Three Alpha Princes for an Unwanted Omega

AYLA

I sat on the cold floor with my knees drawn up to my chest, my head rested against them.

My hands were still tied and the blindfold still pressed tightly against my eyes. The gag around my mouth had long since made my jaw numb.

I had run out of tears somewhere in the night and what now settled over me was a bone numbing hate for one person in particular.

Lucius.

I was thinking of him, a lot.

I thought about his face when I finally got my hands on him. I imagined taking that smug expression from his face. I imagined making him beg for his life as I tore his flesh from his bones.

I imagined every single thing I would do to him once I was free.

And I would be free.

I had no idea how or when but I would.

I had survived his memory spell and everything he had ever thrown at me...I would survive this too.

And when I did, I would kill him.

I forced myself to breathe.

I could not allow myself to think of anything else than how painful Lucius’ death would be and it helped me a little as I sat there... a broken, useless Omega Dualis.

My entire body went still as the sound of footsteps reached my ears.

Someone was coming.

I lifted my head from my knees as the footsteps came closer until it stopped. Then I started hearing voices.

I could not make out what they were saying.

My heart had begun to pound with the sudden uncertainty of not knowing what or who was coming.

I heard the door open and footsteps entered the room. I instinctively pulled my knees closer to myself as I felt someone in front of me.

I flinched, my body tensing up immediately as fingers touched the back of my head.

For a second, I thought it was Lucius coming to mock me.

The fingers worked the knot around my mouth until the gag loosened and fell away.

Pain shot through my jaw as I moved it trying to ease the ache. My lips felt numb and tongue felt dry.

The same fingers reached for the blindfold, pulling the cloth away.

I blinked rapidly, squinting to see who it was because I was now sure it was not Lucius.

Slowly, the room came into focus and I could now see Amara kneeling in front of me.

"Amara?"

She immediately placed a finger against her lips.

"Keep your voice down."

I stared at her.

"How are you here?"

"I convinced the guards to let me in." She glanced toward the door. "But we do not have much time."

Tears filled my eyes almost immediately.

"Ayla, I am so sorry." Amara’s eyes softened.

I frowned at her.

"Sorry?" I echoed.

"I tried to stop Alistair from revealing the truth about your escape. I could not."

Alistair...of course. I had told Ares not to trust him

"Tell me," I said. "What do you mean we do not have much time. How is Ares? What has been done to him?"

"Nothing yet." Amara’s eyes flicked to the door. "Lucius is furious and he is not always stable when he is. I believe he would do something drastic and he would do it publicly to teach the north a lesson about crossing him again."

I looked down at my bound hands. There had to be something I could do...something.

"There has to be something we can do."

Amara nodded.

"That is why I am here, Ayla. There is a way... I know a spell."

I looked up.

"What kind of spell?"

"A protection spell. It binds Ares to Lucius...whatever is done to Ares is done to Lucius too."

"That means if Lucius hurts him..."

"He would be hurting himself." Amara completed.

"Even if it works out... Lucius would call on you to break the spell and it would expose you if you choose not to."

Amara smiled sadly. "Listen to me, Ayla. I do not mind being exposed. I told you I was going to help you, and that is what I am doing right now. I will find a way to send word to the boundary and as for the spell, it would not be possible to break it if I link it to you."

"What do you mean?"

"It means as long as you are alive, the spell stays in place."

"What do I need to do?" I asked immediately.

"Are you sure..."

"Do it, Amara. Link it to me... save Ares."

Amara regarded me for a moment before she nodded.

"Hold my hand." she said.

I shifted closer and Amara took my bound hands in hers.

"Repeat after me."

I nodded.

She closed her eyes and she began chanting.

I listened carefully and I repeated them after her.

My head went light first, the way it does when you stand up too fast. Every hair on my body stood up at once, and I could feel each one of them, each separate root.

"Keep going," Amara whispered.

A deep pit formed at the bottom of it and it felt like I was falling. My heart began beating faster...I could hear it.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

The sound seemed to fill my ears.

I kept repeating the words as my head grew heavier then lighter then heavier again. I felt as though something was moving through me.

Something I could not see or control.

Amara opened her eyes, a smile on her face.

"It is done." she said.

"He is safe?"

"For now. "

I closed my eyes.

Thank the Moon...for now was enough. I would take anything that kept Ares alive.

The door suddenly opened and a guard stepped inside.

"You need to leave. Lord Lucius said no one is to see her. If he finds you down here, we will both answer for it."

Amara rose to her feet, looking down at me. I could see the frustration in her eyes and I knew she wanted to do more but she could not.

"I am sorry." she said. "I will do everything I can."

I nodded as she walked out.

The guard turned to me, his hand moving toward his sword.

"Do not try anything funny." He stepped closer.

I did not move.

There was no point fighting him now. Not when my hands were still tied and Ares’ life depended on me staying alive too.

The guard crouched in front of me and grabbed the blindfold.

I turned my face away as he forced it back, covering my eyes again.

I winced as he pushed the gag back between my teeth and tied it behind my head.

I heard him stand and the sound of his boots retreating until the door closed behind him.