Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/12604112.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage, Rape/Non-Con
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      The_Heroes_of_Olympus_-_Rick_Riordan, Percy_Jackson_and_the_Olympians_&
      Related_Fandoms_-_All_Media_Types
  Relationship:
      Nico_di_Angelo/Percy_Jackson, Maria_di_Angelo/Hades
  Character:
      Nico_di_Angelo, Percy_Jackson, Maria_di_Angelo, Hades_(Percy_Jackson),
      Jason_Grace, Bianca_di_Angelo, Reyna_Avila_Ramírez-Arellano, Original
      Characters, Rachel_Elizabeth_Dare
  Additional Tags:
      Alternate_Universe, Alternate_Universe_-_Human, Alternate_Universe_-
      Fantasy, Alpha/Beta/Omega_Dynamics, Alpha/Omega
  Stats:
      Published: 2017-11-02 Updated: 2017-11-09 Chapters: 3/20 Words: 10252
****** Tongue Tied in Knots ******
by emokoschei
Summary
     Prince Nico di Angelo of Brenia is next in line to the throne, thanks
     to him being an Omega. His parents are old and frail, determined to
     find a noble Alpha who will be able to continue the royal bloodline
     with the prince.
Notes
     This was originally my NANOWRIMO 2017 novel, but due to mental
     illness that was not possible. I still will update until it is
     finished.
***** Chapter 1 *****
The Prince of Brenia waded into the cool ocean water. His feet sank into the
sands, toes curling up to enhance the sensation. Fingers tugging at his maroon
trousers, he crept them up his legs until they stayed above his knees. It was
such a nice summer’s day, the salty breeze warm against his pale skin that
surprisingly hadn’t burned under the blazing hot sun. Seagulls cawed, scanning
the bay for food.
As the gentle waves lapped at his ankles, the prince stepped further into the
water, careful not to soak his tailor-made trousers. Gods, his tailor would
kill  him if any of the pearlescent fixtures got lost in the ocean - or if any
of the golden silk stitching came undone. As he stepped further into the
crystal clear water, he turned his head to check that no one else was around.
Being the prince, alone, would be bad enough if someone were to see him alone
beside the sea, but the di Angelo bloodline’s omega? That had much potential to
be  disastrous .
Oh, how fine a day it is!  The prince thought, drinking in the serenity. He
enjoyed not being cramped up in his castle all day, but if anyone with a duty
of care over him knew that he wasn’t tucked away inside, there would be chaos.
He had spent his whole day strolling across the bay surrounding the island,
which was not something that he usually did. It was his goal to walk as far
around the island as he could, but he had found himself clambering back to the
main bay out of tiredness.
Fish swam by, minuscule bubbles rising to the surface and popping as they came
into contact with the air. Prince Nico smiled. It was nice to be alone. Who
would’ve thought, the Omega Prince being a maverick and recluse? His hopeful,
welcoming mother was a light in the tenebrose family. She loved to interact
with her citizens, frequently holding feasts to welcome and honour those under
her husband’s reign. His father, the king, held the pen to another story. He
was quiet and morose, despite being a beloved ruler. Nico’s sister, on the
other hand, had sworn herself to a virgin sisterhood that worked in honour and
patronage to the Goddess of Hunting. She was a mystery to Nico, though he loved
her very much. Of course, despite being the eldest, it was good that Princess
Bianca had joined the sisterhood, for she was only a beta. The royal rule was
that children must continue to be had until the true heir, the family’s Omega,
was born. Just Nico’s luck that he was an Omega, he would have hated to have
more siblings.
The water was now splashing against the Prince’s knees, the tide pulling itself
closer to the shore and rising. He turned, holding the wrinkled hems of his
trousers as he waded back to land. He wished that he could go swim out to the
middle of the ocean, alas that was not possible. If anything happened, a
missing Prince would leave thousands of people hot on his trail, as well as
alphas searching for the precious little omega prince. Oh, and there’s the
pirates as well. Murder and rape by alpha pirates was not an idea that he was
fond of.
Nico cringed as the sand clung to his feet, the dryness making them feel weird.
He leaned down, picking up his dark leather boots. They was his favourite pair
of shoes, the ones that he wore every day, due to the fact that they were
crafted to fit his exact foot measurements. Their soles were plush and made him
feel like he was walking on clouds, and he swore that there must have been some
kind of fae magic within them to make that a reality.
His bare feet dragged him up the shore to the seaside staircase leading into
the city, the prince making a conscious effort to keep his head down. His regal
garb did give away his identity, but not for long. He bounded up each
cobblestone step, careful not to slip. Once he reached the top he slithered
under the arch and through the busy street leading to the castle, before
sneaking into an alleyway beside a bakery. Through squinted eyes, he made his
way through the dank space, careful not to tread on any broken bottle shards.
At the end of the alleyway, he placed his boots under his arm and lept up,
clinging onto jagged stones. Nico climbed the wall, making his way towards the
top. He heaved his body up and over the overhanging awning that lined the roof,
panting as he continued to creep along its side, jumping from building to
building.
Once he was deep into the heart of the city, he took off his coat and jumped
down onto a clothesline that connected two houses and ziplined down it, careful
to keep a grip on his beloved boots. At the other end, he clambered to the top
of the building and raced his way towards the palace. The ground below was much
too far away when he reached the end, so he climbed down - conveniently near
the  next  staircase that was a direct path to the palace.
The prince’s feet stung as he pulled his body up the hundreds of steps, his
heart feeling as though it would pound out of his chest once he reached the
top. With a heave, and he trudged up the long carriageway to the regal
structure. He kind of regretted not taking the absurdly long trail for
carriages which would’ve saved his stick-like legs a lot of pain, but the
stairs were quicker, despite how agonising they were. When he reached the top,
he felt as though he was going to collapse, and when he snuck through the
ginormous wooden doors, he did.
Chuckling, the exhausted prince left his shoes beside him for a maid to pick up
later. He stood and began his ascent to the tallest tower, his bedroom.  Why
are there so many stairs in this kingdom? Just proves that it was designed by
and for us humans.  Grains of sand still followed him, and he knew that the
maids would be  very  unimpressed with him for leaving even the tiniest of
messes.
As soon as he entered his bedroom he flopped face down onto his bed. He was
just about ready to fall asleep, but that was until one of his Gentlemen of the
Bedchamber strode in, apologising for interrupting the tired prince.
“Your Highness,” The thin-faced man with the protruding belly said. “Your
mother and father request your presence in the great hall. Shall I escort you
there?”
