Stepping through the door from the castle gardens, Azra brushed the snow off of his cloak and he lowered his hood. The warmth inside the castle hit him like a wall, making Azra itch and flush as he shivered. Standing in the small dark vestibule, Azra watched as the knight shut the door, giving him a piercing look. 

The fae’s eyes looked more inhuman in the dark- as if they glowed or flashed with refracted light. They looked more like dark, faceted gemstones than anything- beautiful and dazzling. Azra found himself enraptured staring up at the man, interested in how different he looked from anyone the omega prince had seen before. 

“Azra!” Varyx snapped, making Azra jolt as his gaze tore away from the fae to rest on the alpha prince instead. Varyx looked irritated and displeased as he demanded, “Stay put for a moment. I need to speak with your knight in confidence. Do not move. Understand?”

Azra swallowed, nodding stiffly; he watched Varyx’s cloak fan out behind him as he turned quickly on his heels. The alpha prince marched a few feet away, standing near an alcove filled with glittering heirlooms as he waited for the fae to join him. 

Galros moved from the shadows of the doorway, his hair like rippling ink as he passed the omega prince to join Varyx several feet away. 

Remaining where he was, Azra warmed his frigid skin, his gaze fixated on the vibrancy of the fae knight. Even amongst all the grandeur and gilded tapestries and treasures, the fae was magnificent to behold- his horns glinting in the dim flamelight. 

Galros bent his head to Varyx- the alpha prince murmuring audibly, “Can you smell him?” 

Azra sucked in a breath and felt his stomach drop as he realized how the hall still carried Varyx’s voice so clearly. He thought for a moment about slipping back out to the cold through the garden door, but the notion died swiftly as he considered the consequence of disobeying Varyx. Though there was a sense of shame inside him, Azra couldn’t help but wonder what else his future husband would say when he thought Azra couldn’t hear him. 

It wasn’t kind, Azra grimacing as Varyx continued, seething, “Damn omega- he needs to be seen by a physician to get that reek under control.” Varyx’s voice was like venom, the fangs of his words sinking into Azra’s mind and poisoning him. 

Azra’s chest tightened painfully, throat sore and swollen as he swallowed past the building lump; there were tears in his eyes that he tried to rapidly blink away. Though he hated himself for it, his vision blurred- Azra merely stared down at his feet, watching tears drop onto his leather boots and mix with the melting snow. 

Though he didn’t want to hear anymore, the fae’s voice carried the distance to brush Azra’s hot ears, deep and steady as he said, “Perhaps tomorrow would be better. I’m sure Prince Lyroth is tired after his long journey. It might be best to get him warmed and settled. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Varyx let out an aggravated grunt, snarling as he snapped back, “Don’t disappoint me, Galros. I am charging you with Prince Lyroth’s life and safety. His value to Privillion cannot be overstated.” Varyx’s voice lowered, Azra’s gaze still locked to the ground as he strained to hear the man say, “Whether or not he’s tired is not a priority. He cannot be discovered as an omega… Do you know what happened in Solvale?”