CHAPTER 321: FROM THE SHADOWS, WE COME ALIVE

[KAWAI]

"Are you sure about this, Kosta?" Tamiko asked when morning came and Kosta had suggested what seemed to be the most incredulous thing the young prince had ever heard.

It was a reality that was so fucked up in one too many ways; one that screamed danger not for the Kawai Lycans but for the omega in the room. It was like Kosta was asking the impossible of him.

Of course, Kosta knew Tamiko loved him, and maybe that was what had encouraged this absurdity. However, he also knew that Tamiko would do anything for him. This right here was a hard ask for the both of them and yet Kosta had been insistent.

There were so many risks involved and they were bound to get losses. Hell, Tamiko wasn’t ready to lose his omega the same way that his father had lost his mother. At the same time, Tamiko was sure the omega could protect himself.

Kosta had managed to make enemies of the entire realm, so he would always be the most wanted man, or make it on that unwanted list either way. All that Tamiko had to do was trust that his Erasthai could take care of himself.

"I am sure, my soul. It comes from a strategic point of view. If we go on with the coronation ceremony, we will be giving them a chance to attack us where it hurts the most. Because after the coronation, you and I won’t just be Erasthais anymore.

"You will be the crown prince and I will be the royal omega with duties. The omega who will be protected even when I walk the palace and the kingdom. That will make it harder for you and me to go to war and finalize what is left.

"I don’t mind being your omega for the rest of my life, and I don’t mind popping babies for you whenever. But I can’t, in good mind, let you do this," Kosta said as he looked at the young prince who was watching him intently.

He could always see the alarms blaring in Tamiko’s mind and he wouldn’t be surprised that Tamiko said no to him.

Tamiko had almost lost him once and with Kosta’s new suggestion, it seemed like the Lycan Chief was trying to make it out there in the hands of newer captors. That was not something that Tamiko was willing to go through once again.

He just wasn’t ready for the hurt that losing Kosta came with. He couldn’t handle another moment without Kosta or even think that Kosta was out there getting hurt and shit.

He didn’t want that for his omega, and it would be understandable that his stance on this never changed. He was just a man protecting his Erasthai from the chaos out there.

"You are asking the impossible of me, Kosta. I trust you, you already know that. I would do anything for you. But slowing down the one thing that could cement your position and make sure that no one hurts you is just crazy.

"You want me to let their security be lax because of my desire for revenge and it just doesn’t sit well with me. I love you. I want to protect you, princess. I cannot live in a world that doesn’t have you in it.

"I don’t know how to be without you. I will lose my mind and maybe I’m being selfish, but it is just something that I can’t let you do. We have to go forward with the ceremony, so you can be safe.

"So, you don’t have to lift a finger and fight anymore. You are my omega; I am to protect you. It is my duty and I want to do it. I love doing it. I want to keep you safe for as long as you and I live. You... you’re my princess, Kosta.

"Mine," Tamiko said, adding the last bit softly as he looked into the eyes of his Erasthai.

The previous evening had been ceremonious in one too many ways. They were happier and they had gone to bed late in the night, while the others had stayed to live out the rest of the festival. It had been a beautiful night and they had been happy.

However, right now, this was a question of Tamiko’s’ Erasthai and his safety. It was that Tamiko could not compromise and he saw that Kosta didn’t want to ambush him at the high table.

It was a good strategy and Tamiko was thankful for that. After all, the last time that Tamiko had been ambushed at the high table, lots of things had gone to shit and they were still coming to terms with the madness that had ensued back there.

This right here was what hope looked like and Tamiko was all for it. Even then, he was still against exposing his Erasthai to more violence.

"Oh, krushka...I made a promise to you, the first time I saw you. I knew there and then that I would do whatever it took to make the Grealors pay for what they did to you. I intend to keep that promise, krushka.

’And a coronation is something that will stand between that vengeance and what we need to do. Besides, I don’t want you to always have to worry about me and our pups in the future, dusha.

"Let’s fight them and win and then we can come home to our families. We will be happier and won’t have to deal with any more chaos. Because no one in their right mind will even try to come after Kawai once we are done with them.

’It will be the greatest lesson and they will have to understand it the hard and right way, no matter what the stakes will be. Please, don’t make me break my promise. I will be right there beside you on the battlefield.

"I will fight where you fight, so you won’t have to worry about me...I mean; so you won’t have to keep looking for me out there," Kosta said.

Tamiko sighed.

His Erasthai was adamant.

Tamiko knew that this wasn’t the hardest thing he had had to do, but damn was it a tough call for him. His Erasthai wanted to fight; and if Tamiko was being honest, if Kosta had not been an omega so special, he would have let him fight.

He would have loved to watch as his Erasthai tore through the multitude of wolves and enemies out there.

But then Kosta was an omega. One that could easily be manipulated on the battlefield and that could be the perfect distraction for Tamiko.

The young prince was sure he would be too focused on Kosta out there because they were mated and marked and they had just spent their first rut together. They are connected to each other in ways that no regular mating bond would ever do justice.

It was understandable that the young prince was skeptical. But then what other choice was there for them?

"But your scent... Do you have to mask it?" Tamiko asked sheepishly and Kosta chuckled.

"Are you sure you don’t know

the answer to that?" Kosta teased.

"Nope," Tamiko said, closing the distance between them. He knew that this was the hardest of requests and that he would have to grant it. But at the same time, he wanted to smell his Erasthai as many times as possible.

That caramel scent was his greatest addiction and Tamiko was a goner for it.

He always wanted Kosta.

He always wanted to be around his Erasthai.

He was addicted to Igor Konstantin and he didn’t even have any objections at this point. It was like this was what their fates demanded and he wasn’t going to try and fight it. Well, he was crazed for the Lycan chief either way.

"Oh, really? You sure you won’t be trying to murder everyone who gets to bump into me and have my scent on them on the battlefield? If you are fine with that, who am I to mask my scent?

"I mean... it wouldn’t be so bad having so many people smelling like me, right?" Kosta teased and Tamiko growled possessively as he pulled Kosta towards him, and sniffed Kosta’s scent gland since he needed to have it engraved in him.

This was a normal reaction and Kosta wasn’t even worried about him, but at the same time, he was trying to be the rational one since Tamiko seemed to let all his senses go whenever he was around Kosta.

If the omega went to the battlefield without masking his scent, there was a very high chance that none of the Kawai warriors who would be going to war with them would come back home, because Tamiko would have killed them all.

It was the craziest of things that Kosta knew would be real and he just wanted to do it all.

"This scent, is mine. Just mine. If I smell it on anyone else, I will kill them without even asking questions," Tamiko growled possessively and Kosta just hugged him rightly, in reassurance.

They were bonded for eternity and there wasn’t a thing that was strong enough to separate them.

Insane or not, they were each other’s problems at this point and solutions. So, the sooner they googled this out the sooner it would be for them to come home and make their little family.

"Of course, Krushka. I am yours. I will always be yours. Always, unless you want to share me?" Kosta said, knowing so well what this would breed. He was pushing Tamiko’s buttons and it was just a matter of time before he was in trouble.

"Never. You’re mine," Tamiko growled again, head resting on Kosta’s neck, while his hands found their way into the band of Kosta’s sweatpants.

"Then remind me who I belong to, Kaito."