Hyacinth, Scarlet - Craving Owen [Tides of Love 2] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever ManLove) by Scarlet Hyacinth Page A

with the flood, the lack of fuel had become a severe problem. They’d tried to temper the consumption of the engines, but it was only a matter of time until the engines died altogether.
    This was why the alliance with the dryads meant so much. The dryads managed to tap into the wellspring of energy of the earth and healed a small part of the plague lands. They could provide fuel for The Golden Thrones. But the price they had to pay seemed too steep, and not only for Alcharr, Yane, and Valderr. A battle with wyrms would undoubtedly bring about losses in their ranks.
    With all these concerns rotating in his mind, Alcharr landed on the wide palace terrace. His entire being just wanted to retreat back from where he’d come, but from this battle, he could not retreat. He’d managed to evade his father for a few days, but Amadeus would require his presence now.
    Just as he thought this, he noticed Valderr’s slender figure appear from the doorway ahead. Alcharr met his sibling halfway and hugged him tight. “How have you been, little brother?” he asked.
    “It’s horrible.” Valderr buried his face in Alcharr’s chest, sniffing. “Father means to push up the wedding. Connor won’t even be here by then. And gods, brother, I don’t want to get married.”
    Alcharr felt guilty for all the times he’d unwillingly blamed his brother for his separation from Yane. “There’s more,” Valderr whispered, “but I can’t tell you here. It’s not safe.”
    As if to confirm Valderr’s words, their father emerged from the halls beyond. He smiled at Alcharr, but his eyes were cold chips of ice. “Hello, son. Welcome back.”
    Alcharr broke away from his sibling and bowed in front of his father. “Greetings, My King. It’s always nice to be home.”
    Amadeus ushered him inside, with Valderr following silently behind them. “So tell me, son, any news as to who kidnapped your brother?”
    Alcharr shook his head. He trusted Sassaki with regard to the wyrms’ lack of involvement in it, but he couldn’t exactly tell his father that. “There is no news,” he answered.
    For a few moments, Amadeus didn’t speak. Alcharr expected his father to have an outburst of anger on Valderr’s behalf, but it didn’t happen. Instead, he hummed thoughtfully. “I can’t say I’m surprised. They covered their tracks well.”
    It wasn’t a reproach directed at Alcharr, but still it bothered him. He didn’t have the time to say anything though, as his father continued, “At any rate, we’re focusing on the wedding now. It’s in a couple of days, so there is a lot to do.”
    Alcharr gaped in disbelief. A couple of days? Sure, his brother had suggested something similar in their brief exchange, but that was pushing it, especially after the ordeal Valderr had gone through.
    “Father, with all due respect, shouldn’t we take our time with this ceremony? It’s a very important event.”
    Amadeus froze and turned to stare at him. “Are you questioning me, boy?”
    The hostility took Alcharr by surprise. Their father had never been particularly kind, but neither had he hurt them in any way. The way Amadeus spoke now almost suggested an underlying threat. “I’m merely pointing out my opinion, Father,” he answered.
    “Did your little brother come crying to you?” he asked mockingly, throwing a glare over Alcharr’s shoulder. “Don’t bother. I don’t want your opinion, boy. Just close your mouth and do what I say.”
    Without further ado, the king turned and started to walk again. Alcharr tasted bitter humiliation in his mouth as he started to follow. His father never treated him and Valderr like this, not even when the marriage had first been established. For crying out loud, they were still in the hallway and all the servants could hear the unpleasant conversation.
    By some miracle, his father suddenly turned and said, “Just go. I don’t want to see your faces.”
    Even if being pushed away like this hurt, Alcharr was