Prince Nico rolled his cocoa eyes. “What do they want me for, Beltram?”
“Majesty,  they  need to explain it to you, not me.”
“Fine.” Nico rubbed his eyes and pulled himself down to the Great Hall. When he
stepped inside, he saw a lady in waiting of his mother’s whispering in her ear,
receiving a nod in response.
Beltram was still beside Nico, his eyebrows slanting at the prince’s bare feet
and the few grains of sand still clinging to them. He leaned down to Nico’s
ear, dry lips parting in a whisper. “Is this really the appropriate way to
present yourself to your family?” He watched the hems of the prince’s trousers
finally reach their usual position, knowing that Nico had clearly snuck back
out to the ocean. “And you also know that a royal  and  omega such as yourself
should not be roaming the city alone! Who knows what could happen to you!”
Nico shrugged and approached his parents, feigning a smile. “Mother.” He looked
at Queen Maria. “Father.” He said a little more sternly, face going grey when
it looked upon his father’s.
“Oh, darling Nico!” His mother’s arms reached out to embrace him. “Where on
earth were you today? Your father and I are in desperate need of having an
important discussion with you.”
Oh great. Family discussion time. Just when I thought Beltram was joking.
“Like what, mother?” Maria’s face fell and glanced at her husband. Nico was
becoming more uncomfortable by the second.
“Now, Nico.” King Hades said. “You are now sixteen, the designated royal age
for finding an alpha.”
Nico heaved his chest and rolled his eyes. “Really, father? I’m basically still
a child, remember? I don’t want to have to have them myself yet, so why do I
need an alpha?” Despite being a lecherous teenager, the young prince was
serious about not wanting to have his own children yet. Though he thought that
having an alpha could be nice, but he wasn’t prepared for the commitment. He
changed his mind about dinner at the last minute every night, so how would he
go about keeping the same partner for the rest of his life?
“That doesn’t exactly mean breeding yet, son.” The king added, the direction
the conversation was going feeling awkward as a parent, to say the least.
Nico crossed his lean arms. “Okay then. How do you think that you will go about
finding me a suitable alpha?” His mother looked down, clearly hesitant to
explain the rest. Alas, she did anyway.
“We have found three lovely suitors of sorts. They come from wonderful noble
families, with good reputations. They are slightly older than you, but no
matter. I believe that at least one of them will be a fine match for yourself.”
Nico wanted to storm out of the room, but having a tantrum when numerous staff
members were around would not be good for his reputation. “Why must I be the
family’s omega?” He muttered under his breath. “Dad’s not one and he’s somehow
king.” His comments were heard by his parents, them whispering to each other
evidently disappointed things about their son.
“Your older sister would have had the chance to rule, Nico, but she swore
herself out of the royal family. You are the only one to continue the
bloodline, and besides, it is a tradition for the monarchs to continue
reproducing until the omega heir is born.”
“I hate that rule.” Nico looked at Beltram, receiving an unimpressed look in
return. He glanced back at his parents and then down to the marble floor.
Beltram piped up, stiffening his posture. “He has a point, your majesties. Look
at him, he is far too irresponsible for a mate.” He motioned to Nico’s wrinkled
trousers and bare, sandy feet. “Although, I honour and respect tradition and
shall prepare and train him for having an alpha as well as continue his
training to be king in a few short months.” His balding head bowed.
Nico nudged Beltram and frowned. His eyes shot him a Thanks for nothing. I
thought you were on my side!look. The tension between him and his parents was
increasing rapidly, Nico’s annoyance as clear as day. “How will I meet these
so-called suitors, hmm?”
“Tomorrow night we are holding a feast, and the three lovely alphas will join
us. On that eve, a series of tasks to win your hand will be announced. The
kingdom will watch in awe as the brave heroes compete for your submission, and
hopefully, love. Once it is all over, you will become betrothed to whoever
reigns supreme.”
“Tomorrow?” Nico felt as though he was a piece of parchment that was being held
to a flame if he inched any closer to the danger he would catch alight. “That’s
way too soon! Why was I not told of this?"
“Your head has been in the clouds, Nico.” Maria tried to calm the prince down,
but to no avail. He stormed out of the room, hands clenched into fists. He
walked back up to his bedroom and sat in his bed, head resting in his hand. Why
did his parents always have to do this? They were always making important
decisions that affected him, without him! His forehead was corrugated and lips
thin and frowned as he stared into space, dwelling on his annoyance. It was a
great surprise that no one had entered the room to talk to him more or calm him
down, but then again, everyone knew not to cross the explosive prince’s path.
He sat quietly in his tower for what either could have been hundreds of years
or mere minutes. Time was funny like that, filled with much relativity. As the
abstracity passed by, his tension did not cease. Just as he was going to try
taking a nap, he was interrupted by a faint rosy glimmer in front of him.
Great. Every time I have tried to nap today or just have some alone time, I’ve
been rudely disrupted.
“Nico, darling!” A voice like caramel spoke.
Oh please no.  Nico thought.  Now is really not the time for a fairy godmother
intervention.  “Hi Persephone,” Nico mumbled, not even the tiniest hint of
interest in his voice. The worst thing about being royal definitely had to be
fairy godmothers. Sure, they could work miracles, but when it came to giving
advice, they were really quite bothersome.
“I felt your unease, dear Nico, and I came to your aid!” Persephone’s pale silk
gown billowed, despite the lack of breeze. Her ebony hair had an element of
frizz, but it remained still below her thin shoulders. She had a fantastical,
authoritarian aura at all times, which made her quite intimidating. She only
ever revealed herself to mortals if the time was necessary, including her
godson.
“I’m fine. I’m literally completely okay, I don’t need you to counsel me.”
In a pink poof, Persephone was sitting beside Nico. She rested a hand on his
shoulder, though it was brushed off as the young prince sat upright. “I assume
you are upset about your imminent betrothal?” Nico nodded in reply. “It is
nothing to worry about! I picked the fine young alphas myself, all of them
equally worthy of you! You will absolutely love them all, Nico.”
Nico raised an angry eyebrow. “ You  chose them?”
“Yes, my dear.”
The prince crossed his arms like an angry child. “You’re supposed to be my
fairy godmother, not my fairy matchmaker. I have no intention of getting paired
with some rich, selfish idiot and I’m especially not interested in continuing
this stupid bloodline at the age of sixteen!”
“Nico, you must not come to any assumptions until tomorrow eve. If you would
like, I may even grant you some wonderful new clothes for that extra charm. Or,
I could give you a little glimpse into who they are. Unless of course, you want
it to remain a mystery and you shall marry a complete stranger.”
