Omega: Reborn Without Becoming Innocent

CHAPTER TEN

LOCATION: RANGERS PACK

LYZARA, QUEEN OF THE RANGERS PACK

"No... No... No... No..." Lyzara continued screaming before she opened her eyes, still screaming until Lucien forced her into his arms, his arms whipping around her back to still but she doesn't seem to be in focus.

"No... No... No..." she continued. Her eyes were wide and glazed, darting around the room as if searching for enemies hidden in the tapestries. She tried to grip onto Lucien’s tunic, her nails digging into the fine fabric.

"It's okay... I'm here... I'm here now," Lucien whispered into her ears. He held her firmly and slowly, the rhythm of her breathing began to even out. Her eyes began to focus on the familiar carvings of the ceiling, and her heartbeat slowed its panicked drumming. Lucien did not stop patting her back, offering a steady comfort until she finally snapped back into reality. She pushed back at Lucien, needing to disentangle herself so she could look at his face and be sure he was real.

"What happened?" she asked. Her voice was weak, and she looked around to see her maids and servants moving with hushed urgency. They were wringing out wet towels and carrying away buckets of water as if a great struggle had taken place while she was unconscious. The air in the room smelled of damp stone and medicinal herbs.

"You were unconscious since last night," he said. He reached out, bringing his hand to her face to brush away a stray hair. "You were right. I should have listened to you... Navine is in the pack. I should have paid heed instead of letting him get to you last night." He spoke softly, palming her cheeks while she breathed out a heavy, shuddering sigh. "Do you want to lie back down?"

"Where is he?" she asked, her voice instantly sharpening at the mention of her tormentor.

"We are looking for him. He has not been found yet," he said. Lyzara’s eyes immediately swept across the room, landing on Derreck. He stood by the far wall, his expression unreadable, as if they were not discussing the whereabouts of his own mate.

"And he doesn't know where he is?" she asked, her finger trembling as she pointed directly at Derreck.

"He says he doesn't know where he is," Lucien replied, Lyzara snorted, a sound of pure derision.

"How did you believe that he doesn't know? There is no way he doesn't know where his mate is... there is always a connection, always a strong bond. If Navine is never found, I want him locked up, Lucien. I want him in the dark unless he reveals where he has hidden Navine."

"I cut off my bond flow with him so I could..." Derreck started, stepping forward to defend himself, but Lyzara was in no mood for negotiations or excuses.

"That is a lie! You know where he is. Lucien, why do you keep him so close to you when he is so sneaky? I know what he is up to and I clearly want Derreck beheaded if I can't find Navine."

"Lyzara..." Lucien intervened, trying to temper her bloodlust, but she shook her head violently.

"Don't refuse me this time if you really don't want to see me die. If you don't want to see me give up on this life I have, then please don't shut this down. It is getting out of hand for me, Lucien. Either he provides Navine or he will lose his life."

Lucien looked from his trembling wife to Derreck whom he had clearly suspected of having an affair with Lyzara. He had occasionally seen him walking out of her room late at night but he had never been able to bring it upon himself to ask her. The tension in the room was suffocating. Finally, Lucien waved his hand in the air, his face hardening.

"Okay. Guards, arrest Derreck."

"My king..." Before Derreck could protest further, the guards moved in. He was bundled away, his boots scuffing against the floor as he was hauled toward the door. "My king... I truly do not know of Navine's whereabouts!" His voice faded as he was dragged across the hall, if Lyzara wanted Derreck gone by herself simply because of the reason of Navine and no other, he will gladly lock him up. He's been looking for a reason to punish him anyway.

Lucien clasped his hands with hers, trying to bring the warmth back into her fingers. "Now rest easy, would you?" he said. Lyzara nodded her head, letting him guide her back down onto the pillows. She closed her eyes, but sleep was the last thing on her mind. The images of her dream still burned into her retinas. "You had a bad nightmare this time, didn't you?" he asked.

She nodded, but then her eyes snapped open and she sat up with a sudden, jarring energy.

"That Queen Nyra... do you know about her?" she asked, her voice intense.

"What queen?"

"The one from the Blood Moon Pack. Do you know anything about her?" she asked again. Lucien peered into her eyes, searching for the source of her obsession. He had heard the messengers' reports from the neighboring territories. That Lycan King Derula had denounced and rejected the new queen for a new Luna who was with his child.

"Why are you so interested in her?" he asked. "Shouldn't you be thinking about getting some rest? The elders actually came back with the result for our consummation date while you were out."

The change in Lyzara was instantaneous. The terror and the shadows seemed to evaporate, replaced by a desperate, leaping joy. "You really looked into it?"

Lucien smiled, a rare, soft expression. "I clearly told you that I would find a consummation date for us."

Lyzara didn't wait for another word. She rushed into his arms, almost hobbling over the edge of the bed in her haste to reach him. She clung to him as if he were the only thing keeping her on this earth.

"I said it! I said it!! I knew you would find a consummation date! When is it?" she asked, her eyes searching his face with a happiness so bright it was almost painful to watch. Lucien couldn't help a little grin.

"In three days," he said.

Lyzara jumped out of the bed immediately, her weakness forgotten. "Lyzara, you were supposed to rest!" Lucien called out, but she totally ignored him. She was already spinning around to address her maids, her face glowing with a triumphant, frantic light.

"You heard him, right? My consummation date is in three days! Please, I want all hands on deck! Organize everything! I want the finest silks, the best oils... everything must be perfect!"