Take The Heart I Never Wanted to Give

17

"John, I do believe that it would be in your best interest to send out a search party."  Naomi said nonchalantly, her gaze focused on her sharp, red colored nails. "We've been waiting much too long."

Charlie, standing as close as she could near the two monarchs, stiffened instantly at the mention of sending out the guards. It hadn't even been close to an hour and a half yet the boys still had a whole half hour before she would be forced to send the guard. She debated speaking up and arguing against Naomi's statement but before she could, John let out a frustrated sigh and shook his head, a hand roughly massaging his temple.

"No. I will wait a while longer." John said.

The impassive expression on Naomi's face didn't change, but her grip on her chair's arm rest tightened significantly, clearly showing her frustration with this decision. "John I—"

John held up a hand to silence her, his gaze still fixed on the vast forest in front of them. "If none of them come back in the next 20 minutes, then I will send out a search party. For now, we will wait."

Naomi stared at John for a long time before giving him a stiff nod and turning her icy gaze back to the forest. "Very well."

Charlie gave a quiet sigh of relief, her posture relaxing ever so slightly. It wasn't the half hour they needed, but it was something. Hopefully they didn't need the whole half hour.

"But John," Naomi said, her tone holding an almost unnoticeable sharp edge, "what are we to do if the guards find your son and he is not claimed by one of my sons?"

Charlie sucked in a sharp breath. She hadn't thought of that. What if they didn't reach Dean time? What if Cas hasn't found him yet? What would they do?

John's eyes furrowed together, a look of contemplation on his face. He leaned forward, clasping his hands neatly in his lap, "I suppose we'll go by the old traditional customs. He'll be mated off to your oldest alpha son."

It took everything in Charlie's power not to scream 'no' in that moment. She bit her lip roughly and forced herself to continue listening to the two's plan.

Naomi's eyebrow lifted in question, "Is that a suggestion or a promise?"

"A promise." John answered. "You have my word."

A small smile appeared on Naomi's lips, the action sending an unsettling feeling down Charlie's spine.

"Splendid." She said with a satisfied grin. She rose from her seat, brushing down the ruffles on her dress. "I will return shortly. I must...freshen up." John waved a hand at her dismissively, his eyes still trained firmly on the forest. The crowd of people behind them began to shrink, their interest in the fox hunt dissipating as the time went on. Charlie spared a look at John, making sure his attention was focused elsewhere before slipping away to follow after Naomi. She was more concerned about Naomi than she was about John, the red haired queen rubbed her the wrong way in more ways than one and she didn't trust her around the castle.

Charlie crouched low as she followed after Naomi, hidden by the gaggle of citizens that still remained. Naomi entered into the castle, casting a brief glance behind her before entering. Charlie waited momentarily before entering in after her. She watched from behind a wide statue as Naomi sauntered down the vast hallway. She looked again behind her before pushing open a door to one of the many common rooms. When the door closed, Charlie quickly and quietly made her way down the hallway before stopping in front of the door she had entered through. Thankfully the door hadn't closed all the way and she could peak in just a hair. She could see Naomi and two of the castle guards--one tall with buzz cut brown hair and the other a tad shorter with long black hair, her lips twisted in a sharp grin.

"All I'm asking of you is to go out there now and bring the omega prince here. I want him found alone, if he's with my eldest escort them out, if he's found with other two...knock them and the omega unconscious and take him with you."

Charlie barely muffled a gasp behind her hand. Naomi was trying to rig the competition in Michael's favor. It made sense, Michael appeared to be the only one out of all her alpha sons that even remotely obeyed her. Lucifer was too much of a wild card and Castiel refused to obey her at all. She could manipulate Michael to pretty much do whatever she asked and indirectly that meant Dean too since Michael would be his alpha.

"What exactly do we get out of all this?" The tall guard asked, skepticism lacing his tone.

"You two will earn a place at the top of my royal guard when I take this kingdom over."

"Oh...shit." Charlie whispered. This was much worse. So much worse. She wasn't just planning to rig the competition in her favor, she was planning to over throw the whole kingdom.

"Wait what!" The long haired guard exclaimed. "You said nothing about taking over the whole kingdom!"

Charlie heard Naomi scoff, "Oh please. If all I wanted was future heir for my sons to continue the line of Novak then I would have them fuck their servants and get them pregnant. I don't need a royal omega for that. No, I've wanted this kingdom for quite some time, it holds quite some power in the Emperor's Council, but I've never been able to take it due to the fact that I'm already running one kingdom. If I have my eldest son mate the Winchester omega then I can have him rule it under my careful watch."

"You're insane!" The long haired shouted, "I will not help you in dethroning my king!"

"You won't have to. I already have quite a few of my guards showing up tomorrow to do that. You two will just be the first domino. Imagine," she moved out of Charlie line of view, probably to stand behind the two guards, "any omega you could ever want in this whole castle. Even the kingdom. You'll be living rich with some of the most powerful monarchs in the world. All you have to do is bring the omega prince here, alone."

Both guards stayed silent momentarily before finally speaking, "Alright." They both said in unison. "We'll do it."

"No, no, no." Charlie said frantically.

"Good." Naomi said, "Get what you need and go through the right side entrance to the forest. The earlier you go the more likely you'll find him."

"Shit." Charlie hissed. She quickly scrambled away from the door and dived behind another large statue. With seconds to spare, the two guards exited the room and headed further down the hallway. Naomi came out moments later, the smell of satisfaction radiating off of her as she walked in the opposite direction back towards the forest. Charlie exhaled sharply, sliding down the statue. This situation had just gone from bad to worse. She couldn't tell John about what she heard, not with Naomi constantly by his side and he wouldn't believe her anyway. She needed to find Kevin. They had to figure out a plan and they needed to figure it out fast.