Nico’s eyes darkened and he shrugged. “Both could be nice. But then you have to
leave, okay? I’m not forgiving you for choosing my partners. It should be up to
me and nobody else.”
“Well,” Persephone smiled and fluttered her smooth cinnamon eyelids. “They hail
from the finest families in all of Brenia.”  I know that stupid,  Nico thought.
“Jason, son of a king in an allied kingdom of ours, is a kindhearted gentleman.
His heart is practically gold.”
“Sounds boring,” Nico grumbled.
“He’s tall, strong and blonde, di Angelo. Your type. Plus, he is quite
honourable.” Nico could tell that Persephone was maybe a little too hopeful.
The fairy was quick to move onto describing the next suitor. “Reyna Avila
Ramirez-Arellano, the woman in training to be the captain of the guard is also
a wonderful alpha. She is assert-”
“A girl?” Nico was confused. “You know I’m gay, right?” He was dumbfounded. Of
all people in the world, Persephone was the surest that Nico was gay. After
all, she was the one who granted him that trait.
“Yes, but she is quite masculine, a natural leader and exceptionally rich.
Plus, she loves dogs like you do.”
“Whatever, if she wins I am so not marrying her. I feel sick at the thought of
breeding with a female, regardless of her being an alpha or not. Anyway, who is
the last one?” Nico crossed his fingers behind his back, hoping it was not
another female.
“The son of the king of the ocean, Perseus Jackson is slightly aloof but a
wildly charismatic gentleman nonetheless. He is quite funny and kind, and I’m
sure that you would absolutely adore him.”
Nico sighed. “Are you sure you didn’t just choose the most superficial people?
They sound  so  boring.” The prince hoped that the the trio were not as much of
a bore as they seemed to be. He tried to imagine living his entire life with
someone as dull and grey as charcoal? Although, that was how his father was. He
watched Persephone’s head tilt and her mouth spread in a smile. “Are you super
sure?” He asked. Another nod and a wider beam. “Fine. How much older than me
are they all?”
“Five years each, my dear. Perfect for being able to protect you as well as
raise children sufficiently.”
Yuck. Nico was truly not keen on discussing childbearing or bringing them up,
especially when it was about total strangers. He had little parenting
instincts, though he still experienced the typical tender emotions associated
with his kind. “Oh joy. Anyway, this palaver is over, can you leave me alone
now?”
Persephone stood, pulling out a magic wand from what appeared to be thin air.
“As you wish, your highness.” Without second thought, she disappeared in a
cloud of pink.
Nico stepped towards his dresser and undid the fragile buttons on his coat. He
fumbled on the last one, it refusing to slip. As it came undone he slung it
down his arms and into a heap on the cool stone floor. His fingers brushed sand
out from between his flushed toes, grains falling to the ground, waiting for a
maid to brush them away. He quickly wrote up a “Do not disturb” sign and placed
it on the outside of the door of his room, hoping that he wouldn’t have to join
his parents for dinner. Knowing that they would whine about his lack of
presence was fine, it wasn’t anything new anyway.
Throwing his body back onto the soft mattress he stared at the high ceiling,
letting his fingers trace spirals on his stomach. Breathing langorous, he
pondered the cosmic illustration overhead. The chart was a gift to him from his
sister on his thirteenth birthday, as a little reminder of her. Every single
day he thought of what she was up to, and this new betrothal situation made him
crave her company. She was the best person to talk to in times of need, and she
never judged and always offered valuable advice.
The prince turned on his side, tucking his hands up near his head. He curled up
and closed his eyes, waiting for the waves of sleep to crash over his head.
Anxiety nested in his stomach, and that feeling came in the shape of the three
suitors he was due to meet. He had spent his whole life being hidden away from
alphas out of fear that he would be raped or killed, which was one of the many
reasons why he hated being an omega.
Please just let this work out.
***** Chapter 2 *****
Waking up in the middle of the night, was not exactly how Nico di Angelo
thought that Wednesday eve would go. His eyes shot open, but no light filtered
into them. Groaning, he dragged his body out of bed and down the twisting
staircase, hand feeling the wall beside him as he was careful not to take a
tumble. At the bottom of the steps was a lit fireplace, embers glowing red
under a pile of coal. The prince’s fingers wrapped around an iron poker that
hung against the grey castle wall, and he stabbed into the red-hot coals.
Flames erupted, the room becoming encased in warm light.
The prince sat cross-legged in front of the fireplace, the heat flushing his
high cheekbones and slender nose. He continued to poke the fire, mesmerised by
it’s blue and orange flames that danced in unison. His eyes were heavy, and the
heat made them feel drier than they were before. With the belief that the
comfort and warmth that the fire provided, he lay down and curled up once more.
Sleep was still a distant vision, like a light at the end of a tunnel. After
sleeping through an entire evening and halfway through the night, he really
could not manage to lose consciousness once more.
The cavernous hall was lonely, the lack of people inciting misery. In the day,
you couldn’t walk through the palace without stumbling across a maid or other
consort, so the lonesome night time was quite dreary. The only other people
awake this early would be the guards outside, and maybe even the bakers that
were preparing the goods for the day. For a loner who spent his time in the
solitude of his tower, Nico truly did miss the bustle.
Nico spent the next few hours in this limbo, standing on the edge of sleep, but
the rope attached to him would not let him fall into it. Time ticked on, the
sun beginning to stream through the low glass windows from the east. That was
the best part about living in the east wing - the blissful morning sun was
always a spectacle to rise to. The fire was beginning to die out, so the weary
prince poked the logs of wood around and dumped in a couple more, which would
have wildly disappointed his maids and butlers. They always insisted on doing
everything for the royal, despite him being perfectly capable of doing it all
himself.
The prince dragged himself up and he skipped to the kitchen, slinking his way
inside. The wonderful scent of pan-fried meat, as well as still baking bread,
wafted into his nostrils, a sigh of delight escaping his ravenous mouth. “I’m
starving, cook!” He said to that day’s chef, doing a lap of the kitchen.
A chortle escaped the plump woman who was busy frying some traditional
pancakes. “All in good time, your ‘ighness.” Her voice was like boar fur,
coarse and somewhat matted.
“Well, I’m going to the dining hall already.” Nico snatched a ripe, ruby red
apple from a copper bowl. “Could do with a hot breakfast anyway.” The prince
waltzed out, teeth sinking into the piece of fruit.
