Loreen's POV
The ride back did not take long. Servants bowed as he walked through the palace halls, but Loreen barely noticed them. He was still half tired from the night before.
His thoughts drifted briefly to the omega.
Strangely, he could not remember the man's face or his scent.
The room had been dark. Only a small oil lamp had burned in the corner of the chamber. The light had been dim and flickering. Enough to see movement and shape, but not enough to study a face clearly.
He remembered pale hair which had been a wig.
Soft tanned skin.
And the way the omega had sounded when he begged. But the face itself remained a blur, and Loreen was sure the omega had used a scent blocker last night too.
An omega's scent, especially one in heat, could draw attention from every direction. Many male omegas used scent blockers to tried to mask it to avoid attracting the attention of hungry alphas.
He shrugged the thought away. It did not matter anymore. It was not like he was going to see the omega again. That was why he always went to the lower districts when he needed a good night fuck. The chances of meeting someone again was very slim.
He pushed open the doors of the dining hall, and entered. The moment he stepped inside, he knew this breakfast would be a disaster and he was going to regret it.
His father was already seated at the long table, looking quite pissed, and beside him sat his wife, Greta.
Loreen rolled his eyes.
Wonderful.
He walked slowly to the table and dropped into a chair four seats away from the king, not even bothering to greet.
Marsden stood silently near the door.
Loreen caught the look both men gave him, but he ignored it. There was no chance in hell, he would sit closer to that woman.
The woman who had replaced his mother, barely two months after she was gone. The woman who had quietly watched while his mother died, so she could step in and take her place.
Loreen leaned back in his chair. "You asked for me." He said.
The king sighed and leaned forward. "That is not how you speak to your father, the king." He scolded.
Loreen smirked slightly. "Right… You would have taught me proper manners, but you were too busy sleeping with another woman while your wife was dying, to do so." He said.
Greta gasped loudly but remained quiet.
The king's face darkened. "It is too early for this nonsense, Loreen." He warned, and took a sip from his cup.
"I assumed you would be in a better mood after spending the night with half the women in the lower districts."
Loreen almost laughed. If only his father knew how wrong he was. He had spent the night with only one person, and that person had definitely not been a woman, but a male omega.
But his father did not need to know that.
"Well I am not," Loreen said flatly. "So why am I here?"
He gestured to the table and mumbled. "Surely not to enjoy breakfast with the two of you."
The king sighed again. "I cannot expect you to behave like family for even one meal." He said.
Then he folded his hands on the table. "So I will get straight to the point."
Loreen raised an eyebrow. He seriously didn't like the tone of voice his father was speaking with.
His father continued. "It is time for you to get married."
For a moment Loreen thought he had heard wrong. Then he laughed. "You are joking."
The king shook his head and looked at Loreen sternly. "You are not getting any younger." He said. "And your behavior is becoming embarrassing for someone of your position."
Loreen's eyes widened. "And you think finding me a wife will fix that?" He spat.
The king sighed deeply and leaned back. "It is not a suggestion, Loreen." He spoke in a calm voice. "A bride selection ball has been planned."
Loreen stared at him in shock.
"Noblewomen from every province have been invited, and they will all be in attendance," the king continued, his voice firm. "The celebration is set to take place in two nights."
He looked directly at Loreen this time as he spoke. "And you will attend."
Loreen slowly stood up from his chair. "This is madness." His voice rose slightly. "I am not doing that."
The king's voice hardened. "You have no choice."
"Oh yes I do," Loreen snapped. "I will not attend any ridiculous ball."
Inside his mind, panic was already growing.
Marriage.
To a woman.
The thought alone made his stomach turn. How was he supposed to survive his rut if he could not even touch his own wife? Or sleep with her? He was only attracted to a man!
Loreen had always believed he had several more years before the kingdom started demanding marriage and an heir from him.
Apparently he had been wrong.
Greta spoke suddenly. "You will attend, Loreen… And you will choose a bride."
Loreen turned his head sharply toward her. Her voice was calm, and that calm tone made anger burn in his chest.
The only thing stopping him from throwing the wine pitcher across the table at her head, was the presence of his father.
Loreen laughed bitterly. "I would love to see you try to force me." He said.
He turned toward the door.
Then Greta's voice followed him. "If you refuse, the remembrance hall of the late queen will be demolished."
Loreen stopped walking. His entire body froze. Slowly he turned around. His eyes moved from Greta to his father.
Surely this was an empty threat and his father would not allow that. The remembrance hall was the last place that still honored his mother and the king knew what it meant to him.
But when Loreen looked into his father's eyes, he saw no objection. No protest. Only silence. His father would allow it. The realization hit him like a blade.
The king had always been a coward.
… And he still was.
Loreen looked straight at him. His voice came out low and filled with rage.
"Fuck you."