CHAPTER TWO
DROCCO
Drocco turned to Torin. “It is time for the Lox to collect their Omegas.”
“We do not have enough warriors to plan any kind of significant attack on anyone, Drocco,” Torin said. “The majority of warriors will arrive within the next week and the others are still trying to repel Malloron.”
Drocco turned toward the Talent-crafter twins standing in front of the wall working on the portal. “Have you been pleased with them?” He gestured to the twins.
Torin nodded. “Extremely. They have not faltered in four months. Their actions and suggestions have always been in the best interest of the Lox and you, Drocco. I strongly recommend we accept them.”
Drocco squeezed the location gem in his fist as he thought for a long moment. He turned back toward Torin. “Round up whoever is available in the palace. Let me worry about Malloron.”
Torin bowed and headed down the corridor.
Drocco approached the twins. "How much progress have you made?"
"We are unable to secure an exact location," said the twin on the right nervously. "Knowing that the portal went to the Wastelands is helpful, and we have been able to pinpoint a radius where the portal would have opened, but we are currently unable to create a portal there."
“Why?"
"Any portal that is created relies on the magic that exists at the destination," the second twin explained. "Since it is difficult for magic to even remain steady, we cannot maintain a portal long enough for anybody to go through."
"You told me you were the most powerful Talent-crafters in the Western Lands," Drocco growled.
"We said we are powerful in our own right," said the first twin. "And that is increased tenfold when we weave together, but the Wastelands are uninhabitable for a reason, your Imperial Majesty. The magic there is incredibly wild and uniquely potent. It is a difficult task, even for us."
Drocco rolled the flickering cloudy-gray gem in his palm as he thought. He truly didn’t give a shit how difficult the task was. The Omega Mothers had purposely chosen that location exactly because the people of the known Lands would be reluctant to venture into it. There had to be a way to get there.
"Your name?" he asked the twin on the right.
"Kuan."
He looked pointedly at the female on the left.
"Rada."
Drocco looked between them for a moment, an idea forming. "Rada, you may wear whatever you wish, but it must always be in the crimson red of the Lox." He turned to the other twin. "Kuan, you may also wear whatever you wish, but it must always be in the jet black of the Lox."
The sisters glanced at each other. "Does that mean…" Kuan began, hesitantly.
"Yes," Drocco replied. "You have proven yourself worthy of the Lox. Many of my warriors and my Empire have been preserved due to your actions and I'm appreciative of that. Commander Torin has also vouched for you. We will have a joining ceremony once this is over if, of course, you are still willing?"
Rada’s emerald eyes widened while Kuan pushed her chest out slightly and firmed her stance. "Yes, your Imperial Majesty," Kuan said. "We are honored and grateful that you have chosen to accept us."
“Being part of the Lox will not be easy,” Drocco warned. “We have a culture that you will need to adjust to, and it is not for the weak or the disloyal. As the Lox Talent-crafters, you will not automatically gain the respect of Lox warriors—you will have to earn it.”
“We have never once had any respect awarded to us automatically, your Imperial Majesty,” Kuan said firmly. “We have had to earn everything we have gained.”
"We will never let you or any Lox warrior down, to the best of our ability," Rada affirmed. “Thank you, your Imperial Majesty. Our lives belong to you.”
“Emperor. You can address me as Emperor,” Drocco said. "Go to the Empire tailor and dress in the appropriate colors. Malloron's fog must have entered this side of the palace by now. Meet me at my bedroom."
The twins bowed and hurried away.
As Drocco made his way to his bedroom, he tried to calm the emotions that battled within him at the unease of not being with Cailyn. He tried to tell himself it was simply magnified because of the baby—because he wasn’t with his pregnant Omega, but he couldn’t deny that he was concerned about the Mothers and what they were doing to her. He stood in the center of his bedroom, observing it once more. Cailyn had been tidying it up, which surely meant she had been planning to stay? The scent of her fear had faded by now, but remained sharp in his memory. He clung to the hope that she had been taken against her will.
“Emperor, we are ready.”
Drocco turned to see the twins at the door. They had each tied their blond hair into a single, swinging braid. Both wore knee-length tunics and fitted pants. Light chain mail had been fitted around their torsos past their hips. On their feet were snug calf-length boots and thick cloaks adorned their shoulders, swirling around their wide bodies. Every single item they each wore was in the color Drocco had assigned them, even the ties in their hair, and so he could finally identify who was who. Choosing red for Rada was a simplistic and childish way of determining their names, but he didn’t care as long as he could tell them apart. As it happened they looked formidable in Lox colors, which was appropriate if they were to be his Talent-crafters.
"I need to get into the Great Hall," Drocco said, passing by them and exiting the room.
The twins nodded and followed behind him. "We can create a shield to protect us against Malloron’s fog," Kuan said.
"Do it."
"Are you not taking any warriors, Emperor?" asked Rada.
"No."
A glistening sheen billowed out around Drocco as he walked, surrounding him and the twins as they kept close behind him. “The shield is active, Emperor,” one of them said.
