I | In Distress

I | In Distress

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Another hit the ground. Blood splattered on the cement, my trousers, and my face. It reeked of metal and death. Tearing the sword from the guard's body, I stopped to survey the damage.

The three armored guards I started with were dead. No reinforcements had galloped in yet. Either the slaughter fell quieter than expected or the others were preoccupied. Had my uncle actually sent his oh-so valuable knights to save me and rescue the omega prince from distress? I supposed it depended on whether he took more pride in maintaining his forces or keeping his nephew and only living heir to the throne alive. Even if he despised me, wished me to be anything but the omega I was, he knew that without me, the Sparrow dynasty would cease to exist. And god forbid that happen…

Familiar rumbling echoed throughout the cellar. Dear Uncle Clayton had sent for me after all.

If the bastard would teach me to fight, I could save myself.

The doors burst open. My kidnappers and my knights alike came barging in, filling the space with the clang of swords and the sharp bite of screams and swears.

A familiar knight emerged from the chaos. I thought his name was Carter. He was one of the best and had been my uncle's right hand for a couple years, ever since he graduated the Royal Defense Academy with top honors. And of course, he was an alpha; as all knights in the Royal Guard were required to be.

"Prince," he said with a nod. His eyes were thee same steely shade as his sword. They cut through me just the same as well. "Please forgive us for keeping you waiting. Are you alright?"

"Just fine. I killed three of them while waiting on you."

Jackson laughed as he approached us. "You? Even these low-level alphas could best you, prince."

Carter shot a stern look toward his brother-in-arms. "I think what Jackson means is that you don't have to lie to make us feel better about taking so long. We're sorry you had to fend for yourself. It must have been harrowing."

"Somewhat, but I did kill them."

"Right, I'm sure you did." Carter didn't believe a word of what I said. He looked at me like a child playing pretend. "Thank you for helping us."

Sighing, I shut up and dropped it. "Let's go. Time to get me out of here."

Carter whirled around to fight off another man. A couple slashes of his sword, and the man hit the floor in a pool of his own blood. It was as though his sword was an extension of his arm, like it was as easy as waving his hand to drop the thief. He moved as gracefully as a dancer, but with the full lethality and ruthlessness of a knight in the Royal Guard.

"Stay behind me, prince," he commanded, using a voice that sent a chill down my spine. Carter used himself to shield my front, while Jackson covered my back. They cut a path through the battle. The kidnappers tried to pursue me, but their efforts were thwarted by the remaining knights who cut them off at the pass.

Jackson and Carter got me out and into the fresh evening air where horses and a simple carriage awaited me. Jackson got on one of the horses drawing the carriage.

Carter opened the door and ushered me inside. "Your Highness."

Nodding to him, I entered and took a seat on the upholstered bench. "Thank you for coming to get me."

"It's no trouble. We couldn't leave our prince behind." He smiled politely, but the way he looked at me was like he wanted to devour me on the spot.

Ignoring the way something as tame as a look lit up my insides, beckoned to my base instincts, I rolled my eyes. "Right."

Carter tilted his head, eyes narrowing as he searched, delving into my soul with nothing but his gaze. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Absolutely peachy."

"Please call if you need to stop. We should be back at the palace by sunrise."

"Thank you."

Carter closed the door, leaving me to myself and my thoughts. As irritated as I felt by Carter not believing me, I was grateful for the rescue. I'd live to battle through another day.

Perhaps I could learn a little more about Knight Carter as well. Not only was he handsome, but his form… his sword truly became an extension of himself when he fought. I wanted to say the same of myself. If my uncle wouldn't have someone teach me to defend myself, then perhaps I could establish my own lessons. The attempt had proved futile in the past, but perhaps I could talk Carter into helping me hone the craft. He seemed just dense enough to fall for an excuse of preparing a skit for my uncle which involved a battle scene.

