For a moment, the cold night air didn’t feel quite so biting. The two of them sat in silence once more, the stars above them shining in the inky sky. The comfortable silence between them stretched, giving them space to breathe after the tension of the evening. Celestio leaned back against the bench, his fingers wrapped around the seat on either side of him, his gaze fixed on the faint shimmer of moonlight on the courtyard fountain. The courtyard was usually spared of the suffocating weight of the castle’s politics, and this calming night was no different.

  It was Sabas who broke the silence first, his voice still low. “I understand that you have been with His Highness for many years. May I ask how you ended up here?”

  Celestio hesitated. It wasn’t a story he shared often, and certainly not with random Alphas, but something about the way Sabas had been so open with him made him feel like he could do the same. “My father,” he began, his voice quiet, “Sir Celestine, is a close friend of the king. They fought together in the crusades, even years before I was born.”

  Sabas nodded, his expression attentive but not intrusive.

  “When he returned from one of the crusades, he brought me with him. He told everyone I was his son, born from an Omega in a foreign land. No one openly questioned him.” There was a faintly bitter smile on Celestio’s lips as he spoke, his gaze distant. “I all but grew up in the castle. My father made sure I was educated, groomed for court life, but there was always this… unspoken question about my place. His Highness has been gracious in his protection of me, even when I was revealed as an Omega.”

  Sabas tilted his head slightly. “And your mother?”

  Celestio shook his head. “I stopped wondering about my birth parent a long time ago. My father cared for me, as did the castle’s servants. Then His Highness was born and I was given a real purpose.”

  Warmth crept into his tone as he spoke of the prince. “I was fifteen years old then. I helped care for him, educated him – I taught him to read, to ride, to navigate the court. When King Conrad and my father returned to the crusade three years ago and left our kingdom in His Highness’s care, Prince Edess made me his lead advisor.” Celestio glanced at Sabas. “It has always been my life. Serving the prince, protecting him, making sure the court doesn’t tear itself apart. It’s what I’m good at.”

  Sabas studied him for a moment, his eyes thoughtful. “That is a lot of responsibility,” he said quietly.

  Celestio nodded, his lips pressing into a thin line. “It’s all I’ve ever known,” he admitted. “I am well aware of how fortunate I am to have such a stable and safe life.”

  The silence that followed was heavier but not uncomfortable. Sabas leaned back slightly, his gaze returning to the stars above. “I can understand, somewhat,” he said after a moment. “Needing to find your own way. Make something of yourself when no one else expects you to.” He let out a laugh, a resentful edge to the sound. “Though, you have found much more success than I. Maybe one day I can achieve a fraction of your prosperity.”

  Celestio stared at him. No Alpha, not even one who roamed the streets begging for scraps, would ever dream of paying such a compliment to someone like him. For the first time, Celestio felt like someone truly saw him beyond the carefully constructed mask he wore at court.

  Sabas shifted slightly on the bench, and when his eyes met Celestio’s, the advisor realized he had been staring. Celestio averted his gaze back to the garden in front of them.

  Sabas smiled again, more ruefully this time. “I’ve never cared much for politics. Ironic, considering I was born into a family that raises its children to play the game.”

  Celestio arched a brow. “I thought ambition would be second nature to someone like you.”

  Sabas chuckled. “That’s the funny thing, isn’t it? Everyone assumes every Alpha wants power, control, influence. But if I had my way, I would leave all the scheming and backstabbing to my brothers and sisters. I’ve always felt more comfortable performing household duties.”

  Celestio blinked, caught off guard. “A… like a servant?” he asked in disbelief.

  Sabas laughed again. “More like a partner who manages the household. Your ideal life is here in the castle, serving His Highness in his political games; mine is to find someone I love and spend my days doting on them and our children. Something simple, quiet… full of love.”

  For a moment, Celestio just stared at him. Then his shoulders shook, and a sound emerged from his throat that made Sabas turn his full attention to the advisor just as Celestio began to laugh. It wasn’t the polite, restrained laugh he used outside of Prince Edess’s chambers, but something louder and freer. The very idea of the Alpha Sabas’s domestic dream was absurdly endearing.

  Sabas’s smile widened. “Exactly how my brothers reacted,” he sighed, though there was no real irritation in his voice.

