The Alpha King (Kingdom of Askara #1)(21)

Tara left the room as a guard came in to ask for her wishes on something.

“I have never seen my brother so happy as when he came in carrying you,” Iris said.

Kit blinked. “Into the pack house?”

Iris shook her head. “No, into the clearing. All the Alphas and heirs were assembled, and they watched him carry in something very precious to him. It was deliberate on his part, I think.”

Kit marveled at her perception, put his dish down, and put his hand to his mouth as he yawned. “Sorry.”

Iris stood and smiled. “Why don’t you both rest?” She peered at the half-empty bowl. “You haven’t eaten much. Luca won’t like it.”

Kit yawned again. Taheesha was like a hot water bottle and her soft snuffling noises as she buried into him were making him sleepy. Iris glanced at her. “I should warn you, Taheesha is a comfort omega. She will respond to your emotions, but I suspect she knows you need sleep, and she is projecting that.”

Kit glanced in surprise at the sleeping girl. “That’s why I’m suddenly so tired when I have slept so much already?”

“Not just,” Iris said. “It wouldn’t work if you didn’t need it.”

Kit blinked as tiredness washed over him again. “Will you tell Luca...” Something...but the thought had left his mind before it had the chance to be known.

“Don’t worry.” Iris clasped his hand. “Luca is the best brother anyone could ever have, but I have the feeling Taheesha and I just lucked out and got a second one. Go to sleep,” she urged, motherly, and Kit was happy to oblige.

The next time he woke he could feel the wave of distress slam into him. He sat up, startled. He knew it was Luca. Taheesha had disappeared and he was alone. He got up feeling much stronger, even though he was flushed again. He hurried to the bathroom. After emptying his bladder and brushing his teeth, he walked back into the room and eyed a beautiful, cream silk shirt and fawn breeches laid over a chair. He picked at the long sleep shirt. He couldn’t go outside in it, and he mustn’t embarrass Luca. They must be for him. He quickly got dressed. Luca wasn’t in any danger or whatever his clothes, he would have gone outside immediately, but he could tell the council meeting wasn’t going very well.

The Alpha King just needed his omega.

Kit smiled at the gamma who stood silently as he walked out of his room, and immediately fell into step behind him. Kit glanced at the huge werewolf looming over him a couple of times. He didn’t like it as he was used to being so invisible amongst them, but he assumed it was Luca’s orders.

He walked to the outside door and took in the scene quickly. Alpha Jace was begging for Luca to spare his son. Kit understood, but he especially understood what an impossible position Luca was in. He had shown clemency yesterday when Gareth had tried to kill him. Any further demonstration and he would risk looking weak in front of the other Alphas—not something that could happen when he needed their support—and he could not hope to rule the kingdom if his own house wasn’t in order.

He glanced at the others present, saw that Luca had seated Asher and the other humans that had helped rescue him. Asher stood and crossed the clearing to stand beside him immediately. The gamma took no notice of Asher. He would have dismissed the human as inconsequential, but a human could easily kill another human and the gamma obviously hadn’t thought of that. Kit looked back at Luca and saw that Iris sat in between Luca and an older man——and that Sam sat on his other side. Tara was also present on the other side of Sam. It was a wonder some of the older Alphas hadn’t died of apoplexy. Humans, females and betas all sat eating with the Alphas. Kit approved.

Then, just before he stepped nearer Luca, a chill ran through him. Someone—someone here—was a threat, and not just to him. They wanted to harm Luca.

****

Luca wanted to hold his head in his hands and close his eyes against the pain in his head. He wouldn’t, of course. No sign of weakness amongst the squabbling Alphas. He could understand Alpha Jace but he just didn’t know what to do. The arguments for death or banishment were valid. The guards stood holding a shackled Gareth. He had him brought forward to hear his punishment.

“And who are you to decide you are Alpha King anyway?” Alpha Malachi blustered. “I haven’t seen a pure omega. All I’ve seen is a human slave, and pity doesn’t make him an omega.”

Luca realized the last few words were said in the midst of total silence from the others. Up to a few minutes ago they had all been trying to talk over themselves. He just had a second to wonder what had managed to shut them all up, and then he smelled it. He inhaled Kit’s sweet scent. He didn’t even have to turn around.

Your head hurts.

I need you to kiss it better.

Luca’s lips parted slightly as he got an image of exactly what Kit was going to kiss better.

“Your Highness,” Kit murmured and clasped the outstretched hand Luca offered him. Luca was surprised at how warm Kit’s hand was.

Alpha Malachi started blustering and Luca very gently turned Kit around and tilted Kit’s head so his tattoo was visible. No one said a word.

Luca looked at Alpha Malachi. “Do you still doubt?” Malachi blanched but sat down very quickly. Alpha Jace remained standing.

I have an idea.

Luca risked a quick rub to his head. Well thank God, because I’m all out of them.