Horror struck Naya like a thunderbolt. “You’re going to arrange a mate for me?”

“King Malloron’s Alpha sons. Your union with one of the twins would be celebrated by both of our Lands.”

Naya’s mouth moved, but she couldn’t speak. She’d known the princes since she was a baby, but marry one? Dread surged down her back. “But… I⁠—”

“If you won’t choose Lonn, you will have your union with one of them and then you will start actively working on the problem in Satherthorne.” Papa turned toward the door, scooping up Mama along with him. “You have a few days to decide who you prefer. I can invite the princes here this week, if you want to meet them again before you decide. But after that, you need to focus on what is important.”

Naya shot up from her chair, her yell tearing out of her throat. “You tore the world apart to have your true mate but I can’t want to find mine?”

Papa slowed and turned back toward her. Something flickered on his face too fast for her to catch, but then all at once the stern annoyance holding his whole body stiff gave way to a somber heaviness.

“I wasn’t looking for a true mate when I found your mama, just an Omega.” His muted tone, so deeply contrasted his previous outbursts, every word felt significant, and Naya found herself holding her breath. “But I was incredibly lucky. I wish all my children could experience what I and your mama have. It is the most incredible marvel I’ve experienced in my life, and the treasure I hold most dear, alongside you and your brothers and sisters. But chasing it when it may never happen can destroy even the most resilient of spirits and hearts, Naya. I’ve seen it. Alphas in my army who will not settle for anything less—men who fear nothing and have wills of steel. They have been searching for decades and that single-minded focus has eroded the people they are—or could have been. They’ve become wrecks—bitter and angry with the world. Being a Lox warrior is the only thing they have left, yet they are surrounded by happy couples, and Alpha/Omega families.

“I don’t want that for any of my children, but especially not for you. You are the one who will rule, and your view on this could harm the empire as you age and become lonely. You can still be happy if you choose a suitable pure Alpha who understands how special you are and makes an effort to respect and love you for the beautiful Omega you are. Lonn will do that, and he has Lox training. You’re a good pair. He is my preference but if you don’t like him, then your choice is between Prince Zannox or Prince Lok.” His jaw hardened again as he glanced at Mama and then back to Naya. “And that is final.”

Naya could barely speak. She now fully understood her father's point, and the grim truth in his words certainly softened her resistance, but she still couldn't see why she couldn't try a little while longer. Being forced into a marriage was reminiscent of the days before her father’s rule. She looked at Mama, but while they didn’t always agree on everything concerning their children, Mama’s drawn expression was resigned.

“Mama.” The word came out with surprise and hurt that her own mother could support this.

Mama looked up at Papa for a long moment and sighed. Her father put her back down and she walked up to Naya, rubbing her face like it hurt her say the words. “If you hadn’t been trying so hard to find your mate for the last few years, I would fight your father on this. But how much longer do you plan to look, Nay? Did you consider that? Did you give yourself a deadline or even a schedule?”

Naya said nothing. Of course she hadn’t.

“That’s the problem,” her mother said, exhaling softly. “You are searching for your true mate through sheer desperation and a fear of failing; that is exactly what your papa is talking about. You can see that can’t you?”

Naya set her mouth into a thin line. “It doesn’t matter how long it takes. I refuse to hurt any more of my people. They’re relying on me.”

“We all are, Nay.” Mama brushed her hand along Naya’s cheek, her own eyes shimmering. “But your way has a lot of flaws. We’re just trying to make sure you don’t needlessly suffer.”

Papa wound a thick arm around Mama’s waist and drew her close until she was pressed against his side again, tears trickling down her cheeks. Leaning down, he nuzzled her head and squeezed her tight, comforting her.

Naya watched them. This was exactly what she was talking about. She’d grown up watching her parents comfort each other in times of distress. They did it instinctively, without even knowing they were doing it most of the time. When she was younger, she’d loved seeing it. And as she got older, the more she watched them, the more she realized the importance of the instinctive support they provided each other. Would they be effective rulers without that? It was unlikely. So how was she expected to be? Even setting aside her duties as a ruler, who wouldn’t want what her parents had?

Papa drew Mama in front of him and enveloped her in both of his arms, and as he did so, caught Naya’s eye. She crossed her arms and lifted a brow. Papa immediately caught the implication and scowled at her, but still pulled Mama close.

A knock at the door drew all of their attention.

It was Gilly. She bowed deeply, greeting the imperial couple, before addressing them all. “High Chief Kardos has arrived, your Imperial Majesty,” she said to Papa. “He said to tell you he is going straight to the training grounds.”

Papa nodded. “It sounds like he has some aggression to work out.” He exhaled. “And so have I.”

Gilly turned to Naya. “Princess Kaari arrived with the high chief, Your Highness. Would you like me to show her in?”

“No,” Naya said, her chest weighed down by the implications of their conversation.

“Talk to her,” Papa said, his words so abrupt it came out like an order. “She doesn’t come to watch her father and me spar. She comes for you.”

Ma reached out a gripped her hand. “See your friend, Naya.”

CHAPTER FOUR

The cool, quiet of night had a way of smoothing the jagged edge of her emotions.

It was one of the reasons why she often went to the forest after dusk. Maybe it was the dark shimmer of magical awareness that had awakened, existing just beyond the physical senses; hidden yet palpable. Naya was younger, Mama explained it in a way that made sense. Animals that roamed in the day versus the ones who roamed in the evening each fulfilled a different purpose; it was the same with magic. Naya moved briskly behind the houses of the dimly lit Omega village, her robe wrapped tightly and her hood covering her head. At this time of night, everyone was inside but she didn’t want to risk anyone seeing her.

The palace village, informally called the Omega village, was built to house and protect Alpha and Omega families and unattached Omegas. History had been filled with unimagined horrors for Omegas, so much so it was assumed their population had been annihilated. The village was their safe haven and had been carved into the forest so that it was private and self-contained—and the sole access to the forest.

The problem was that Naya couldn’t walk through the village without being stopped. Eager and excited, the villagers always wanted to talk to her and gift her things or just say hello. She hadn’t minded it when she was younger, but after what happened six years ago, the swarms of people trying to speak to her was enough that Papa had to issue a decree; no one was to bother her unless she spoke to them first. That didn’t stop them from gathering or throwing gifts at her when she visited.

Naya didn’t like ignoring them, so the simplest solution was to cover her head whenever she went through the village and travel in the early morning or late evening.

Tonight, everything was silent and still, her path bathed in the silver light of the moon, a perfect orb in the inky sky. Although there was no wind, bitter iciness grazed her cheeks and nose, signifying the change of season.