Chapter 32 The Omega’s Waking Nightmare

Kari sighed as he dragged his feet towards Ryedir’s private quarters.

He had spent the afternoon helping Nevis run errands in the market square and was tired after all the activity. Not to mention that his head still reeled over what had happened that morning.

Yhieris, what had possessed him to agree to let the alpha touch him so intimately?

Instincts most likely and he had let himself be carried away by the situation. Had it been anyone else, he would have been mated and bonded by now, Kari was sure. Ryedir must have legendary self-control. He had seen other alphas lose their mind over just the scent of an omega, let alone touching them so intimately.

Ryedir had sent him over the edge of pleasure multiple times and at the end came again virtually untouched. Which showed just how much Kari affected him and yet he didn’t act on it. Sure, the man took some liberties. He had felt Kari up more than once and often coaxed him into kisses but there was always this set boundary between them.

It made Kari trust him.

That was probably the point of why he was doing it. Gaining his trust and endearing himself to the omega. But the man was an alpha in a powerful position and Kari was merely his slave. Why would he bother to do such things if all he was trying to do was lull him into a false sense of security?

That surely meant that Ryedir wanted a real soul-bond, a real relationship with Kari. Even if it was just for his Daiyan powers. He had already said it was tied to will, so that meant he couldn’t just about face his attitude lest he break Kari and lose access to his power. Something Ryedir has said with the strange alpha that morning stood out to him.

“I much prefer his wilful attitude to the subservient little dolls you prefer to play with. I’m quite enjoying his very honest reactions to myself. Far more satisfying than the thought of it being just a fake act to ingratiate him into my favour.”

That meant that he liked Kari as he was, right? Ignoring the implied ownership but Ryedir had seemed to talk in a certain manner with the other alpha as though he was wary of him. Which meant that he would be after Kari as a lover, as Nevis thought. That thought was somehow less terrifying than it had been previously. He wasn’t some little doll to constantly bow to the commands of another but a lover, a partner…

That was an entirely different affair.

Ryedir had always spoken as though Kari was property, which he clearly was, but it felt like there was more to it. As though once he gave himself over, something would change. Something that Ryedir seemed to want to hide, as though he wanted Kari to make his choice based on the worst possible outcome. But why?

He sighed. There was no point thinking on it now. His tired brain would only run in circles and get him nowhere. At least he had been given time for a nap. It was a small consolation but one he would gladly take.

*****

Opening the door to the bedroom, Kari stepped inside wearily. A nap on the cloud-like comfort of Ryedir’s bed sounded perfect. Otherwise he wouldn’t last long in their sparring session that evening and he was determined to hold his own tonight.

It was purely ingrained reaction forged from Ryedir’s countless surprise attacks that had Kari lunging out of the way before he could even consciously process what had happened.

A sharp blade swung into the spot he had previously been standing and he looked up with wide, terrified eyes.

The beta standing in front of him could have been anyone. His face was as plain as his clothes and Kari wouldn’t be able to tell him apart from a crowd. The man spun around with the large dagger, striking out again and the omega rolled away before rising to his feet in a defensive posture.

Another assassin.

Except this time, he didn’t have Ryedir there to protect him. All he had was his own skills honed over a scant few weeks. He danced back as the assassin lunged again and Kari realized that he mustn’t want to leave any possible warning for Ryedir. He might be able to bring down Kari but there was no chance he would take out the Blademaster without the element of surprise.

He cursed as the dagger sunk into the flesh of his arm as he moved seconds too late.

The assailant shifted stance and it seemed like he was finally taking Kari seriously.

This was not good.

The beta attacked again and Kari was able to move away and under his reach, kicking out like he had been taught and nearly knocked the man off balance. It wasn’t enough and the blade went whistling past his ear, far too close for comfort.

They danced back and forward, Kari never quite able to knock the man off balance but earning himself several shallow flesh wounds for his efforts. His chest heaved and the exhaustion of the wounds weighed heavily on him. Each cut sent sparks of pain through his nerves and slowed him down that little bit more while redirecting his attention.

