CIAN
I stood in the center of my quarters while two Omegas circled me with pins and measuring tape. The suit they’d tailored fit almost perfectly. The deep charcoal fabric caught the light when I moved. The jacket sat smooth across my shoulders. The trousers broke just right over my shoes.
One of the Omegas tugged gently at the sleeve. "Just a quarter inch here, Alpha. The cuff should sit at your wrist bone."
I held my arm out and let her work. She marked the fabric with chalk with quick and precise strokes.
The other Omega held up three ties. "Which would you prefer?"
I studied them. One was navy silk with a subtle pattern. The second was burgundy with gold threading and the last was a beautiful silver that would probably wash me out under the lights. I pointed to the navy. "That one."
She nodded and set the others aside. Then she opened a velvet-lined case on the table. "And for the brooch?"
There were five options. All noble looking and especially appropriate for a wedding. But my eyes went straight to the aquamarine piece. The stone was set in white gold and the delicate filigree work that surrounded it made it all the more pleasant to look at. I took a longer look at it, watching as the blue-green caught the lamplight and threw it back like water under sun.
"That one," I said.
"Excellent choice." She set it aside with the tie.
I glanced at them both. "Did you find what I asked for?"
The Omegas exchanged a look. The one with the pins spoke first. "It was quite expensive, Alpha."
"I didn’t ask about the cost."
"Of course." She reached into a leather satchel at her feet and pulled out a box. It was larger than the brooch case and covered in black silk.
She handed it to me. I took it carefully and lifted the lid.
The necklace inside made me pause.
It was stunning. It was a white gold chain. It looked delicate but strong. The kind of thing that looked fragile but would last generations. The pendant was the real prize though. Three stones arranged in a cascade. Aquamarine. The same blue-green as the brooch but deeper somehow. Richer. The center stone was the largest. Probably three carats. The two smaller stones flanked it. Set slightly lower so they caught different angles of light.
The craftsmanship was flawless. Each stone was held by tiny prongs that looked like flower petals. The metalwork between them was so fine it was almost invisible. Just enough to connect everything without overwhelming the gems.
I turned the box slightly. The stones shifted and threw light across my hands in shades of ocean and sky.
"This is perfect," I said.
The Omega who’d brought it relaxed slightly. "We’ll adjust it to fit the Luna and bring it before dawn."
"Good." I closed the box and handed it back. "Make sure the clasp is secure. I don’t want any risk of it coming loose."
"Of course, Alpha."
They gathered their supplies. Pins and chalk and measuring tape disappeared into bags. The Omega with the brooch case tucked it under her arm. The other cradled the necklace box like it might shatter.
"We’ll return tomorrow morning for final adjustments on the suit," one of them said.
I nodded. They bowed and left. The door clicked shut behind them.
I walked to the table and picked up the brooch case. Opened it again. The aquamarine glinted up at me. I’d chosen it because it would complement the necklace. Because seeing her wear something matching alongside me would satisfy something I didn’t want to examine too closely.
I set the case down and pulled open the drawer of my desk. Moved some papers aside. The box fit perfectly in the space underneath. I closed the drawer and stood there for a moment. Imagining how the necklace would look against her skin. How they’d rest in the hollow of her throat. How the color would bring out the warmth in her eyes.
I smiled despite myself.
"Is someone there?" I called toward the door.
"Yes, Alpha," came the muffled reply.
"Do me a favor and find out where the Luna is."
"Right away sir." The sentinel replied.
When I heard his footsteps faded down the hall, I headed for the bathroom. The tile was cool under my feet. I turned on the tap and let the water run cold before splashing it over my face.
Once.
Twice.
The shock of it helped clear my head.
I braced my hands on either side of the sink and looked at my reflection. Water dripped from my jaw. My hair was disheveled from trying on the jacket.
The thought came to my mind unbidden.
Fia thought Aldric was dangerous.
The thought settled over me like a weight. I’d been trying to ignore it. Trying to rationalize her fear as paranoia or misunderstanding. But the terror I’d felt through the bond earlier had been real. Visceral. The kind of fear that didn’t come from nowhere.
But it was hard to rationalize.
When I thought about uncle. When I really thought about him for the first time in years without the lens of gratitude and affection clouding everything.
I still couldn’t look at him with such a vile lens.
He could have joined Gabriel when his brother was gathering support. When the council was divided. When half the sentinels weren’t sure which of us to follow. Aldric could have sided with the most sensible outcome. My father’s immediate younger brother. The one most people expected to take the throne.
But he hadn’t.
He’d supported me instead. Publicly. Vocally. His backing must have even swayed others. He had given me legitimacy I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Why would he do that if he seemingly wanted me in pain and my mother dead?
I grabbed a towel and dried my face. The rough fabric helped ground me.
Aldric could have also killed me before I took power. It would have been easy. An accident. Poison in my food. I’d have had enemies but nothing would have been done about it. I wasn’t Alpha yet. It wouldn’t have been treason. Just kin slaying. Terrible but not unforgivable.
He’d had opportunities. Time. Access.
He’d done nothing.
So why was Fia so afraid and sure that he was a vile person?
I hung the towel back up and straightened it on the rack even though no one would care if it was crooked.
Maybe I’d been smart to handle things the way I did earlier. Insisting Ronan stay instead of Aldric. Playing it off as concern about appearances at the wedding. Better to be cautious than careless.
But the thought made my stomach turn.
Treating Aldric with suspicion when he’d done nothing to deserve it. When he’d been nothing but loyal and supportive. When he’d stood by me when others hadn’t.
What kind of nephew did that make me?
I pressed my palms against the cool tile of the wall. I made a conscious effort to breathe in slowly. I tried to settle the sick feeling crawling up my throat.
Gabriel was the enemy. Not Aldric. Gabriel and whatever allies he’d managed to scrape together. Gabriel and his bitterness about losing the throne. Gabriel who’d actually tried to undermine me. Who’d made his intentions clear.
Not Aldric.
Never Aldric.
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I pushed away from the wall and walked back into the main room.
"Come in."
The sentinel from earlier stepped inside. "The Luna is in her suite, Alpha."
I glanced at the clock on the mantle. "It’s almost time for dinner. She’s not coming down?"
"It doesn’t appear so."
I frowned. I wondered if she still had thought about Aldric lodged in her mind and if it was bothering her so much that she refused to have dinner.
"Get me an Omega from the kitchen," I said.
The sentinel bowed and left again. I heard his footsteps fade down the corridor then return a few minutes later with lighter steps accompanying his.
The door opened and a young Omega stepped inside alongside the sentinel. She bowed quickly. "You asked for me, Alpha?"
"My mate isn’t coming down for dinner. Make something homely for her. Something warm and comforting."
"I’ll get that done right away and deliver it to her suite."
"No." I shook my head. "Bring it here. I’ll deliver it myself."
Her eyebrows rose slightly. Just for a micro second. Then her expression smoothed back into professional neutrality. "Understood, Alpha Cian."
She bowed again and left.