When he reached the end of the corridor, he pulled himself up into the overhead panel in the ceiling and crawled along the space to get to the other end of the palace.
His size and weight slowed him down. He couldn’t risk alerting anyone to his presence, realizing there was someone above who could see and hear what they said and did.
It was when he was crawling over the entrance hall that he heard a voice that made him go cold.
“I want to see Duke Ryden immediately.”
Analisa. Maddoc froze. What the fuck was she doing in the palace? She shouldn’t even be back on Allandis mainland! Shifting himself so he could look through the panel, Maddoc’s annoyance spiraled. Maybe what he’d said to her hadn’t sunk in. Maybe she thought it would be easier to challenge the crown from the inside? But either way it meant that she had left the protection of their home. Fury gripped him hard, but he couldn’t do or say anything from where he was. If Ana was back in the clutches of the palace and the Royal Court, it would be hell trying to get her out again.
But he would do it. He didn’t care how often he had to try or how long it took; Analisa would be with him. And this time, he would take the opportunity to kill that fucking Duke.
Overhead, he followed Ana as she went to the throne room where Ryden sat. Maddoc navigated to his normal space behind the lattice wall at the very top of the room, watching from his obscured view as Ana approached. As usual, she looked stunning. He grit his teeth hard, annoyed that she was wearing one of the dresses he had provided, and she’d styled her hair in the typical elaborate way of the court. The last few nights had been almost impossible without her, but he’d been looking forward to going home to her.
“Ana.” Ryden had the decency to at least sound relieved. “We have been so worried about you, being captured by that savage, yet again. I’m so sorry I didn’t take your warning seriously. But no one could have guessed what he was going to do at the wedding, nor what he did to your father.”
“Where is he?”
“Who? Your father? He is in his chambers.”
“I mean Maddoc.”
“I don’t know.”
“Ryden,” Ana snapped. “Where is Maddoc.”
Ryden was silent for a moment. “We have spoken before about your tone with me, Ana.”
Maddoc tensed. He couldn’t wait to kill this bastard.
“Those rules are not for me,” Ana said. “They are for your Omega.”
Ryden shifted in his chair. “You are my Omega or have you forgotten that? Has he fucked you so hard that you’ve lost sight of who you are?”
“Actually, yes,” Ana said, a smirk in her voice. “But that is not my point.”
Maddoc’s brow rose. Did Ana just admit enjoying fucking him to the duke?
“We have been lied to, Ryden. We are not fated mates.”
Maddoc gripped the wall, his muscle tensing as pleasure, satisfaction, and relief bounded through him. She knew. She finally knew.
“What do you mean?” Ryden asked evenly. “We have been betrothed for years.”
“But we do not have the attraction that fated mates should have.”
Ryden was still in his chair for a moment and then leaned forward. “You are not exactly the most experienced woman, Ana. How do you know?”
“Because nothing and no one else should feel more powerful or as intense,” Ana said. “I may not be very experienced, but you are. When you were with me, when you kissed me, did it feel that way to you?”
“I’m not sure how I see that that matters at this current time,” Ryden said curtly.
Ana peered at him. “What?”
“What difference does it make?” Ryden stressed. “I enjoy sex, you clearly enjoy sex, it makes no difference if we are fated or not. That’s just an added bonus to help couples rule equally.”
“So you don’t care about it?” she asked, puzzled amazement in her voice.
Ryden leaned forward. “I don’t care about ruling equally, Ana. I never have. Your parents did a good job. They raised you to be gullible and ignorant and reliant on myths and legends about Alphas and Omegas so you would be bendable to my will—they made it easy for me.”
“Easy for you to do what?” The edge of Ana’s hardness returned.
“To rule alongside an Omega who won’t want to assert her will, or interfere with things she knows nothing about.”
Ana’s shocked silence lasted only a moment. “So you know what’s been going on out in the kingdom.” Her eyes flashed. “You knew what was going on, yet you did nothing to stop it! Don’t you care about the people? What is the point in being king if you’re not going to do something about the people’s suffering, Ryden?”
“I had an idea what was going on, but not everything,” Ryden said. “I avoided looking too deeply into it until I could actually do something about it.”
“So becoming king… that was your goal? So you could stop the atrocities?”
“Partly,” Ryden said. “I cannot deny that I relish the idea of setting laws and ruling the kingdom. But yes, I do want to stop what is happening with the houses. But it cannot be done the way the outlaw is doing it. Violence against violence is not the answer.”
“Then what is your plan?” Ana said sharply. “To sit here and make policy and law without ensuring it is used correctly?”
“I told you that your father was unfit,” Ryden said sharply, pointing at her. “You refused to see it.”
“You didn’t tell me exactly why he was unfit. You gave Maddoc as the reason.”
Ryden inclined his head. “Yes, because once you knew, it would be a never-ending series of questions and nagging about doing something about it. I will do things in my own way. You do not understand the powers the houses have. They will only put someone on the throne who will agree with them. Changes have to be small and made bit by bit.”
Ana shook her head. “And in the meantime many suffer.”
Ryden exhaled and leaned back in his chair. “Listen, Ana. Your idyllic view of life is not reality. I’m sorry that it’s turned out that way for you, but it is the reality for everyone else. You have to take your place in it and deal with your new responsibilities and what is to come.”
“My responsibilities?”
“Yes. You are still betrothed to me. You are still my fated mate in the eyes of Allandis, and we are still to be married.”
Maddoc almost growled out loud. Why couldn’t this Alpha get it through his fucking head?
“You can either choose to do so willingly, or you can be forced.”
Ana frowned, taking a step back, and at that Maddoc did growl.
“What do you mean?” she said.
Ryden rose from his chair. “You are the rightful heir to the throne, Ana. Whoever marries you is king. It is not so much a choice as it is your duty to choose someone who will stop what the houses are doing the right way. And if you don’t, then you will be forced to by law.”
“So, you’ll create some random law that says that I have to marry you?” Ana snapped.
“You have already been betrothed to me for five years. Redcrest is owed something for that commitment and devotion, and they know it. So it’s better that you are willing.”