Ana eyed Maddoc. “That may be so, but Maddoc is my fated mate. And if you are still touching me when he comes over here, he will run you through with his sword. And you would have died for this king.” She glanced at him. “For restraining the rightful king’s daughter.”
The guard thought for a moment and then released her, taking a few steps back.
Maddoc and Ryden parried, but it was clear that Ryden was more agile, given Maddoc’s shoulder injury. Once she’d dispatched of a couple of guards, Raine joined Maddoc, both fighting Ryden, and the speed they moved at was unbelievable. At some point, Ryden realized that Maddoc was injured, and he landed a blow on his shoulder joint.
Maddoc bellowed, drawing back at the same time Ana yelled out for him. Maddoc saw her and started to inch around the room to get to her.
But Raine did not stop. Ryden narrowed all his attention on her and as they fought, both of them intensified the battle. The size difference between them was almost comical, but where Ryden relied on brute force, Raine used skill and agility. Each fighter was incredible to watch.
Maddoc dispatched of the rest of the knights as he made his way around the room, careful not to get in the crossfire. Ana kept her eye on Raine, marveling at how strong she was, how fierce she was… This was not what they taught Omegas at the palace. And suddenly her mind made the connection. Ana blinked. If Raine was an Omega, why wasn’t she part of the royal assembly?
Suddenly, Raine’s sword was knocked from her hand. She immediately grabbed Ryden’s outstretched wrist and knocked his sword out with her knee. Ryden grabbed her and they grappled, falling to the floor and rolling before stopping with Ryden on top, pinning Raine down.
“No!” Ana cried.
But as she watched, Ryden lowered down, looking at Raine more closely. “You are a girl,” he exclaimed as he panted, almost in disgust.
“I am a woman,” Raine growled back.
Ryden grabbed the neck of her tunic, looking down her top. “A little woman.” He stared at her. “Who are you?”
Raine did not answer, struggling underneath him to be freed. He grabbed her neck to keep her still, and then, much to Ana’s shock, lowered and ran his nose up her neck, scenting her.
Maddoc reached Ana and grabbed her, lifting her into his arms. She hugged him fiercely, relief flooding her body, and she pressed kisses all over his mouth. He pushed her against the wall and kissed her properly, dominating her mouth like he always did. Ana moaned as she savored his taste, every hair on her body standing up as she inhaled his familiar scent. Damn, she had missed him.
“I thought you’d been captured,” she said breathlessly, when he released her.
“That is not an excuse to leave home and put yourself in danger,” Maddoc growled, his hands roaming her body. “Did any one touch you?”
“No.” She twisted to look back at Ryden and Raine on the ground, still watching each other, tense with animosity and curiosity. “Ryden,” she called out. “Let her go.”
Ryden straightened, dragging his head away from Raine’s, even as he kept her pinned down. “Who is she?”
“None of your fucking business,” Maddoc bellowed. “How many women do you need?”
“How many do you need,” Ryden thundered. “I assume you’re claiming that one,” he pointed at Ana. “Why do you have this one? Who is this? She is clearly an Omega. Is it herbs that have interfered with her scent or is she damaged?”
Ana’s breath left her. How could he tell Raine was an Omega?
Maddoc groaned under his breath and Raine suddenly spurred into action, kicking and punching as hard as she could to get him off her.
“Just let us leave, Ryden,” Ana said. “Let us all leave.”
Ryan looked back down at Raine and then slowly got up, dragging her with him.
Griff and the other men had left the room, so it was just the four of them and the knight remaining.
Ana turned to the king's guard, who’d released her. “In times when a regent king is disputed, a separate guard can be formed to protect the needs of the crown. I need fifteen king's guard who will listen to me and take orders from me as priority over the regent king, in the name of the integrity of the crown. Would you be one, and can you find fourteen more?”
The knight glanced at Ryden and nodded.
“Good, please bring them here,” she said.
“Clever,” Ryden said. “But they need to pledge to a representative of the crown.”
“Let Raine go,” Maddoc warned.
Ryden made a face. “Raine?” He glanced at Raine. “What kind of name is that?”
Raine scowled at him an tried to pull away again from his grip.
“Are you planning to declare yourself queen and marry him,” Ryden asked Ana, pointing at Maddoc. “Because that would be a mistake.”
“The king lives,” Ana said. “I don’t need to declare myself anything. You will not marry me and that means you will not really be king unless he dies. And even then, there are many Alphas who will want the throne and they are more experienced than you. What makes you special?”
Ryden scowled. “We have already been betrothed for years,” he said. “If you default by not marrying me, then Redcrest is owed a debt by the crown, and all I would need to do is collect on it is to use your own crown’s guard.”
That was true.
At that exact moment, guards entered the room.
“Your job is to protect the crown at all costs. King Orick is the rightful king. He must be guarded constantly and is never to be left without a member of this guard by his side. Anyone who tries to harm him dies immediately. I order this as heir to the throne, Ana of Allandis; however, you are required to pledge an oath to be a representative of the crown.” She glanced at Ryden, who looked upon her smugly. “The king did not rule alone. He was part of an Alpha and Omega couple, one of the most powerful ruling couples that are recognized by this kingdom. So you will pledge your oath to the only remaining official representative of the crown, Queen Atara.”
The guards nodded. “We will pledge immediately.”
“That will not last,” Ryden snarled as they left the room. “I am the regent king. They have to listen to me!”
“You can be acting king, Ryden,” Ana said, realizing she had no interest in the throne. Once the new guard was in place, she didn’t have to worry about the crown. The weight of years of training and protocol and expectations was suddenly lifted, and she felt weary. “I don’t care anymore. I don’t want to rule this corrupt kingdom. If you want it, you can have it. But you will not take it illegally or unjustly. Father is still king, and when he fully recovers he will decide how things will move forward.”
For the first time, Ryden was quiet.
“If you do well between now and then, you will have the ruling experience no other person has had,” Ana added. “It is your best chance at gaining and keeping the throne honestly.”
“I will agree to this if you let me have her,” Ryden said, gesturing to Raine.
“I am not for sale,” Raine shot at him.
“What house are you from?” he said. “Where have you been all this time? You are too pretty to be living rough like an outlaw.”