Three Alpha Princes for an Unwanted Omega

”What is wrong with him?”

Ares stood at the foot of the bed, his voice raw. He had not changed from the black tunic he had worn into the forest. Dirt still streaked his jaw and blood...Damon’s blood still crusted beneath his fingernails.

Master Aldric bent over Damon’s still form, his hands moving from wound to wound. The priestess Miranda stood at his side, her eyes closed in concentration.

Ares watched the healer work and felt useless in a way he had never felt on any battlefield.

It had taken a lot to pry the satchel from Damon’s fingers.

Even unconscious, his brother had held onto that bag like it was the only thing keeping him tethered to the earth and when they opened the bag, the priestess gasped.

”This is...” She turned to Aldric, her eyes wide. ”This is Widow’s Bloom.”

Cassian stepped forward.

”He found it?”

Miranda nodded. ”He found it. He was worthy.”

”Aldric.” Alpha Kieran’s voice cut through the room. He had been standing in the corner, silent and watchful, but now he stepped forward. ”What do you need?”

”The bloom must be prepared immediately,” Aldric said, already moving out the room and straight to the healing chambers.

Cassian followed after him.

”Miranda, the petals. Cassian, I need boiling water and a clean cloth. Now.” Master Aldric ordered, reaching for his mortar and pestle.

He worked with the speed of a man who knew how much every second mattered. He crushed the silver-veined petals into a paste, mixed it with herbs and they fed it to Ayla first in her chambers where she had been moved to.

Then proceeded to watch as Ayla’s breathing steadied almost immediately. It was like watching a magician perform a trick.

”It is working,” Aldric breathed.

”Then it should work on Damon. We should take it to him.”

Master Aldric led the way.

Ares was standing there, clutching unto Damon’s hand as they walked in.

Cassian held his brother’s head while Aldric poured the potion past his lips. Damon’s throat moved and he swallowed. The liquid dripped down his chin and Cassian wiped it away with the edge of his sleeve.

And they waited again.

But while Ayla’s color continued to improve showing signs of healing, Damon did not change. His pulse remained weak and his skin ashen.

Master Aldric tried a second dose then he mixed herbs and burned incense that was supposed to draw poison from the blood but Damon just lay there without improvement.

Alpha Kieran did not leave his son’s bedside.

He sat in a chair, his elbows on his knees and hands clasped before him. He did not speak nor did he move. He simply watched Damon’s face, searching for any sign of change.

”Miranda.”

The priestess looked up, her face was drawn with exhaustion. None of her rituals were working as well.

”My lord.”

”The Widow’s Bloom is supposed to bring anyone back from the point of death. Is this not what the legends say?”

”It is, my lord.”

”Then why is my son not waking?”

”I do not know, Alpha.” her voice trembled.

”You do not know.” Kieran’s voice was flat.

”My lord, I have never seen wounds like these. The gravewasp venom should have killed him instantly. The fact that he survived long enough to reach us...”

”Figure it out, Miranda.” Alpha Kieran rose. ”Ask the moon goddess for help. Consult every text in your possession. I do not care what it takes but I will not lose my son. Do you understand me?”

Miranda bowed her head.

”Yes, Alpha.”

Alpha Kieran turned back to the bed. He reached down and brushed a curl from Damon’s forehead. The gesture was gentle in a way that few had ever seen from the Alpha.

”You stubborn fool,” he murmured. ”You were supposed to stay put.”

...

Later that night, Cassian sat in Ayla’s room by her bedside.

She looked better now. Her lips had regained some of their color but she was yet to wake.

He reached out and touched her hand.

”I do not know if you can hear me,” he said. ”But you have to wake up. Damon...” His voice caught. ”Damon is not doing well. And I do not think any of us can bear to lose you both.”

He traced the curve of her ear with his fingertip. Her skin was warm, much warmer than it had been in days.

”I did not believe he could do it. I thought he was going to die out there for nothing. But he did it, Ayla. He did it.”

He pulled his hand back and folded it in his lap.

”I should have gone with him. We all should.”

The door creaked open and Brenna slipped into the room.

”Prince Cassian.”

”Brenna.” He started to rise. ”I was just...”

”No, stay. Please.” She crossed to the other side of Ayla’s bed and looked down at her daughter. ”She looks better.”

”The Widow’s Bloom is healing her.”

”Because of Prince Damon.”

”Yes.”

Brenna reached down and smoothed Ayla’s hair back from her forehead. The gesture was achingly tender.

”Thank you,” she said. ”For caring for her.”

Cassian shook his head.

”You should thank Damon. He is the bravest of us all.”

He rose from his stool.

”If you will excuse me.”

Cassian walked out without looking back.

He found Ares’ door ajar.

The smell of wine hit him before he stepped inside.

Ares sat in the chair by the window, a bottle dangled from his fingers. His eyes were fixed on something in the distance that Cassian could not see.

”It smells like a tavern in here.”

”I am not in the mood, Cassian.” Ares did not look at him. He lifted the bottle to his lips and drank.

Cassian closed the door behind him.

”I came to apologize. You were right about everything and I am sorry.”

Ares looked at him then. His green eyes were bloodshot.

”It is too late for that, brother.” He scoffed. ”Damon is dying. You heard the healer. He can find nothing to help with, and even the priestess is at her wits’ end.”

”Then they will find something. They have to.”

Ares slammed the bottle down on the table.

”He is not going to...” He stopped. His voice broke. ”Live in reality, Cassian. For once in your fucking life, stop being deluded.”

Cassian said nothing.

Ares lifted the bottle again and drained the last of it. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

”I should have been there for him.”

”Ares...”

”We should have been there.” Ares stared at the empty bottle. ”He went alone and we sat here and did nothing.”

For a long moment, neither of them spoke then a knock came at the door.

”Enter” Cassian called.

A maid burst into the room, her chest heaving.

”My lords.” She gasped. ”It is Lady Ayla. ”She is stirring.”