  “It’s just…” Celestio struggled to compose himself, shaking his head. “Do you know how many thousands of Alphas come and go every year in this castle? Yet, you’re the only one I have ever heard express anything like that. The desire for power, prestige, glory – it’s supposed to be instinctual for you. And you’re talking about – what, baking bread and playing with children as though it’s the greatest ambition in the world? That’s supposed to be a dream for an Omega like me.”

  Sabas shrugged, unbothered by the teasing. “Maybe it is. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with anyone wanting power or influence. But I’ve seen what it does to people. All I’ve ever wanted is a quiet life, away from all the noise. That’s why I loved that little garden nook with the lilacs.”

  Celestio’s laughter faded, replaced by a faint smile tinged with something wistful. “Forgive me. I suppose I can’t blame you,” he admitted. “The lives of those of us in the heart of political games are indeed lonely and full of paranoia. Always watching our backs, always wondering who’s a friend and who’s an enemy. It’s exhausting.”

  Sabas nodded, his gaze softening. “Exactly. That’s why I want something different – something real and secure.”

  The comfortable silence returned between them for a moment, the distant sound of the fountain the only noise in the courtyard. Celestio’s head was fully cleared now and he gave a small shiver in the cool night. The desired future Sabas spoke of of was a privileged one – between a fated Alpha and Omega, whose pheromones matched so perfectly that they were all but physically unable to be apart for an extended period of time, or take any action that would harm the other. It was rare for someone to find a partner whose pheromones perfectly complimented their own, and in his decades at the court, Celestio could only think of one – maybe two – couples he encountered who were fated mates.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “And you?” Sabas asked, breaking Celestio out of his thoughts. “Surely you don’t spend every waking moment as His Highness’s advisor.”

  Celestio’s faint smile faded, his gaze dropping to his hands. He was quiet for a long moment, and when he finally spoke, his voice was low and measured. “I don’t think about the future much,” he admitted. “My life is about service – first to my father, then to His Highness. It’s what I was raised for. It’s what I excel at.”

  Sabas frowned slightly. “You have no interest in marriage? A family of your own?”

  Celestio hesitated again, his fingers tightening in his lap. “I have no interest in relationships,” he confirmed, his tone clipped. “I’m an Omega. Marrying an Alpha would mean giving up my power to serve only their desires. I’ve worked too hard to give up my position for that.”

  “You don’t think it’s possible to have both?”

  Celestio shook his head, his gaze still fixed on his hands. “Not for me. My position is too precarious as it is. The moment I give someone that kind of power over me, it’s over. I can’t afford to take that risk.”

  The silence that followed was almost as oppressive as that foul Alpha’s pheromones. Sabas looked away, his jaw tightening slightly as though he wanted to argue. Instead, he let out a soft sigh and stood, brushing off his trousers and stretching.

  “I should go,” he said. “You’ve had a long night, and you should get some rest. I’ll go find a servant who can take you home safely.”

  Celestio looked up at him, surprised by the sudden shift in his attitude. He opened his mouth to protest, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he nodded silently, watching as Sabas turned and began to walk toward the castle. Another gentle breeze moved the air and brought the scents of the courtyard with it, including the smell of the courtyard’s sweet roses.

  And with that, Sabas was gone, leaving Celestio alone on the bench. He sat there for a long time, staring up at the stars and wondering about – well, he wasn’t entirely sure, but he certainly felt something that didn’t feel nice.

  The bench felt emptier without Sabas beside him. The night air, once refreshing, now just felt cold, the quiet of the courtyard pressing in around Celestio. He leaned forward, hanging his head and resting his elbows on his knees. Sabas’s words lingered in his mind, soft and insistent.

  That man thought Celestio should be happy. The word felt foreign, almost absurd. His life was about duty, sacrifice, and service. He was certainly happy when he was with Edess, when they didn’t have to attend to their duties. But….

  He glanced over at the empty side of the bench, then reached out. His fingers brushed against the edge of the coat Sabas had left behind, folded neatly on the bench beside him. He picked it up, the red fabric surprisingly soft. He hesitated for a moment, unsure why he felt drawn to it, before lifting it to his face.

  Celestio inhaled and his senses were flooded again. He hadn’t consciously known it, but his instincts had recognized it. He had thought that the roses were planted in a corner of the courtyard, too far away for the light wind to bring the smell to where he sat. Yet, he could smell them so clearly when Sabas sat beside him. It wasn’t just roses – he couldn’t really compare it to anything he had smelled before – but it wrapped around him like a comforting embrace. His eyes fluttered shut as he inhaled deeply, opening his mouth to taste it, the scent grounding him in a way that felt both unfamiliar and intoxicating.

