To a point, she didn't care. If she distracted him so much that his invasion fell apart, that was a win for her and her people. But she was clinging to what she had right now… the bliss she may never have again.

Finally, one evening after Akoro had slammed in his knot and spilled inside her, he drew her into his arms and told her the next day they would be meeting with his council again.

Naya just nodded, her bubble deflating. She’d been expecting he would go back to using her to plan his invasion eventually. But if he was going to act like fucking her was inconsequential to who she was and where she came from so he could continue with his plan, then she should do the same.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The next few days were a flurry of activity. Naya met with various council members and answered questions. She kept her responses brief and to the point without elaborating, but the behavior of the council members had changed. They were on edge and pickier about what information they wanted. Naya wasn't sure whether this was because of what had developed between her and Akoro or if there was an external pressure or deadline they were trying to meet that was soon approaching. Either way, there was a slight edge of urgency within the meetings.

One morning, Meiro dressed Naya in similar warrior leathers to Prillu and Akoro. The top half was closely fitted with padding sleeves and flexible metal spaulders over her shoulders that curved upward. Soft leather gathered to cup each breast, and multiple colored bands of patterned material wrapped around her torso.

At her waist, the same fabrics draped like a skirt, but they weren’t as long or thick as the usual outfit she’d been wearing. Instead, she wore loose pants with generous give that were tucked into calf-high boots.

The entire outfit was a mix of creams, orange, red, and blue, punctuated with metal armor and brown leather. Naya examined her outfit with interest, noticing all the small pockets, belts, and areas where daggers or small weapons could fit.

When she was escorted to the rooftop grounds, Akoro was already there. Naya made her way over to the weapon stand, but Akoro threw a wooden training stick at her and charged. Grabbing the stick out of the air, Naya ran toward him, and their wooden weapons clattered. He drove her back, their sticks clacking, both defended and attacked as the advantage took them.

Akoro seemed intent on trying to deliver a fatal blow, but Naya kept sliding, spinning, darting out of the way just at the nick of time.

His style had changed. He fought more wildly and took more risks, and even shifted his weight quicker. The difference was stark. It was like fighting a completely different person, and Naya couldn’t rely on the fighting techniques she’d become familiar with. She tried to stay out of reach of his wooden weapon, relearning his new fighting style as they parried across the roof.

Finally, he slammed her hand, forcing the stick to fly out of it, and although she dodged him again repeatedly for a few long moments, he knocked her down and pinned her to the ground with his knee.

She panted staring up at him, his dark, wild eyes boring into her, and his aggressive scent that had been building in intensity surrounded her. There was something wild about the way he fought her, but she wasn’t sure if it was to do with wanting to fuck her or the impending invasion. She waited for him to speak, to say something that explained what that sudden attack was about, but he simply maintained eye contact with her, his eyes narrowing, until his breathing calmed.

Finally he got up, freeing her.

Walking back to the weapons stand, he picked up her stick and returned both of them. He came back to her with actual weapons this time, four large axes with curved handles adorned with patterned carvings.

"I want to see you fight with these." He threw two axes to her one by one.

She weighed them in her hands, flipping the handles and rotating them with her wrists. These were heavier, slightly thicker, and longer than what she was used to, but they felt like quality axes. The patterned handles helped her grip, and the head only had one blade, but it was beautifully crafted, patterned just like the handle.

She glanced up at the Alpha. "I’m not used to this kind of axe, but I’ll do my best.” She hesitated. “If I cut you⁠—“

“You won’t.”

“If I do, will I be punished?”

Akoro held her gaze. “There will be consequences.”

“So, you don’t want me to fight how I normally fight?”

“If you don’t, I may kill you.”

Naya exhaled in annoyance. “Then how do I⁠—“

“Start.”

Akoro prowled to the right, his eyes on her.

Naya instantly recognized yet another fighting style from a moment ago. All other thoughts went out of her head so she could focus on his every action. Each time Akoro fought her, he approached the challenge in a different way, almost as if he were trying to find the approach that would beat her repeatedly, and therefore beat her father. The change made him interesting, but also extremely dangerous.

Akoro still returned to her nest every night to fill her with cock. It was like he was two different people; one savage barbarian on the battlefield needing to conquer the empire, and another savage barbarian in the bedroom, needing to desperately claim his mate in every way he knew how. However, as time went on she began to wonder how they were going to coalesce. When he launched his invasion, what was he expecting her to do, and how was she going to navigate it? He would be stupid to bring her along with him, and she would be stupid not to use it as an opportunity.

In a meeting with Akoro’s policy maker and administrator, they asked questions about Lox lifestyle and society, including an incredible amount of questions about Omegas and how they lived and behaved.

"If you have Omegas here, then you should know what Omegas are like," Naya said, confused. “They are the same in every continent.”

Both of the council members glanced at Akoro, but his intense stare was on Naya. She stared back at him, trying to grasp what was escaping her. “You said I would be treated in accordance with my dynamic.”

Akoro held her eyes but said nothing.

“But… there are no Omegas here,” she finished.

“They do not live in the city,” he said.

A flash of concern shot over her. What did he mean by that? Had she been taken to a society that was as cruel and archaic as the history of hers? One that enslaved Omegas by their instincts and took horrific advantage of them?

She firmed herself. “What have you done with them?”

“I do not interfere with Omega affairs.”

Naya blinked. “Does that… what does that mean? Do Omegas have a community here?”

“We don’t know,” Nanaek said. “They are just separate.”

“Why?”

Akoro spoke first. “Nanaek shi Ranin, ppi hhe rits.”

Both council members got up to leave, bowing to Akoro before heading to the door, and Naya realized something.

"You let me ask questions," Naya said. "Why?"

"I want you to understand. You are the only Omega in this region. They are not part of society."

"Why?"

"They are dangerous to keep in society."

Naya frowned. "Omegas? How are they more dangerous than Alphas or Betas?"

"I am not telling you how," Akoro said firmly. "There are some things you cannot know as my prisoner. Even if even if you are my true mate."

Naya glared at him. "I cannot be your true mate and your prisoner."

"That is exactly what you are," Akoro said sharply.

"No," Naya said. "You can call it that if you want, but one cancels out the other. Your true mate should choose to be with you not forced because she is your prisoner."