Arion's mind was a storm of fury and confusion. He paced his chambers, the faint scent of white tea a maddening taunt. He had been violated. A true alpha had been marked, not just for dominance, but for procreation. It was a humiliation beyond measure, a stain on his honor and a direct threat to his status. But who? His memories of the night were a frustrating blank, a black hole where the truth should be.
The only clue was the scent. He closed his eyes, concentrating, and the delicate, floral fragrance filled his senses. It was the scent of Prince Kyon. The Silver Rose, the supposedly delicate omega. But that made no sense. An omega couldn't mark an alpha, let alone make a fertility claim. And yet, the evidence was right there, on his skin.
Arion's suspicion began to crystallize. The court gossiped about Prince Kyon's sheltered life, his supposed frailty, and his breathtaking beauty. But Arion had seen him from a distance, just for a moment, in the gardens. He had seen a flash of something hard in those eyes, a strength that didn't match the gentle facade. The Prince was hiding something. The thought was like a spark igniting a fire in his chest.
He had to get closer. He had to know the truth.
Meanwhile, Kyon was preparing for a courtly event, his heart pounding a nervous rhythm against his ribs. He had to face Arion. He had to act as if nothing had happened. As he was being laced into a formal tunic, he noticed a faint, tell-tale ache in his lower abdomen. His body was reacting to Arion's. The mark he had made wasn't just physical—it was a bond that tugged at his very soul.
He had to avoid Arion at all costs. But that was impossible. As a celebrated royal guest, Arion was a required attendee at all court functions. And as the most eligible "omega," Kyon would be seated directly across from him.
When Kyon finally entered the great hall, his stomach clenched. He could feel Arion's gaze on him from across the room. It wasn't the speculative, appraising look of a suitor anymore. This was the gaze of a predator, sharp and intense.
Arion didn't waste a moment. As soon as the formal introductions were over, he approached Kyon's table, his scent of fresh rain and earth suddenly thick and heavy. A small, subtle threat to anyone in the vicinity.
"Prince Kyon," Arion said, his voice low and dangerous. "I hope you are feeling well. I was feeling a bit under the weather myself last night."
Kyon's smile felt like a fragile mask. "Indeed, my lord. The gardens were a bit too cool for me."
"Ah, the gardens," Arion's eyes narrowed, a cold glint in them. "I recall feeling a strange warmth there, a heat I couldn't explain. Did you perhaps feel it as well, Prince? A sudden burst of heat, like burning amber and pine?"
Kyon's breath hitched. He had been found out. The game was over. He couldn't speak, the words caught in his throat. Arion leaned closer, his scent intensifying, a silent demand for the truth.
"I don't know what you're talking about, my lord," Kyon managed to stammer, a desperate denial.
Arion's expression hardened. "Don't you? Because I woke with a mark that tells a different story. A story about a phantom alpha with the scent of an omega."
The conversation was interrupted by a page announcing the start of the evening's entertainment. The moment was gone, but the damage was done. Arion had voiced his suspicions, and Kyon knew that from this moment on, he was not just a political pawn. He was a secret that the Black Tiger of the North was determined to uncover.