— What is this place? — It was all quite magnificent. It was a part of the beach owned by the royal family, and no one else was around. It was just Alex and me. I had left my boots on the rocks and rolled up my pants. I walked barefoot on the sand, feeling it sink beneath my feet. I had missed it so much. I loved that sensation — always had. The salty sea breeze brought a sweet, almost wistful feeling.
I had been staying in that castle for nearly a month. William kept postponing the meeting with the other council members, saying we should wait for the arrival of representatives from other kingdoms. How convenient, right? Theodor had given me another week of delay. He was doing everything he could to stall the process. But I wasn't exactly excited about what the future might hold.
— The beach I told you about. You used to come here to train alone. I found this place after following you. Though you always wanted to bring me, I never gave you the chance, — Alex said. He had done the same — walking barefoot beside me.
The beach was pristine. A great wall of stone rose above us, and we had come down via a natural staircase. There were caves along the edge and the tide was low. Beautiful shells scattered the shore. I walked toward those delicate wonders.
I preferred being like this with Alex. Times were tough, and I had to take etiquette classes, posture training, and a bunch of other unnecessary nonsense. I was trying — even working on my speech. The teachers weren't kind to me, probably at the request of the executioner who had been "guiding" me all this time. As if he knew anything about gentleness, right? I didn't enjoy those lessons.
Alexander treated me like he always had. We talked and walked together, but we hadn't been intimate again.
It was torturous, and I no longer felt comfortable seeking out some soldier or noble who might be interested — and they were, judging by the way they hovered around me. It was almost funny. But my mind was entirely on that alpha, who seemed to drift further away. Why had he brought me here if he didn't want anything with me? I didn't want the meeting. I didn't want the throne if it meant not having Alexander in my life. How would he treat me after all this?
— It's so beautiful here. Want to swim? — I crouched and picked up a few shimmering purple shells.
— No, but go ahead, — Alex replied with a soft smile. I sighed, frustrated.
We had ridden here on horseback, and it was fun to take the forest paths. It had been a silent race, and the knight had won in the end. I rode by instinct. I didn't even remember mounting a horse before arriving in the kingdom, and yet I handled it like I had done it all my life.
I undressed completely and walked into the water. I felt the soft chill as I moved deeper. It was so clear and transparent. I'd been to beautiful beaches before, but this one carried a strange sense of nostalgia. I couldn't recall why. Why had I thought the memories would come back like some enchanting flood? I thought I'd just arrive, meet some relatives, and everything would return. But nothing. Only the memory of my name, shouted by the alpha's voice.
— When you're done with me, I'll go out with other alphas. I'll throw parties and have fun with them, — I said, trying to provoke jealousy. — Is that what you want?
— No, — Alex replied, his tone firmer now. — But can I stop you? It's not like I can chain your arms and lock you in the basement of my estate.
— Well… that would be exciting, — I muttered, raising an eyebrow ever so slightly, imagining that tempting little game. He was jealous — I already knew that — so what was he trying to prove? Throwing out innuendos wasn't going to make Alexander accept my offer. I wanted him. I trusted the older man, and I couldn't believe I might lose my only ally in this place just because I felt more trapped than I should.
The older one smiled in my direction, and that only made me feel worse — like the villain for having made such an indecent proposal. And at the same time, it made me want to go even further, do something stupid, regret it, and cry afterward.
I sank into the water, letting its warmth wrap around me. The waves rocked me gently. I liked feeling that way. I could stay underwater for seven minutes. Swim long distances. I remembered the competitions we used to have. They always ended with punches and kicks and laughter.
At some point, I was pulled. Alexander had stepped into the water and was now drawing me toward him.
— Are you okay? — he asked, startled, looking straight at me.
— Yes? — I began to straighten myself, standing fully upright. The height difference was hard to miss. At my 5'4", and him standing at 6'2", it became even more obvious. I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my head on his chest, breathing in that soothing scent that always calmed me. — I can hold my breath underwater for seven minutes.
— Oh. — The alpha genuinely seemed impressed.
— You really do care about me. That's so stupid of you, — I mumbled. Though that wasn't really what I meant to say.
