The room fell silent in Celestio’s absence. Edess leaned back on his sofa again, his gaze shifting to Omega, who stood nearby. For a moment, he simply watched him – watched his Omega.

  “Come here,” he said suddenly, his voice cutting through the quiet.

  Omega flinched, his eyes darting up to meet the Alpha’s. He hesitated, his hands clutching at the loose fabric of his shirt, but the command in the prince’s tone left no room for argument. He stepped closer to Edess, his knees almost hitting the table.

  The prince gestured to the empty cushion next to him, his sharp eyes never leaving Omega. “Sit.”

  Omega obeyed, lowering himself onto the edge of the sofa as though afraid to take up too much space on the luxuriant furniture. His hands fidgeted nervously in his lap and he fixed his gaze on his boots. The prince’s stare raised the hair on the back of his neck – a natural response of an Omega being sized up by an Alpha.

  For a moment, the prince said nothing, letting the silence stretch between them. Then he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small object. He held it up, the sunlight catching on the gleaming pearl pendant dangling from a navy blue ribbon.

  “This,” he said, “is for you.”

  Omega blinked, his wide eyes darting to the ribbon in Edess’s hand. “F-for me, Your Highness?”

  The prince leaned forward as he held the ribbon out to Omega. “Do you know what this is?” he asked, his tone almost mocking.

  Omega shook his head, his hands trembling slightly as he reached out to take the ribbon. The soft fabric brushed against his fingers and he held it gingerly, as though afraid to damage it.

  “It’s your collar,” Edess said, his smirk growing. “So everyone knows you’re mine. No one will even think of touching you.”

  Omega’s breath caught, his cheeks flushing as he stared down at the ribbon in his hands. “Th-thank you, Your Highness,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

  The prince chuckled. “You don’t sound very grateful,” he said. “Are you still scared of me?”

  Omega’s hands tightened around the ribbon, his head bowing as he whispered, “Yes, Your Highness.”

  The prince leaned back, his smirk fading into a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Good,” he said. “That will keep you obedient.”

  Omega swallowed hard, his head bobbing with rapid nods. “Yes, Your Highness.”

  Edess’s hand shot out, his fingers gripping Omega’s chin and tilting his face up so their eyes met. Omega’s breath caught again, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and confusion as he stared up at the prince’s piercing gaze.

  “You will wear this at all times,” the prince ordered. “You will not remove it for any reason.”

  “Yes, Your Highness.”

  Edess released his chin, taking the ribbon back and reaching around Omega’s throat. He fastened the velvet around his neck, the pearl pendant dangling just below the hollow of Omega’s throat and gleaming softly in the light. The prince sat back, his sharp eyes raking over Omega as though admiring his handiwork.

  “There,” he said, his tone satisfied. “Now everyone will know who you belong to.”

  Omega’s hands fluttered to the ribbon, his fingers brushing against the smooth fabric and the cool surface of the pearl. “Thank you, Your Highness,” he said again.

  The prince smirked, leaning back against the sofa cushions as he watched Omega’s nervous movements. “You should be grateful,” he said. “I’m being very generous with you.”

  Omega nodded quickly, his head bowing as he whispered, “I am, Your Highness. A-and thank you for your generosity toward the orphanage. The children there truly deserve your kindness.”

  Edess’s gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before he turned his attention back to the window. Omega remained seated beside him, silent and shaking, the weight of the collar around his neck a permanent reminder of his new reality.

  The soft hum of the castle fell away as Celestio walked through the winding halls, his steps unhurried but restless. He tried not to think about the stack of documents sitting abandoned on his desk. He had spent the better part of the morning trying to concentrate, but his mind refused to settle, his thoughts drifting back to the events of the past few days – Edess’s moods, the Omega’s quiet fear; and, most importantly, the steady presence of Sabas.

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  It wasn’t long before his wandering feet led him outside, the cool breeze of the courtyard brushing against his skin. The sun hung high in the sky, casting dappled light across the garden paths shaded by trees. It was quieter here, the hustle and bustle of the castle a distant murmur. As Celestio’s eyes scanned the courtyard, they fell on a familiar bench near the center of the garden – the same bench where Sabas had sat with him on the night of Edess’s birthday banquet.

  And there he sat again.

  Sabas’s broad shoulders were slightly hunched as he leaned back against the bench, one arm resting along the wooden backrest. His handsome features were softened by the gentle light, his dark hair catching the sun as he read from one of Celestio’s books nestled in his lap. He looked peaceful, though he didn’t seem to mind the interruption when he heard Celestio’s footsteps.

