Nic groaned next to him as they stood in a line to the right of the throne.

“Are you okay?” Marlin asked quietly.

Nic’s brown eyes tipped up to him as he rubbed the small of his back. “I’m not going to lie, being pregnant sucks. My back is killing me. My feet are swollen. And I’m starving. I’m not sure if I can do this for three more months.”

Marlin cocked a brow. “As if you have another choice?”

Nic cursed under his breath, making Marlin fight back a chuckle.

“You think this is funny? Because I—”

Marlin squeezed his hand gently. “Enough, Omega. I’ll make it up to you later.”

Nic pursed his lips, then sighed. “While normally I’d be excited about that, I know this is going to be a long, torturous day. I might be too exhausted later for you to ‘make it up’ to me.”

It certainly was going to be a long day. Marlin’s gaze slid over the teeming crowd in the Great Hall. Royal dignitaries from other colonies, the Northern Colony’s own royalty—dukes, barons, and more, along with their omegas—as well as the members of the Royal Council, and more, were currently in attendance. The Royal Guards also lined both sides of the hall. Plus, Marlin’s brothers and their omegas flanked both sides of the throne, wearing their royal best. Luca stood directly behind Kai’s right shoulder holding their youngest son, Marinus. While Vin, Kai’s beta, stood behind the soon-to-be king’s left shoulder holding Dylan’s hand and struggling to keep his young charge from ripping all his clothes off. Kai’s son loved to run around the castle naked, to everyone’s chagrin.

And since Kai was about to be officially crowned King of the North, having Dylan naked on the dais while that ceremony occurred would be a bit distracting.

“Seriously, how long can this take?” his omega grumbled. “Hand him the damn crown so we can go eat.”

Aegir, their beta brother who agreed to move to their colony, leaned forward and shh’d Nic, which made his omega’s head jerk back in surprised annoyance. Marlin quickly covered his mouth so he wouldn’t burst out in laughter in front of everyone.

Marlin’s full-blooded beta brother was now Kai’s royal assistant. The male insisted that if he was to join them at the Northern Colony, he needed something to keep him busy. He didn’t want to become lazy and be a “kept” beta who didn’t earn his keep.

So Kai asked if he’d assist him with his “kingly” duties since Vin was busy with Luca and his sons. Aegir jumped at the chance, pleased he could be of some use. And he was great at it. He helped keep Kai organized and everyone loved him. Unlike the former assistant to the king... the beta whose name they never spoke aloud anymore.

While Marlin and Aegir both looked eerily similar with their dark hair and blue eyes the color of sapphires—a feature Marlin heard was inherited from their late pater, Moore—the beta was a little more serious than Marlin.

More than a little. Maybe he felt the need to impress all of them. Or at least Kai.

Nic shuffled his weight from one foot to the other and groaned again. “I need to pee.”

Marlin glanced down at his omega. “I’m sorry my son’s making you so uncomfortable.”

Nic sighed. “I need a couch, my slippers, a good action movie and a piece of Vin’s famous seafood casserole.”

To Marlin’s left, Caol exclaimed, “That shit’s the bomb. Now I’m hungry.”

“Quiet,” Aegir scolded, making Caol snicker. “Our brother is about to become king and you all want to talk about seafood casserole. And you shouldn’t be talking at all!”

“For Poseidon’s sake,” Zale burst out. “Now my mouth is watering for it.”

Marlin looked past the throne, down the long line at Zale. “I know, right? Aegir, is it on the menu at tonight’s fancy dinner you planned?”

“No,” Aegir mumbled. “You eat it all the time. More formal dishes are in order for this type of ceremony since we have official guests.” The last he whispered fiercely, which meant those “official guests” were watching them.

Caol mmm’d and rubbed his stomach. “There’s nothing better than Vin’s seafood casserole.”

“Thank you,” could be heard from Vin’s direction. Marlin glanced over at the beta, who was tugging Dylan’s dress shirt back down since the young male was trying to pull it over his head without unbuttoning it first. His hair, as dark as his father’s, was now standing on end due to static. It was actually quite funny looking. Vin spit on his palm and began to brush it back into place.

“I really need to pee,” Nic muttered. “Will they just get on with it?”

