Chapter 26 Chasing Nightmares Away

Ryedir stared unseeing at the reports on his desk.

He had long since sent Trois to bed and instead sat by his study contemplating his little omega. He had proven to be a quick learner and had been picking up all the different moves well. Ryedir had taught others before and the constant repetition required to drill in the knowledge always tested his patience.

Never had it been so fun to practice- the alpha had greatly enjoyed the view of tumbling ass when the omega wasn’t quite fast enough to counter.

Even more intriguing had been his unconscious reaction that evening. They had been going at it for a while and Kari had made considerable progress in being able to read and react to Ryedir’s attacks. However, he was starting to get tired and was slowing down, reacting too late and even completely losing focus.

Then it seemed as though his fight-or-flight instincts had kicked in, with fight winning over.

Ryedir had had his suspicions over whether or not ice would be Kari’s power. His stunning tattoo indicated something to that effect.

The omega seemed to have been forced into a situation where he had only ever used his Daiyan power for combat. For all that Ryedir could envision the practical applications of such devastating power, he had to wonder if it could be turned to other things.

The feelings of guilt and shame that the omega felt over the deaths were not worth the advantage of his power in a combat situation.

The alpha paused at that thought before smiling wryly. The little omega had clearly already gotten under his skin, if he, the renowned general, was thinking such things.

It was hard not to like Kari. Defiant and full of fire, but also sweetly honest and almost naïve. Ryedir got a little too much satisfaction from having the omega curl up at his lap in the evenings and fall asleep against his chest. Same with washing him.

The flush of embarrassment hadn’t eased even after a few weeks of the ritual, except for this evening. The omega had seemed too lost in thought and too tired to feel embarrassed for once. The flushed cheeks and downcast eyes were a truly excellent expression, one that Ryedir would never tire of seeing.

The strong attraction and reaction he felt the moment he laid eyes on Kari was a first for him. He never had a pleasure slave, thinking of such things as a waste of time. Besides, he is a man who never gets attracted enough to someone to do such things. His days were full of work for governing Mishal and he never got distracted from it as it is his top priority.

He never thought that a day would come wherein he would feel something strong towards someone, enough to distract him from governing Mishal. He wanted to spoil Kari, care for him. Love him. Something that surprised him even more because he never thought he was capable of such feelings and emotions, specially love.

Kari had been a welcome distraction and a series of firsts ever since he arrived. Despite the deathly sick appearance, the moment he saw Kari- Daiyan or not, he knew he wouldn't mind spending forever with the stubborn omega.

A faint whimper caught his hearing and he stilled, straining to hear.

For a few moments, all Ryedir could hear was his own breathing and beating heart. Then he heard it again.

He felt the growl rumble at the back of his throat at the sound of his omega’s distress and forced it down. It was quick work to put away the city’s reports as he walked surefooted through the dark room, the whimpering growing louder.

Ryedir struggled to force down the tension rising through his body at the noise. Logically he knew it was his little omega, no doubt in the clutches of the same nightmares that took him even during the light of day.

But it did nothing to soothe his instincts screaming to lash out and kill whoever caused Kari’s distress. He couldn’t kill what was already dead. The ghosts that haunted Kari would need to be removed by him alone, but Ryedir knew he could at least help him sleep.

Because for all that Kari still refused to make his choice, continually denying Ryedir, he had never had a nightmare since arriving. This was the first night that he had put the little omega to bed without him joining at the same time and the first time the omega had been caught by night terrors.

The alpha slipped into the room and caught sight of Kari thrashing around under the puffy blankets. He started to croon, the deep rumble immediately calming the omega somewhat. He still whimpered in distress but the thrashing stopped.

Ryedir quickly shucked off his clothing and climbed into the bed, pulling his omega onto his chest. The last sounds of distress faded away and Kari unconsciously snugged in closer with a small sigh of contentment.

Ryedir grinned fiercely into the darkened room, because regardless of what Kari said, his body already recognized who is his alpha.

*****

Kari woke slowly. His body ached after the exercise from the day before but yet he still felt extraordinarily comfortable. He was vaguely aware of his pillow vibrating slightly and burrowed in further. He felt his own body respond but paid it no mind.

Until what was unmistakably an arm tightening around his waist. Stiffening, he tried to open his eyes while moving away but was firmly held in place. He became aware that he wasn’t in fact curled up on his puffy pillow.

No, that warm, hard thing under his head was moving rhythmically and vibrating very gently.

He was curled up on Ryedir’s chest and the damn alpha was crooning at him again.

Kari failed once more to move and suddenly realized that he was actually purring back to the man! Traitorous body. He had never purred before. Not once. Now here he was getting all cute and cuddly in his sleep. The omega moved his head and was bombarded with yet another realization.

Yhieris, he had been drooling on the alpha’s bare chest. His cheeks lit up in mortification. Finally managing to pry open his tired eyes, Kari raised his head, blinking as he looked around. Nevis came into focus, the beta was placing a breakfast tray on the bedside table, and then a hand forced his chin up so that he could meet golden eyes.

Thankfully, the alpha made no comment about Kari’s ridiculous purring but it didn’t stop him from wanting to punch the smug look on the man’s face.