Crave To Conquer (Myth of Omega, #1)(46)

“It’s no secret, Emperor,” Malloron repeated, a gleam in his dark eyes. “You don’t need to look at me so murderously. The entire Eastern Lands is discussing it. They say you have stormed out of your room numerous times, left her alone for days, and failed to breed her in her Haze. I’m sure they have most of the details wrong, but whatever the reason is that you have not breeded her yet, I can help you.”

“I will not discuss my Omega with you,” Drocco growled. “If you dare bring her up again—”

“You cannot be selfish,” Malloron said, his voice harsh. “Your Omega represents much for all of us. Your warriors might be too afraid to say it, but I’m not. It has been four or five months since you’ve had her. You have neither breeded her nor discovered where the other Omegas are. Those two things are your only responsibilities, and you are failing them.”

Drocco roared, a vicious rage charging through him as he stepped closer to the portal. Torin tried to call his attention, but he barely saw the movement in the corner of his eye. “You have no right to comment on my Omega or my responsibilities, you fuck! You’re not even within my Empire. I owe you nothing. The only Alphas that can demand anything from me are my warriors and you are not among them! You are never to request another meet—”

“I apologize,” Malloron said, holding up his palms. “I apologize, Emperor. Please forgive me.”

Drocco breathed heavy, his fingers itching for his axe, but his anger quickly quietened when he noticed that Malloron remained calm and collected. A horrible feeling came over him as he stared at the other Alpha.

Malloron had been trying to goad him into saying something revealing. Clearly, he hadn’t gotten what he wanted otherwise he wouldn’t have apologized so quickly, but Drocco’s reaction must have told him something. Drocco glanced at Torin, whose expression was grim.

“I have a proposition for you, Emperor Drocco,” Malloron said, quickly. “Hear me out and then I’ll never contact you or request anything from you again.” He continued speaking, not giving Drocco the chance to respond. “I will give you, or your Talent-crafters, the ability to get your Omega to reveal the location of the other Omegas, in a painless, easy way. She won’t even remember having told you.”

Drocco narrowed his eyes. “This is through use of the Talent?”

“Yes,” Malloron said. “It’s a subtle and delicately crafted spell that will get her to tell you all she knows.”

“Why do you assume she hasn’t already told me?”

Malloron lifted his shoulders, a faint smile on his lips. “She very well could have, but can you trust that she speaks the truth? No one knows what happened to the Omegas and you have only found one. Her discovery could be the result of a myriad of different things. Wouldn’t you want to know?”

“There are ways of discovering things without using the Talent, Malloron,” Drocco replied. “I have no desire to tie myself to you simply to discover if she has told me the truth.”

Malloron tilted his head, his eyes narrowing. “You have soul-bonded her,” he said slowly. “That is how you know.”

“You can play your guessing games on your own time,” Drocco said, annoyed.

“All right,” Malloron said, with an air of defeat. “All right. You drive a hard bargain.”

“I do not want—”

“I’ll give you the complete history of your Omega,” Malloron said. “From birth to the moment you met her.”

Drocco’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I will give you a spell that will show you everything about her,” Malloron said, quietly. “Even things she doesn’t know herself. It’s a complex spell—I will need a day to weave it.”

Drocco eyed him. Every part of Cailyn’s history in his hands… “What do you want for it?”

“The same as I asked for before—your process and methods to creating an army and two of your troops.”

Drocco stared at him as he thought. Cailyn’s accurate history laid out for him without him having to force her to tell him anything. It would certainly take the pressure off their relationship while still aiding the Lox. Although it was dependent on the Talent, it was sorely tempting. “Let us have another meeting tomorrow, and I’ll give you an answer then. Have it ready just in case.”

Malloron scowled. “So you will make me create this spell and not tell me if you’re going to accept it?”

“Yes,” Drocco said, simply. “Tomorrow. Same time.” He signaled to the Talent-crafters, and the portal melted into nothing.

“Get out,” Torin ordered the Talent-crafters before turning to Drocco, his face sour.

A harsh annoyance rose in Drocco. If Torin was angry, something was wrong that Drocco hadn’t yet seen.

“Why did you let that happen?” Torin scolded. “You told me never to discuss your Omega with anyone, and then you go and discuss her with Malloron!”

“I tried not to,” Drocco scowled, dropping into a chair. “He antagonized me.”

“Of course he is going to antagonize you! You have an Omega!”

“What did I reveal?”

Torin frowned. “You can’t see it?”

“No,” Drocco snapped. “I didn’t reveal anything by what I said.”