Chapter Text
The king carefully carries his exhausted omega and his newborn son to one of the prepared guest rooms.
Since Nicolo is still bleeding slightly, the chambermaids have added soft bedding to the bed. Yusuf would, of course, have much preferred to have his omega safe in their own chambers, but no matter how hard the maids tried, they couldn't quickly clean the king's marital bed of all the blood and amniotic fluid.
Nicolò couldn't possibly stay there. Therefore, the king decided to move him to the second most comfortable bed in the house. It had once been his deceased parents' bedroom. The mattress isn't quite as soft, but the bed is still a little wider than their own.
"Sofie, quickly, we need one of the soft blankets under his back. The mattress here is still a bit too hard." Yusuf swings his omega over the bed in a bridal stem, being as gentle as possible.
"Right away, your highness !" The chambermaid hurries to one of the tall cupboards to search for another blanket.
"Tesoro, we're fine. Just look, our son is already sleeping soundly and peacefully." Yusuf is worried, noticing how tired his omega sounds. Nicolo's eyes are half-closed, still no blush on his pale cheeks. His gaze slowly wanders lower to Nicolo's bare chest, where their beautiful son is peacefully snuggled.
The sight awakens something primal in the alpha. Nicolo's scent has been intoxicating since the birth. No trace of the bitterness that surrounded him during the painful hours of his labor.
His gaze now lingers on Nicolo's bare chest. His breasts are swollen with breast milk. Round and plump. The alpha can clearly smell the sweet, luscious scent in them. It only awakens his protective instincts even more. Yusuf lowers his head and runs his nose over their baby's head to Nicolo's red, swollen nipples. Almost unnoticed by his tired omega, he kisses one of the shiny, dark red bud. He can't resist licking it teasingly with his tongue, trying as best he can to ignore the rising heat in his lower abdomen. Nicolo is beautiful and attractive even in his weak state.
He suddenly realizes how close he came to losing the only thing that mattered in his life.
His omega seems so fragile, almost as helpless as their newborn son.
Nicolò has already fallen asleep again and is grunting adorably on Yusuf’s shoulder.
He never wants to let him out of his arms again. Yusuf must protect him. Wrap him in warmth and cover him with his own body so that he remains hidden from all evil in the realm. But above all, he must protect his family from his own brother.
Suddenly, Yusuf feels a bad feeling.
"Booker!"
He hasn't received a report from his best friend in hours. Sebastien would also never miss the opportunity to personally congratulate His Highness on the birth of his child.
Is the situation so serious, or are they all just avoiding their angry king? Yusuf could understand. After all, he threatened almost half the palace staff with execution.
Booker will surely give him a few lectures about this. His omega had better not find out about this either. Nicolò soul is so gentle. He would never raise his voice against her staff. Everyone at court loves him.
Yusuf, on the other hand, is unfortunately not always such a patient person.
"Where is the blanket?" Growling, he turns his head toward the frightened maid.
"I have to go to one of the other rooms quickly, your Highness. I'm sorry. With your permission, I'll be right back!" She bows submissively and then hurries out of the room.
Yusuf doesn't really want to let his omega out of his arms. But Nicolo desperately needs sleep to recover from the strain of the difficult birth.
So, with all his loving care, he places his two sleeping angels on the prepared mattress. What did he do to deserve two such beautiful creatures?
His eyes fill with pride, and his heart swells with the love he feels for his little family.
He's just about to call for a maid to bring the baby to its crib when a soft knock on the door interrupts him.
"Come in!" Yusuf sounds strong and confident. His new role as protector of his omega and father of a newborn, helpless baby is allowing the alpha in him to take over.
"Your Highness!" Andromache enters, a soft blanket in her arms, her gaze directed toward the ground. "I came to check on your husband one last time."
"Yes, of course, thank you, Andromache! He's finally fallen asleep." The alpha smiles as his eyes wander again over his omega's resting body.
"I also asked one of the maids to follow so she can take care of her son. You should get some rest yourself, Your Highness, it's been a very long night!"
Yusuf snorts with laughter, "Didn't I advise you and Nile the very same thing recently? You were almost killed, wandered for hours through the dark woods, and then, without a word of complaint, saved my pregnant omega's life. Without your help, this miracle would never have happened. I can't express how grateful I am. My omega, my heart, my everything, is only alive thanks to you. I am forever in your debt, Andromache!"
