Crave To Conquer (Myth of Omega, #1)(9)

“Your Imperial Majesty,” came a soft voice from beside him.

He turned to see a servant standing by the door.

The man grimaced. “You have a visitor.”

“Who?” His gaze returned to Cailyn.

“Commander Torin, your Imperial Majesty.”

Drocco nodded, rose from his chair, and headed outside. He had told the guard at the door that he didn’t want anyone entering unannounced. He hadn’t liked the way Cailyn had looked at Torin when he had last been in the room. They were both Betas and Torin was possibly the most accomplished Beta male in Ashens—a great prospect for any Beta female—but the idea Cailyn might find him attractive irritated Drocco beyond all reason.

“Drocco,” Torin greeted. “Good morning.”

Drocco returned the greeting.

“You have instructed that no one enter?” Torin asked somewhat incredulously, gesturing to the research room. Drocco had never refused him entry to any area of the Palace.

“I don’t want Miss Lefroy interrupted,” Drocco said, briskly. “What is it?”

Torin’s eyes swept over him. “You have been very focused on this investigation, Drocco.”

“That is the intention, Torin,” Drocco said lightly. “I made a vow and I’m trying to keep it.”

“How is it going?”

“Well so far,” Drocco said. “Miss Lefroy is ordering the information and highlighting key points to focus on. I’ve sent scouts to a couple of cities to look into a number of loose ends. I trust you have made contact with the ruler of Neka?”

Torin nodded. “Yes, I am dealing with it. I’m glad it is going well. We’ve had communication from Eiros.”

Drocco’s mood darkened. “And?”

“Malloron would like to meet.”

“When?”

“In two days. He has suggested a portal.”

“He is not entering my Empire through a portal,” Drocco said, his voice low.

“No, he wishes to talk through it,” Torin explained. “To use it as a method of communicating.”

Drocco lifted his head in understanding. He needed to speak to Malloron and make his own position clear, as the ruler of Lox Empire, but the distance between them meant their communication was always prolonged. Eiros was situated in the Western Lands, which was across the White Ocean, and it took months for messages to pass between them. If they could talk face to face it would secure things much more quickly.

“He is very keen to meet via this method and has insisted that nothing untoward will come of it,” Torin said, after a few long moments of silence.

“Your thoughts?” Drocco asked.

“I think it will be good to face him directly, as I’m sure you realize,” Torin said. “You are very persuasive in person.”

“If he can create a portal here to communicate, he can create a portal at any time to use as a doorway,” Drocco said, an edge in his voice at the idea.

“Yes,” Torin admitted. “That is a possibility.”

Drocco exhaled harshly. “This is why I want the use of the Talent disabled as soon as possible, Torin!”

“If we are to make significant headway protecting ourselves from the Talent, this opportunity to analyze a portal would be of great benefit.”

“Hmm…” Drocco let out a throaty grumble.

“If he truly can create a doorway here, he will do so if he wishes, whether we agree to the meet or not,” Torin pointed out. “At least if you agree, we will have a time and place to focus our attention to learn more about the Talent.”

That was true. “All right,” Drocco said. “Set it up.”

Torin nodded. “He said he will make an attempt in two days, so I will ensure we are ready to receive him.” He glanced at the research room. “Is this where you can be found now?”

“Yes,” Drocco replied. “But I only want to be interrupted if it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Understood.” With that, Torin bowed and headed down the corridor.

When Drocco entered the research room, he automatically swept the room for Cailyn. She stood in one corner, her head tilted, her lips pursed and a frown on her face.

“What is it?” he asked.

“These records have big gaps,” she murmured, almost to herself.

“What are they?”

“Records of the Omega population before they went missing.”

Drocco crossed the room to her. “That is important. How do you know there are gaps?”

“The King of Ashens had a count completed when he first came into power. It totaled over one hundred and twenty-five thousand. There were only seven thousand in the most recent count. That’s too low. There’s data missing.”

Drocco looked at the files, leaning into her to breathe in her scent. Even though it was bland, he took every opportunity to experience it—another strange behavior he didn’t understand. He pushed the thought away and focused on the topic at hand. They needed accurate figures of the number of Omegas at all times. “How many counts did the king do?”

“I’ve only found two so far.”

Drocco nodded. “Tomorrow we will go to the Records Keep and find out the accurate number.”