Page 50 of Ruined By His Alpha King
“No, thanks to Father. Who was that distracting the guards, by the way?” Saria, a female mirror of Seidrik in so many ways, turned her cold stare to Nilla.
“Virion’s little page. Liaberian guards are the dumbest creatures to ever sport an erection, I swear by the goddess. One omega child flitting about and they run off, swords drawn, like they could do anything about it on the ground with all that heavy armor and no wings.Betas.” She scoffed and earned a sniff of approval from Saria.
“So, what’s going on with Vir? I heard someone say that the beverages were poisoned at the reception?” Saria stared Seidrik down as he tried to think of a suitable lie, but Nilla didn’t understand tact or confidentiality, apparently.
“They put screechwasp honey in Seidrik’s cup not knowing he was swapping his wine for Virion’s juice. So, Virion is on the mend at the moment.” Nilla placed the back of her hand to Virion’s cheeks and lifted the sheet to check something before glancing back to her.
“Screechwasp honey… Was Virion in the family way again?” Saria pursed her lips and sighed in utter relief when Nilla shook her head.
“It was meant for him.” She pointed at Seidrik, and Saria, putting all the pieces together, choked.
She situated Ahran and stared Seidrik down. “No. You? I mean, I knew, but I thought you were smarter than to…”
“What do you mean, you knew?” Seidrik stiffened, and she rolled her eyes.
“Oh please. I found the vials of nightflower in your bedroom and kept Vir overstocked when he ran low a few times. I don’t blame you at all. Watching what he did to Vir.” Saria waved a hand dismissively. “I ran my begging night on purpose trying to get in the family way to get out as fast as possible. Without Virion around, I was Father’s new target.”
“Clever girl.” Nilla nodded to herself as she petered about with Virion’s sleeping form. “Keep your heads turned, mind you.”
Seidrik glanced away as Saria focused on Ahran. Nilla did something that involved changing bedding and the scent of fresh blood. Watching what was happening made Seidrik very aware that could have been him. It could have been his babe.
“Was it on purpose with you, too or—” Saria spoke lowly.
“No. I’m smarter than that, as you say. A side effect of salusis, I think. I’m not sure. I had nightflower leaking from my eyes at the font. And one thing happened or another.” Seidrik waved his hand dismissively.
“And you slipped and fell on Prince Stamel’s sword?” She tittered with laughter.
“Multiple times. On purpose, even. Would you like details?” Seidrik’s dry tone left no room for questions.
“Not unless you want details of my bedchambers.” She met Seidrik’s gaze and earned a grimace.
“Mutual.” She stroked over Ahran’s silvery hair and smiled. “Such a beautiful baby, though. He really does have the moon in him. And something about his nose and eyes reminds me of Mother.”
Seidrik flinched. He’d not realized it and guilt welled in his chest over not looking at the child more.
“Ten bucks says your little one pops out looking like Father on fire with all that red hair.” She snorted and Seidrik bristled.
“Father isn’t a terrible-looking male, on a whole. He just has a repugnant personality.” Seidrik studied the floor very seriously. Looking at Saria would earn him her ire, and anywhere else might give him a glimpse of the horror of whatever was happening to Virion.
“So, you managed to, yet again, have Virion punished in your place.” Saria said that part far quietly than the rest, not baiting him for once but being honest.
“Unintentionally. Honestly, I feel worse for this than I did many other things. Virion and I planned early to swap drinks so nobody noticed me passing on the wine.” Seidrik rubbed the toe of his foot into the ground.
“Virion wouldn’t have taken the risk if he didn—” Nilla started but Seidrik interrupted.
“I don’t think he anticipated someone trying to rid me of my child.” Seidrik placed a hand over his belly, the surface a little fuller than it had been a few weeks ago. In a month or so, he’d be able to feel them moving within him.
“He probably thought of it. He’s clever. He’d even planned with me to have some salusis and vitalis on standby and a compression pump to purge his milk to make sure he didn’t give Ahran his first sip of wine.” Nilla walked by with a bundle of bloodied linens and dumped them into a bin. “Just make sure there’s plenty of birch syrup sent back with us. He’ll be fine.”
Seidrik huffed. “Plenty of tallroot. And I’ll send honey for his nymphs. I hear he adores them.”
“Thoughtful. He’ll appreciate it.” Nilla strode back toward Virion’s bed as Saria switched breasts, the child growing sleepy in her arms but still ravenous.
They sat in long silence before another knock came at the door. This time, it was a little boy with windswept hair and a gap in his toothy smile. “The guards ran out of breath chasing me.”
“Get in before you catch a cold. I don’t want to spend an evening babying you.” Nilla gestured the boy in and he shook his head out.
“Why is Prince Ahran nursing on Princess Saria?” The little boy blatantly stared as Saria adjusted her blouse a little for some privacy.