There's another knock at the door, and Andromache quickly opens it. She steps aside as a maid enters, apparently wanting to care for the newborn baby.
"Your Highness, with your permission, I'm taking your son with me for a short time to ensure your husband some rest!"
Yusuf couldn't suppress a low growl. No one had the right to separate him from his son. He looks angrily at the midwife, who was scrutinize him with her gentle, yet determined gaze. Then she answered for him: "My Highness, your son is full and tired. The maid will put him in his crib and watch over him the entire time. As soon as he gets hungry again, she will bring him back to her chambers."
Yusuf is about to object, but Andromache doesn't allow it:
"Nicolò urgently needs rest. Your husband is a very strong omega, but his body has done almost impossible things to give you your son. I would like to examine him thoroughly again, and for that, I need some privacy and peace!"
Yusuf agrees somewhat glumly, so the maid takes the baby and places it in its crib a room away.
Just before they leave the room, the king quickly calls after her: "But only for an hour, then I wish my son's crib to be brought into our bedchamber!"
He is not quite sure if the maid heard it.
The king already misses his son, but tries to appear strong and composed.
Yusuf's eyes now rest on his sleeping omega. Nicolo's chest is pale, paler than usual, and he's trembling slightly since the baby is no longer on him.
"Habibi, everything will be fine. Andromache will take care of you now!" He kisses him on the forehead, his fingers tenderly brushing the omega's exposed chest. Nicolo twitches slightly, but doesn't wake up.
"Sleep, my love. I'll be right back with you!" Yusuf kisses him again, this time on his dry lips, and then turns back to the midwife.
"Please look after my heart for a moment. I trust you and promise that you can trust me too. You and Nile are safe here. From today on, you are part of my family, Andromache. And I will protect my family with my life if necessary!!"
"Thank you, Your Highness! I..." They are interrupted by the creaking of the door opening.
"King Al-Kaysani, your brother, sent me." The young soldier only now realizes his mistake of entering the royal chamber without being invited. He bows deeply and then continues:
"My Highness, I have a message for you ..." The young man swallows hard, then cautiously looks up into the waiting faces of the king and the worried witch, and then stammers: "King Faisal Al-Kaysani has taken a few hostages at court. One of them is Sir Le Livre. He says he will have them executed if they don't want to speak to him personally!"
Yusuf's face turns bright red with rage.
"Why was I only informed now?" He grabs the young man by his collar and pushes him hard against the wall.
"I, I don't know!" The young beta whimpers in the king's firm grip. His eyes fill with tears. "Air, I can't breathe!"
Yusuf only realizes through the young beta's choking as he squeezes his throat with his clenched fist.
He immediately lets go of him and orders in a harsh tone: "Take me to him immediately and increase the guards around my omega's chambers!"
Then he turns toward Andromache: "I'll also double the guards outside your and Nile's room. I won't let anything happen to you." They exchange a brief nod before the king forcibly forces the young soldier out of the room.
"Before we go to my odious brother, there's something you have to do for me." Yusuf looks deep into the frightened boy's eyes. His gaze is cold and almost scares him to death.
"You'll listen to me carefully now, because I'm only going to say this once..."
A few moments later
The young soldier then runs off to fulfill his task as Yusuf and a retinue of several dozen of his soldiers make their way to the main gate.
"This time I will kill you, brother!“ The king is seething with rage as he sees from afar that his best friend is on his knees, covered in blood, with Faisal holding a blade to his throat.
The many threatening voices of the assembled soldiers filled the cool morning air with a deafening sound.
"Quiet!" Yusuf commanded with pride.
"Brother, finally! I thought you were going to miss the main spectacle." Faisal grinned sardonically.
Yusuf's older brother is surrounded by countless of his own soldiers. They form a kind of protective circle around him while he tortures Booker. Faisal's fingers drag hard at his mud-soaked hair. Booker seems more dead than alive.
Yusuf feels sick at the sight.
But he must be strong now.
He rears up, raises his chin, and continues unfazed toward his brother.
"Your Highness, no, it's too dangerous..."
Yusuf ignores the worried voices of his men.
Faisal's cruel reign must end today.
For their shared lands. For all the inhabitants of their kingdom. For Yusuf's deceased parents. For his beloved omega and his firstborn son. For Yusuf's soldiers and his friends. For Booker....
He will put an end to this here and now, come what may...