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“Never heard that word, son?”

“Only from you and a few dead drones.”

She smiled as if she’d accomplished something. “And how are you doing there? I don’t see much improvement for the humans either.”

“It is tricky,” he said.

“Peace usually is son. But Nothonal was correct, if you don’t give the human leadership some rights, you are going to be left with a new rebellion. You can still kill them, I suppose.”

He shook his head. Alpha society, especially the betas, loved the drone class. Their presence kept the breed from harming each other, creating a better work environment. Having a race to foist all the dirty work on was a uniting cause he didn’t want to let go of. Who would do the shit work if not drones? Since breed pheromones turned them into sheep, it benefited breed to use them like sheep. Betas already complained enough about their lot in life.

“If you leave the root of your enemy, it will sprout weeds.” Annalise fingered the ribbon of the present in her lap thoughtfully.

His mother could be ruthless. It had been her idea when they invaded the 12 Sectors to kill all the humans as quickly as possible. Maybe she’d been right about that too, but there had been many voices against hers.

“I will get you what you wanted. Did you send me the requisitions?”

“A week ago.” She smiled.

“I’m sorry.” His shoulders fell. He really was.

“You are busy.” Her words were gentle with understanding.

“Yes. And my wife-mate says I should delegate more, but to who? That is the question.”

“I’m sure you will figure it out son.” She leaned forward as if to stand.

Kane was out of his own chair and there in a moment. There was something in the movement that made him think she was in pain, but he didn’t smell anything.

“Mother.” He took her arm to help her.

“I’m not an invalid.”

“How long have you been sick?”

She hissed out a breath.

He pulled the chair away so that she wouldn’t stumble over one of the legs in the small office, watching her face, feeling how her body moved. Whatever he’d thought was there had evaporated.

“I’m not sick, son. I’m just tired. Very tired.”

“Are you not sleeping?”

“Sleep is not the issue.” She patted his arm.

“Is it that I chased Meridon away? That I held him accountable?” He hated hurting his mother.

“Am I so shallow of an omega?” she chuckled. “Sparing his life was the most I could ask of you. I know that. He needs to find his own destiny, his own place. He couldn’t be what he aspired to be, and maybe, just maybe, that was fate, stepping in to make him better. I have to have hope.”

“Fate?”

“Some things we can’t escape. Fate. Time. Ourselves. Even the great Constantine Kane had to face his destiny, now he is surrounded by omegas.” She held up the gift in her hands.

“Three daughters. Who would have thought?” He let his smile show.

“Take me to see my grandbabies.”

Kane put his arm around his mother to usher her out of the room. She was tiny next to him. The force of her will, the power of her presence was often so compelling he forgot. She was omega, but she also breed.