.”

A non-answer. The crowd shuffled in disappointment, the Fae always desperate for a new source of gossip. She didn’t care. She just wanted to enjoy the day with her mates.

The Keeper moved on to other stories, and Selena breathed a sigh of relief that the attention was off her once more. She leaned into Malek, the back of her head thumping against his chest. “I’ll never get used to that.”

Malek was silent a while. “If it helps,” he said slowly, “I never got used to it.”

She huffed a laugh and turned, wanting to reassure her mate, but her eyes locked with two figures stalking towards them, the crowds parting like water.

“Shit,” she murmured, and Malek glanced back.

Kaelen and Elian, the latter with an expression of pure Fae mischievous delight, the former looking thunderous.

“Shit,” Malek agreed.

Chapter 2 - Kaelen

Despite her defiant expression, nervous energy was rolling off her in waves, the scent of it sharp. Kaelen bared his teeth, utterly unfazed by the fire in her eyes as he approached her.

“Omega,” he ground out, “what are you doing?”

“I’m enjoying the celebrations,” she retorted, stepping out from the safety of Malek’s arms to meet him.

“By yourself?” he replied, crossing his arms, his dragon shifting beneath his skin with agitation.

“I’m notby myself,” Selena said, dropping her voice to mimic his angry tone, “Malek is right here. And Ronan knew where I was going.”

Kaelen glanced up at his packmate, eyes narrowing at the shadowy figure of the monster king. “I thought we agreed”—his fists balled—“that you shouldn’t go out with just Malek. It’s not safe.”

“You might have agreed that,” Selena shot back, her temper flaring, silver eyes flashing, “but I certainly didn’t. I’m perfectly safe with Malek.Andjust by myself.”

“Selena, you carry our child.”

Selena was practically spitting enough fire to be a dragon herself, drawing herself up to her full height and stepping forward. Despite the lush curves of her hips, her breasts, her stomach, she was still laughably tiny compared to him. It never seemed to deter her from trying his patience. “I do hope you’re not implying that me going out into the city endangers the life of our baby? Because I swear to all the gods, Kaelen, if you are, then so help me, I will—”

“Easy, little dove.” Elian elbowed his way between them, an amused smirk on his face. “Why don’t we go somewhere a little more private, hmm? That way, you can hand Kaelen his balls in peace.”

Kaelen snarled at the smug Fae, but Elian ignored him, instead guiding Selena away from the crowd of people failing miserably to hide their interest in the dispute.

“I thought you agreed with me,” Kaelen said to Malek, his fists clenching.

“Beyond the walls of the city, I do,” Malek replied, falling into step beside him, a few paces behind Elian and his furious omega, “but it’s daytime, and we’re in the center of the Marble Halls. I could smell at least ten of Elian’s personal guards in the crowd. Nothing was going to happen.”

Kaelen growled, his eyes fixed on the dark hair of his mate, the stubborn set of her shoulders. He wanted to rage at Malek, remind him of what happened those few months ago. How Damien and Phaendar had used the Crown to control him, turn him against his pack. Remind him that while at the temple he had been distracted by something in the forest and humans had nearly taken their mate.

But he held his tongue. Kaelen was many things, but he did not consider himself to be cruel. In truth, he knew that within the Marble Halls, Malek was just as capable of defending their mate as Kaelen was.

But every moment he was apart from Selena, every second she wasn’t tucked safely against his side, his anxiety threatened to overwhelm him. She was so determined to face up to any that challenged her, so willing to face threats head on. He didn’t understand why she couldn’t just let him loose upon her enemies, let him release his dragon and descend upon them.

Instead, she was determined to use diplomacy—talk and posture, Elian showing her which honeyed words to use. He growled as he watched the Fae Lord drape an arm over Selena. Diplomacy would get them nowhere if Selena’s enemies decided to rise against them. The pack would be all the stronger if they could prove now that they weren’t afraid to spill a little blood in the name of peace.

And oh, how he had longed to spill a little blood. Trips back to his throne in the northern volcanoes had often ended with violent reminders to some of the more outspoken nobles of his court that he was still their king. And like it or not, Selena was their queen.Thequeen.

Elian, heir to the Benellane name and Lord of the Marble Halls, kept different laws in his territory. Laws Kaelen was honor-bound to follow. The realm was not yet united, Selena’s control not yet absolute.

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