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by Alison Aimes
A hover shuttle with the Lundin crest floated into place and parked behind the others.
A laced, refined boot emerged from the open door.
Murmurs went up from the mostly still kneeling crowd. The arriving Lundin family member appeared and floated down the stair ladder.
Nikolai felt a stirring of hope. Perhaps something good and pure had come to their planet.
This was no hulking Alpha like the others, but an older, beautiful, white-blonde omega that glittered as bright and sharp as any of the icicles hanging from the hamlet roof. Truth be told, at a second glance, she looked almost brittle, and Nikolai suddenly wanted to warn her to turn around and fly away from this place as fast as she could.
Small like all her kind, she wore her hair in an intricate braided style on top of her head. She also sported the typical tight corset and a glittering choker that proclaimed her not simply another propertied omega, but the prime omega. The top omega in Olan Lundin’s collection.
Apparently, not high enough though to warrant Olan’s consideration. He’d left her to travel separately and fend for herself while he rutted a lower omega.
Still, Lundin’s bride held her head high. After her, an entourage of four betas covered in hooded robes spilled from the vehicle and hurried to fluff her dress and fidget with her hair.
She waved them off.
Nikolai’s gaze locked with hers. Again, a surge of hope ran through him, as if maybe he’d found an ally, as if their shared difficulties with Olan might foster shared sympathy.
Until the omega spoke.
“Look at this place and these creatures.” Olan’s bride’s nose wrinkled, her stare still locked on him. “Filth and disrespect as far as the eye can see, but I will rise above. I always do.”
Somehow, her disgust cut worse than Olan Lundin’s disrespect.
He snarled to cover the weakness, but the prime omega had already dismissed him, sailing forward, stepping over the downed body of Nikolai’s father without hesitation or remorse.
Her entourage of beta servants and guards trailed behind.
Nikolai decided then and there he hated all Lundins, and that soon enough, none of them would ever be able to dismiss him again.
29
The vision ended as quickly as it had come, the image disintegrating as it was pierced by the shimmer of sunlight reflecting off the ice.
Except nothing could wipe away the stain of cruelty left behind by her mother.
Or the fact that for the first time, Nikolai hadn’t been the only one to see her vision.
Dahlia sucked down a harsh breath, her hold on the Alpha’s shirt too tight as the murmurs of the guards reached her.
They’d all witnessed Nikolai forced to kneel, the ugliness of her mother’s treatment.
She knew already how much her Alpha hated having his secrets exposed.
Nikolai hated all Lundins.
No wonder. First, both her parents and now she had publicly humiliated him.
“I’m so sorry.” She shivered, aware of the cold as she hadn’t been before. “I thought I was beginning to be able to control the visions, but sometimes when my emotions get so big, it’s too much. I never meant for anyone to see. Spending the rotation with you has been so wonderful, and now I ruined it with the stupid vision and the reminder of my family’s cruelty. I am—”
“Shhh.” Her Alpha pulled her to him and pressed his mouth to hers.
She was so startled she kissed him back.
She’d almost forgotten the incident, much less her name when he pulled back. “Turns out I don’t hate all Lundins.”
She stared up at him.
He sighed. “So, no humor after a vision, huh?”
He was . . . teasing her?
She tried to catch up. “You’re not mad?”
His hands moved up and down her arms, warming her up. “It’s okay, omega. What you saw is long in the past and frankly feels farther away with every moment spent in the present here with you.”
Such unexpected, lovely words. Her heart expanded.
“Plus, I don’t give a shit if my soldiers see what happened that rotation.” Aggression rumbled through his voice, reminding her again that, despite his indulgence for her, he remained a dangerous predator. “I’m not the boy I was, and if any of them doubt it, they are welcome to challenge me and test my strength for themselves.”
She hoped it didn’t come to that. Not that she doubted the outcome for one moment. Nikolai was the strongest, most brutal Alpha she’d ever seen, but her family had already been the reason for too many of his wounds. She didn’t want to be the cause of any more. “No one would be so foolish. What stands out most from that vision is your strength, loyalty, fortitude, and how much you’re willing to do for your family. After seeing that, anyone considering tangling with you would know exactly how dangerous it would be.”
His hold on her arms tightened, his gaze heating. “You’ve always been too nice for your own good, omega. But I like the way you see me. I like it a lot.”
She smiled up at him, her body catching fire as the heat in his gaze sparked her own. “Thank you for being so understanding. I’m glad you’re not mad.”
But instead of leaning in for another kiss as she hoped, he gripped her chin and gently turned her face as he peered into her eyes. “What I am, is concerned that you are okay. You are not supposed to be having any visions right now, doctor’s orders. How do you feel?”
His care warmed her. “All right. A little more tired than before, but no headache this time.”
“Good.”
She couldn’t help herself. “I hope you didn’t end up taking what my mother said to heart. Her life was . . . is . . . hard.”
“She proved a motivating force.”
It was a kind way of putting it. “Strange that I saw that particular vision now.”
“True, though right before you had it, I was thinking about the last time I left work behind and felt this light. Maybe my thoughts about the past directed your vision toward this particular moment.”
