“I understand, King Alluin. It was as much of a shock to my heart as it was to you, I am certain.” Stamel had paid good coin to swap Alluin’s seasonal wine out with a bland brandy. And that he didn’t notice the difference made Stamel genuinely curious as to if the king had a sense of taste at all.
“It’s no matter. The proposal was a useful one. You did your footwork well on the matter. I appreciate someone coming to me with all their boxes ticked. It’s an honest trade.” He rubbed at his forehead and took a deep breath before standing abruptly, causing Seidrik to drop his utensil and fumble to stand, earning a withering glance from Alluin.
Likely Alluin had some dumb rule about his family treating him askingeven during their private meals, meaning, none could sit when the king stood. Stamel stood at a more leisurely pace but dipped his head with as much grace as he could. Alluin nodded back in appreciation before sweeping his way out toward the front gates. He’d likely have a carriage waiting.
Seidrik followed behind at a nervous pace, his heart thundering in his chest so very hard that Stamel could sense it in their bond. The king would be thedeath of him in time if Stamel didn’t act.In due time, middenweasel.
From the castle, they rode to the church, the spired building conjoined with the conservatory. The echoing grand chamber made their every move whisper about them with great pressure on his ears as they strode toward the morning windows, catching the rising sun’s full presence.
“Mother Goddess, sun above, beloved is thy shine. Blesser of vitalis to the Liaberians and holder of all that is good and holy to the sun fae. We worship thee in darkness and in light—” King Alluin shouted boisterously as he spread his arms in a great display. His hanging sleeves cast shadows across the golden carpet, split many ways as it threw over the polished wood benches. Where on special occasions the nave was full, on this morning, they lay empty, no whispering voices, the loudness of fae silence, or the milling of anxious clergy. They proceeded to the altar as he spoke and the goddess interrupted him, silencing his echoing words with her own booming presence.
Seidrik cowered as she spoke.Enough! What is it you ask for, Alluin?
“I—My Mother Goddess… I humbly ask—” Alluin cowered.
Cease the groveling. You irritate me, Alluin. Stamel. Ask your question.
King Alluin visibly deflated as Stamel cleared his throat and spoke up. “Mother Goddess, I bring forth a firstborn son of Liaberos, one you have bidden never sire a child. I wish to unite with him, to cement a union between Croatens and Liaberos, as we are meant to be mates. I seek your approval.”
You ask me to approve a union between you, one of my favored sons, and Alluin’s firstborn?
“And she’ll reject it because you never prayed to her, Seidrik! Look!” Alluin thrust his hand towardSeidrik and then the windows as if the goddess had already deigned it to not be.
Do not speak on my behalf, Alluin. You sat a poor example for your son. His lack of prayer was—She halted when Alluin shouted at her.
“My worthless son spat in your face! He refused to pray to you, and you cursed his existence. He would have a wife and be ready to take my throne upon my demise, have heirs and more. Why, Seidrik? Why would you do this? Why would you not offer your prayers? That was not my doing. I have urged you your entire life to pray to the goddess! How would you bless the fonts without her?” Alluin whirled on Seidrik, shouting coming at him from all angles as the acoustics amplified his vitriol. A hungover Alluin was amusing at best.
I approve of their union. I do not approve of you or how you treated your children. Why Seidrik and I have not spoken is entirely on you. He speaks to me, now.
“It is on himself. He embarrassed me. Had he sent his prayers to you, Lyrica may not have—She would have lived to defend herself. He spat in your face.” Alluin put his finger in Seidrik’s face as he seethed.
“I—Father, the goddess has spoken. I speak with her. I pray to her. I worship h—” Seidrik reeled as Alluin drew back and slapped him across his face.
The crack echoed around the nave, and Stamel rested a hand on Alluin’s forearm, fingers gently curling as he pushed his hand away. “Alluin. The goddess gave her word. He is my mate, and you have struck my mate.”
It was all Stamel could do not to throttle Alluin where he stood. Before the goddess and all.
“I am his father, and I will do as I please as his pater and his king.” Alluin stared Seidrik down as he jerked his hand from Stamel’s gentle grasp. “Whywould you refuse to speak to her? Why would you pretend to pray all these years? Why would you—” Alluin drew back as if he wanted to slap again, but this time Seidrik didn’t cower.
The red imprint of his father’s palm glowed red over his cheek. Anger twisted his mate’s face as Seidrik shouted at the top of his lungs, wings shredding from the back of his beta tailored tunic. His great horns lifted free of his hair, the sun elk, a mark of their nation. Even his hair, having had time for the darkwash to run thin, appeared fair and beautiful. In his anger, there was glory. “Because omegas are not to speak to the goddess!”
Alluin stumbled back, face a twisted mass of horror.
The goddess had said they would fail to follow all her commands. And Seidrik couldn’t withhold his words.
“Vile… Unclean…” Alluin’s shuddering whisper made Stamel feel sick.
“I didn’t pray because I didn’t think she’d listen. I didn’t speak to her because you told me not to. I listened to you, Father. I had not prayed to her, even after she accepted Virion. I was afraid.” Seidrik’s eyes welled with tears that poured over his marked cheek. “I didn’t want to disappoint you.”
“And yet you have. Severely. There will be no mating between you. There will be no union. From this day forward, you shall be confined to the conservatory and forbidden from leaving the walls of it!” Alluin’s arm poised as if he wanted to hit again, but his wild gaze flicked to Stamel before flicking back. “And you should be sent back to Croatens where you came from becauseyou knew.”
Stamel steeled his jaw and stepped around Alluin before pushing Seidrik a few steps back. He then stood between them and stared the king down.
“Alluin. You always wished for an alpha son, did you not?” Things clicked in his mind. Alluin had never wanted a beta son, or he would have treated Seidrik better, too. “I come to you as an alpha. I have royal blood. I have the approval of the goddess, and your omega son will yield true. My thalms outnumber his and outnumber yours as well. I am a perfect match to spread Liaberian royal blood.”
Alluin huffed and glared at Stamel. “I cannot trust you. I cannot trust any of you. Even the goddess has hidden this from me!”
Do not blame me. When Lyrica bore you an alpha son, I told you that the moon had cast favor over her unborn. You sent him away. I gave you the alpha son you wanted. And because you did away with him, I owed the moon a child, and so Virion, who held my blessing had to be given to her favored son.