— Yes. I care. — He admitted it so easily. How could someone be so honest with their own feelings when it was their first time going through such an emotional storm? He was used to partying, hooking up, and then drinking until he blacked out. And now he had to deal with my breath faltering and my heart racing just because an alpha said he cared about me. What the hell is this? And it wasn't even the pheromones — I could barely feel them in that moment.
I rose up on my toes, held his face, and kissed him — more tenderly, more passionately than I wanted to admit. My lips lingered on his, melting into the warmth I had missed. It had been a while since I felt this close to Alex. Even though we were always together, it was never as near as I longed for. He was always keeping some distance. I saw him so many times a day and all I wanted was to feel his lips on mine, with intensity.
But the kiss was interrupted. The alpha stepped back, hands firm on my shoulders, and walked toward his shirt and boots.
— We should go, — he said gently.
I hated not being able to enjoy what was right there in front of us. Was it really that hard to just have fun, to enjoy the moment? We could deal with consequences and escape plans after. Just because I was leaving didn't mean we had to avoid everything. I hated feeling avoided. It was so frustrating.
Alex really did want to pull away. That much was clear — and I was angry.
I grabbed the horse's reins after getting dressed and started down the path. The guards were waiting for us at the beach entrance. Ever since I'd been nearly poisoned, security had been increased and a meticulous investigation was underway. Everyone knew who really wanted me dead. That bastard William. But who was going to point a finger at the king?
Well, the guards had trouble keeping up with us after the little race we had before reaching the beach. But I think Alex wasn't in the mood to race on the way back. He just trotted in silence. So, of course, they followed us easily.
— We can't just…
— No. — Alexander cut in, not sounding angry, but firm. — I don't know how the rules work at sea — if there even are any — but here, it's different. We only sleep together when we're bonded, unless we're with our mate. Sure, some break the moral code and sneak around at parties. But for me, it's different. I don't want to be with someone I'm not truly committed to.
— BUT WE ARE! — I shouted, frustrated. Of course I used to party and loved a bit of chaos — but I also wanted a relationship with that alpha. Was that so hard to understand?
— For political reasons, — Alex replied, still calm, which only irritated me more. — You don't mind stepping on my feelings? Is it really that easy to brush off everything I said to you just because you're in the mood?
I stayed silent for a moment. I didn't know what to say — everything that came to mind was petty and cruel.
— It's not like that. We're engaged. We're getting married, — I said with a soft smile, trying to calm things down.
— You're just using me as a catapult to get out of here, — the alpha said, speeding up and leaving me behind, knowing I couldn't quite match his pace.
— Cowardly bastard, — I muttered, tightening my grip on the reins. A few guards had heard our little argument, but none of them said a word. It was as if they were enjoying the conflict — and had no intention of betraying the duke by speaking up. I sighed and kept riding.
As we entered the courtyard, I noticed that some nobles had already arrived. The group from the desert carried distinct cultural traits and were strikingly elegant in both clothing and appearance. Even the carriage stood out. Their garments featured a lighter color palette — soft beiges and yellows — and they wore an extravagant amount of jewelry.
Alexander was talking to the members of the entourage. They all had brown or olive-toned skin, straight hair. There was one woman in particular…
— That's Duke Alexander's former fiancée, — the guard beside me said, as if answering a question I hadn't even asked.
I glared at him. The man stepped away after dropping that bomb right in my face.
The alpha was smiling so kindly. She was the only one dressed in dark clothing, yet still adorned with beautiful jewels. She looked like a princess — long dark hair, golden eyes. Her features were delicate, yet there was strength in her posture. She was as tall as Alex. And the two of them seemed… close. The woman touched his arm and laughed as if he'd just told the funniest joke in the world. Meanwhile, her supposed father lamented the broken engagement between them.
I stood in the middle of the courtyard, watching their interaction, imagining what they were saying. Unable to interfere. What could I even say? I was burning with jealousy. I had never felt this way for any alpha before. They were always disposable pieces to me — temporary, easily replaced. But Alexander was different. And right now, I wanted to pull my Alex away from that interaction and tell him he had no right to talk to anyone else.
