Kael's POV
Sweat clung to my skin, as I walked to my room, my cloth sticking to my body like a second skin.
It's been a few hours since I stormed off, but my mind was treacherous, replaying what had happened earlier.
My palm burned with an itch, and I could still feel Lucen's neck warm under my arms.
Just close.
I was so close to snapping my brother's throat off.
"Fuck it!" I breathed, pushing my hair back as I looked up at the sky.
The bushes and flowers around me rustled, the cool garden breeze hitting my body making my tense body slack.
In my haze, I had wandered into a private garden once owned by my mother.
The "little" garden was filled with plants and flowers from all sorts. Lush and plump.
Even after her death, the place was well maintained.
This had been my mother's favorite place, and now I knew why.
~Stop worrying human.
Kane growled, his presence making me irritable once more.
All he cared about was that damn omega who almost made me kill our brother.
~He deserves it!
He snarled back, reading my thoughts.
I scowled, almost lashing out, but chose to ignore him.
Kane, despite being me, had a very different definition of what siblings meant.
I wouldn't be surprised if his mate was placed above his family and that was something I couldn't agree on.
Kane might find his mate appealing, but I did not.
After what just happened, I refused to let myself be controlled by a mate bond which tied me to a stranger.
Putting up a mental block up, I blocked Kane's words out completely before he could speak.
I clenched my fists, staring into the distance, strengthening my resolve.
I won't make a mistake twice.
With nothing more to do, I walked out of the garden, deciding to head to Faye's room.
Despite being blocked, Kane still hovered at the edge of my mind, the need for his mate reaching me regardless.
However I ignored it.
Checking up on Faye was more important than some mate from who knows where.
Guards lined in the hallways, two tall betas standing at the front of Faye's room with menacing appearances that made people cower.
After the incident, I had placed more people around her to prevent it from ever happening again.
"Your highness," they chorused.
I gave a superficial nod, pushing the door to Faye's room open, and walking in.
The maids in the room stood to their feet to greet me, but I stopped them before they could.
Their voices could disturb my sister.
Understanding, the maids dropped their heads, moving a few feet back as I passed.
My eyes immediately landed on the bed, seeing Faye's small figure curled in on the large mattress asleep.
My eyes lingered on her form, looking carefully at her face.
Asleep, her brows were lax, a shadow of a smile hooking at her lips.
Only truly in her sleep did she appear like this.
At least she wasn't having a nightmare. I concluded, feeling my mind at rest.
Deciding to leave, I let out a sigh, taking another look at her.
"Take care of her." I instructed the maids sternly as I turned to leave.
Hurriedly, they bowed. "Yes, your highness."
Assured by their response, I walked out the room, the guards closing the door behind me.
Knowing Faye was well, I felt relieved, my steps grew lighter.
Although I knew she was fine I was still worried.
Unexpectedly, the sad look of the omega flashed in my head, freezing me in place.
Why was I thinking about her? I frowned.
I was still mad at the mate bond for almost making me kill my brother, so how could I be thinking of her?
I frowned even deeper, not making sense of it, until I felt Kane shift in the back of my mind.
No doubt it was Kane's thought projecting in my head again.
I thought angrily, resuming in my steps, pushing the matter aside.
However, no matter how hard I tried, Kane was persistent, the thought of how the omega was faring causing me almost compelled to give in.
Each time, I stopped myself before I could, reminding myself I didn't care for her.
My steps echoed in the hallways as I walked, my legs unconsciously bringing me to the Omega's room.
Realizing it, I scowled, disgusted at myself.
~Go in! Go check on mate.
I pursed my lips, looking at the door offended— wanting to turn, but the urge to check won.
It wouldn't hurt to see, so with a resigned sigh, I pushed the door open.
The stench of vomit quickly assaulted my nose, causing my frown to dip even lower.
I looked round the room, noting the lack of omega in it.
Scowling now, I walked into the room, my nose itching as the putrid smell became stronger.
~What happened? Where is mate?
Kane asked anxiously, as we scanned the place, seeing no sight of the omega.
However, something else caught my nose. Blood.
My heart involuntarily tightened, my gaze falling to the floor, seeing an ugly trail of blood on the floor.
~She's hurt.
Kane growled at me.
"I can see that you idiot." I snapped back at him, pressing my lips as I turned back to the door.
I reached out to the mindlink, trying to communicate with my brothers, but they were either ignoring me or we were too far apart.
Irritated, I pushed the door harshly, the weak wood shattering in the process, but I was too angry to care.
"You!" I shout, pining my gaze on a guard who freezes. "Explain! Where is the omega? Did you let her escape?"
"N– no your highness." The guard stammered in fright. "His other highness Lucen took her to the clinic when he came to check up on her."
Lucen? Clinic? I thought, frowning even more.
Something didn't make sense.
Why was Lucen here in the first place, and why was she taking her to the clinic?
My mind ran with thoughts, as I asked the guard, my tone cold. "Then why is there blood on the floor?"
The guard's knees gave out under my pressure, stammering even more. "S–spare me your highness, we have no idea what happened. His highness Lucen only came out with her in his arms all bloodied and it looked like she was in heat—"
Without waiting for the guard to finish, I bolted, running towards the clinic with speed, my heart pounding in my chest.
For the first time in my life I felt scared.
Panic, one that I refused to admit clawing in my chest.
The last time I had truly felt this way was the day of the inferno.
The day my parents were taken from us in that cruel fire.
~Faster!
Kane urged, lending me his strength as we pushed forward.
We got to the clinic in no time, and without hesitation, I bulldozed my way in, sending the door flying.
"Where is she?" I asked, my eyes scanning the room erratically seeing the omega nowhere in sight but my brothers.
Draven and Lucen stood in the middle of the room, eyes widened in shock at my crazed form, however this time I didn't have the heart to care.
My senses were boiling and screaming at me to find my mate.
"Brother, calm down." Draven is the first to speak, his words somehow bringing clarity to me.
I suppressed the ugly feeling in my chest, taking a deep breath to cool myself and Kane.
Kane still pushed at me to act, but I didn't give in to his impulses.
"Where is the omega? Why was she brought in here?"
"Don't worry, she's fine, she 's just sick." Lucen answers lightly, with an air of indifference.
I narrowed my eyes at him, noting his tone.
Something in the way he spoke made me not believe him.
Unease flickered in my gut, so I looked into Draven for answers. At least he was more honest among us when it came to things like this.
I was right.
Once my eyes landed on him, Draven folded his arms, speaking. "Don't look at me like that, Lucen's telling the truth. The omega is really sick because of what we did to her. Daniel says it's the heat though so she isn't in good shape."
My heart did a funny thing at that moment.
What did he mean by she wasn't in a good shape?
Was she dying?
I thought grimly. This omega was more important than anyone else.
If she died, things could get worse for us.
I wanted to ask, but before I could, a scream cut me off.
Immediately, I recognized it as Soraya's.
We all froze from the suddenness. Lucen and Draven locked eyes with each other, their faces falling.
"She's awake!" Lucen announced with a dark look in his eyes, a scowl on his lips.
I looked at my brother, dread filling me as I failed to understand what was going on.
What was that look all about?