Page 11 of The Ruby Dragon Prince
“Storm into the cruel world?” Gildur asked, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. “To what end? So that King Freslik and every greedy, grubbing human in that world will come to know of our existence?”
I grumbled as I paced away from them, rubbing a hand over the back of my neck. I didn’t like it, but Gildur had a point. Our magical realm was the stuff of secrets and dreams as far as the cruel world was concerned. It wasn’t as tightly guarded as it should have been. Humans had been known to stumble into our realm through cracks in stones and with the aid of magic amulets and trinkets that had been dropped or lost over time.
But if men like King Freslik knew of our existence, everything we had worked so hard for and cherished for so long would be in jeopardy. They would never take us, to be sure, but if knowledge of our world reached the humans, they would never leave us alone.
“You know that Argus is hard at work protecting our interests from inside King Freslik’s court,” Emmerich went on, daring to approach me again. “He’s watching out for the princes. One of them in particular.”
“Are we all to find our fated mates among King Freslik’s omegas?” Gildur asked in a teasing voice. “Is that the way this particular tale goes?”
“Argus is mated to one of the princes?” I asked.
“Not yet,” Emmerich said, “but he believes one of them is fated for him. As for the family connection,” he went on, turning to Gildur, “it’s not that uncommon for blood to be drawn to blood.”
“You make me wish I’d been at the dance the other night,” Gildur said, flashing his charming smile. “My mate was probably there, too.”
“Probably,” Emmerich laughed.
“How the two of you can sit here, twiddling your thumbs, when your omega mates are within your grasp is a mystery to me. I know that Tovey is meant for me. Why waste all this time dilly-dallying and allowing him to suffer at his father’s hands when I could march up there to King Freslik’s castle and claim him as my mate?”
“Rufus, Rufus,” Emmerich sighed, shaking his head. “You always were a hothead.”
“All rubies are hotheads,” Gildur added with a smirk. “It comes with the color.”
I growled at him to let him know what I thought of his teasing.
“Everything happens in good time,” Emmerich said, not helping the situation.
“What if the omega doesn’t want to rush into his fated relationship?” Gildur asked, gesturing with one hand. “What if he needs time to accept what the Grand Design has for him?”
“He will accept it,” I insisted. “He is mine, and I will claim him. Whether he is ready or not.”
Emmerich and Gildur made sounds of incredulousness.
“Our Rufus,” Gildur said. “Always rushing ahead without an ounce of tact or forbearance.”
“What is the point of tact when I could give my omega a better life than the one he has now?” I demanded.
I shook my head and walked away from them. My mind was made up.
“I will go to the cruel world, to King Freslik’s castle, right now and claim my mate, regardless of what you or he wants. He will cry my name in ecstasy as I make him mine and sear our souls together.”
“Never in the history of mate claiming has it ever been a good idea to force an omega to accept their fate,” Emmerich said.
“They all accept their fates in the end,” Gildur added. “It’s best to let them do that on their time.”
I could not have disagreed more. I would be able to protect Tovey once he was mine. He would never have to suffer again. He would be crowned in jewels, wanting for nothing, as we mated and raised our children together.
I’d nearly reached the door, my mind made up regardless of what my kinsmen advised me, when the door opened and one of the castle’s pages entered.
“Your highnesses,” the young beta woman said with a broad smile. “The omega princes have returned to the pavilion for tonight’s entertainments.”
“Excellent,” Emmerich said, clapping his hands together and striding for the door. He walked right past me and had the cheek to turn back and ask, “Well, what are you waiting for?”
I growled at him, then followed him out into the hallway.
Before making my way down to the pavilion, I stopped in my castle bedchamber to change into a dancing costume suitable for the night. I’d never much cared about what I wore or how I looked before, but after seeing the look of awe and hunger in my omega’s eyes the moment we met, I knew I had to dress to impress him. I wanted to see that look in my omega’s eyes again, specifically when he was naked and on his knees with his sweet mouth wrapped around my cock.
And then from the pillows on my bed as I returned the favor and made myself a slave to his pleasure.