Keeping a brisk pace, Drocco led the way toward the Great Hall. When they reached Malloron's fog, the shield held as the fog pressed up against it; it's wispy curls flattened against the dome that surrounded the three of them. As he progressed further, the fog thickened until a heavy mist settled against the bubble, but he knew the way to the Great Hall without needing to see.
They entered the hall and headed toward the platform. The fog ended abruptly halfway inside. At the center of the raised platform sat Malloron, in Drocco's throne no less, speaking intently to one of the warriors on the ground. As soon as he saw Drocco, he shot to his feet and readied himself, glancing at the warriors who were already drawing their swords below him.
"I'm not here to fight," Drocco said, coming to a stop.
"How did you get through the fog?" Malloron snarled.
Drocco felt the twins move, and Malloron's eyes darting either side of him told him that they flanked him.
Malloron stilled as he took in the twins, his brows drawn together, confusion entering his eyes as he studied them. He looked out of sorts. His usually well-groomed brown hair was ruffled, his clothes disheveled, and his manner rough. He was clearly agitated and that could work in Drocco's favor.
"What is this?" Malloron demanded, stepping to the edge of the platform. "Who are you?" he asked the twins.
"I'm here to discuss a ceasefire," Drocco began.
Malloron kept his eyes on the twins. "You are kin," he said slowly. "I can feel that you are kin."
The twins said nothing; however, their silence seemed to agitate Malloron further. "Speak!" he bellowed. "What are you doing with my enemy if you are my kin?"
"They are Lox Talent-crafters," Drocco said tersely. "They answer to me, not you."
Malloron jumped off the edge of the platform and stalked forward until he reached the warriors that stood between them. "You have enslaved members of my family?" he asked, his voice deadly and low.
"They sought to join the Lox," Drocco corrected. "They sought refuge from you. I will not take any responsibility for you driving away your own family. They are now Lox Talent-crafters and have severed all ties to your family line."
Malloron chortled, although his expression remained deadly serious. “That is not possible. They are twins. They belong in the Western Lands and under my supervision."
"They have pledged," Drocco snapped. "They have already committed themselves to the Empire and I will not release them."
Malloron looked between the twins again. "Who is your mother? Is she aware you have disgraced the family line in such a way?"
Both twins stepped forward at the same time, their fists clenched. Rada, in red, looked at Drocco. He inclined his head, giving her permission to speak.
"Our mother was disgraced by you," Rada shot at Malloron, anger and disdain dripping from every word. "You sent her to be fucked by numerous men just so that she could bear twins you could have control over."
"If it wasn't for our dynamic," Kuan said, her voice low and just as forceful, "we would have been given up to you years ago. And who knows what you would have done to us."
"Who is your mother?" Malloron demanded.
"How many of your sisters have you sent into sexual slavery," Kuan sneered. "So many that you don't know?"
Malloron's eyes slid between the two of them. “You are Sonila’s children.” When they didn’t respond, he’s gaze rested on Drocco. "If these twins were conceived under any arrangement made between me and their mother, they belong to me. It matters not their age, their dynamic, nor their sex. The agreement trumps any pledge they may have made to you."
"Our mother is dead," Rada snapped.
"She pleaded with us to take her life so we could pledge to the Lox Emperor and get away from you," Kuan added. "She died before any agreement was made between us and our Emperor. Any arrangement you made died with her."
Malloron's breathing deepened as a snarl almost formed on his face, his hands curling into fists as he watched the three of them with hard eyes. However, after a long moment, both his stance and his expression relaxed somewhat. "What do you want for them?" he asked Drocco.
"I’m not trading anything for them. They will remain here as long as they wish. They are part of the Lox now and you already know I will not force any members of the Lox to leave. However, I do wish to discuss a ceasefire with you."
"There is no reason for me to cease taking over this palace," Malloron said. "My fog will kill anyone who chooses to remain here. It will have penetrated entirely within the next few hours. You have no choice but to concede and give me these twins."
"I want to negotiate a ceasefire so that the Lox can get their Omegas," Drocco said, ignoring everything he said. "I cannot give you an Omega, but I can make you a worthwhile promise today."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Drocco snarled. "Why the fuck would I make any such negotiation?"
Drocco stepped forward, causing all of Malloron's warriors to tense and grip their weapons harder. "You know me as a man of my word, yes?" Drocco asked.
Malloron did not respond for a moment, and then slowly nodded.
"You know that once I make a vow I see it through to the end, and I will seek to do so until my death. Correct?"
"Yes," Malloron snapped. "What is your point?"
"I vow that if you assist us, I will call a true truce between us," Drocco said. "I will put aside all indiscretions and work with you so that our Lands can both benefit from rulers who are at peace with each other. I vow that I will consider you an ally, and I will aim to be a strong and valuable asset to you. However," his voice lowered, “if you choose to refuse this ceasefire, my vow will be to hunt you down and kill you; no matter how long it takes, no matter what I have to do to make it happen." Drocco's fists clenched as he spoke. "You have committed atrocities against the Lox Empire that no one else has dared. You have shown yourself to be a formidable opponent, which I appreciate; however, you have taken grave liberties and the only compensation for that is your death."