His light head tilted back against the wooden chair once he sat down, boredom
already plaguing his mind. He continued to take huge bites out of the apple
until it was nothing but a juicy, seed-filled core. It found it’s resting place
on the wooden table, juice dripping onto the polished surface. His feet tapped
against the dining hall floor, impatience for his early morning meal growing
steadily.
A bell rang through the hall, the matronly chef’s voice ringing out.
“Breakfast, Prince Nico! And Jerome, may you please notify the king and queen
of their breakfast, please?”
Nico’s eyes narrowed at the feast that was now placed before him, stomach
growling louder. “Thank you.”
“‘S alright, your ‘ighness. Enjoy.” The plump woman tottered off, retrieving
the king and queen’s meals for their imminent arrival. As soon as she left,
Nico began to devour his meal. Steam was still floating from his food, but he
didn’t care - the warmth just accentuated the taste. His silver cutlery scraped
the ceramic plate before him when he was done, the prince slouching in his
seat. Margaret was by far the castle’s best chef, not a single meal that she
had ever cooked had been bad. Plus, she always added more of Nico’s favourite
ingredients, so of course, the prince was prejudiced towards preferring her.
As the prince moved back in his chair and prepared to stand, the pitter-patter
of his mother’s footsteps entered the room, followed by the sound of his
father’s as well. “Good morning, dear son!” Maria called, pace quickening.
Oh, why oh why?  Nico thought. “Hello, mother. And father.”  There is no way I
am getting any peace and quiet today.
“Nico darling, leaving already?” Maria glanced at her son’s empty plate. She
rushed over and placed her hands either side of Nico’s grumpy face.
“I need a bath,” Nico mumbled, eyes flat. “May I leave?” Hades stepped towards
the pair, looking at his son as if he was apologising for the rest of the day
to come.
“Today begins the festivities of your royal betrothal. You are to be prepared
each morn for public view, and under no circumstances may you leave this
castle.” The queen sighed, a glance being shot at her husband. “Although, that
is nothing different from the usual.”
“But mo-”
“No buts, Nico. You are to be escorted to the bathhouse, then you shall be
groomed and dressed properly for the occasion. Afterwards, you may do as you
please until the suitors and their parents arrive. You may be excused.” Maria
stiffened her posture, retracting her hands.
Nico groaned. “Dad, you can’t let this happen can you?” Oh, how Nico  hated
being treated like a precious little prize. Yes, his omega status did increase
it, but royalty made it far worse. He hated the way that if he was spotted in
public, subjects would throw themselves at his feet or cheer in awe of being in
his presence.
Hades smiled weakly. “I’m sorry son, but this is your duty as a royal, and as
the heir to the throne. I acknowledge that you would much rather be dressed
comfortably and doing whatever you wish, but we must ensure your safety and
betrothal, as well as you looking appropriate for the occasion.”  With a glare,
Nico stormed off but was quickly escorted off to the luscious bathhouse.
Tendrils of steam evaporated onto Nico di Angelo’s skin as he waded into the
refreshing, warm bath water. Even within his own home, Nico was to remain in
the presence of beta or omega guards. There were one too many times that he had
come close to being raped by guards or the like. Of course, all of those people
had been fired, imprisoned, and the worst offenders were executed.
As the prince sat on a marble step, he gazed into the clear ripples. Sweet-
scented vapour obscured the room, leaving a dreamy haze. He ran dripping hands
through his hair, the water clinging to each ebony strand. His body scooted
forward, water splashing over his taut thighs. Bath time was always calming,
and as the prince, he always got to enjoy the gold-plated cavern alone. Gods,
it would have been awkward to him if he had to be naked around others -
especially underwater when everyone was in close proximity to each other.
Nico leaned forward and swam into the water, warmth enveloping his lithe body.
His arms spread before him, legs kicking behind him before he turned on his
back. Floating through the immense bath was relaxing, except for the
awkwardness of being exposed. He was happy that no guards were watching him
float, with everything hanging loose. As an omega, he was also quite
embarrassed of his size. It wasn’t too small, but enough to make him fear
anyone seeing it - despite his hormonal teenaged desire making him want to use
it, so he tried his very best to get over his embarrassment.
The position was maintained for quite some time until the prince made a
conscious effort to clean himself. He swam to the steps, reaching for a cloth
and swishing it through the water, before attempting to cleanse his soft flesh
with it. He scrubbed away, making sure to dip the cloth back in a nearby soapy
bucket every now and again. He shifted on his feet, balance maintained by the
steady embrace of the water.
Each lap of the indistinct waves against the side of the bath was hypnotic,
lulling the prince into a haven of tranquillity. Due to his life being so
stringent, it was easy for him to fall into an idyllic mindset. As he was
certain that his bath was finished, he stayed a little longer for the sake of
being alone.
“Yda!” He called, hand raised to his mouth. He placed his hand over his so-
called “crown jewels” as the Maid of the Bath scurried in, holding a towel. The
prince waltzed up the bath stairs and into the soft clutch of a pale towel.
Water continued to drip down his thighs and back, and he thanked the maid as
she escorted him to the tailor’s room.
Nico stepped out into the garden, leaving droplets behind him. He hurried into
the palace, careful not to slip once he was on the smooth stone floor. His
hands were still on his chest, holding the towel up. As he walked into the
dressmaking room, he noticed just how many people were standing around, waiting
for him to try on the many outfits that were laid out on a table.
“Your majesty.” An olive skin man bowed. “Welcome to your suit fitting for this
evening’s meal.” He motioned the prince behind a screen to put on a pair of
bloomers, before allowing him to come back out and stand on a wooden pedestal.
Nico frowned as he was fitted into a plum outfit, complete with silver cuffs
and frills.  This is going to be the beginning of hours upon hours of suit
fittings, isn’t it?  His eyes scanned the image in the mirror before him, lips
to the side and hands feeling the expensive material. “I don’t know if it’s
really… me.” Nico mumbled. If he was going to suffer through the next while, he
may as well have put in some effort to make the time fly faster. He was put in
the next outfit but still had the same reaction.
After trying on garment after garment, the young prince was finally able to
settle on something. He beamed at the onyx tunic he wore, tiny shining swirls
flourishing against the rough material. Slightly darker jodhpurs adorned his
legs, and a pair of charcoal boots matched the set perfectly. “This.” Nico felt
the dark grey adornments on the shoulders and followed the material down to his
stomach (where it ended). “This is beautiful."
His tailor clapped, a smile of relief crossing his face. “At last, your
highness. You look incredible! Of course, you will look like a million drachmas
once your royal crown is placed upon your head!”
