“What do you think of the new king? The one they’ll be crowning tonight?”
“Magnar? He’s strong and in his prime. They say he’s a warrior.”
“Is he now…”
“Yes. There’s a scar across his left cheek from someone that tried to kill him in his sleep. Rumor has it Magnar threw the man out a window and he screamed all the way down until he hit the rock below. When the sun rose in the morning, the rock was covered with the assassin’s blood.”
“I’d heard rumors that he was vicious. He’ll be a ruthless king and that’s exactly what Kingsworth needs.”
“Borgan has known peace for ages. He was never a king to act. He always sat back and just let things happen.”
“Not this new king. The Alpha Brotherhood will learn that Magnar is a man to be feared. He’s the kind of ruler that will destroy that blemish on society once and for all.”
“Cheers to that.”
The clinking of one metal cup against another rang loudly and the women all around me began to stir.
“It’s about time to get her, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. The beauticians will complain if they don’t get at least ten hours with her and I’ll be the one to hear all about their suffering.”
“Can I at least finish my mead first?”
“I plan on finishing mine.”
I licked my lips. I hadn’t known the old king had died. He’d still been a figure at the head of the city when I’d allowed myself to be captured by the enemy more than a week ago. This could change things for me.
The two guards continued to murmur about more mundane things and I only half-listened for any relevant information, but I learned nothing more useful from the two buffoons.
Instead, I started looking around me at the women clustered into small groups. Every one of them had the distinctive omega structure. Small, thin, curvy, and beautiful. Some were brunette. There were a number of redheads and several blondes mixed in. I scanned every visible wrist I could see, taking note of the fact that all of them had markings like mine. The Cult had taken blood from all of us.
They were looking for something, likely testing all of us.
The guards cleared their throats. They’d finished their drinks and had since moved to the door of the cage.
“Back from the door. We’re here for only one of you,” the one on the left said.
“You. Blue eyes. Blonde hair,” the other said, and he pointed right at me.
My mouth opened in surprise, but I knew better than to answer. The Cult was a man’s world, and they didn’t expect a woman, especially an omega, to talk back. I stood up bravely and walk
ed a bit shakily to the door of the cage. They turned the key in the latch and the harsh squeal of metal screamed all around us as they opened the door. I started a bit at the sound, but I recovered quickly as they reached forward and grabbed my wrist roughly. I was unable to keep myself quiet as his dirty fingers dug into the bruised flesh of my arm, and he grinned wildly with a deviant sense of pride.
“This one is a prize,” he chuckled, and the man with him stiffened.
“I know,” the other answered.
“What if we just played around with her a bit. No one would know,” he continued.
“Even if you wanted her, you couldn’t afford her, you fucking numbskull. Touch her and sign your own death warrant,” the guard scoffed with annoyance.
“I know. Nice to dream though. I bet her slick will smell real good,” he grunted, and I had to force back a shudder of revulsion.
“Let’s just get her where she needs to be.”
“Where are you taking me?” I ventured bravely, but meekly enough not to pose a challenge.
“You’ll find out soon,” the guard answered, and they whisked me away, naked and barefoot out of the dungeons of Kingsworth.