Chapter Forty-Six

Kiandra

A hand forcefully slammed down on the table, jolting me awake from my slumber. I glanced around, disoriented, and found an enraged king standing beside me. I blinked my eyes rapidly, attempting to shake off the remnants of sleep.

"Is something wrong?" I inquired, my voice dry, reaching for the glass of water provided for me.

The king ensured that I was fed and hydrated while I worked, though he didn't appear particularly pleased with me.

"You fell asleep," he pointed out.

"I've been studying night and day. It's no surprise I fell asleep."

"Yes, well, I know your Alpha is on his way here with an army, and in less than a day, he'll be surrounding these walls, demanding to see you."

"Then perhaps don't abduct his Omega," I muttered under my breath, hearing the king growl, and I lowered my gaze.

"What have you learned?" he inquired.

"Um," I flipped through the pages and shrugged. "Not much. It does seem highly plausible that this city exists."

"Yes, we established that."

"But some of these passages are written in riddles, speaking of something about the city being found where the sun touches the ground, and in that moment, you will see the city shine brighter than the very moon," I read aloud.

"I know what the book says! I've read it!" he snapped, causing me to look up at him, surprised.

"Then why do you need me?"

"Because only an Omega can find the city!"

"Yes, I understand that, but…" I trailed off as I flipped to a page I hadn't read yet, and that's when I noticed something.

Right on the pages were swirling lines that reminded me of something.

"What?" the king asked when I hesitated to continue.

I was about to answer him when my inner voice reminded me of the dangers of being completely honest with the king.

"I am trying," I admitted, attempting to be vague about what I had discovered.

"Try harder," he demanded. "Once your Alpha reaches us, I have no choice but to let him in."

I stared in shock at the king beside me. I hadn't expected that.

"What?"

"What?" he echoed. "You're not my prisoner."

"I'm not?" I questioned, not understanding why the king wouldn't attempt to stop Cartan from reaching me.

"Of course not. I don't want a war with the Black Desert, and if you provoke one clan leader, they all come running," he snarled.

"Don't you have the largest army?"

"The largest doesn't guarantee success. My father was foolish enough to antagonize one of the older clan leaders. I don't intend to make the same mistake," he informed me, and I blinked rapidly as I stared up at him.

He was certainly much wiser than I had initially assumed, and he didn't seem to share the same values as his predecessors. However, that didn't change the fact that he had abducted me. It was clear that you didn't defy the king, regardless of the circumstances, or he would come for you.

"I will do my best to find out as much as I can in the time I have left," I assured him.

"Just find that city," he snarled before leaving once more.

I glanced over my shoulder, watching him depart before heaving a sigh of relief. I wasn't certain if I could find the city, but that didn't deter me from reaching for a piece of paper I had close by, ready to take notes. As I worked, a smile gradually spread across my face. I followed the intricate lines throughout the numerous pages, noticing that the book was constructed in the same manner as the one in the castle on my island. I wondered if the same individuals had created both.

However, as I looked at the author's name, I was taken aback to see a horizontal line underneath the i in the name. It extended down to the bottom of the page, and I observed that this first page was thicker than the others. I grabbed a small knife, and although uncertain if it would yield anything, I began to carefully separate the page.

The page split in two, and I cut through it completely, creating two separate pages. As I unfolded it, I discovered another name written inside. It was undoubtedly a woman's name, but what brought a broad smile to my lips was the Omega symbol beneath the name, indicating it was an Omega who had authored the book. Could it be the same with my book back at the castle? Had she crafted that one as well? Why wasn't I surprised it had been obscured by a man's name? I shook my head before returning to my work, tracing the lines to each letter. While I transcribed them, I noticed they spelled out a word.

"Berachia," I read aloud, my mind struggling to recall if I had ever encountered that word before.

I tapped a finger against the table when, suddenly, the doors behind me were thrust open. I glanced over my shoulder, noticing two guards at the library entrance. I stood up, realizing how late it had become as I gazed out the windows. Time had passed quickly, but when I hesitated to move, the guards approached.

"Omega!" one of them called out before gesturing for me to follow.

They urged me forward as we exited the library, heading toward the throne room. My Alpha's booming voice reached my ears even before we entered the room, and my heart raced at the dark timbre of it. It sent delightful shivers down my spine and brought a wide smile to my lips. The doors swung open, revealing my Alpha pacing in front of the king, who was seated on his throne. Clan leaders and a few Alphas were scattered throughout the room.

"I want her now!" Cartan bellowed. "How dare you think you can steal her away?"

The king appeared bored, as if he didn't consider abducting me from Cartan to be a problem. However, I couldn't stop smiling. Seeing him again felt like a breath of fresh air. Being separated from him for days had left me unsettled in a way I hadn't even realized until he stood a few feet away from me. I needed him as much as I needed air.

"I should fucking kill you right now!" Cartan growled.

"Your Omega and child are safe. They were fed and well taken care of. I simply borrowed her," the king explained.

"Borrowed?" Cartan roared, turning to the king. "You don't fucking borrow my Omega! You little—"

"Cartan!" I called out, and my Alpha spun around. So did everyone else, but I only saw him.

He looked at me with wide eyes, and I rushed into his arms. In no time, he caught me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, holding onto him tightly. His hands explored my body, checking for injuries without letting me go, and he inhaled my scent, making sure I was truly unharmed.

"I'm never letting you go again," he whispered in my ear. "From now on, you're always by my side."

His words filled my heart with warmth, and I clung to him even tighter before someone cleared their throat. Cartan reluctantly let me down on my feet and turned to the king.

"This will not go unpunished," he warned.

"Cartan, he didn't hurt me," I reassured him.

"I don't fucking care. This disrespect you've shown frees me from any vow I made regarding finding an Omega," Cartan snarled.

"That's fine. I didn't expect you to honor your word anyway."

Cartan didn't appreciate his integrity being questioned, and his growl darkened.

"That's why I retrieved your Omega. And tell me, little one, has your journey borne any fruit?" the king asked, turning to me.

"Not unless you know what ‘Berachia' means," I replied. However, the king was a master of deception. His expression remained unchanged, revealing nothing. I couldn't discern whether the word held any significance for him, but he gave me a slight nod before dismissively waving his hand.

"You have your Omega now. You can leave," he said.

Cartan growled and moved forward, but I grabbed his hand, holding him back. Cartan turned to me, running a hand through my hair and pulling me close to his body. I could feel his entire frame vibrating with anger, but I understood the king's drastic decision. There weren't enough Omegas to go around, and Cartan was duty-bound to prioritize the clan.

I wasn't sure what Cartan's plans were regarding the king, but I knew for certain that starting a war with him would be unwise. The king was too cunning, too unpredictable, and the fact that he hadn't harmed me or used me to corner Cartan showed that he understood not to make an enemy out of my Alpha either.

"He took you," Cartan growled.

"Let it go. I'm fine, truly. It's not worth losing lives over. Let it be," I whispered and buried my nose in his chest.

An unsatisfied rumble emanated from Cartan, but I knew it was more crucial to him to get me back to his tent and into our nest. That's where I wanted to be as well. Cartan cast another warning glare at the king with his eyes before he lifted me, carrying me in his arms, and we all turned away from the throne room.

However, I peeked over Cartan's shoulder and saw the king smiling at me. I didn't like that smile, so I buried my face in Cartan's neck, seeking his strength.