As Carter predicted, we arrived at the palace around sunrise. The gold, pink, and orange hues of the sun painted the sky with an ethereal glow. My maid, Chelsea, waited on the steps as Carter opened the carriage door. He offered his hand to help me out. Lest my uncle see and lecture me for well over an hour on royal appearances, I took Carter's hand, following his lead as I stepped out of the carriage.

"Welcome home, prince," Chelsea said with a bow. "We've been praying for your safe and speedy return." She smelled of nothing and couldn't detect the scent of an alpha or omega as a beta. They made perfect workers as they were the only set who weren't constantly plagued by instinctual pulls.

"Thank you. What do I have on my agenda today?"

"King Clayton has requested your presence at once. That's all for now."

I nodded and turned back to the knights. "Thank you for your service. I appreciate you all coming for me."

"It's our honor to serve, prince," Carter said and bowed.

I took my leave with Chelsea in tow. We went straight for my uncle's study, where he could almost always be found. And sure enough, he sat behind his desk with stacks of paper surrounding him.

"Ah, Jasper, glad to see you. Are you okay?"

"Perfect."

"Well, I'm pleased this experience didn't seem to shake you up. I called you here to let you know that I have the dressing maids prepared to clean you up. You'll be getting dressed and made decent to meet the bodyguard I'm assigning you."

"A bodyguard? Uncle, surely I don't need that. If I could just learn how to defend myself--"

"No nephew of mine will result to behaving like a brute when there are multiple knights who are more than capable of protecting you and preserving your status as a pure, unmated omega."

"This is absurd."

"Absurd as you may find it, you will do it. You have no choice. Now, go with Chelsea and get yourself presentable for you bodyguard. I expect you back here at eleven o'clock sharp."

Repressing a long-suffering sigh, I followed Chelsea from the study and down to my chambers where a warm bath awaited me. The maids left to prepare my clothes, while I shucked off my blood-soaked outfit and sunk into the water.

My uncle would assign one of the best knights to protect me. Having to send a fleet to retrieve me had to piss him off, and while a bodyguard would stay occupied with me at all times, it was better than sacrificing multiple men on another occasion to rescue me. I wondered which of the knights he decided to give the task of becoming my guardian. I assumed he chose someone from his inner circle, possibly Jackson. I hated him. My uncle wouldn't want to pick someone I liked anyway, that would be too comfortable and wouldn't teach me anything about diplomacy in the process.

Then again, he could assign me a lower beta knight to ensure none of the alphas got any ideas when the pheromones kicked in during a heat. If an alpha so much as fucking touched me because of his little bodyguard idea, I'd gut Clayton with my bare hands if I had to.

I scrubbed away the blood and dirt before stepping out of the bath and wrapping myself in a fluffy towel. Padding into the bedroom, I found the maids left a simple but elegant suit with a plum-colored silk shirt to go underneath the deep charcoal coat and trousers. I dried and changed into it quickly. I'd spent longer in the bath than I meant to and had twenty short minutes left to finish readying myself to meet the bodyguard.

I called the maids. They rushed in and began taming my thick, curly mop of black hair into something that looked like it was purposely messy. Placing a pair of loafers on my feet, Chelsea gestured for me to head out the door and to my uncle's study. Half way there, she corrected me and noted that we would be in the throne room instead. I took a left turn and headed down to the main floor of the palace.

The sleek black set of double doors with gold handles beckoned me. I opened the door and found my uncle sitting on his throne, looking bored but regal, as though he had everything under such a tight watch that he could afford to seem relaxed.

Standing in the center of the room was none other than my uncle's knight, Carter. He had changed from his usual uniform into a simple black suit and had combed his hair back into a short, low ponytail. A couple tendrils of hair escaped into his face and had a slight curl to them.

"Jasper, I'm glad to see you're on time."

I barely held back an eye roll. Please, uncle, continue to point out all the ways in which I screw up.

"I know you've met Knight Rhett Carter before. He is going to be your bodyguard."