The Alpha King (Kingdom of Askara #1)(20)

Malachi frowned. “That’s not the same thing,” he protested.

“No,” Luca agreed. “Your son would have had at least four full meals in that space of time.”

“We cannot feed them,” Michael, one of the gammas, argued. “It might incite rioting.”

Luca shook his head. “You mean they have to be kept weak so they cannot protest over their poor treatment?” The gamma subsided.

He looked at Josiah and turned to one of the humans who worked in the kitchen. “From now on all servants are to be fed every four hours. No one under sixteen works longer than six hours a day, and Elliot?” Luca glanced to one of his new betas Sam had promoted. “The food served to the servants must be the same served to the guards and the betas. I will let you decide what everyone should be eating.”

He saw the laugh lines deepen at the side of Elliot’s eyes, and approved. He had just basically told everyone that if the servants were poorly fed than everyone would be. He patted Josiah’s head and pushed him towards Elliot, ignoring the murmurs as he sat down. He was hungry.





Chapter Six





Kit opened his eyes to see the pretty gray one’s peering at him. A girl—a she-wolf, possibly not much older than around twelve—was looking at him, worry written all over her face. Kit smiled automatically and grunted when she flung her arms arounds him and climbed into bed.

“Taheesha.” Kit turned his head at the admonishment and saw another beautiful she-wolf with the same gray eyes walk in carrying a steaming bowl of something that smelled delicious. His stomach growled and the little limpet curled into his side giggled. “Taheesha, let the omega sit up.”

Taheesha moved but pouted and looked hopefully at what had to be her older sister, Kit was guessing. “I’m hungry.”

The other girl sighed in exaggerated patience. “Which is why Tara is bringing some for us all.” Kit watched as Tara came bustling into the room pushing a trolley with dishes, plates, spoons, and bread and fruit on. There was also a large platter of sliced beef. Kit groaned and Taheesha immediately pressed herself against him, offering silent comfort. Kit immediately felt soothed and smiled down at Taheesha.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. He sat up, relieved to see he was clothed, and in a soft, plain white shirt that was kind on his skin. Taheesha stuck out her hand and touched his face. Kit didn’t recoil. He had been half-expecting the next touch since he had woken up. He smiled and Taheesha stroked her thumb up and down his cheek.

“Taheesha,” the other girl scolded. “You can’t paw people all the time. The omega might not like it.”

Taheesha’s face fell but before she could drop her hand, Kit covered it in his own and squeezed. Taheesha’s face broke out in a beautiful smile and Kit knew he was looking at a female version of Luca.

“I’m allowed to touch my brother,” Taheesha returned defensively. “He’s family.”

The older girl sighed and put down her dishes, turned to Kit and curtseyed formally. “Omega, my name is Iris Hightower and this is my sister Taheesha. It is very good to meet my brother’s mate.” She put out her hand.

Kit’s smile widened. He clasped her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing the back of it. “Please excuse me not getting up and greeting you formally, princess.”

“Oh,” Iris made a surprised sound and Kit would bet anything she hadn’t made the connection between her brother being the Alpha King and her becoming a princess. Her eyes suddenly filled and Kit opened his arms wide. In a second they were hugging each other tight and he had his arms full of both of them.

“You’re a princess,” Taheesha breathed in awe and looked at her sister.

Iris grinned and wiped her eyes on her sleeve in a very un-princess-like manner. “So are you, squirt.”

Taheesha giggled. “That’s Princess Squirt to you.” She collapsed on the bed, laughing.

Iris smiled and rose. “Omega, you must eat.”

“Kit, please,” he said and gratefully accepted the cup of steaming soup from Tara.

“So does this mean we get to live in a palace?” Taheesha asked around mouthfuls of beef—she hadn’t bothered with the soup.

Iris glanced at Kit and bit her lip. “I don’t know. I guess.” She looked at Tara. “Does Neira even have a palace?”

Tara nodded, smiling, while she gave out plates and napkins. Kit watched her as she moved methodically. He wasn’t sure what an omega was doing behaving like a servant. Maybe she was friends with Iris?

Kit absorbed Iris’ question. Iris had worked out instantly that if her brother was Alpha King then that would mean a move to the capital. Taheesha yawned, abandoned her food, and snuggled down next to Kit. Iris looked at her fondly. “She has had quite a few late nights.”

“As have you, I imagine,” he said.

Kit gazed at the strain on her elder sister’s face and remembered that the kitchen gossip had told him she was promised to an unpleasant gamma more than thirty years her senior. He assumed Luca had stopped it. He also knew from gossip the little girl snuggled next to him was thirteen but she was so slight he had mistaken her for younger. He felt with his mind and knew Luca was talking to the Alphas. He couldn’t tell what Luca was thinking, it was just more a prickle of awareness. He withdrew quickly, not wanting to interrupt.