Three Alpha Princes for an Unwanted Omega

AYLA

My hand stilled halfway to my mouth.

I lowered the half-eaten cake slowly, my appetite suddenly gone.

”What did you just say?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Cassian’s blue eyes held mine, and for a moment, I saw something flicker there. Uncertainty. He was watching me closely, too closely, and I felt my pulse spike beneath his gaze.

”While I was unconscious,” he said slowly, ”I heard things or I think I did. It might have been a dream. Fever does strange things to the mind and I cannot exactly say that what I heard really happened but it was something about your father... something he did that you think should be reported?”

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Goddess, no... what do I say? What do I do?

”Did that happen or was I dreaming?” he asked.

I cleared my throat, hoping the fact that I was this close to peeing in my underwear did not reflect on my face.

”You were probably dreaming,” I told him. ”The poison and fever can cause hallucinations. Master Aldric mentioned something about that.”

Cassian’s brow furrowed.

”It did not seem like a dream” he said.

”Maybe it wasn’t a dream. It could have been a hallucination of some sort. I do not know how that works.” I said. ”On a lighter note, I have never been shot so I wouldn’t know.”

”You are probably right,” he chuckled.

But there was a note in his voice, something that told me he was not entirely convinced.

”We should head back.” I rose to my feet and reached for his arm, tugging gently. ”You need your rest. The healer said you should not exert yourself.”

Cassian let out a soft groan. ”Not yet. I do not want to go back to all that fussing.”

”The fussing is good for you.” I pulled harder, and he relented, allowing me to help him to his feet.

”Fine, I will allow it if it is you fussing over me.” He smiled.

I returned him a wobbly smile as we headed back out.

We were almost to the end when Cassian’s voice interrupted my jumbled thoughts.

”You have been very quiet since we started walking. Are you okay?”

I forced a smile onto my face.

”I am fine.” I lied. ”Just tired.”

Cassian nodded, accepting this. ”Of course you are. You have been taking care of me for days without a moment’s rest.”

I said nothing. I could not. My throat was too tight, my chest too full of everything I could not tell him.

My mind raced with possibilities. What had Cassian heard? How much did he know? And if he remembered more, what would he do with that information?

When we approached Cassian’s chambers, a familiar figure stood waiting by the door.

Alistair.

He straightened as we approached, his gray eyes sweeping over Cassian.

”Ah, I see you are up and about now.” Alistair smiled.

Cassian laughed. ”Well, I should be thanking you for that. That is twice now that you have come to my rescue.”

Alistair inclined his head in a respectful bow. ”It is all my pleasure, of course, to do anything I can to help.”

Something about the way he said it made my skin prickle. The smoothness of his voice and the easy humility felt false.

”I am here with your afternoon tonic,” Alistair continued, holding up a small clay flask. ”Shall we?”

Cassian nodded, and we all filed into his room.

Alistair handed the flask to me and I took it, my fingers brushing against his. He held my gaze for a fraction of a second longer than necessary before stepping back.

I moved to Cassian’s bedside and helped him sit up, propping pillows behind his back.

”Here.” I uncorked the flask and brought it to his lips. ”Drink.”

Cassian obeyed, his throat moving as he swallowed. But my hands were shaking. I could not stop them. The tremor ran through my fingers, and some of the dark liquid spilled, dribbling down Cassian’s chin and staining his shirt.

”Careful.” His voice was gentle, but his eyes searched my face. ”Ayla, are you sure you are okay?”

”Yes.” I wiped at the stain with the corner of his sheet, my movements jerky. ”I am fine. Just a little tired.”

Alistair’s gaze burned into the side of my face. I could feel him watching me.

Cassian caught my wrist, stilling my hand.

”You should rest then.”

He shifted on the bed, pulling the blanket aside. He held it open as an invitation.

”Get in here.”

I blinked. ”What?”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he was already turning to Alistair. The look he gave him was an unmistakable one of dismissal.

”Of course, my lord.” Alistair stepped back, his eyes flickering to me one last time before he turned and slipped out of the room, leaving Cassian and I alone.

”So?” he murmured, still holding the blanket open.”

”I cannot just get into...”

”I promise to be a gentleman.” His lips curved in to smile, effectively cutting me off. ”Climb in and rest with me, Ayla.”

I stared at him.

He was right. My body ached with exhaustion. The weight of everything I was carrying pressed down on my shoulders until I could barely stand upright.

Slowly, I moved toward the bed. I slipped off my boots, setting them aside, and climbed in beside him. The mattress dipped under my weight, and I felt the warmth of his body seep through the thin fabric of my dress.

Cassian pulled the blanket over us both. He lay on his side, facing me, one arm tucked beneath his pillow. His eyes never left my face.

”You can sleep,” he murmured. ”I will keep watch.”

A choked laugh escaped me. ”You are the one who was shot with a poisoned arrow.”

”I know but humor me, Ayla.” His smile widened, crinkling the corners of his eyes.

I turned onto my side, facing him. His arm closed around my back and he began patting me gently like you would a child.

I let out a breath, feeling some of the tension bleed from my shoulders and closed my eyes.