At this rate, he would not survive the fight.

There was one thing he could use to defend himself though.

He didn’t have time to picture his pool of power but it was there. It had accidentally popped up in training more than once with Ryedir. Kari didn’t know how much he had, how much he could draw on, so he needed it to be a surprise. All he needed to do was get close enough. The assassin was getting desperate with his attacks, as though it had gone on too long and he needed to end it quickly.

The other man lunged forward and Kari dodged backwards under his swing then kicked out with his foot. He landed the hit squarely on his stomach, eliciting a grunt of pain, and pushed out with his ice upon feeling the connection.

There was a strangled wail as ice ripped through the mans unprotected stomach and Kari didn’t even stop to think. He spun around, throwing his arm out as he lunged for the man’s neck as Ryedir had taught him.

However, unlike in their practice matches, this time an ice dagger was clutched in his fist and it easily sliced through the man’s throat with the force of his swing.

Blood sprayed out from the ruined throat and a horrible gurgling sound was made as the assassin clutched at his neck. He slowly toppled over as if the body didn’t yet know it was dead.

He fell forward and Kari was left staring in shocked horror at the ice shards sticking out from the man’s back.

A perfect ice crystal formation had impaled the assassin.

Kari’s beautiful, perfect ice. It was dripping with sticky crimson and he couldn’t tear his eyes from the sight. All at once, the memories came rushing back full force and he fell to his knees, arms wrapped around his trembling frame.

He did that. He killed someone.

Again.

The blood ran down in rivulets.

So much blood.

The ice sparkled sickeningly with red and all Kari could hear was the terrified screams for mercy and forgiveness.

Soldiers begging for their lives, begging to end it.

The terrified scream of Aster as he let her die by virtue of not protecting her.

In his mind’s eye, the beautiful idyllic pool that showed his power was overtaken by creeping ice. The stunning, swirling patterns that iced over the top where blood red and swirling as the color grew bolder and bolder as if more blood was being added. Then more and more still.

Killer.

A thousand and more lives lost to him.

Slaughterer.

This beautiful gift bestowed upon him from Yhieris, the same one he had used to create snow castles and forts to play with the other children at his home village, the same one he had used to craft roses for his mother, the same one that he had vowed to never, ever misuse.

Criminal.

He used it to kill. He tainted it with his sins.

Murderer.

How could he be worthy of such a gift?

Murderer!

The screams pounded in his head as he stared wide eyed and unseeing at the red crystalline ice.

Kari pushed out with his ice, trying to remove it from himself. He didn’t deserve it. But it was him, a part of him. Maybe he was better off dead.

He needed to atone for his actions. Because whatever the Niamreans thought of slavery as payment for crimes, he didn’t share that sentiment. It was a nice concept but it rang hollow in his mind- it was just an excuse, a cover for the trading of human flesh.

No, if he wanted to truly pay for tainting such purity, then he had to offer the one thing he had left.

Himself.

The omega reached deep inside himself and began to pull his power up from his very veins just like he had once before. The pain was worse than he remembered and he screamed in agony. It felt like he was tearing his nerves out thread by thread from his body.

Dimly he became aware of something. Something pulled at him.

Something soft and soothing.

Yhieris, he wanted that. It called to him and he stopped, wavering in his act of suicide.

His vision swum and slowly, he noticed something beyond the torment of his memories. A face came into focus in front of him and he immediately recognized the golden eyes.

“Lezzker?” he croaked out, voice hoarse and breaking as though he had been screaming nonstop.

“It’s okay Kari. I’m here. Just hold onto me.”

The soft crooning started up again and Kari realized that was the sound that had been pulling at him. The alpha gathered him up in his strong arms and held him so tightly it was hard to breathe. The trembling increased to the point that his entire body shook violently and Kari found tears rolling down his cheeks but they wouldn’t stop. It was as though the flood gates had opened and everything came pouring out.

He clutched onto his alpha tightly, trying to burrow himself closer. Maybe if he pushed himself against Lezzker enough, he could burrow right under his skin and sit there, safe and warm and protected forever.