Chains Under Black Wings

Soren

"You are getting engaged!" Rialla raised her cup of ruby-red wine from our royal garden vineyard. Her amber eyes sparkled with excitement as she toasted under the late afternoon sun. She clinked her cup against mine.

"Yes, it seems so," I replied.

I couldn't believe I was getting engaged. And what was even more unbelievable was that it was to Tarian. He was my childhood best friend and the most decorated Knight of Elysara, my kingdom. Let's face it—he was a war maniac with an ego bigger than any of the castles he'd conquered.

At 17, Tarian had already wiped out factions. They had spread false rumors of monsters roaming our land again. While others cowered, he rode out with a handful of knights. He exposed the lies and quelled the panic with a display of his swordsmanship and fearless leadership. His bravery and strategic mind made him a legend before he even reached adulthood.

Seven years after that act of bravery, the common folk had dubbed him the sexiest alpha in the kingdom. Every day, women and men, alphas, betas, and omegas alike, fell at his feet. But who could blame him? He was the pride of House Valen, a lineage of royal knights sworn to protect the crown. Personally, I wanted nothing to do with him beyond our long-time friendship.

Tarian might have been brave, honorable, and very handsome. But he was as emotionally available as a frost serpent. So why on earth was I getting engaged to him? The alpha was relentless; when he set his mind on something, he went after it with a vengeance. It wasn't just his persistence that wore me down. It was the pressure from my father, King Clarence Drakon, and the noble court.

I had been taught, raised, molded, and educated to be the next ruler of Elysara. But that was just a setup, false promises, and hollow dreams. Despite my upbringing, when I was born a male omega, no matter how much the gods had blessed us, even with the ability to give birth, I would be seen as a bad omen—a harbinger of the kingdom's downfall.

When the gods bestowed their blessing upon the royals of the nine kingdoms during the Darkrift War, Solaris, the goddess of light, rewarded the first heir of Elysara with magical weapons that could be summoned at will. At my father's birth, intricate golden tattoos had seared his skin. With a thought, he could summon shields from the golden patterns on his arms. This made him the rightful king, the hero.

But when I was born, I did not receive the blessing of the goddess, even though I was the firstborn and sole heir. This only strengthened the kingdom's belief that I was a bad omen.

I was a curse.

My mother, the high priestess of Elysara and faithful servant of the Solaris goddess, died while giving birth to me. It would be natural for me to be married to the strongest alpha of Elysara to protect the kingdom and our legacy. I was weak—a freak. I was lucky that Tarian also fell in love with me.

How could I say no to him and go against what was best for the kingdom? After all, I was the only one who knew Tarian's true self, his soft side. Under all that bravado and bloodshed, there was just a simple man, and that's what made me fall in love with him—to the point that I didn't care if it had been prearranged since the day I was born. I knew he would be a good king.

Feeling nervous about the alpha, the man I was getting engaged to, I arranged a small affair with my closest friends before the ceremony. The ceremony would be too grand; even royals from our allied kingdoms were here to celebrate. I didn't want something too regal, but when you were the first prince, there was nothing you could do about it. Just bear with it because your wants and wishes have become nonexistent.

"Isn't it exciting?" Brioni's voice broke through my thoughts with mischief. "Imagine the power couple you two will be!"

We were in the palace's north garden, surrounded by the vibrant blooms of spring. The air was fragrant with flowers, and a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves. At twenty-two, I would have preferred a quiet tea party, but wine was the right call for this type of celebration.

For once, we weren't dressed in the elaborate, glittering gowns adorned with gems that were typical for royal appearances. Instead, Rialla wore a simple, soft, flowing, muted lavender dress. It was comfortable and free of the usual heavy embellishments. Brioni opted for a casual, light green dress, its only adornment a delicate floral pattern. Even Lyra, always so poised, had chosen a plain white dress. Its simplicity highlighted her natural grace. I, too, embraced the relaxed vibe. I wore a loose white blouse, tucked into dark brown, medieval-style trousers. It was a rare moment of us being ourselves, free from the burdens of the images we had to project to the world.

"'Exciting' isn't the word I'd use," I muttered, sipping my wine to avoid speaking too freely. "More like… inevitable."

"Oh, Soren, you've always been dramatic," Lyra teased, raising her glass. I smiled at her, my beloved half-sister, the second heir and female alpha born from my father's second marriage.

A year after my mother died, my father, King Clarence, married Lady Anwen Falken from the Duchy of Braven, House Falken. Unlike my mother, who was a commoner before becoming a priestess, Lady Anwen was the perfect replacement. She was committed to being a queen with grace and diligence. Not for love, but because of the ambitions of the court and the kingdom. A family of powerful alphas, including Lady Anwen, was vital to the kingdom's strength. They hoped to produce a second heir that the goddess would bless.

But when the blessing did not come with the birth of my sister, Lady Anwen—no, Queen Anwen, mother—raised me with the same love as if I were her child. Her family became my family.

My father, Mother, and Lyra were all I had in this world where every move I made was scrutinized, predicting my downfall. As much as I loved my sister, she always got into trouble. She called me dramatic, but she was the one who found herself in dramatic situations, especially when it involved men. It didn't matter their secondary gender; they were her weakness. Her rebellious attitude and defiance of everything our parents taught us led to her soon being engaged to the prince of the Arvelon kingdom.