Seidrik didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. Because everything would fall neatly into place at Stamel’s hand. “Just give it time.”
Chapter Seven
Seidrik
A curt knock roused Seidrik from Stamel’s bed, sending him into a panic to hide, flopping off the side and onto the floor in a sprawl.
“My lord. They’ve asked your presence in Lumic’s wing.” A soft-spoken servant earned a grunt of acknowledgement.
“I’ll wake our guest, then. Watch after Tyran.” Stamel slid from bed and peered down at Seidrik with a wicked grin and a shushing gesture.
Oh, how Seidrik’s cheeks burned as he wrapped himself in a sheet and darted between their rooms in the linking doorway. He hurried to dress himself and followed Stamel, holding his head high. Something about Lumic going into labor made him feel awkward, like he should take notes, mind the experience, because if Stamel had his way, he’d bear young sooner than later. He rested a hand on his belly. If only he were a beta. If only… Stamel already had children! Panic settled in.
They gathered in silence, making their way into Lumic’s sitting quarters. Furniture for the babe had been set about already, and all of it unnerved Seidrik greatly.
Askara popped his head in, offering everyone a smile as Seidrik sat across from Stamel, doing his best to appear uninterested in his mate. As far as anyone knew, they were watcher and disgrace. Though, who deserved either title more was only the goddess’s business. “Brother, do tell your mate I wish him well. And I have a message to pass on from our mother sun.”
Askara brightened. “I’m going to fetch him, and I’ll pass that on. He’s in the font at the moon’s command saying his blessings. Salusis will flow.”
What they’d been told of salusis was that it healed all wrongs; where vitalis could mend the broken, salusis could cure disease, illness, and malformations. Great promises had been made, and Seidrik contemplated his own malformation. A disease, really. Perhaps he could partake of the font, and maybe it would heal him of his omega nature. Make him beta and whole. The thought obsessed him, and he leaned back, hand tracing a pocket and finding an empty vial—nightflower. He’d taken his dose earlier that night despite Stamel not menacing him as he’d done so frequently since his arrival.
Ingred gave him a lingering stare. “You look like a guilty tit.”
“I interrupted his self-pleasuring,” Stamel said, picking at his teeth.
Seidrik made an undignified noise, mouth agape. “I—”
“Ah. No shame.” Ingred’s focus drifted off as Kershai rolled his eyes, and Pallosar gave Ingred a withering glare.
“Really, Stamel?” Pallosar turned his attention to his oldest son. “I raised you better. Leave a man and his hand to himself unless he makes it your issue.”
Stamel gave Seidrik a wicked grin, as if hehadmade it his issue.
“I assure you that I was not in the throes of self-passion, as it were.” Seidrik cleared his throat.
“Nothing passionate about it.” Stamel snorted before Ingred offered him a cup of tallroot milk and clinked glasses with him in congratulations for his well-timed insult.
“There’s the shame, then. If you cannot love yourself, you don’t deserve it.” Kershai noddedgenteelly and earned a thwack against his meaty arm from Pallosar’s thin hand.
“Really, dear?” The omega king glared.
Muttered voices petered through the thin walls, and Seidrik turned his attention to a muffled conversation. Askara passed on Seidrik’s blessing. “Seidrik wishes you well.”
“And I wish him to know my pain!” Lumic’s voice barked freely, making Seidrik wither, cheeks pinkening.
Askar’s response had Seidrik undone. “Unless he puts something where it doesn’t belong, he will never know, my love.”
Like his brother’s cock.
“What would you be putting there, beta, to bring yourself that pain?” Stamel turned his gaze toward Seidrik.
“Still. Fuck him!” Lumic’s muffled voice made Seidrik stand, cheeks burning.
“I think I best step out and get some fresh air. I do not believe that Lumic thinks highly of me, and perhaps I would best not hear the rest of his missives. Someone in his level of pain is bound to say things that they do not mean.” Seidrik got to the door before Ingred snickered.
“Lumic would say the same thing stone sober and unbothered. He only speaks his truth louder in pain.” Ingred swore and shuffled as something heavy flew his direction.
“Fuck off, Stamel.” The two whispered at one another.
