They stood opposite each other. Too close to feel safe, and too upright to hide behind silence. The room was silent, and in that silence, Alpha's breath seemed louder than any word. He looked at him without anger, without condescension on his face. Omega did not know what was about to happen, but he knew for sure: it would not be affectionate and not warm.
Serak did not wait for an invitation. After a piercing look, he came close, grasping his chin with his fingers. So that it was not tight, but not rough, and in the same second he leaned down, pressing his lips to the area of skin where the mark smoldered. Omega sharply inhaled, his heart squeezed, as if something in his chest burst from unexpected pressure. But he did not flinch and certainly did not move away. He stood as he stood, because there was nowhere to run, even if he wanted to.
Serak didn't kiss, didn't mark again. He simply ran his tongue slowly over the burn. Squeezing his neck with his hands.
The Omega choked. The mark seemed to ignite. Warmth spread across his skin, across his back, into his stomach, as if someone had straightened hot ribbons inside him. His legs gave way, and only the remnants of his stubbornness prevented him from staggering. He felt his body responding treacherously. His legs began to spread and want his Alpha to run his hand from his neck to his waist, and then lower. Shame flared up at the same time as dirty thoughts.
Omega involuntarily
The Alpha pulled away just as slowly. His tongue, wet, heavy, was still half-sticking out, like a predator after a hard hunt. A drop of saliva fell from his lower lip and fell to the floor. The circle-shaped mark on his tongue burned silver. He ran the back of his hand over his mouth, slowly wiping away all the excess from the skin, and looked at Omega.
"Disgusting," he said.
Just one word. Without any anger, in a calm tone.. But everything inside Omega snapped. Everything that flared up, everything that carelessly stirred in his stomach, in his throat, in his thoughts, everything went out in that same second. How stupid he felt.
Even sitting practically half-naked in the cage and only going out for the "exhibition" for alphas, he did not experience such disgusting feelings.
"Let me go..." he said it almost in a whisper, not knowing what exactly he was asking for. "Please, can I go out?"
Serak didn't answer. He just looked calmly and suddenly took him by the arm, just above the elbow, and led him forward.
He did not resist as Serac pulled him along. Step by step, through a small archway where the walls were finished in smooth stone, he could barely feel his legs. Too much had happened in the last few minutes, and everything in him was knocked down, broken, forced to fit someone else's pace. His head was ringing not from pain, but from himself, from the word he had spoken, throwing him away like a bone.
They went out onto the balcony and the air changed.
The warmth of the room was replaced by coolness. The wind from the mountains brought the smells of leaves, dust, distant water, a fire. And somewhere deep inside, he smelled food. The sharp smell of fried meat, onions, oil, crispy crust and vegetables.
Omega's stomach twisted so that he almost doubled over.
He never ate even half of what was on the table.
His stomach had not accepted food for three days. He had been feeding on bugs and water from the rocks until now. And now his body decided that it couldn't wait any longer. It demanded, twisted, betrayed weakness.
He looked down. The landscape was beautiful to the point of pain: jagged towers reaching into the clouds, a dark green forest, a series of roofs, smoking chimneys. Everything was perfect, too peaceful and like that fairy tale that no one had invited him to.
Serak let go of his hand and walked to the table. He didn't say a word. He just sat down calmly, still not looking back at the omega.
The omega remained standing. He didn't know what kind of game this was or why he was here. Why hadn't they thrown him back into the cage? Why wasn't anyone screaming? Why did everything look so calm if everything inside was crunching?
Serak looked majestic even without his crown and the entourage of servants and assistants.
"Sit down." The voice was not rough, but not soft either
Omega approached, trying not to show how his legs were shaking. He sat down opposite. His fingers rested disobediently on his knees. He wanted to hide. He could smell food, and that made it even worse. He wanted it. He really wanted it. But the fear was stronger.
Serak took a piece of meat, cut it elegantly, brought it to his mouth and chewed it all with the same leisurely pace. He did not look at Omega. But it seemed that he saw everything.
Omega did not touch anything. He did not know if it was possible and just sat.
Serak finished his piece and put the knife down, looking straight at Omega.
"Who came to you at night?"
The question was not loud and was not even hostile.
Omega's back twitched. He looked at the plate and could not breathe.
He knew Alpha wasn't asking for free, but he also knew there was too much hanging in the air.
The girls and their plea not to trust Serak.
Was it true? Or another trap? Or worse, a way to destroy him from within?
He didn't know if they were enemies or allies.
He only knew one thing: he was too vulnerable to risk blindly and lose even a hint of companions in this darkness.
"No one," he said, trying to keep his voice calm.
There was a pause. He expected it to be threatening, but it was surprisingly humiliatingly light.
Serak leaned back slightly, holding his wine glass in his fingers, and grinned as if he was listening to a joke rather than an answer.
"Really?" he asked. "So one person can cry so loudly that the entire castle shakes?"
Omega blushed.
And Serak had no desire to finish him off. He simply took a sip and, putting the glass on the table, added coldly:
"Fine."