  He liked it. More than liked it. For the first time in his life, surrounded by Alphas who delighted in overwhelming him with their cloying, oppressive pheromones, Celestio found himself drawn to someone’s scent. Not just drawn – captivated. His heart gave uneven thuds against his ribs that shook his body and he gripped the coat tighter, his mind racing.

  He didn’t just like Sabas’s scent – he wanted it. Craved it. Craved him. He needed the Alpha.

  The thought sent a flush of heat throughout his entire body. He wanted Sabas to come back, to stand close to him again so Celestio could breathe in his pheromones directly, to feel that warmth enveloping him even tighter.

  He waited, the seconds stretching into minutes, each one heavier than the last. He hugged the coat tighter to his chest, wanting the rosy scent to cover his body. The courtyard felt too still, too quiet, and the absence of Sabas’s presence gnawed at him.

  Then, at last, he heard footsteps on the paving stones.

  Celestio looked up, his heart leaping as Sabas emerged from the shadows, his tall frame illuminated by the faint glow of the lanterns on the distant walls. He looked sheepish, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as he approached. “I couldn’t find a servant,” he apologized. “It’s late, and most of them seem to have retired for the night. We could go back to the banquet hall and find….”

  He trailed off, his eyes widening as he noticed the coat in Celestio’s hands. Not only that – the way Celestio clutched it, his arms wrapping it tight against his body. “Is that…?”

  Before Sabas could finish his sentence, Celestio stood, his body moving on its own again, instinctively guiding him towards the Alpha. He took a step forward, then another and another, until they were close enough to feel the faint warmth radiating from each other’s bodies. He clutched the coat tightly, even though he didn’t need its scent anymore. Sabas froze, his blue-gray eyes wide as Celestio closed the remaining distance between them and then loosened his arms. The coat fell to the ground and he wrapped his arms around Sabas’s waist, pressing his face into the crook of his neck. Celestio pressed his nose towards the Alpha’s neck and breathed in, the rosy scent stronger than ever. It filled every space in his mind and he couldn’t think of anything other than wanting more.

  Sabas was more than everything he could have ever imagined, and he needed all of him.

  Sabas stood stiffly for a moment, his hands hovering uncertainly at his sides. “Sir Celestio?” he asked, his voice hesitant, almost disbelieving. “What are you –?”

  “Your pheromones,” Celestio murmured, cutting him off. His voice was low, almost a whisper, but there was an intensity to it that made Sabas’s breath catch. “That’s why you could smell my scent. I thought the suppressant was failing, but… it’s your fault. I’ve never smelled anything like you before. And no Alpha has ever made me feel like this.”

  Sabas’s hands slowly came to rest on Celestio’s upper back, hesitant as though he were afraid to move too quickly and break the spell. Celestio could feel the hands shake against his jacket. The Alpha’s body was reacting the same as his own. “Are you sure?” he asked softly, his voice tinged with uncertainty. The lilac scent rose around them. “Your suppressant… someone could have made a mistake….”

  “I’m not sure,” Celestio admitted, his arms tightening around Sabas. “It’s never happened before. But you’re… different. I like your scent. I like how it makes me feel. I like how you make me feel.”

  The raw, vulnerable admission hung in the air between them. Sabas’s heart pounded in his chest and he swallowed hard, his grip on Celestio growing more certain. His own instincts were screaming at him, but he hadn’t saved Celestio from the other Alpha to simply take him for himself.

  Celestio lifted his head, just enough to meet Sabas’s gaze. His cheeks were flushed, his breathing uneven, and his mouth open as he breathed in Sabas’s pheromones straight from the glands on his neck. “Escort me home.”

  Sabas blinked. “W-what?”

  “Come home with me,” Celestio repeated, his voice firmer now, though he could hardly believe the words coming out of his mouth. He pressed his body tighter against the other man. “I don’t want to be alone. And I can’t leave you behind.”

  Sabas hesitated, searching Celestio’s face for any hint of doubt or insincerity. But all he saw was quiet determination, a vulnerability that made his chest ache. His arms around the Omega shook as he struggled to contain himself. Slowly, he nodded. “If that’s what you want.”

  “It is,” Celestio breathed. “More than anything.”

  Without another word, Celestio took Sabas’s hand, their fingers intertwining as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Together, they left the courtyard, the night air growing warmer with each step they took.

  and early access to chapters of current stories, and future stories before they're released on RR.