The rotation her father had come and torn Nikolai and his family’s life apart.
“Don’t look so sad, omega. The point is, I’m feeling that lightness again here with you and it’s . . . nice.” His lips tilted up, and she wished his mouth was back on hers. “The doc was right. This was a good idea for both of us. I didn’t realize how much I needed to get away until now.”
Her heart skipped again. It pleased her to know he was having a good time, too. She had never had better.
Truth was, it was getting harder to care that his motivation for his recent kind treatment most likely stemmed from his desire to bring her and her gift to heel. Because unlike Olan and his brutish fists, Nikolai’s gilded cage was full of exquisite orgasms, fun outings, shivers in her core, and flutters deep in her chest. The battle he was waging wasn’t in-her-face vicious as her father’s had been, but it was far more effective.
Like any ruthless warrior, Nikolai was settling for no less than the full surrender of her heart.
Despite knowing this, she couldn’t seem to help herself from falling, anyway.
But what would happen once she gave him the vision he needed?
Would he keep his promise regarding her mother and her sister? Would he still treat her with care? Take her sledding? Say kind things and worry over her health?
Or would he become more like Olan, treating her the way her father did her mother, as something to be used time and again without anything given in return?
Because the truth was, if Nikolai only cared for what he could get from her, and not for her as something more than a pawn or prize, this was all going to end and she needed to be prepared.
She’d never know the answer though unless she risked all, and it turned out she might be evolving into as big a risk-taker as the Alpha she was falling for because that was what she intended to do.
She just had to figure out how to give him the vision he needed.
&nb
sp; “You ready for another ride?” Nikolai pulled her up. Then, scooping up her fallen hat, he shook off the snow and placed it carefully on her head, tucking her hair beneath, before he tossed the sled over his shoulder, muscles rippling beneath his tight long-sleeved shirt.
Presented with such exquisite care and only more questions, all she could do was nod and follow.
“Here. Drink this.”
It was the third cup of warm spiced drink he’d thrust into her hands.
He’d brought her to another gorgeous room in his compound. This one was a cozy study, with a red, silken rug on the crystal floor, plush white fur couches, walls of books, and a roaring fire in a massive fireplace. Without a word, he’d stripped them both down to next to nothing before seating her next to the flames.
Now he was wearing dark blue drawstring pants that showed off his round ass and left his chiseled chest bare while she wore the matching top—though it went to her knees.
She took the cup and sipped. She was far past thirsty and beyond warm, but his care was so sweet. The entire rotation, besides the brief blip with the vision, had been magical.
It was insane to admit, especially during such a difficult, complicated time, but she’d never been happier.
That she felt this way because of the male she had been so sure would only bring her pain was more startling.
Grabbing his own glass—unlike hers, his was filled with his favorite inner-planetary ale—he joined her in front of the fire, scooping her up and putting her on his lap.
That was another wonderful thing. He seemed to like touching her, even when he wasn’t fucking her.
She’d never seen her parents touch outside of the times her father grabbed her mother for sex or struck out in anger. Until Nikolai, Dahlia hadn’t realized there was another way.
“Today was a good day.”
She hid a smile. Of course, he declared it. No asking for her Alpha. “It was,” she agreed readily. “One of the best I have ever had.”
“Only one of the best? What was better?” He raised an eyebrow in challenge.
This time she did smile. “Not better, but there have been a couple as spectacular.” She couldn’t help the blush that spread across her cheeks. “Yesterday, the rotation you told me I was your prime omega and then fucked me on the table.” Her body heated at the reminder. “That was the best, too. Along with the greenhouse surprise.” Unable to help herself, she reached out and stroked her finger along the curve of his strong, square jaw. “Thanks to you, I’ve had several recent amazing, surprising good moments.”
He growled low, turning his head and catching her finger in his mouth. The scrape of his fangs against her skin sent a shiver straight to her core.
She leaned closer.
His eyes flashed to red and then back to amber. He shook his head as if trying to shake off the rut. “One moment.” His fingers flew over the comms.
The doc’s harried face appeared on the screen.
Nikolai didn’t bother with hello. “We’ve rested. We played. We had fun.” He winked at her. “Now, can we fuck?”
Her mouth dropped open. The male was outrageous.
“Of course.” The doc sounded amused. “I never said no.”
“What?”
Dahlia was very glad there was no way to strangle someone through a comms device as Nikolai looked ready to kill.
In his defense though, she’d also thought the doctor had been discouraging sex. If she’d known differently, she would have already triggered her Alpha’s rut several times. Last night in Nikolai’s bed, with his arms around her and his scent in her lungs, had been extraordinary, but also sheer torture. She’d craved him inside her.
“I said to do something else, too.” The doc was nervously explaining. “I apologize if you thought—”
Nikolai closed out the comms.
His eyes had returned to red. “We’ve got some time to make up for, omega.”
The growl in his voice had her nipples hardening, her thighs pressing tight. “Good.”