— The king wishes to see you in private, — came the voice of his ancient, time-worn advisor. The evil twin.
— Alright, — I muttered. I didn't think William would try anything — not yet. I simply followed the old man toward the war room.
"Is this relic truly magical?" — my brother's voice echoed as we neared the door.
"Yes, Your Majesty. It was recovered from the lair of a jade dragon." A younger, feminine voice responded.
Before I could hear more, the old man opened the door and announced me. The woman handed the box to William and left the room. She didn't even greet me. Rude! But I couldn't deny I was curious about what they were discussing.
Magic was a rare resource. I had never seen anyone cast spells, though I knew it existed. I had only ever encountered objects infused with some kind of magic — never anything strong or truly powerful. Baltazar once told me that magic had been banned centuries ago, now mostly found in the eastern regions of the map — where jade, diamond, gold, lapis lazuli, and other precious stones were common, along with the legendary dragons.
And now William had gotten his hands on some kind of artifact? I'll admit — I was dying to know what that cruel little mind of his was plotting.
— What do you want? — I asked bitterly. After what I'd just seen in the courtyard, all I wanted was to dunk my head into a bathtub full of piranhas. I sat down in the chair. I had never been in this room before.
It was beautiful, with a massive world map spread across the table. I assumed the blue flags marked allies and the green ones enemies — because Diamante was marked in green. Raviera was a large kingdom, bordered by two great oceans: the North and South Atlantis.
— Didn't Theodor teach you any manners? — the man asked, irritation slipping briefly into his voice.
— He did. I just decided you're not worth the effort, — I replied, casually playing with two figurines on the map. There was a smaller one representing Raviera, and it was actually kind of cute.
The advisor exited the room when the king gave him a silent signal. We were alone, and I could feel the tension rise. William wouldn't do anything… right? He couldn't be that insane. Or could he? I adjusted myself in the chair, crossing my legs, ready to reach for my dagger if necessary.
— I know everything about you. Everything you've been doing these past four years, — the alpha said, pulling out a chair and sitting right in front of me. Was he getting desperate now that the council would soon be gathering?
— So what? I'm not hiding anything, — I shrugged.
— You don't belong here. You never did. Even if you can't remember it, you were never the type to quietly accept life as a peaceful omega. You had to sneak out in the dead of night to train until your wrists ached, chasing a hopeless dream of becoming a knight, — William said, his tone calm but calculating. I didn't answer — I wanted to see how far he'd go. Theodor and Alex had already warned me there would be attempts to make a deal.
— I see…
— Even back then, you didn't fit into royalty. It never felt right. And looking at the crimes you've committed during those four years away, it's obvious your life belongs out there — not here, — Will continued, the damned kingslayer. — And I'm offering you a chance to go back. I'm sure your captain would be thrilled to have you aboard again. Safe passage to your ship in neutral waters. What do you say?
— Why the hell would I accept that crap? — I sighed, annoyed.
— I'll offer you all the gold you can carry. I'll give you what you want most: freedom. You don't want to be here, brother — we both know that, — William said, now standing behind my chair, his hands resting on my shoulders. — I'll even grant full pardon to Baltazar and your crew. No more charges. You'll be free.
It was tempting. But if I left… what would happen to the duke's family who had supported me? The other nobles would be in danger too. Not that I owed anything to anyone. Still, I didn't want Alexander to suffer. I knew my brother would never truly let me go — he'd try to kill me the moment I stepped outside the duchy's protection. But I could escape that fate.
I stood up. I wouldn't make a deal with the devil just because it sounded appealing. I could do all of that once the crown was on my head — grant Baltazar full pardon, walk out of this place with my head held high. No need to run. It would just take a few more years.
— No. I don't want it. Thanks, — I said, my voice bitter. It was hard, but I had to think about Alexander — and how vulnerable he'd be if I accepted.
— I knew you'd say that, — William said, sounding far too composed. — Which is why I have a second option: you'll marry me instead of Alexander.
— WHAT?!
To be continued…