Nico stepped out of the outfit, which was much to his pleasure. Despite its
wonderful beauty, the coarse material was quite a bother to wear. He was
permitted to exit, so long as he stayed where people knew he was. Taking
another trip down to the sea was on the top of his to-do list that day,
although he reluctantly accepted his parents’ and guardians’ orders.
He skipped to the library, one of the places he was able to find the most
comfort. The overpowering scent of weathering pages and an abundance of dust
was among his favourites in the whole world. After scanning the area, he found
comfort in the only other presence being a maid dusting away at a rather large
bookshelf.
Tucking himself away in a deep recess of the imperially decorated library, he
buried his nose deep into a book. He devoured each word that frolicked across
the pages until two complete novels had been discarded beside him in a heap of
books he had finished reading in that week alone. The sun outside was beginning
its steady descent from the heavens, making way for the luminous moon.  Only a
few short hours until the dreaded alphas are here,  Nico sighed mentally.
There was already a wild clamour in the kitchen, as well as a rowdy celebration
to be seen occurring in the city below. Banners and flags flew over the seaside
city welcoming the soon to arrive suitors. Two ships could be spotted on the
distant horizon, though the high city wall was close to erasing them from
sight. Nico wondered why people cared so much about some stupid marriage,
claiming that they were all idiots for pandering to the royal family.
Hesitant to prepare for the night, he remained in his little corner for a while
longer, knees to his chest. He felt comfortable and safe there, especially when
curled up. He often joked to himself that it was his nest, but in all
seriousness, that was most likely why he liked the spot so much.
The prince sat in thought for a while longer, until he decided it was time to
prepare for the evening. He carried his nervous body down the hall and up a
flight of stairs, back to the tailoring room. His impeccable suit sat waiting
for him, the exotic tailor polishing Nico’s silver crown.
Nico quickly shuffled over, removing his day clothes. The hairs on his arms
stood on end from the awkwardness of being almost naked in a crowd of four. He
stepped into the baggy trousers and scrunched his eyes as the undershirt and
tunic were fitted over his head. The image shining in the mirror before him was
overwhelming, to say the least, for despite usually dressing impeccably, it was
rare that he had something made for such a special occasion. He shuddered at
the thought of what his wedding outfit would look like.
Gulping, he let his groomer’s touch up his hair and slip his slender feet into
a dark pair of calf-length boots. “Thank you.” He mumbled through tight lips.
Sweat was beginning to trickle down his sides, the intensity of his nervousness
ramping up by the second.  Why am I so scared if I really don’t care about any
of these people I apparently have to meet?
“You are expected in the throne room in approximately one hour, your highness.
Shall I run you through the order of events?” Beltram interjected, seemingly
appearing out of thin air.
Nico blew a strand of hair out of his unimpressed face and sighed. “I suppose
that would be helpful. Shouldn’t we have rehearsed this? I mean, I have
practised and learned basically everything about one day being king, but
wouldn’t be learning the order of betrothal stuff come in handy?”
“Your Highness,” Beltram bowed his head. “I apologise for that, but come, we
have an order of events to tend to this evening.” Despite Nico’s huffing and
puffing, the Lord of the Bedchamber illustrated the night for him.
Once the drone of Beltram’s voice died out, Nico closed his eyes as his crown
was placed atop his head. “Okay. This is okay. This will be fine.”
“I insist! ‘Tis only your first introduction to the three people who each hold
the potential to spend the rest of their lives with you.” Beltram smiled,
clasping his hands together.
“Gee, thanks,” Nico said, voice heavy with sarcasm. He sat in a deep chair in
the corner of the room, his companions still remaining. After an hour, Bertram
announced that it was time to get settled for the apparent ceremony.
With a light stride, he was led out to the throne room. His mother and father
were waiting, both adorned in vibrant jewellery and clothed in rich garb. They
smiled at him, though the king looked sullen as if he was feeling great
sympathy towards his son. The same thing would have happened to him at sixteen
too, Nico summarised.
“You are dressed delightfully!” Queen Maria said, kissing her son’s forehead.
“Oh you make us so proud, and the fine young suitors will absolutely adore
you!” She stood back and looked at her husband, fingers running over the
delicate embroidery on her son’s outfit. “Doesn’t he look handsome, Hades?”
Hades nodded, making a comment on his son’s attire. Nico smiled and thanked his
father, reshifting the crown on his head. He was ordered to sit on his carved
wooden throne, waiting for the suitors to arrive. In the distance he heard
cheering and drum beats, assuming that the three suitors were on their way.
After sitting in his throne impatiently, head resting in his hand, his mother
shot him a look which could only be saying, “Quick! Sit up! They are about to
arrive.” In that moment, the prince realised that he had no idea if he was
meant to say anything specific, if not at all. He twiddled his thumbs as the
clip clop of horseshoes ended, and a bright fanfare was audible. The heavy
doors to the castle swung open, two kings and a regal looking, almost warlike,
woman stepped in, followed by who could only presumably be their children.
A small man scurried in front of the six, puffing out his chest. “Your
majesties, King Hades, his beloved Queen Maria and his honorable prince Nico, I
present to you three fine families and their children.” He scurried back out of
the way, as the pairs continued to step forward, bowing in front of the
monarchs.
Nobles began to file into the throne room, finding place on the outskirts. Once
they had all entered, the doors closed and King Hades rose. “King Zeus, Lady
Bellona and King Poseidon. Welcome to our beloved kingdom of Brenia. My dear
son, Nico is thrilled to have you and your children at your acquaintance.
Please, if you may, introduce your dear children to him.”  I look thrilled, do
I? Plus, I already know what they’re like, father,  Is what Nico was thinking.
He attempted to seem interested as the king to the left, a thick, tall man with
a flowing salt and pepper beard, stepped forward. “It is my pleasure to
introduce you all to my son, Jason. He has spent his life enduring the best
quality of combat and academic training and is a very unique man. At only
twenty-two, he has led our kingdom’s army into battle many a time.”
Impressive, I guess.
Nico smiled, stiffening his posture as a dark-haired woman with distinct
features stepped forward. She looked as though she could take out the entire
room with a single glance, but that was nothing compared to her fierce
daughter. “Lord di Angelo, my daughter and soon to be captain of Brenia’s
guard, is the best warrior you will ever come across.” Her daughter stepped
forward, looking extremely uncomfortable in the gown that daintily framed her
muscular body. “Reyna has won your kingdom many a war and possesses the
qualities required by the best of leaders. She is strong-willed yet the most
loving person you will ever come across.”  I’m sure she’s lovely, but my
homosexuality won’t make me want to breed with her.
