“What is happening?” I stepped forward, looking for anyone I was familiar with. I hadn’t worked in this part of the castle. Charolet would’ve been the best contact, and she was nowhere to be found.
“Where is the queen’s court?” Rielle asked, grabbing an omega by the arm. The omega’s eyes widened, like she didn’t want to tell her.
“Her majesty...is in labor. The baby is coming.”
“My rose.” The king put his hand over his heart before breaking into a run. His generals followed him, leaving the omegas behind.
We took a precious moment for a quick celebration, hugging each other and squealing before breaking into a full run to get to Zelene’s quarters.
“Is this where she’d be?” I asked. “Or would she have gone to the infirmary?”
“No. The infirmary will be overrun with mutants who are having a hard time transitioning back to their omega form,” Rielle said. “The king and queen have their own medical team. They’ll bring the equipment they need here and keep her as comfortable as possible.”
“How can anyone be comfortable when they’re having a baby?” Tavia shuddered. “Leave it to Zee to go into labor when the most pivotal battle in the history of Luxoria is going down. This baby will be a force to be reckoned with.”
Solen, Dagger, Evander, and Cassian stood outside her quarters. Hands behind their backs like the soldiers they were, guarding their queen.
A scream cut from behind the door.
“I have to go in. I’m her sister. She needs me.”
Dagger did not argue with his mate and stepped aside. Tavia opened the door just in time for another blood-curdling scream.
“I should go too. I’ve been working in the clinics. I can help,” Rielle suggested, and turned back to me. “Come, Ashla. You’ll help us keep it together the next time she screams like that. They should’ve brought her more drugs.”
“You know Zelene doesn’t want drugs.” But I was nervous to go in, because Zelene had always been so strong, and those screams made her sound so vulnerable.
“Push, my rose. Push. The head is crowning. The baby is almost here.” The King was just as vulnerable as his first baby came into the world. Zelene collapsed against the bed in exhaustion as Adalai rushed over to cover her in kisses.
“What did she have?” Rielle asked only loudly enough for me to hear her. We went up on our tiptoes to catch a glimpse as the nurse washed and swaddled the baby.
“Your majesties, may I present to you the future king of Luxoria.”
Solen
Chapter Twenty One
I waited impatiently outside Ashla’s quarters for her to accompany me to the royal celebration. After the battle and the birth of the future king, both of us were exhausted. I’d taken Ashla to my bed and we were asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow.
Waking up to her in my arms was something I never wanted to take for granted. One kiss and I’d been ready to take her, knot her again, and mark her with my scent. However, she looked at the clock and noticed we were late.
Late.
She’d bolted out of bed, gloriously naked as she rushed to the closet for a robe. Her battle wounds were healing quickly with the help of her animal. “I have to go, Solen. I have to get ready.”
“It’s fine,” I said, lazily tucking my hands behind my head to watch her.
She looked at me aghast. “Are you kidding? This is the most important ceremony of our existence. I have to look presentable. And right now…” She glanced at her reflection in the nearby mirror. “Right now, I look like a caveman dragged me to bed and left me there for a week.”
It wasn’t a flawed approximation, but damn if I didn’t love her even more now.
The ceremony was to be a dual celebration, the king said. Part victory dance for our new unified pack, and part naming ceremony for the new baby.
I would have gladly skipped any victory celebration in place of being with my mate, but the naming of an omega heir to the throne?
Yeah, I would’ve skipped that too. But Ashla wouldn’t miss it for the world.
I grinned, remembering her words. “See, that’s the difference between you and me, mate,” she’d said. “I lived in the Badlands, and I need to see this with my own eyes. You… well, you need to see it too, but you’d rather rut.”
“Yes,” I’d told her, going in for another hot kiss. “I’m glad you understand.”
She had kissed me back. Hard. I thought I’d won…
And then she slipped my grasp and pulled on a robe faster than a palace magician, and insisted she get ready in her own quarters.
I scowled at the door, waiting for her now, pacing out my frustrations.
After tonight, there would be no more her quarters. There would only be our quarters.
I looked at my timepiece. The events would be starting any minute. Where was my mate?
As if she could hear me silently begging her to hurry, she appeared in the doorway of her room. I stopped pacing at the sight of her, forgetting how to breathe.
Ashla, my sweet tempered omega mate, was completely stunning in a turquoise bejeweled gown that no longer only belonged on a royal. The neckline fell off her delicate shoulders, revealing her fine neck and jaw. I immediately located the place where she especially liked my lips, my teeth, just to the side of her chin. I wanted to kiss her there now, but my eyes kept moving over her curves and the way the dress played them up, to a dramatic disadvantage to my cock.
Gods, how would I make it through this party without mauling her with my need?
I found her eyes where she looked at
