Chapter 24 His Unspoken War Crimes

Kari froze.

Just thinking about the memories set his limbs trembling. Saying it out loud would just make it all the more real, more tangible. Like he couldn't run away from the truth any more.

Worse still, he would be showing what a monster he really was to someone who he didn't know. The alpha was not any less of an enigma now than he was the first night Kari arrived. He knew pieces of information: alpha, warrior, harsh but fair, kept his word.

Ryedir seemed to be able to see right through him, read even the slightest reaction in his body language. But Kari didn't know how he would react in return.

What could he even say?

"Oh yeah, I just, you know, massacred half of your goddamn army. This is just my punishment for crimes I committed."

With a derisive snort the omega looked away, unsettled. He was feeling a bit sick at just thinking of that sentence, let alone trying to voice it out loud.

"You tell me or there's no deal."

There was no room for arguments in the man’s tone.

Kari took a deep breath and slowly let it out, squaring his shoulders in preparation. He needed to do this. He had to become stronger.

"I was in the Aithyean army. Illegally," he added hastily at the raised eyebrow of the alpha. "And one of the towns was not given warning or evacuated as the front lines moved back. I offered to be the distraction so that they could save the town. I was to buy time with my life." He was shaking again, limbs trembling with the force of holding his memories at bay.

"Ilwe."

One word was all it took and Kari knew that Ryedir already knew exactly what had happened. His wide-eyed stare was taken as confirmation.

"So, it was you. An entire brigade suddenly dead with no proof as to what happened to them. Oran said that you were supposedly found in that area but those who captured you were purposefully vague. I doubt they wanted to imply that they scavenged from a battlefield and stolen kingdom resources."

Kari blanched at the word brigade and the sickly feeling grew.

"H-how..." He swallowed, throat suddenly dry before whispering, "How many in a brigade?"

Ryedir observed him for a moment before replying. "Around five thousand."

Kari shut his eyes while the words sunk in. The room seemed to spin and his body swayed as the memories finally overwhelmed him.

Terrified screams and cries for help filled his head. He barely registered being picked up and carried back into the bedroom, choosing to focus on the comforting rumble at his ear again.

The omega felt even more wretched as he came back to himself again. It was quicker this time. He didn't get quite so forcefully stuck in his memories as he did the day prior. Still, it left him feeling weak and pathetic.

A soft little omega that required his damn alpha to calm him down.

Useless.

Kari tried to move away from Ryedir, break free from the circle of his arms and go back to helping Nevis, but he was trapped in a steely embrace.

"Look, I'm fine," he said sullenly. "You can let go now. I'm sorry for wasting your time."

"I will train you." The crooning stopped to be replaced instead by the alpha’s deep voice.

“You will?!" The omega looked up at Ryedir, stunned. He had been sure that the man would refuse after he admitted how much of a monster he was and broke down once again.

“But you have to do exactly as I say."

Kari nodded enthusiastically, not willing to sabotage this with his own stubbornness as he would normally. This was far too important for that.

"Including things like this."

"Like this?" Arms tightened around his waist and Kari found himself being yanked back down to lie with his head resting against a muscled chest. Deep, rumbly crooning noises started up again. "What you’re saying is that if you decide you want to cuddle afterwards, I have to comply?"

There was a sound of laughter into his hair and the crooning mercifully stopped. Sure, it was nice and comforting but it really just irked Kari once he was back into his own mind.

"Correct. Considering your reactions so far, it might be a necessary break."

"Sometimes I think you just enjoy carrying me around."

"I must confess, it is quite nice to have such an attractive omega curled up on my lap." Ryedir shifted and spoke directly into his ear, voice deep and low. “Just wait until I can do even more."

In an effort to hide the shivers that sent down his spine, Kari pulled away and exclaimed excitedly, "And I want to learn how to use that stick thingy that Jaid was using!"

"Stick? Ah, did he have the quarterstaff out?" Ryedir actually laughed aloud at that. "He must really be in a foul mood if he got that out."

"How so? He was kicking butt with it! It looked awesome and light enough for me to use!"

"It’s a weapon he only gets out when he wants to knock a few city boys’ egos down to size. They see the quarterstaff as a farmer’s weapon, only fit for the poor. Many consider themselves above such things, seeing as they own a steel blade. Jaid is, at heart, still just a farm boy himself. He uses it expertly and easily proves that any trained farmer could knock a dismissive swordsman to the ground. It is a bit heavier than he makes it look, however."

"I'm too small to use a sword but that looked perfect."

Ryedir nodded, looking thoughtful. "They are usually made in relation to the height of their wielder, so that's not a problem. You will train in basic self-defense with me first and if you do well, then you are free to bother Jaid into teaching you. He's a busy man and I will not force him to do something he doesn't want to, so you will have to convince him."

Kari grinned. This was going to be great! Soon he wouldn't be some weak little pushover without his power.

Never again.