Lastly, a tanned, dark haired man stepped forward. His eyes and smile mirrored
the young man behind him’s, the resemblance uncanny. “My son,” He began,
motioning behind him. “Is the future ruler of the ocean, unless he becomes your
alpha of course. Not especially trained in combat or academics, he values
society in high regard and is respectful with a heart of gold. Well, not
literally. I don’t think.” The room erupted into a chuckle.
Brenia’s king clasped his hands together and smiled. “Thank you, my lords and
lady.” Another chuckle. Nico wanted to sink into his chair as a means of
escape, for the introduction had already been terribly boring.
More light conversation was exchanged, before Nico’s parents went and
personally greeted the suitors and their parents. The prince just sat awkwardly
in his throne, watching the scenario unfold. He tapped his foot and picked at
the skin around his fingernails, glances being thrown at him by the three
suitors. There wasn’t anything too striking about any of them, except for their
overpowering alpha scent. The surprising thing was that despite her flowing
dress, Reyna radiated the strongest alpha aura.
Hades turned to face the crowd, making sure to eye Nico when he turned to the
other side. “My citizens, commencing at noon tomorrow will be a competition for
each alpha to prove that they are worthy of my son’s hand. The first activity
will be to defeat a fearsome monster, the second to outsmart a notoriously
intelligent witch, and whoever comes out on top of the pair will then have to
forge his or her own way to find the very ring they will propose with. Each
activity will be held on a different day to the previous, meaning that the
proposal and engagement party are in four evenings’ time. You are all invited,
as well as to the wedding which shall be a mere week from now.”
Nico had to bite his tongue to stop him from screaming “So soon?” In a fit of
confusion and rage. The crowd cheered and the young prince waited until they
had all left. The three other families were escorted off to the dining hall
before Brenia’s royal family followed.
***** Chapter 3 *****
Prince Nico stiffened his posture as he sat in a huge, ornate seat at the end
of the large dining table. He twiddled his thumbs, the awkwardness of being
surrounded by so many young alphas overwhelming. Not even once in his life had
he been surrounded by more than two alphas, so his omega instincts were
screaming at him to just jump on Jason and Percy. Even Reyna’s scent was
causing him to feel lust, though it did not shift its direction towards her.
The table before everyone was covered in a scarlet cloth with candelabras,
bowls of ripe fruit and already laid out cutlery definitely making it seem as
though it was a regal occasion. Nico tried to direct his feelings towards the
oncoming feast, instead of the premature heat he could feel beginning. He hoped
to every God imaginable that Reyna would not pick up on it, though he wouldn’t
have minded too much if Jason or Percy did.
Two maids came into the room, filling each person’s glass with wine. The moment
they scurried out Hades rose, along with his glass. “A toast!” He declared,
everyone else raising their glasses. “To my son, Nico, the success of the lucky
future partner of his, and the future of Brenia!” Everyone repeated the final
line and took a swig from their chalices.
Nico drank a little too much, hoping that smelling like alcohol would lessen
his pheromonal scent. King Zeus turned to him, smiling. “My dear boy, how do
you feel about this whole situation?”
Nico blushed, putting down his glass. “Oh, I don’t mind it. Just a bit
unprepared I assume.” He smiled sheepishly, his mother giving him a warning
look. “I am excited nonetheless, though.” He looked at Jason who was sitting
quietly, eyes focusing on the wine before him.  He can kind of smell me, can’t
he?
“Marvellous!” Zeus grinned and patted his zoned out son on the back. “How do
you feel about Nico, Jason?” His son snapped back to reality, adjusting his
focus for a second. He shrugged and mumbled something about not knowing the
Prince of Brenia well enough. Surprisingly, Nico was barely offended. He looked
down the table at everyone else, already bored out of his mind. Persephone’s
judgement was quite horrible, for his assumption that all of them were
completely boring was true.
“Our son is not a man of many words,” Queen Maria said.  Were they talking to
me? Gods, I must be so bored that I’ve blocked this entire conversation out!
“Hmm?” Nico asked, quickly looking up. “Oh, sorry mother.”
“‘Tis alright,” Maria said. She motioned towards the guests, a smile painted on
her face. “Would you like to properly introduce yourself to our guests? I’m
sure they would absolutely love to know more about you!”
Nico smiled and loosened his shoulders, his face was beginning to go red. “What
do I say, mother?” He whispered.
His mother looked embarrassed at the fact that her son was not adequately
trained for the meeting. “What are your interests and hobbies? What are your
favourite things?”
“So, I’m Nico.” He made eye contact with everyone at the table. “I like books,
as well as the odd game of chess. I think magic is pretty cool, but I’m clearly
mortal so there goes that out the window.” A hushed laugh filled the room.
That was entertaining?  “I uh, I also like spending time in my bedroom and
doing normal prince-y stuff.”
“Wonderful.” Poseidon piped up, nudging his son. Perseus was certainly the most
interested out of the group, his focus somehow remaining locked, despite the
fidgety aura he gave off. “I’m sure Percy here would much like to be your
acquaintance.”
“As would Jason!” Smiled Zeus, looking at his blonde son.
Hades smiled, excited about the already competition for his son’s hand. Reyna
and her mother sat with great posture further down the table, not saying a
word. Nico had a feeling that Reyna knew about his sexuality, so she didn’t
want to make anything seem as though she wanted anything to do with him
sexually. Much to Nico’s great surprise, no one commented on it.
A while after much banter was exchanged, silver trays of steaming hot food were
carried out to the table. “Dinner is prepared!” Remarked the main waiter,
assisting in placing the trays on the table.
“This looks wonderful!” Hades smiled, already leaning forward to grab a slice
of pork. His wife pulled him back, shocked at his lack of manners (especially
in front of guests). Once the queen gave word, everyone took their desired
foods and began eating.
The meal continued like this for a while, until everyone felt full. Nico still
sat awkwardly at the end of the table, the constant looks he received making
him more anxious with each one. Finally, someone actually made an effort to
talk to him.
“So Nico,” Perseus leaned forward and looked at him. “Enjoy your meal?” The sea
prince was only two seats down from Nico, so it was quiet enough that the
conversation remained between the pair.
“It’s quite nice.” Nico took a sip of his wine, finishing the glass. He
demanded another and took another sip once it was filled again. “I think the
wine’s the nicest part.”
Perseus chuckled. “Your kingdom does have a reputation for making the finest
wine in the land. This stuff’s incredible!”