Malloron's expression remained unchanged as Drocco spoke, but the air around him was highly charged by the time Drocco had finished speaking. "Those are the only two choices you are giving me?"
"Those choices are more than you deserve!" Drocco bellowed. "And I'm only giving you them because of my Omega."
Malloron huffed out a long harsh breath and turned his face away, his eyes roaming the far wall in thought.
Drocco watched him closely. If Malloron was as smart as he seemed, he would become an ally of the Lox Empire. Although Drocco was not offering him any Omegas, he was giving him the chance to keep his life, his rule, and his territory without any further interference from Drocco, provided he left the Lox Empire, and Cailyn, alone.
Malloron turned back to him after a long moment. "You have been the only one to find an Omega in the last one hundred years," he said, his voice calmer. "And I need one. I cannot accept any agreement that I am not able to secure an Omega."
Drocco frowned.
"It doesn't matter which one I have,” Malloron continued. “It can be any, but I need one."
"That is not how we see Omegas," Drocco said, sharply. "Every Alpha in my army wishes for an Omega to make him complete. An Omega who can be in his life as a partner and a mate as intended by the Alpha/Omega connection. That is why we seek them. Each Omega that we find will be precious to each of us. They are not throwaway beings where any one will do for our purposes."
"You say that," Malloron responded. "That is not how you treated Cailyn."
"Cailyn is my true mate," Drocco ground out, baring his teeth as he snarled. "And there were other factors at play. Whatever you may think about our relationship, you know nothing of it. You can never understand it unless you find your own true mate. I'm not willing to just throw you an Omega to satisfy your strange need for one when it is clear you do not value them. And especially not when you use life as a commodity to trade and sell. Any Omega that I would give you for that purpose could be the true mate of one of my warriors; a warrior I have made vows to."
"I cannot move on this matter," Malloron said tightly. "I wish that I could, but you don't understand what is at stake."
Drocco held himself still. He had thought Malloron would be reasonable, but if he wasn’t going to be, they would likely all die in the next few moments. "Have I not said that I won’t interfere with any of your disgusting practices of slavery," Drocco said slowly. "Have I not made clear that I won’t interfere with any despicable activities that you carry out in your own castle and territory?"
"None of that matters if I am not able to eventually get an Omega," Malloron insisted.
Drocco's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
Malloron's lips pressed together, his nose flaring as he glared at Drocco. "It is of no consequence to you."
"So you are refusing my offer of a truce," Drocco said slowly. "Even though it will mean your death, even though it will mean your entire territory and kingdom falling?"
"I need an Omega!" Malloron bellowed. “You have no right to hoard them for the Alphas you deem worthy. I only ask for one to take back to my castle.”
"Omegas walk your castle as we speak!" Drocco bellowed back. "They have probably been there for decades, just as they have been everywhere else in the known Lands."
Malloron's eyes flashed. "What are you talking about?"
Drocco inhaled a breath, his annoyance bounding through his veins. "Omegas are able to hide their dynamic. They can pretend to be Betas. Because of this, they are able to move among us undetected and have been doing so since their disappearance."
Malloron's brows drew together, and he stared at Drocco, his mouth slowly opening and his eyes narrowing. "How?"
"The Talent, of course."
Malloron’s chest expanded as his mouth tightened. The fury on his face was the most violent expression Drocco had ever seen and for once, Drocco wondered what Malloron would have been like if he had ever joined the Lox.
After along moment, Malloron found his voice. "My Talent?" he finally said with disbelief. "They could not possibly be using the Talent developed and honed by my family line to hide from me."
"This is not the time for your ego," Drocco said tersely. "They hid from us all—Alphas, Betas, their own families even."
"It's not about ego," Malloron snapped. "I'm the most accomplished Talent-crafter that exists. It is impossible for them to hide from me." He peered at Drocco. "How do I know you tell the truth?"
"I give you my word I'm telling the truth," Drocco said somewhat calmly. "Cailyn knew that you were giving her potions to sway her mind while she was with you because an Omega told her. An Omega that lives in your castle and knows your methods."
"That is outrageous!" Malloron thundered, his voice ripping through the entire hall. "All in Eiros Castle are loyal to me."
"Unfortunately not," Drocco said dryly. "It is unpleasant when there are people in your home choosing to deceive you, isn't it?"
Malloron's gaze turned harsh on Drocco. "Tell me who," he said, his jaw hard. "Your Omega will tell me who in my castle helped her."
Drocco stepped forward, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth as a sudden heat embraced him. "You will never speak to my Omega again." He served Malloron with a fierce glare. "The only thing I can offer you is the promise that you will find Omegas in your castle. I cannot tell you how to find them and Cailyn will not be identifying them for you. All I offer you is that information and the promise to be your ally. Do you accept?"
Malloron did not respond for a long time. He glared at Drocco and the twins, a muscle twitching in his jaw as he considered Drocco's words. Finally, his body relaxed. "Fine," he said tersely. "I accept."