The Alpha King (Kingdom of Askara #1)(41)

He had deliberately set out to hurt Kit like Kit had hurt him. He was pathetic, and unfit to be a king. The necklace wasn’t of his doing though. He hadn’t given it another thought after he had heard what Kit had said to Asher. Somehow his mother had found out. It was just the sort of scheme she excelled at.

“Luca?” Iris was sat on the other side of him. “What’s going on with Tara and why isn’t Kit here with you?” she whispered.

Luca pressed his lips together and willed himself to keep calm, not that he was worried about losing his temper. He was numb. He almost wished that Sam hadn’t been so fast at throwing the knife. At least the pain in his heart would have vanished as it stopped beating. “He has indicated he isn’t happy with the life I offer,” Luca ground out.

Iris stared, incredulity written all over her face. “Nonsense,” she snapped. “Kit loves you with every breath in his body.” She narrowed her eyes. “Luca, what have you done?”

Luca fixed his jaw, angry that his sister assumed he was the one responsible, and sat through the first competition until Sam appeared at his side and bent down to talk quietly in his ear. “Sire, Molly, Tomas’ wife, is begging to have an audience with you. The guards have told her no, but she is refusing to move. Tomas is with her, and—”

“Luca.”

Luca startled at the cry. Taheesha had run straight at him from where she had been with the other children. She pulled on his arm frantically. “Luca, something’s wrong with Kit. Where is he?”

Luca looked around to see that all faces were fixed on him. He stood. “Please continue, I will be back soon.” He forced a stiff smile at the curious faces.

Tara grabbed his arm. “Luca, please. The Alphas all need to see you here.”

Luca pulled his arm away in annoyance. He still was angry he had been fooled over the jewelry. He might not have Kit’s love anymore but he was even less interested in Tara. The kiss had been a mistake. He had tried for bravado, to see if he could fool himself as much as Kit had fooled him, but the first touch of her lips had told him it was wrong, and as soon as they were done with the games he would tell her so. The crowd roared as one of the humans was defeated and they all clapped as they both left the field.

“Luca,” Tara whispered furiously and grabbed his arm again. “Everyone’s looking.”

Luca smiled pleasantly, but effortlessly removed her fingers. “I am going to congratulate the competitors,” he said and Tara nodded in understanding, then was immediately distracted by a she-wolf admiring her necklace. Luca slipped away to the entrance, followed by Sam and Taheesha.

Molly stood just outside the Alpha’s seating area wringing her hands. Tomas stood next to her in silent support. Luca gestured for her to follow him and stepped to the side away from curious ears.

“Sire,” she began, but choked as her eyes filled. He glanced at Tomas and then quickly at where he knew Kit was supposed to be sitting. There was no sign of him.

“Tomas?”

“Sire, I’m not sure what is going on, but your omega was directed to sit with us instead of by your side, as was his rightful place.” Luca absorbed the hit. The criticism was deserved. “We assumed as soon as you realized the mistake you would make things right,” Tomas added bluntly. “But Kit got upset and ran off. His guard, Asher, doesn’t even know where he is, and he says you have relieved him of his duties.”

“How long ago?” He glanced as Asher came running over, his face set in an angry line. He watched as Asher said a few hurried words to Sam.

“Sire, Asher needs to speak to you,” Sam said.

Luca nodded even as he wanted to rip the man’s throat out. Luca took a deep breath and stilled in confusion. His wolf was frantic. He could feel the animal pacing, clawing at his insides in a bid to be let out. He felt the animal’s anger, but stood in shock when he realized it wasn’t directed at Asher. The wolf dismissed him as inconsequential.

“Sire?” Asher stood in front of Luca, the glare barely respectful. It reminded him of the first time they had met.

“Where’s my omega?” Luca snarled.

“I would be able to tell you that if I hadn’t been removed from protecting him,” Asher snapped back, the honorific deliberately missing.

Luca wanted to rage. “What did he say to you this morning?” he fumed. He almost dared for the human to lie.

Asher started in surprise. He obviously hadn’t expected Luca to have witnessed them. “It was personal. I was having problems and Kit was giving me advice.”

Luca scoffed. He’d bet he was. Gabriel came running up. “Let me guess,” Luca said. “You have arranged to meet later?”

Asher’s face creased in confusion. “What?”

“Asher, explain,” Sam ordered.

Asher sent Sam an uncomfortable look but sighed as if the fight left him. “I am struggling, Sire,” Asher confessed reluctantly. “I have found myself in a humiliating situation—”

Luca snarled and practically leaped for Asher. Sam blocked him immediately. “Luca!”

Luca was sufficiently shocked at hearing Sam use his name for the first time in nearly two weeks, enough to give him pause. He could well have hurt Asher.

He shook off Sam’s arm. “How dare you describe Kit as humiliating.”