Nico could sense his companion’s rut, but he tried his best to ignore it,
despite the overwhelming amount of alpha pheromones just subduing him to his
oncoming heat. “Thank you.” He glanced down at Reyna who was quietly eating,
blocking out everyone else in the room. She seemed the type of girl who would
keep to herself, and her emotions in that moment were absolutely impossible to
read.
“What about you, Jason?” Percy leaned back, looking past at the other alpha
male. “This is a pretty good meal, don’t you think?”
Jason chuckled, his face full of food. “I know right!” He mumbled, face full of
food. “No matter what the outcome of this competition thing is, I’d love to
come back here just to eat this stuff again.”  Oh here comes the competition
talk,  Nico thought.
“Ah, speaking of competition!” Maria chimed.  And there it is.  “Are our three
beloved suitors aware of how tomorrow and the two latter days shall unfold?”
The three suitors all nodded. “Then I am thrilled to be able to watch you all
compete tomorrow, against each other as well as our surprise monster.”
“Will be good.” Said Reyna, her smooth yet deep voice startling everyone. “I
expect everyone will fight to the best of their abilities. May the lucky man -
or woman, win.” She took a swig of her wine and set the glass down firmly on
the table.
“Wise words, Lady Ramirez-Arellano.” Maria smiled.
A stupendous dessert was carried out and placed before the families, jaws
dropping at the sheer artistic design of the sweets. A huge, neatly decorated
cake took up the centre of the table, alongside various jellies and other small
desserts. Nico took the first bite of cake, the sweetness of the icing leaving
a tingling sensation on his tongue.
“This is so good,” Perseus said, eyes rolling back. “I don’t remember when I
last ate as nice a cake as this.”
“Neither.” Said Nico and Percy simultaneously. They smiled, and everyone
completed their meals.
“Thank you for your attendance, everyone.” Hades smiled, arms open. “You are
all able to stay tonight in our marvellous palace and shall be escorted to your
individual chambers presently. Although, the three fine suitors are to have
adequate guarded time to interact with and get to know young Nico tonight in
his tower.”
What?  Nico thought.  Since when did I have to be alone with these alphas?
“Good evening, my friends. Sleep well and we shall all be reunited in the
morning.” The group applauded the king and said their farewells before they
were escorted off to their rooms.
“Father!” Nico yelled once it was only him and his parents in the room. “No one
told me that I would have to spend alone time with them!” His heat situation
paired with their ruts could only end one of two ways, and he was not too keen
on a certain one, especially if it ended with forced or hazy claiming.
“Nico, how else would they get to know you?” His father asked, Maria, sitting
quietly. “There will be a guard outside the door so you shall be perfectly
safe. No harm will come to you this evening.”
“You would like to hope so.” Nico crossed his arms and frowned. “Well I had
best go to my room now, shouldn’t I?”
“Yes. Remember to behave well and make a good impression, otherwise, this will
be all for nought.”
“Whatever.” Nico stormed out and up to his room, leaving his crown on the
table.
===============================================================================
 
The prince paced around his room, waiting to get over with the conversations so
that he could go straight to sleep as soon as possible. His constantly
retracing steps were hypnotic, yet they increased the unsettlement in his
stomach. He was interrupted by an echoey knock at his door.
“Your Highness, Lady Reyna Avila Ramirez-Arellano is here to meet you.” The
gravelly voice of a guard said.
“Let her in.” Nico watched the tall woman stride into the room, maintaining
perfect posture. Her head was high, black eyes focused on seemingly nothing.
“Reyna,” Nico said as the door shut.
“Prince Nico.” Reyna bowed her head. “It is an honour to finally meet you.” She
accepted the young prince’s offer to sit beside him on the neatly made bed.
“You too. I surprisingly have heard much about you.” Nico looked down. “Good
luck with the competition.”
Reyna’s lips thinned. “Your Highness, I shall start out by telling you that I
am fully aware that despite my alpha status, you are far from straight and
would be ensured a life of lonely misery if you became mated with me.”
Nico cocked his head, narrowing his eyes. “You know that I’m gay?” It was not
common knowledge that the prince was solely homosexual, with most people
believing that he was just bisexual due to his omega status. Oh, the blatant
homophobia.
“Yes.” Nodded Reyna. “Quite obvious considering the look of anguish when you
saw me walk in today, as well as the glimpses I’ve caught in the city of you
checking out the guards in my battalion. I apologise for being one of the
suitors, and despite how much honour I shall lose I will make minimal effort to
win.”
“Thanks… I guess.” Nico looked up at the austere woman, drinking in her strong
features. Sure, she was quite beautiful and Persephone had been right about her
masculinity, but that was not enough for Nico. “I apologise if you wanted to be
with me.”
“You’re not my type. Like, no offence, but I was forced into this and still
don’t have any desire to mate with you. The two men though, well I am sure that
it is a different story for them.”
Nico shrugged, chuckling. “I can tell. Can you sorta, like, can you pick up on
my increasing scent?” Reyna nodded in response. “Damn. It’s not as bad as it’s
going to get but I’m scared. Being around so many alphas, your parents
included, is so new to me and it’s messing up my heat cycle already.”
“I would be careful around them, highness. They both seem nice enough, but you
know what alphas are like when they’re in ruts. Luckily I take rut
suppressants, and honestly, I started them just because of this occasion.
Didn’t want to risk making you uncomfortable or starting fights with Jason or
Perseus.” Reyna brushed a strand of strangely glossy black hair out of her face
and loosened her composure. “You seem nice enough not to deserve any of that.”
Nico smiled. “I hope you can be my friend, regardless of what happens. I could
use someone like you in my circle, plus you’re familiar with this area.”
“I’ll take you up on that offer,” Laughed Reyna. “I should go so you can deal
with the next two alphas. Be careful though, okay? You can’t trust just any
alpha.”
“I can always just scream for help.” Nico was chuckling. “See you tomorrow,
Lady Reyna.”
“You too, Prince Nico.” Reyna waltzed out, calling in Jason. The sturdy blonde
walked in, already towering over Nico.
“Your Highness.” Jason bowed before Nico, asking for permission to sit down
beside him. Nico reluctantly accepted, overwhelmed by the other man’s presence.
“Hello, Jason.” Nico smiled. He tried to maintain a facade of confidence, which
to his surprise worked.
“It is an absolute pleasure to meet you,” Jason fluttered his eyelids, leaving
Nico to focus on the alpha’s electric blue eyes. They were so vibrant that they
almost looked fake, they could have struck anyone down just with a mere glance.
