Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Trying to distract himself, Haydn said, “What now? What’s going to happen with the peace?”
Royce heaved a sigh. “I don’t know. Hopefully it’ll hold, but as long as Taube is still at the helm, it’s unlikely. There’s going to be a session of the Senate tomorrow morning—well, today. We’ll know more after it.”
Haydn hummed. “You think the Senate will remove him with a vote of no-confidence?”
“That’s the hope. His approval ratings haven’t been good lately anyway.”
“They’re totally going to make you the prime minister,” Haydn murmured, kissing the base of Royce’s throat and ignoring the squeal the nurses in the corner let out. Haydn knew they were being watched. He kind of didn’t give a damn. Let them watch. He had little doubt the videos of him choosing Royce over his father were all over social media anyway. “You’re the best choice. Everyone knows it.”
Royce chuckled. “I’m not sure about that, but you know who’s going to get a brand-new job soon?”
“Who?”
“You.”
Haydn blinked his eyes open, unsure when he’d even closed them. “What?” he said, lifting his head to look at Royce.
Royce squeezed his hand. “Anika called while you were in the restroom. There’s already talk that you’re the only possible candidate for the Lord Chancellor position both countries would agree on. You’re a Pelugian prince, but you’ve also proved today that you will not allow your nationality to affect your judgment.”
Haydn snorted a laugh. “Seriously? That’s what people are saying? I thought my countrymen are enraged that I turned traitor.”
“Well…”
Haydn smiled. “No need to pretty it up. My father didn’t exactly mince words and called me your bitch to my face. I’m sure people are saying far worse things behind my back.”
The corners of Royce’s mouth tightened. “Anika did say that a fraction of the Pelugians took it very badly, but it doesn’t seem to be a substantial percentage of population. You’re still loved in your country. The Lord Chancellor doesn’t need to be elected unanimously. As long as a candidate gets just over fifty percent of the popular vote in each country, it will be enough, and Anika says you can easily pull it off.”
“Who says I even want to be the Lord Chancellor?” Haydn said, mostly just to play devil’s advocate.
Royce studied him. “Don’t you? You’re a man of action. You are not used to doing nothing all day. You hide it well, but I know you get restless and bored when I’m at work.”
Haydn smiled at him softly. He wasn’t sure when exactly they had come to know each other so well, but it was incredibly heartwarming to know that Royce cared about what he wanted instead of just assuming that he would be content to sit at home and wait for him like most omega spouses would have been.
“You’re right: I’m interested. I’ll speak to Anika tomorrow.”
Royce nodded, but before he could say anything, Devlin’s doctor, Dr. Jordan finally returned. “Please come with me,” she said, and they followed her into her office.
She took a seat behind her desk and they sat down on the couch.
The couch was big. Too big, Haydn thought sulkily, fighting the urge to scoot closer to Royce.
Don’t be pathetic. You can keep your hands off your husband for a few minutes.
Dr. Jordan sighed. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting so long. We had to run numerous tests, and then I had to consult other doctors…” She shook her head, looking as tired as Haydn felt. “Your father was correct: it really was kerosvarin. We’ve found it in Devlin’s blood—and yours.”
Royce leaned forward, his muscles tensing. “You mean Haydn was drugged, too?”
Dr. Jordan nodded. “Yes. The concentration of the chemical was significantly lower in Haydn’s blood, but it was more than enough.”
Royce moved closer to Haydn and put his hand on his knee. “Then why didn’t it work on him, too? I mean, obviously we’re glad that it didn’t turn Haydn into a mindless beast, but it’s bizarre.”
Dr. Jordan rubbed her forehead. “You need to understand how that drug works in order to understand why it didn’t work. Kerosvarin doesn’t simply turn one into a feral beast. The drug can’t change one’s biology that drastically. It simply amplifies the person’s dormant designation genes. Betas with dormant genes become omegas or alphas, Vos omegas become Dainiri omegas, regular non-shifter alphas become Xeus alphas. And Xeus alphas like Devlin regress to the wild creatures they usually become only during their ruts.”
Haydn frowned. “But I don’t feel any differently. I don’t—I don’t think I’m a Xeus now.”
“You’re not,” the doctor said, looking mildly uncomfortable. “The genetic tests we ran on you provided the answer. Kerosvarin didn’t turn you into a Xeus alpha because you simply don’t have dormant Xeus alpha genes.”
Haydn blinked, feeling utterly lost. “What? But all alphas are descended from the—”
“Yes. Except we’ve found that your genetic code is artificial.”