Suddenly, she was on her back, the soft fur of the couch tickling her shoulders, the hard muscles of her Alpha pressed to her chest, his thick cock between her thighs . . . and something lumpy digging into her hip.
“What’s that?” She wiggled beneath him.
“If you don’t know by now—”
She laughed. “Not that.” Her hand slid from his shoulders to his pants pocket and she poked at the distraction.
“Oh, yes.” He shook his head, some of the haze of rut clearing from his gaze. “I was going to give you this before the conversation with the doc.”
“It’s for me?” She shook her head. “You don’t need to give me anything else. The adventure this rotation was more than enough.”
He leaned over her, his thumb tracing the lines of her face. “It’s more of a return.”
She had no idea what he was talking about.
Stare solemn, he pulled something from his pocket and cupped it in his hand.
She rose on her elbows to see.
Surprise slammed through her.
It was the necklace she’d given him long ago. In her vision, he’d removed the gems one by one to sell to keep his family alive. Except the necklace in his palm sparkled with a complete set of jewels that looked bigger and of higher quality than what had been there before.
“You kept it.”
“Of course.” He stared down at the necklace and then at her. “It killed me to have to take any of the gems out, a little bit like cutting out my soul, but I promised myself I’d replace them. I promised myself that one rotation soon I’d be putting it back around your neck and you’d be wearing it for me—with nothing else.”
Her chest was too small for the sensations clamoring within.
“That can definitely be arranged.” She pulled his shirt over her head.
The heat of the fire was nothing compared to his gaze. “Beautiful.”
She bowed her head.
He placed the necklace around her throat and closed the clasp, the cold weight of the gems an erotic contrast to the fire licking beneath her skin.
“This necklace was the first time anyone ever sought to take care of me.” He traced the length of the chain with the tip of his finger, dipping between the valley of her breasts and making her breath come faster and faster. “It was the key to my survival. Any time I began to wonder if I could truly keep them alive, I would grip it in my palm and remember the faith you had in me. I would recall how you said you could sense greatness in me, and I would keep going.”
Those feelings inside her chest grew bigger.
“It’s time though to give it back to you.” He traced the fluttering pulse at the hollow of her throat. “Because now I have something better to anchor and guide me. A brighter treasure to give me hope and remind me there is light in the world. You.”
“Alpha . . ..” Perhaps her hopes were not so foolish, after all. Perhaps an Alpha could truly care for an omega, even one who was his enemy. Her gaze locked with his. “Promise me something? Promise me you won’t shut me out. Promise me all this is real.”
He paused, his stare boring into her. “I promise.”
For now, it was enough.
On a sigh, she tangled her fingers in his hair. “Then I promise to believe in you—and us.” She dragged his mouth to hers.
“Nikolai!” The shout echoed from down the hall. “Come quick. There’s been an attack. It’s Alexi! He’s been shot.”
30
Nikolai leaned back in his throne and, over the length of his desk, studied the glittering lights and well-dressed people below.
He’d always loved the view from his private study at night.
Perched high above the deluxe main room of his most popular elite gambling establishment, his floor-to-ceiling half-circular windows showcased all he’d built. Seeing it laid out beneath him had always given him a voyeuristic thrill.
Until today.
Today, only rage and the
urge to do violence burned in his gut.
Fucking Lundins. They’d almost taken another of his family from him.
“The doc said we’ll know more in a few hours.” Damien barreled through the door with yet another unnecessary update, his hair a wild mess, Alexi’s dried blood still clinging to his dark shirt.
Damien had been the one to find their brother.
“The med unit will work.” Maxheim looked equally as rough. The button on his shirt sleeve hung on by a thread, his usually perfectly creased pants a rumpled mess.
Unlike his brothers, Nikolai had sat by Alexi’s beside until the doc kicked him out. Then, he’d gone back to his room and showered and changed. No more casual clothes, however. He’d donned his ritual Abzalian mafioso warrior gear: fur pelt, leather pants, and shit-kicker boots—because a fight was coming.
Anya had been crying so hard she’d had to be sedated.
His omega was with her now.
Dahlia. The daughter of the male who’d killed his mother and siblings, and now allegedly gunned down his brother.
Nikolai’s grip on his glass tightened.
The distinctive white-golden coloring of the Lundin soldiers who’d conducted the hit against Alexi had been reported by several witnesses.
Overwhelming evidence indicated that, despite the Brotherhood’s decree to stand down until the trial was over, Olan had struck out again, anyway.
But something about the whole situation didn’t sit right with Nikolai.
And not only because of the look on his omega’s face when they’d heard the news or the way the golden glow blazing along the fated-mate tie had sputtered and gone out like a flame extinguished, as if all her hope had faded, as if he’d lost her again.
Right when he’d finally gotten his omega to believe in him, to believe in them.
He refused to let that faith be destroyed.
He refused to let Olan Lundin take one more fucking precious thing from him.
The only problem: as the war heated up, sacrifices would be required, dangers multiplied, lines between enemies drawn deeper in the dirt. And Nikolai didn’t know how to keep his family safe without hurting the omega that every cell in his body screamed to protect.