"Open your legs and touch yourself for me," Zalyric ordered as he sat back in the chair beside the bed where the omega lay waiting.
Without hesitation, the omega obeyed.
He slid his fingers inside his own ass with his gaze locked on Zalyric's golden eyes, a seductive smirk tugging at his lips as his other hand stroked his own length for pleasure.
Zalyric watched in silence while a thin trail of smoke curling from the cigarette between his fingers. But after only a minute, he crushed it out, rising from the chair and crawling onto the bed. He spread the omega's legs apart with ease as the heavy pressure of his pheromones spilling into the air and pressing down on the smaller body beneath him.
Their skin brushed with their arousal feeding into one another. Zalyric's tongue trailed down the omega's throat as his left hand worked mercilessly, loosening him with steady, forceful thrusts of his fingers.
"Hngh… th-that's enough, Your Majesty. I'm ready… I can take you," the omega whispered breathlessly while his arms are now curling around Zalyric's neck and his body trembling in anticipation.
Then Zalyric smirked, pulling his fingers free.
He stroked his thick length once, spreading the slick along his shaft before pressing against the omega's entrance. In one brutal thrust, he drove himself inside to the hilt.
"Ahh—! Hngh! Your Majesty… deeper!" the omega cried, back arching as his body stretched around him.
"Shit… you're so fucking tight," Zalyric growled with his voice rough with pleasure as he began to pound into him, hips snapping harder with each thrust. Their pheromones even thickened in the air, mixing and colliding in a haze of raw heat.
It was a solemn night when the guards outside Zalyric's chamber heard sudden noises within. At first, there were faint, muffled sounds of moan then the heavy crash of something striking the floor.
"Your Majesty? Are you alright, Your Majesty?" one knight called while exchanging a tense glance with his comrade.
From inside came Zalyric's voice, low and commanding.
"Open the door."
They obeyed at once, pushing the chamber doors wide only to freeze in horror.
The omega who had been brought to their king's bed lay naked on the marble floor while being pinned by a sword driven clean through his skull. His blood spread rapidly beneath him, staining the tiles and his mouth hung open in a grotesque scream, one eye was bulging from its socket, the walls and sheets even spattered as proof of a violent struggle.
There, Zalyric stood over the corpse, unclothed as well with his powerful frame streaked with crimson. His right hand dripped steadily with blood from a deep cut yet his expression showed no trace of pain.
"Y-your Majesty?!" the younger knight stammered, horrified. "Your hand, it's bleeding!"
Then Zalyric glanced at the wound as though it were nothing.
He had invited the omega into his bed expecting a night of indulgence, only for the assassin to reveal a hidden blade beneath the pillow and attempt to drive it into his chest. Luckily, he had overpowered him, wrenched the weapon free and buried it through his skull in one merciless strike.
"How dare they send filth to my bed," Zalyric muttered coldly.
With a sharp pull, he yanked the sword free that the sickening crack of splitting bone echoed and another spray of blood struck the tiles.
His golden eyes shifted to the guards. "Call Evan and take this rat out of my sight before his stench offends me further."
"U-understood, Your Majesty!" The knights bowed deeply before rushing to obey.
Zalyric remained standing with his face carved from ice as the corpse lay broken at his feet. To most, it was only an assassin. To him, it was a message—one that would be answered in blood.
Moments later, Evan arrived, breathless. Zalyric was already seated in a chair, wrapped in his night robe while the corpse still sprawled nearby.
"Your Majesty!" Evan called out then faltered as he saw the king's face—rigid, sleepless and simmering with unspoken fury that made his chest tightened as he knew Zalyric's temper was close to breaking.
"I summoned the royal physician on my way here," Evan said carefully though his eyes flicked to the corpse before he turned sharply to the knights. "What are you waiting for? Remove this body at once and have the servants scrub every inch of this chamber!"
The quiet night erupted into commotion as servants rushed in with the air thick with the iron tang of blood. Yet Zalyric's focus was elsewhere, his gaze dark with thoughts of retribution.
"Investigate that rat," he growled, rising with fluid authority. "And bring me the one responsible. I made myself clear through Othrel's death but it seems like my warning was wasted. Hah—let them choke on their arrogance."
His voice dripped with venom as he strode from the chamber while Evan trailing behind.
"Your Majesty, your hand," Evan urged, noting the steady trickle of blood. "It must be treated, or it will scar—"
"Tsk. Don't bother," Zalyric snapped. "Instead, summon every noble tied to the slave auctions. I want them all in my throne room tomorrow. As for me, I'm heading out."
Evan frowned.
"But, Your Majesty, it is the middle of the night. Where could you be going? You aren't even dressed properly—you'll catch a cold—"
Zalyric halted mid-step, turning his glare on him that made Evan stiffened but still forced himself to speak. "E-even if you glare at me like that, I cannot back down. It is my duty to guard your health, Your Majesty. If nothing else, allow me to prepare tea to ease your temper—"
"Tea?" Zalyric's lips curved in a cruel smile. "Do you truly think a cup of tea could smother this rage?"
Evan bowed while choosing silence over further protest.
"Hah." Zalyric scoffed.
"Sometimes, I wonder if I should cut out your tongue for your insolence. But I will let it pass—this time. Do not forget your place, Evan. Never presume to tell me what I should or should not do. Who do you think you are?"
Evan lowered his head further while swallowing his words. Then, Zalyric turned away once more as his robe trailing like a shadow while his figure disappeared down the dark corridor.
"Damn it," Evan muttered while exhaling in frustration as he watched him vanish. "Tomorrow… there will be blood."