Ma'at swung around, his eyes wide. "Uncle!"
"I've been hearing tales. I should have known they'd be spewing from the mouth of an Alpha." His dark gaze settled on Isfet Khaba Joktar.
Isfet glowered. "All of it true."
He ignored the Alpha's words as he walked up and placed a hand on his nephew's shoulder. "Filling my nephews head and heart with blasphemy. The son of my dear wife's late brother. I would never harm a hair upon his head."
From the building, many of the kingdom's subjects exited. They glanced first at Ma'at and his uncle and then turned to glare upon Isfet.
Ma'at pulled his arm from under the touch of a man whom he knew to be capable of great atrocities even if he'd never seen it himself.
One of the subjects asked, "Regent," which they called Ma'at's uncle, "what is going on?"
"An Alpha is trying to manipulate the prince."
Prince Ma'at's brows furrowed and with a frown his voice deepened. "He is not. Why should he lie about what happens to Alpha's and Omega's who find themselves in our Kingdom? Who denies that they're castrated or killed."
He looked at the gathered crowd. Waiting for any one of them to deny the accusation.
"Regent, this Alpha speaks the truth. How would that in any way manipulate the prince?"
Ma'at jumped up onto a flat boulder and spoke before his uncle could formulate a response. "If it is true that I'm old enough to take the crown, then is there any here who would object?"
Some of the subjects blinked. "We thought you wanted to wait."
Ma'at stared down at his uncle who had a noticeable frown and glaring glint in his gaze. "The Regent told me that by law I could not take the throne until my twenty-first year."
Some of the subjects turned to frown at the Regent. While still others glared at the young prince – true heir and rightful king of their people.
One of the Regent's loyalists pointed to Ma'at who stood in front of Isfet. "Does no one see how he protects an Alpha?"
Ma'at's uncle the current Regent nodded. "I have taken note. This is why I hoped Ma'at would wait as he is still too naive to realize what monsters Alpha's and their Omega's are."
"What should we do?" Cried the crowd.
Ma'at shot a glance over his shoulder, silently beseeching Isfet Kahaba Joktar for help.
Isfet shook his head.
Neither knew what to do in this situation.
"The Alpha is trying to corrupt your future king."
"Capture him!" Some cried out.
"Kill him!" Others yelled.
Ma'at's heart picked up a furious pace as the crowd grabbed anything nearby.
"Move Prince Ma'at! We must destroy the serpent."
He did not budge. "No. What do you all think you're doing!? He is still a human being!" Inwardly he shook. He could not allow them to see his weakness and stood as still as he could. If they wanted to kill an Alpha, what would they do if they knew him to be an Omega?
The Regent quirked a brow. "Perhaps it is already too late for Prince Ma'at. The Alpha may already have tainted him with his poison not only in word."
Some of the subjects fell to their knees and wept. Still, others stood with their weapons at the ready.
A few spoke out.
"Then he must be caught and tried."
"Only in death can his soul be saved."
Ma'at gulped. Noticed the quirk at one corner of his uncle's mouth.
He glared at them. What had come over them. Why were they acting like this!?
"You're wrong. He has not done anything to me. You've all been listening to nonsense this entire time. I am ashamed of you."
One of his subjects shook their head. She who stood behind the Regent. His aunt, sister of his dear late mother.
She held up a set of keys and pointed to the east. Where stood fifteen men, five women, two children, and one baby asleep in their mothers' arms.
Alpha's he realized. And perhaps a couple of Omega's.
"I am going on a pilgrimage." He had to think of something to distract them all with and so that he could get himself and Isfet Khaba Joktar out of their current predicament.
The Regent frowned. "I did not hear of this."
He shrugged. "It doesn't matter. This is my life. Isfet will be going with me. I do need a slave after all. Someone who will listen to whatever I say." He had to put on a farce.
The subjects of His kingdom lowered their weapons.
"He's not been corrupted."
"Yeah. Just seemed that way, because he was talking to the Alpha."
Ma'at quirked a brow at his uncle. He could not possibly harm him in front of all the people when they thought him to still be their perfect prince. Yet now he knew he wasn't. But if that were their idea of perfection he was relieved he wasn't.
"We leave now. Before the Regent and all of you make a fatal mistake." With that, he jumped down and turned to Isfet.
Isfet's gaze narrowed upon him, anger sparking in their depths.
Ma'at whispered, "Don't speak. Not in front of everyone." Then tossing his head back he commanded. "Isfet Khaba Joktar, ready our mounts and we'll be off to the west." He didn't want his uncle realizing they were going east. He wouldn't put it past him to hire an assassin, or a band thereof.
The Regent shook his head. "Prince Ma'at, it is dangerous for only the two of you to go alone. You should not be alone with a creature so dangerous."
"I will be fine. I am stronger than you think. I am Ma'at Yarğanat Batlar. Prince of the Kingdom. Like a dragon, I am regal and unbeatable." He had to say that so that the people wouldn't go along with whatever his uncle was trying to do.
Not wanting to take his eyes off of everyone he backed away toward the area where the mounts could be found. Where Isfet prepared their mounts.
"Take them all, Isfet. Set them all loose. We do not need anyone following us." And there would be others who needed them.
The Joker smashed his hand into the wall of his cell as he woke up. "Why the hell am I remembering that!"
One of the orderlies yelled at him. "Cut that out or we'll shoot you with another dart."
Green eyes landed on the man. "Oh really? Do you have a death-wish then?"
The beta male took a step back.
Of course. He grinned, showing so many teeth. He was the monster that they had made him and he would never let them off the hook. Never.
A/N: Thank you for reading. Please leave a review as they help breath life into my muse. I like hearing what others think thus far. I also like pointers too, or learning of any errors that I and grammarly missed.
