The Alpha King (Kingdom of Askara #1)(42)

Asher scowled. “What? No, I’m not talking about Kit. Kit has been a good friend. He’s...” Asher reddened. “Easy to talk to, Sire. I confided in him, and he told me he was similarly upset. He always gives the best advice. He’s like a little brother, but he’s so clever.”

“What?” Luca’s head jerked back at the little brother comment.

Asher looked mortified. “I know he’s your royal omega, Sire. I have no right to think of him as family, but it’s how he makes everyone feel. Like we all have hope. That if things work out for him, then it means all our lives could get better.”

Luca stared. “You don’t wish to mate him?” he said flatly.

Asher paled. “Of course not, Sire. Like I said, he is like a little brother.”

Luca swore succinctly.

“Sire, Kit also saved your life in the arena,” Sam said flatly.

“What? No, that was you,” Luca insisted.

“Kit warned me. I don’t know how, but he shouted to me. He saw something before I did and I was already running and had my knife out before I saw Malik’s blade. If he hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been fast enough, and you, Sire, would be dead.”

Luca drew in a harsh breath.

“Sire, I’m worried because I think he’s unwell,” Molly put in.

“W-what do you mean?” Luca’s heart pounded so hard it threatened to escape his chest.

“He’s eating hardly anything. A lot of foods are upsetting him...”

Luca nearly closed his eyes in despair. Surya take my heart. How could he have been so blind? It was him. He was the one Kit had spoken of. Kit didn’t have any confidence in Luca’s love because he had been so busy lording it around being Alpha King he had forgotten about the one person who was responsible for making him the King in the first place. Kit had been left alone for days and this was all Luca’s fault. Kit had done nothing wrong, and Luca had treated him appallingly. He didn’t deserve him, and Luca should be whipped for how he had treated him. Surya didn’t need to take his heart, he had lost it a long time ago to a much bigger one.

“Sam, we shift and search. I want Asher to follow with weapons and blankets.” He looked at Asher. “Choose two men and follow the best you can with supplies. Get water, also.” Asher nodded and stepped away. Luca followed Sam towards the woods, Sam stripping as he walked.

“Sire.” Luca paused as Gabriel shouted urgently. “Sire I have been trying to speak to you for days. There is something you need to know.”

“Not now, Gabriel. I promise as soon as I have Kit safe we will talk.”

“No, Sire,” Gabriel took a close step in determination, “this is important and has to do with Kit.”

Luca stopped, the urgency in Gabriel’s voice finally making him pause, and at the same time he remembered putting Gabriel off before. “What is it?”

“You know I have been going through the old texts on pure omega matings. You asked me.” Luca nodded. Worry settled like stone in his gut.

“The thing is, Sire, I don’t think Kit is ill.”

Luca shook his head in exasperation. He had thought Gabriel had urgent news, not just something comforting. “We can argue that when I get him home.”

“Sire, I don’t think Kit is ill. I think he is pregnant.”

No one spoke. No one moved. Luca swallowed. “What did you say?” He had misheard. Gabriel didn’t—

“According to the old scrolls, Alpha Kings never used breeders, ever, and it didn’t matter which sex their omega was. Look.” Gabriel got a sheet of old paper from his pocket. “I found this tucked in one of the old books. It’s a likeness of Aristaad and Oliver, the first Alpha King and his pure omega. Oliver was definitely male.”

Luca nodded. He knew the history.

Gabriel unfolded the piece of paper. It was a drawing of a couple. The likeness of the Alpha King and his omega was clear. They were both turned sideways and their tattoos were visible. It was the appearance of Oliver, the omega, that was so shocking. He leaned back into his King as if Aristaad were supporting him. Aristaad’s hands were both circled around his omega’s body. What was completely stunning was the huge round belly on Oliver, and Aristaad’s hands laid on it protectively.

“Oliver was pregnant, Sire.”

Luca closed his eyes in desperation. What the hell had he done?

****

Kit stumbled and fell. He was exhausted. He had no idea why he was running. His demons couldn’t chase him because they were inside him.

Kit lay on his side on the forest floor. It was damp. The sun hadn’t dried where the tree cover was so dense.

What was he going to do? Luca had come into his powers. Technically, his obligation as omega was done. Yes, there were other things he could have done together with Luca, but he couldn’t bear spending the rest of his life watching Luca and Tara together. He groaned and rolled over, tried to push up on his hands and knees. He panted dizzily. He hadn’t eaten anything except those few mouthfuls of soup, and that seemed a long time ago. But it didn’t matter. He was used to the feeling of an empty belly. He would survive.

Kit? Kit, my darling. Where are you?

Kit looked around for the voice in astonishment until he realized it was in his head. It was Luca. Kit blinked in disbelief. He hadn’t heard him for so long he had almost forgotten they could do that. Why was Luca calling him?