The Alpha King (Kingdom of Askara #1)(18)
He really was going to have to learn some self-control.
They’d been walking steadily for just over a mile when Luca realized Kit was leaning more and more into him. He actually had to stop his omega from falling after he had tripped for the third time. Luca cursed himself as he glanced down, taking in Kit’s face, which had gone from satisfaction and happiness in the hut to simple exhaustion now. He made a soft sound in the back of his throat—one he was coming to associate Kit with—and bent and scooped up the light body in his arms without even a pause in his stride.
“Sire,” Kit said in alarm. “Please, I can walk.” Luca raised a disbelieving eyebrow, and Kit blushed. “It isn’t seemly for a king to carry anything.”
“Can I help, Sire?” Sam asked, close enough to Luca to hear Kit’s words. Luca just smiled and shook his head, brushed a kiss on Kit’s forehead, and watched as he struggled to keep his eyes open.
“Shh. Stop worrying,” Luca soothed. Sure enough, before he had taken more than another three steps, Kit’s body relaxed and his eyes drooped shut.
“Do you have a plan?” Sam asked quietly.
“I’m going to hold a council meeting, and then I have to speak to my sisters.”
“They have been moved and are in your pack house with Tara and Danni, as you requested.”
Luca nodded, guilt permeating him as he realized he had given them no thought this morning.
“Sire, may I ask?” Sam paused.
“You don’t have to ask my permission, Sam. You never have before.” He smirked and Sam chuckled.
“Is it your intention, to take Tara as your breeder?”
Luca’s steps nearly faltered. The unpleasant thought hadn’t occurred to him. “I don’t know.” He glanced down at Kit to make sure his omega was still asleep.
“My sister is friends with her. I just thought you should be aware your advances would be welcome.” Luca swallowed. He would need heirs. He knew that.
“I know this seems ridiculous to think of now, but Tara was of age and involved in the choosing. I understand Malik from Alpha Jameson’s pack was going to offer for her. It’s just, if you think she may suit you, you cannot waste any time to claim her. The choosing is merely postponed to next week, Sire. Not indefinitely.”
Luca sighed. He didn’t want to make that decision yet. His relationship with Kit was too new, too precious.
“I know you will have had no time to think about marching to Neira...” Sam glanced at him, changing the subject, much to Luca’s relief.
“Have you?” Luca watched as his normally forthright best friend hesitated. “Sam, I realize we are in a slightly different situation now, and we both are feeling our way through, but please...I need your unvarnished council more than ever.”
Sam snorted out a laugh. “Unvarnished counsel? Did you read that in the Alpha King handbook?” Then he reddened. “I mean...”
Luca nudged him. “How about we leave all the king stuff aside when it’s just me and you? You are no good to me if I think you are saying what I want to hear rather than what I need to hear.”
Sam blew out a long breath. “Then I think the first thing you need to do is secure Caedra. You cannot march to Neira unless we know everything at home is in place. You know your pack will follow you absolutely—”
“But we have another nine to convince.”
Sam cocked his head. “Eight, possibly seven. Alpha Jace was completely on board last night, and you killed Hendrick. What are you going to do about Gareth?”
Luca shifted the slight weight in his arms protectively. “Honestly? I have no idea. I know it should be death or banishment, but I think I can be a little more creative.” An idea had been forming for the last few minutes, but he needed to talk to Kit. He honestly didn’t know if he had the power to decide, or the ability to enforce it.
The three other humans who had asked to accompany Asher—Mark, Jay, and Bryan—paused and looked back at Luca. At the same time as Luca’s nose registered the scent of wolves, Asher jumped back, quicker than he’d ever seen a human move, knife drawn, standing between Luca and whatever threat he had heard. Then the werewolves he had scented fanned out in front of him, and Sam motioned Asher to stand down.
Gabriel jogged over. “Sire?” He stopped in astonishment as soon as he saw Gareth.
“Gareth was responsible for kidnapping Kit,” Luca said flatly, bracing himself for Gabriel’s censure at the sight of a human guarding the Alpha-heir—such a thing was demeaning; only gammas were ever allowed to touch Alphas and then only at the order of another senior Alpha. “I need him to be locked in the brig.”
“I’m surprised he is alive,” Gabriel said, disgust coloring his words. Luca heaved a silent sigh. Gabriel looked at Kit. “How is he?”
“Exhausted, but safe.” Luca heard the inhale as Gabriel saw Kit’s new mark.
His eyes flew to Luca’s. “Congratulations, Sire,” he said respectfully. “May I take him? We are about to enter the pack compound.”
Luca understood why Gabriel was asking. Kit hadn’t been joking when he had said it might look demeaning for a king to carry him, but Luca didn’t intend on letting his omega go, and it wasn’t just the thought of anyone else touching him that was driving him. Or not just that, anyway. He wanted every Alpha to see them together. Luca smiled but shook his head, Gabriel and Sam stepping in on either side of him as he moved forward. “Where are the Alphas?” Luca asked.