  “Celestio,” Sabas said, his expression shifting to mild surprise and a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

  Celestio stopped a few paces away, his heart giving an odd flutter at the sight of Sabas’s smile. “I wasn’t expecting to be here,” he admitted. “I just… needed to clear my head.”

  Sabas gestured to the empty space on the bench beside him. “Well, you’ve found me. I suppose I had the same idea. The courtyard is lovely during the day.”

  Celestio sat down beside Sabas, the warmth of the Alpha’s presence radiating around him. For a moment, neither of them spoke, their eyes drifting over the carefully tended flowers and the sunlight playing on the cobblestones.

  Without thinking, Celestio leaned sideways, resting his head on Sabas’s shoulder. The closeness felt natural, as though they had done it a thousand times before. He breathed in deeply; the sweet, woodsy scent of Sabas’s pheromones mingling with the floral notes of the garden, and he let out a soft sigh.

  “You smell better than anything else in this courtyard,” Celestio murmured.

  Sabas stiffened slightly in surprise. “I didn’t think I could compete with the royal gardens,” he teased.

  Celestio laughed softly, his eyes fluttering closed for a moment as he let himself simply exist in the moment with his Alpha. “Your scent… it’s calming. It’s so much more soothing than anyone else’s.”

  Sabas’s arm shifted, his hand coming to rest on Celestio’s knee. The touch was gentle, and Celestio found himself leaning further onto the Alpha’s side.

  They sat for several long moments, the quiet hum of the garden insects enveloping them. It was Celestio who finally broke the silence, his voice hesitant but steady. “Prince Edess wants to hold a meeting in a few days. I believe he wants to formally interview you.”

  Sabas let out a low laugh, the sound rumbling in his chest below Celestio’s head. “Another interview already?” he said, amusement dancing in his tone. “I suppose that’s fair. But I have to admit, I’m more nervous about gaining the prince’s approval than I would be about meeting your father.”

  Celestio smiled faintly. “My father…” he began, then trailed off, shaking his head slightly against Sabas’s jacket. “It doesn’t matter. Edess’s approval is what matters now.”

  Sabas’s hand gave his a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll win him over,” he said confidently. “I’ll do whatever it takes to prove that I’m worthy of you.”

  Celestio’s cheeks flushed. “You don’t have to prove anything else to me,” he murmured. “You’ve already done more than enough.”

  For a moment, Sabas didn’t react. Then he leaned down, his lips brushing lightly against the top of Celestio’s forehead. The gesture was so simple and affectionate that it made Celestio’s chest ache for more.

  “You know,” Celestio said after a moment, his voice thoughtful, “this is the first time in my life that I haven’t thought of being an Omega as a bad thing.”

  Sabas’s brows furrowing as he glanced down at Celestio. “What do you mean?”

  Celestio smiled faintly, his gaze distant as he spoke. “I’ve spent my whole life worrying about what it means to be an Omega. About how people see me, what they expect from me. I thought it was something shameful. Something that made me weak.”

  He lifted his head up, his eyes meeting Sabas’s. “But now, I don’t feel that way. Meeting you… it feels like everything I’ve been through – everything I’ve worried about – was worth it.”

  Sabas’s expression softened, his hand lifting to cup Celestio’s cheek. “Celestio,” he murmured. “You’re not weak, and I will not hear you speak of yourself that way again. And if an Alpha tries to speak of you like that, then I would like to have a conversation with him, myself.”

  Celestio felt his chest tighten, his hand coming up to rest over the Alpha’s on his cheek.

  They sat like that for a long time, the rest of the world fading away as they shared quiet, tender words. The garden seemed to hold its breath around them, the flowers swaying gently in the breeze and the sunlight warming their skin.

  Then a familiar ‘clink’ echoed to their left. Celestio’s eyes opened and he groaned. Sabas patted his Omega’s cheek and dropped his hand, the men shifting on the bench to put a single inch of space between them. A guard’s armor glistened in the sunlight as he patrolled around the nearby fountain.

  “After His Highness’s interview, do you think we will be permitted five minutes without adult supervision?” Sabas murmured.

  “I believe it’s more likely he will order more guards posted to you,” Celestio replied. He hesitated before continuing. “I… must warn you. He is displeased, despite your assurances that you won’t distract me from my duties.”

  “I would hope that Prince Edess values your happiness enough to allow the marriage,” Sabas said, now growing wary.

  “He will. He wouldn’t disrespect my father by denying my marriage after I accepted the proposal.”

  At least, that’s what Celestio hoped.

  “Assuming your father will approve of me as well.” Sabas sighed. “You said the prince forbade me from leaving the castle. Did he forbid you from spending the night at the castle?”

  Celestio let out a laugh. “I don’t think that weaseling around his words would endear him to you any more.”

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