It made me wonder what else they didn’t know about this trial.
“No. The focus has been on you.” Tavia tapped her finger against her chin. “It could be something completely different. Or maybe he’s worked with the betas. Maybe they think you gave him the information—”
“No. He’s an alpha.” Even though he’d arrived at the castle in his wolf form, he’d conveniently explained that away by saying he’d taken me as his mate.
Had he known this was going to happen and was using me as a cover? I couldn’t think about that right now. That could be the king’s strategy—to divide and conquer.
But why would he turn on Solen, who wasn’t only a trusted and respected general and a brutal warrior, but his own family, after he’d protected his secret for so many years?
I’d fight beside my mate, but the first lesson any omega learned in the Badlands was that we took care of ourselves first. We couldn’t fight for others when we were down.
“Maybe it’s unrelated and the King’s on one of his rants,” Tavia said. “Don’t give me that look, Zee. You of all people know how he gets.”
“I’m ready.” The longer we waited, the more chance we had to spread misinformation, rumors, and fear. I wanted to get this over with, and I really wanted to see Solen. He couldn’t make this all go away but I could channel some of that amazing strength for this fight.
“Adalai said he’d send someone when he was ready for—”
“I’m ready now. Being a good little omega got me here. So I say we get this over with.” I slipped my feet into my omega slippers. They were new and clean which was nice, but they were sure to give me blisters until I broke them in, and I didn’t plan on staying in this outfit long enough to break them in.
The ladies trailed after me, begging me to change my mind. But I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. I wasn’t exactly sure where I was going, but the energy in the castle led the way. I was still thinking like a wolf. It was an advantage over the alphas, who didn’t have their animal available to them as readily as omegas.
There was the crowd. I pushed through it, reveling in the gasps of the alphas who didn’t expect to see me yet. So many people were here. Too many. If His Majesty didn’t intend to turn this into a spectacle, these charges could have been heard before his generals and his court. Not every resident of Luxoria.
The King had already settled into his throne, a goblet of wine by his side like this was a cause for celebration. The seat next to him was empty, but soon Zelene would join him in judgment.
She was a brave woman, and she’d fight for me just like I’d fight for her.
“What is she doing here?” The king roared. “I didn’t call for her.”
I tilted my chin, steeling myself for the battle of my life. “I came to hear the charges against me.”
And that was when I spotted Solen, standing on the other side of the stage.
They’d dressed him as an omega too.
Solen
Chapter Thirteen
I stood beside the king like I always did, with the same regal stance, the same alpha certainty. It didn’t matter that he wanted to dress me like an omega. Like Ashla said, we were innocent, so I would fucking act innocent.
Adalai hadn’t allowed me time to plead my case as I hoped he would. For the first time in a long time, I wanted to punch him in his smug face when he looked me up and down like I was a specimen instead of a faithful guard and general of the eastern borders.
I’d never betrayed him. Others, as some would say, but not him.
If he thought dressing me in omega garb was an insult, well then perhaps our queen needed to remind him why he’d abolished The Division in the first place.
What did he think this show of power was going to accomplish? Maybe he meant to appease the beta resistance rather than fight them, but that wasn’t the Adalai I knew. The king I served ruled with brute strength.
Offering scapegoats wouldn’t stop the resistance and win the war, but he didn’t ask my opinion. He just tossed me a set of thin clothes to replace my uniform and armor.
A commotion in the crowd made me focus on all the faces I’d let blur before me. The one face I’d been waiting to see, stood in the center of the room.
“What is she doing here?” Adalai boomed. “I didn’t call for her.”
I stiffened, hating the way he glared at Ashla. Like she was the enemy. Did he really believe she’d helped the resistance? Did the queen?
My mate straightened her shoulders as she faced him. “I came to hear the charges against me.”
Her eyes clashed with mine and her expression softened before turning grim. I lifted my chin and widened my stance to remind her who we were. Innocent. And even if they found us guilty today, it wouldn’t change that fact.
If they found us guilty… shit, how would I protect my mate if I lost my place in the guard?
The crowd became more riled as someone shoved Ashla, sending her tumbling forward and some of the queen’s court rushed in behind her. Tavia, Charolet, and Rielle pushed people back as much as they could but in the melee, Ashla was getting trampled.
Fuck.
I charged forward but an arm came around my neck from behind, jerking me back in place. “Don’t.” Cassian’s voice was hard and urgent. “You’ll make it worse. Stand your ground. Our females have this.”
“She’ll be hurt,” I snarled, clawing at