“I have been looking forward to this moment for a while.”
“Thank you.” Nico was confused by Jason’s sudden confidence, seeing as he had
been quite reserved that morning. “Same for you too.”
Jason’s lips were parted faintly, the scar on the top one was more prominent.
His face was full of colour, cheeks rosy.
“Nice scar.” Nico looked at it. “Not to be rude or anything.”
Jason laughed and smiled. “Thanks.” He ran a finger across the white stripe
before scratching the side of his mouth. “Moral of the story is that toddlers
can’t eat swords.”
“Thought so.” Nico made eye contact with Jason, instantly becoming flustered.
The older man had an overwhelming presence like he was a little too self-
assured. The prince of Brenia still blamed those deep blue eyes, even though he
was certain that it was just those strong alpha pheromones. Nico leaned back
and focused on the floor, trying to keep himself in order. It really would have
been quite embarrassing if he got fully thrown into his heat whilst in the
company of an alpha -, especially a decently attractive one.
“What kind of stuff do you like, Nico?” Jason asked, hand creeping towards
Nico.  In what way?  Nico thought, slightly concerned.
“Normal stuff. The harpsichord, reading like I said earlier, good food. I’m
really just your average teenager, I just wear a crown on my head.”
“Yeah, I understand that. But it’s cool that you play the harpsichord, not many
guys do, so it’s nice that you do.”  Please don’t make a move on me, Jason.
Just be a little bit professional about this, okay?
The rest of the conversation was smoother, Jason keeping his distance. He
certainly seemed nice enough, but it was becoming difficult for him to obscure
the growing bulge beneath his tunic. Oh, why must rutted alphas always be so
salacious?
“So,” Nico began, careful not to look below Jason’s waist. “You been around
many other omegas?”
Jason shrugged and crossed his legs. “Kind of. I just guess I’m getting to that
age where I’m pretty desperate for a mate. I really just want kids so that I
can have something to protect, it would be so much better than being king one
day. I pity you for having to become king so young, your parents aren’t even
that old.”
“They’re just old souls, I guess. They like doing things traditionally, and in
past generations of my family, it’s been the sixteen-year-old omegas who take
up the throne. It totally sucks.” Nico relaxed his back and hung his head,
fingers gripping the edge of his mattress.
“I hope I can maybe get betrothed to you, but I won’t really mind either way.
Maybe there’s not just any fish in the sea out there that are made for me, you
know?”
Is this a weak attempt at manipulating me?  “Someone is. But I wouldn’t mind
getting betrothed to you either, you seem like you’d be a decent mate.”  No,
Nico!  The prince scolded himself.  That’s just your dumb lust talking! Ignore
it!
Jason reached to scratch the nape of his neck and smirked. “Really?” His eyes
were going darker with each light exhale, “Thanks.”
“No problem.” Nico involuntarily shuffled closer to him, sitting up properly.
“Would definitely like to at least get to know you better, regardless.” Through
thick eyelashes, he stared up at Jason, whose expression could only be
described as exhibiting strong concupiscence. He tilted his head back ever so
slightly, inching his lips closer to Jason’s.  Don’t do this, Nico! You need to
wait until the winner is announced at the end of the trials.
Just as their lips almost met, the door was swung open by the guard outside. He
was clearly unimpressed, forcing Jason to leave before Nico could even say a
goodbye. “Nico di Angelo of Brenia!” The guard’s eyes narrowed. “Do I have to
stand in here to make sure that you don’t try anything with this last suitor!
You know the rules, and you can’t afford getting claimed before the betrothal.”
“It wasn’t my fault!” Nico raised his eyebrows and put a hand on his chest. “I
will be good, I promise!” The guard furrowed his brow and let the final suitor
in the room before slamming the door.
“Did you already try to fuck Jason?” Perseus asked, obviating his amusement.
“Man, I knew that would happen. He’s a guy who knows how to get what he wants.”
Nico went red. “Maybe. I’m kind of just overwhelmed by all of these alphas.”
“Sending you into heat, hmm?” Perseus cocked a brow and sat next to Nico. “Mind
if I sit here?”
“Not at all. To the latter, of course.” Nico sat cross-legged on the edge of
his bed, all of his focus was being directed at Perseus.
“So you’re admitting you just started your heat, then?”
Nico thinned his lips. “You’re already a pain in the arse.”
“I only will be if I win this competition thing.” Chuckled Perseus, clutching
his hand to his stomach as he laughed at his own lewd joke. “I should probably
chill. I’m Prince Perseus of basically the entire ocean, but you can call me
Percy.”
“Percy who?”
“Percy Jackson.”
Nico smiled, eyes crinkling at the corners. “Sounds like a name you’d find in a
book. Someone should just make up a character and use that name, it honestly
doesn’t sound real.”
“I get that a lot.” Percy leaned back. “So how’s life, kid?”
This guy is a little too casual, especially for a prince. He’s probably just
trying to hide his rut that he knows I can sense.  “It’s alright. In a week
it’s gonna be over though. No offence to you if you get to be my mate, though.”
“None taken.”
Percy and Nico sat awkwardly, not really establishing any sort of bond. The
pair were too busy attempting to hide their exaggerated perfume of pheromones
from each other. Nico stood up and stretched, yawning. Percy copied the yawn
and laid down.
“Just going to admit that you’re cute and definitely would love to be your
mate.”
“You’re just saying that ‘cause you wanna get in my pants.” Nico sighed,
glancing at the growing knot that was visible in Percy’s trousers. “And I know
you can smell my subtle want to do so with you, but I would much prefer Jason.”
“Hey!” Percy laughed, mocking offence. “Just because I’m not super blonde and
stoic like he is.”
“You’re hot but only kind of my type, Perseus. Our kids would turn out to be
clones of you if we bred, and having too attractive children is a curse.”
Percy rolled his eyes and turned on his side, facing Nico. “You have a point.”
He shuffled around, pulling his tunic down at the front. “Your room is tiny, I
hope you know that.”
“Thanks?” Nico looked around. “Hate to be rude, you should probably either
leave or get off of my bed so that you don’t get thrown out. I could do with
not getting my arse kicked just now.”
The sea prince stood and yawned. “Seeya tomorrow, your highness.” He walked out
of the room, the alpha pheromones decreasing.  Thank fuck he didn’t stay any
longer. Rutted, overbearing and hot - so not a combination.
Nico looked out of the door at the guard and told him that he was feeling
alright, and to wake him in the morning. The guard smiled and wished him a good
night.
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