Marlin heard a snort from Del a few bodies down as he stood next to Rian, holding his alpha’s hand tightly. Rian was ignoring everyone with a pained look on his face and staring out over the crowd in his normal regal way. Kai had his hand over his face, and was shaking his head. Marlin was pretty sure the tremble of his body was from laughter and not nervousness from the great amount of responsibility about to be placed upon his shoulders.

Marlin assumed Kai wasn’t taking any of this too seriously, either. He had always hated the pomp and circumstance that came along with being a royal. Despised all the traditions their late father loved more than his own sons.

His oldest brother probably wanted all of this to be over just as quickly as Nic did. But to be crowned he had to suffer through one more official ceremony.

Actually, all of them had to suffer through it.

When the trumpets blared at the foot of the dais, Nic jerked and let out a curse. “They could’ve warned us!”

“You saw the betas holding them! It’s not like they’re just for show,” Marlin told him.

Then it began. Marlin watched in fascination as the crowd parted as if on command, and he spotted the Head Minister of the Royal Council all the way at the other end of the hall coming through the almost floor to ceiling gold-painted double doors.

Now that the crowd had opened up, Marlin spotted Meesha and Zander to the right side at the back of the room. Zander appeared as if he was about to have a mental breakdown being surrounded by so many alphas and Meesha had an arm wrapped around his waist. Marlin could see her mouth moving. The woman was probably telling the poor omega that he was safe there and they would never allow anyone to hurt him again.

No matter how many times they had begged Zander to come live in the compound, he had refused so far. He was happy living with Meesha and she was happy to have the company. So, for now, that’s where he was staying. The invitation to come join the rest of the family in the castle remained open. They all still took turns visiting him every week. And now Nic went along with Marlin when it was his day.

Zander did love to touch Nic’s stomach now that Marlin’s omega was showing and he seemed envious of Nic’s pregnancy. But if he didn’t get over his fear of alphas, he was never going to find a mate and have sons of his own.

Nic made a noise. “Is Kai really going to wear that freaking crown? Holy shit. It’s so...”

“Pretentious?” Marlin suggested.

“Gaudy.”

“Just bloody awful,” Caol added. “I doubt he’ll be wearing it as much as Father did. And I can imagine that the ol’ scepter Father loved to pound against the floor for attention will gather dust. Or at least I hope so. Kai?” Caol corrected himself with a grin, “I mean, Your Royal Highness! Will you be donning the jeweled crown on your newly fattened head and arming yourself with the royal scepter?”

Aegir hissed, “Caol, behave! This is important!”

“Holy Neptune, I should’ve left you back at the Southern Colony,” Caol griped with a roll of his eyes.

The Head Minister was taking measured, slow steps over a long, narrow red carpet, carrying a fancy purple pillow edged in gold roping with the heavy bejeweled crown precariously perched on top. His eyes were glued to Kai as he approached.

“He needs to walk faster!” Nic groaned. “Please tell him I need to pee and I’m not going to be able to wait much longer.”

“Nic,” Marlin murmured. “Once Kai’s crowned, we’ll slip out so you can relieve yourself.”

“You can stay. I can handle that business on my own.”

Marlin sucked in a breath. “No, you will remain by my side. There are too many alphas in the castle right now.”

“I’m pregnant, Marlin,” Nic reminded Marlin, needlessly.

Marlin shook his head. “I don’t care. I don’t want you near other alphas by yourself.”

“Holy shit, I love when you get possessive,” Nic purred and leaned closer. “When we sneak out for me to pee, can we sneak back to our wing, as well, so we can f— fut quick-like? No one will miss us and this pregnancy is making me hornier than ever.”

Caol snorted next to Marlin. “Nice.”

Marlin sighed, ignoring Caol. “No, we cannot. Later, I said.”

“And now I know what the two of you will be doing later,” Caol announced.

Marlin looked at his youngest brother. “Like you won’t be doing the same.”

Caol stared out over the crowd with a grin.

Marlin didn’t miss who his brother’s gaze landed on.

“Your relationship with Beck is inappropriate, Caol. Father had forbid you to rut with him for good reason.”

