Page 58
“He sent all of those?”
“Those are merely the ones you can see,” Samir added from his chair.
I chuckled. “Is it to make sure I don’t change my mind midway?”
Samir laughed, but Matthias didn’t.
“They are here for your protection.”
My smile faded. “From what?”
“Anyone who might attempt to interfere with your journey.”
“Why would anyone do that?”
Cedric looked up from his pad. “You are an unmated Omega travelling between kingdoms, Elowen.”
I waited for the rest of the explanation, but none came.
“Right,” I said, looking back through the window at the ship keeping pace beside us.
It suddenly felt considerably less excessive. Maybe they should’ve sent more, actually.
I returned to the book and decided I’d ask my new mates for help with the protocol stuff. There was no way I could memorise all of it in a month, let alone a few hours.
Eventually, I reached a section on appropriate emotional conduct and discovered that High Mountain had rules for feelings too.
Men, particularly Alphas, were expected to maintain strict emotional composure in public. Anger, authority, and displays of dominance were acceptable when circumstances required them, but fear, distress, excessive excitement, or open affection were considered serious failures of self-command and, according to the book, interpreted as weakness.
Women and Omega men, by contrast, were given considerably more freedom. Crying, laughing, embracing, kissing and openly seeking comfort were all perfectly acceptable.
I frowned at the page.
So I could sob into someone’s chest without judgement, but if one of my Alphas looked excited, scared or became too openly affectionate in public, it could damage his reputation.
No wonder they looked so intimidating in their images.
Well, except for Leon, but even he hadn’t smiled.
“This book is making things worse.”
Samir came over and sat in the chair across from mine. “In what way?”
“I knew I didn’t know what I was doing before, but now I know exactly how many different ways I can do it wrong.”
He laughed.
“There is no need for such concern,” Cedric said. “No one expects you to remember every custom immediately.”
I looked down at the book on my lap.
“I hope so.”
A sharp tone sounded throughout the lounge.
“What—”
“Remain where you are.”
