ROME

of stale bread and boiled cabbage. I found a chipped earthenware bowl, emptied the content

illed the air, making my nose wrink

three long, desperate swallows. The liquid was still scalding hot, searing a pat

wl down with a cla

d gi

rway, her arms crossed over her chest. She had be

ave a small, respectful bow, my

t used, and sniffed its contents, her sharp eyes checking

oftening almost imperceptibly. It wasn't kindness,

m told, Matron," I replie

. "The Alpha King's bed is a place of power, not just a place of duty. Y

ould try to win his affection, to secur

yrant? I wanted his power, yes, but not his favor. I

r, followed by a flicker of gratitude. "Thank you, Matron,"

fore you," she continued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "They got greedy.

mation. I was not the first. This room, this bed, had a

ng Omega. I widened my eyes, letting them fill with a calculated amount

condescending pat. "Just be obedient," she said, her voic

he was

and plunged my hands into a basin of cold water, scrubbing them raw as if I could wash away th

the King's orders, perhaps for her own reasons. Every wo

ection. He was an obstacle. A monster I

was als

lpha King's power, if I could somehow learn to wiel

s of my mind. I would no longer be a passive victim, waiting

eliberate. The despair that had threatened to dr

castle, the schedules, the politics, the secrets. Most importantly

ition, would never miss such an event. He would be there,

d be my stage. That