Caol swatted a hand toward him. “Father’s now gone. Kai will be more progressive. Right, Kai?”

Marlin leaned forward to see Kai wearing a deep frown, but kept his eyes on the Head Minister since the male was almost to the dais.

“Now’s not the time for this conversation,” Kai growled. Kai pinned on a fake smile as the Head Minister reached the bottom step to the throne. “We will have this discussion at a later time.”

Aegir whispered quickly, “I’ll put it on your Google calendar.”

Kai sighed. “Fine.”

Everyone shut up as the male with the crown now stood at the top of the steps directly in front of the throne and bowed his head slightly to Kai, then announced loudly so everyone in the hall could hear, “Prince Kai of the North, by accepting this crown you will become king and ruler of the Northern Colony. With that comes the great responsibility of all your subjects, be them alphas, omegas or betas. The Royal Council requests, if you choose to accept this title, that you follow all of the established Selkie laws contained within our scrolls. Will you take the oath to do so?”

Kai’s deep voice boomed out. “I will. I accept this crown. I accept all the responsibility to the citizens of the Northern Colony. I vow to rule this colony with a fair hand and make sure my subjects are protected and well cared for.”

“Very well,” the Head Minister said. “Then please bow your head one last time.”

With both hands gripping the arms of the throne, Kai bowed his head and the Head Minister leaned forward to put the crown in its rightly place.

Kai carefully straightened and sat back. Marlin could see his knuckles whiten as he gripped the throne and his eyes were closed.

Marlin knew his brother was torn. He wanted what he just accepted, but he also didn’t. He wanted to make changes but never wanted to be king.

No matter what, Kai needed to be king. Whether Kai knew it or not, it was his destiny. He would rule fairly. And with Luca and his family by his side, he would bring about changes to the Selkie race that would benefit them all.

But Marlin was so glad he was not in his shoes. Or crown. Or sitting on that ostentatious throne.

“You’re killing me, my alpha.”

Marlin glanced down to see he was gripping Nic’s hand as tightly as Kai was gripping the arms of the throne. “Sorry,” he whispered and tried to relax his fingers.

“Now?”

“A second.”

“I don’t have many seconds left, Marlin. Instead of a red carpet for Kai to walk down, he may have a yellow stream.”

Marlin shook their clasped hands to quiet him.

The Royal Council’s Head Minister turned to face the crowd. “And now I present the newest Selkie king. Your Royal Highness Kai, King of the North.”

Clapping and yelling commenced. All the appropriate responses for a ceremony of that caliber.

King Kai had a bit of a ring to it, Marlin thought, then smothered his snort.

Caol didn’t even try. He whispered, “King Kai,” and snorted loud enough that a few sets of eyes nearby landed on him.

“Marlin,” Nic practically whimpered. His omega was certainly not the whimpering sort, so he had to be in great discomfort.

Marlin made his apologies to Kai quickly as the crowd formed a line at the foot of the throne and one by one, Selkies approached the new king, bowed deeply and said a few words. At least they weren’t forced to kiss any ring to show fidelity.

If he and Nic were going to escape for a few minutes, now was the time. He tugged on Nic’s hand and helped him down the steps, escorting him through the crowd and to the nearest water closet.

He stood sentry outside the door while Nic did his thing and as soon as he was done, he began to lead his omega back to the Great Hall.

Nic leaned back and tugged on his hand. “Must we?”

“Yes, let’s just get through this. Once everyone leaves or heads to their rooms for the night, we’ll get some alone time, my omega.”

Nic grinned. “These pregnancy hormones are driving me up the wall. I feel like I have a perpetual hard-on.”

Marlin let his gaze slide down his omega. “Because you do.”

“Tell me about it. I know better than anyone. But it doesn’t make it easy to relieve my bladder.”

“I’m aware.” He had woken up with that predicament numerous times himself.

“Can we escape right after the meal?”

“That’s the plan.” Marlin began to lead him by the elbow again and Nic tugged him to a halt one more time.

“Wait.”

Marlin turned to face him.

“How about just a kiss for now?”

That they could do. He smiled, yanked Nic against him and took his parted lips, swallowing Nic’s groan. Marlin spread his fingers along Nic’s jaw and held him in place as he plundered his mouth. Soon it wasn’t just Nic groaning, Marlin was finding it hard to catch his breath and his erection was raging.

Marlin broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to Nic’s, panting hard. “That idea you had about a quickie?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m thinking—”

Before Marlin could finish his thought process, Nic pulled him back to the restroom he had just exited, shoved him inside and, after slamming it shut, locked the door.

Marlin stood frozen as he watched his omega drop his pants then turn and brace his palms on that door, sticking out his bare ass.

“I’m ready for you, Alpha,” he announced.

“Uh...”

While Nic had been extremely needy recently due to his hormones, Marlin hadn’t been expecting quite that reaction.

His nostrils flared as the smell of Nic’s slick permeated the air around him. His hands automatically dropped to his pants and he unfastened them with haste. “No knotting,” he said more to remind himself than Nic that knotting was not considered a quickie. Not at all.

“Okay,” Nic agreed with a nod. “I’ll take whatever you want to give me.”

Marlin dropped his dress pants down to his thighs and pushed his chest into Nic’s back, holding him in place with an arm wrapped around the top of Nic’s chest. He slipped his hand down to cup his omega’s ass cheeks then trailed his fingers through his crease. “You’re so slick, Omega,” he moaned.

“Well, I told you twice a day isn’t enough right now.”

“You want to kill me.”

“No, I don’t, because I need to come. I need you alive for that.”

Marlin’s lips twitched, but when he pressed his nose to Nic’s scent gland behind his ear, his humor quickly fled. “You smell delicious.”

“I’m starving, so don’t say the word ‘delicious.’ I might gnaw your arm off.”

Marlin chuckled. “I need that arm to pleasure you.”

“Hmm. So true. Okay, I’ll just take some nips from your shoulders and your ass. And your muscular thighs... Marlin, what are you waiting for? I’m dripping and ready for you. Take me.”

His omega certainly was dripping. From the moment he stepped onto Nic’s porch all those months ago, hoping the male would let him inside, he couldn’t get enough of him. He never expected to be bonded and making a family with him.

But here they were.

Okay, maybe he didn’t plan on being in a water closet during Kai’s crowning, but they’d make it quick.

Tightening one arm around Nic, he separated the omega’s muscular ass cheeks and pressed the head of his cock to the inviting entrance.

Nic let out a loud rush of air. “Yes, Alpha. I need you so badly.”

“And I you,” Marlin murmured, pressing forward, his eyes closing for a moment as he pushed inside his mate. The hot, slick channel could only be described as a tight fist. Marlin gulped air, trying to keep his wits about him and reminded himself once more that they were in a bathroom during a very important ceremony. They needed to make this fast.

He nuzzled his nose into Nic’s hair, inhaled again, then trailed his tongue over Marlin’s permanent mark on the back of his omega’s neck.

Nic was his and would never be another’s. Never.

His hips began to piston in and out of his mate, and the rush of blood in his ears and his cock became difficult to ignore. Nic was rocking against him, his head thrown back against Marlin’s shoulder, and all those sounds he made—the ones that drove Marlin to knot him each and every time they rutted—filled the small room. He was sure if someone passed by they would know exactly what was going on in there. But Marlin didn’t give a flying fish.

Right now his world only included him and Nic, and everyone else could stay the bloody hell out.

Nic also knew just what to say to encourage Marlin’s knot, encourage him to alpha-claim him, and while Marlin tried to close his ears and his mind against it, he was losing that battle.

“My alpha... My prince.”

There was nothing that excited Marlin more than when his confident, outgoing omega acted submissive. But he only acted like that with his alpha.

“Are you touching yourself?” Marlin murmured into Nic’s ear.

“Yes,” came out on a ragged breath.

“Did I give you permission to touch yourself?”

Nic’s body jerked against him. “No, Alpha.”

“Then stop unless I tell you otherwise, Omega.”

“Marlin,” Nic groaned.

“Who?”

“Alpha, please—”

“Are you going to ignore your alpha’s order, Omega?”

Nic shuddered against him and Marlin bit his own bottom lip as Nic clenched tightly around Marlin’s cock.

“Will you punish me if I do?” Nic’s question came out breathless.

“Not the kind of punishment you like.” Marlin kept his tone serious, even though they both knew he was teasing.

“But I need to come.”

“You will come,” Marlin assured him.

“But I only come when your knot presses on my prostate,” Nic fibbed.

“Now you’re lying to your alpha.”

Nic turned his head enough to nip Marlin’s neck. “You like when I misbehave.”

That was putting it mildly. Nic was a challenge and Marlin loved every second of it. He would’ve become bored quickly with an omega who only did what he was told. Nic had a fiery passion that Marlin appreciated every damn day, even when it frustrated him.

He would never do anything to put out that flame.

“I like an omega who’s obedient.”

Nic snorted as he slammed his ass into Marlin, driving him even deeper. “Now who’s lying?”

Nic groaned as Marlin tilted his hips as well as adjusted Nic’s. His omega could come simply by Marlin hitting the right spot over and over.

“My prince...” Nic moaned, then sucked at the damp skin at the side of Marlin’s neck.

Marlin used his deepest alpha voice to command, “You will not come until I tell you to.”

Nic nodded then dropped his head forward, exposing his perfect neck. “Bite me, Alpha.”

With Nic, those words could be taken two different ways. And at that moment, he probably meant it both ways, too.

Marlin pressed his lips to the center of Nic’s alpha-claim, murmuring, “Are you telling me or asking?”

“Begging.”

Marlin grinned against his skin. “Will you behave for the rest of the evening like a good omega should?”

“Probably not.”

Marlin’s grin widened then he opened his mouth and sank his teeth deep into Nic’s flesh, making the omega cry out in ecstasy. His body convulsed against him and Marlin quickly caught Nic’s hot, ample seed in his palm. They didn’t need to leave evidence of their act behind in the room when they left. He didn’t think the guests would appreciate slipping in a puddle of cum on the floor.

And when Nic lifted Marlin’s hand to his own mouth, licking his alpha’s palm and digits with a groan, Marlin couldn’t stop what happened next.

He was so weak when it came to the male he loved was his last thought as the blood rushed to his cock, swelling it to an almost impossible thickness and then his knot expanded. Nic cried out and clamped down around it, tying them together for the duration.

Nic resumed licking Marlin’s fingers as Marlin pumped his own seed deep into his omega with a muffled grunt. His hips twitched uncontrollably until he was empty.

It was a few moments later before they both stilled, their labored breathing the only sound inside the room. Outside the door, voices of guests could be heard as they passed by.

Marlin released the grip on the back of Nic’s neck and he pressed his lips gently against the indented skin. He sighed. “I wasn’t supposed to knot you.”

Nic snorted. “You say that almost every time.”

He shouldn’t admit this but he wanted no secrets between them. Ever. “I shouldn’t be so weak when it comes to you.”

“I love you for it, though, my alpha.”

Marlin spread his fingers over the rise in Nic’s stomach. “And I love you, Nic, as well as everything you’ve given me and what you’ll be giving me in the future.”

“I hope things go smoothly.”

His omega was worried about the whelp. So was Marlin, but he kept that fear to himself. “They will.”

“I still worry.”

“We’ll have the best medical help when it’s time. Honestly, I am beginning to think that we don’t lose as many omegas and pups as we’re told. It all goes back to those losses being a cover up for the trading of our young who are not the preferred gender and the ridding of omegas who do not produce alphas.”

“And if I don’t?”

Marlin said simply, “I’m glad Kai will be king.” Because that said it all. None of his brothers or their omegas would have to worry about any “mysterious” loss of their mates or pups.

“Uh. Kai won’t be king. He is now officially the king.”

“True. And we are disrespecting him by hiding in the bathroom rutting.”

“We’re done rutting. It was just a quickie, remember?”

“I don’t think we’re capable of having a quickie,” Marlin said seriously.

Nic turned his face enough so Marlin caught his smile. “Good.”

Marlin shuffled them around until his own back was against the door and then he carefully slid down until Nic sat in his lap. He leaned back and Nic leaned into him.

And they remained like that, waiting with his omega in his arms until his knot subsided almost ten minutes and many ignored knocks on the bathroom door later.