Chapter Text
Arthur practically sprints to his chambers, taking two stairs at a time. Thankfully, the halls are nearly void of life at this hour. The few servants and guards they do pass either bow their heads, hiding their smiles, or scamper away from the prince’s glare. Arthur is pretty certain they can’t see Merlin"s face due to their position and the two fabrics wrapped around him, so he doesn’t bother to stop.
Arthur slams his door open and shoves it shut before sliding the lock into place. He should be exhausted after riding through the majority of the night and carrying Merlin across half the castle. The omega’s wriggling certainly didn’t make such a task any easier either. But Arthur’s alpha instincts are raging inside his chest, unable to resist the maddening scent radiating from his manservant.
He pushes Merlin’s back against the door to distribute his weight allowing Arthur to rip away the cumbersome fabrics. A wave of warmth and mouth watering omegan heat wash over the prince as the blanket and cape drop to the floor.
Merlin whines canting his hips forward, his hands scrabbling at the back of Arthur’s neck.
“God, you"re beautiful.” Arthur rumbles as he looks over his manservant. Merlin’s face is flushed, his eyes lidded with blown pupils, his chest hitching with needy labored breaths.
Merlin’s face somehow heats up even more at Arthur’s words. The heat growing inside Merlin still isn’t painful, perhaps it"s because his inner omega knows he is going to be well taken care of. Instead of pain he’s thrumming with unadulterated want, his magic restlessly stirring under his skin. He is achingly hard in his trousers and he’s sure his slick has soaked through the fabric. Arthur looks divinely disheveled as his eyes roave over the servant’s face. Merlin thrusts his hips, tightening his legs around the prince’s waist to draw him closer but his damn armor is still in the way.
Arthur noses the underside of Merlin"s jaw as he slides his servant’s jacket off. Merlin manages to kick off his own boots, they thud to the ground behind the prince. “Fucking hell Merlin, you smell heavenly.” Arthur licks over one of the marks he had left on Merlin’s neck early as he unknots his neckerchief.
The fabric flutters to the ground listlessly, completely unaware of how it has just forever changed the prince’s life. The uninhibited scent that fills Arthur is so staggeringly euphoric the prince’s knees nearly give out. Any restraint the alpha has left flies out the window. He shoves his nose into the crook of his omega’s neck, snuffling the utterly intoxicating perfume akin to honeyed caramel and Merlin’s natural smokey forest-fire redolence. The prince laps his tongue against the gland, earning him a filthy moan from Merlin, his hands curling into Arthur’s hair.
As much as Merlin is reveling in the attention, he is growing more annoyed by the second at Arthur’s armor. He tugs at the prince’s hair to get his attention but the prat refuses to leave his neck.
Merlin gives an annoyed growl, finally drawing Arthur’s attention.
The prince’s hair is tousled, his eyes glazed yet sharp and dangerous. He eyes Merlin concernedly, worrying he has done something to upset the omega. He’s never slept with an omega let alone shared a heat, maybe it’s more different than he was expecting.
Merlin pouts, whining petulantly as he runs his blunt nails over Arthur’s chainmail to get his point across. “Off,” he growls out though it sounds more like a groan.
Relief and amusement flicker across Arthur’s face. He slides his arms under Merlin’s thighs and grabs his arse in a plan to move him to the bed so they can both undress. However the prince’s mind sputters to a stop when his hands feel the slick-soaked fabric.
“Fuck.” Arthur grunts, his hips grinding forward on their own accord.
“If you don’t get out of your damn armor in the next minute I will lead an insurrection.”
Arthur snorts, leave it to Merlin to be a bossy omega. Using his moment of clarity Arthur hauls Merlin up, doing his best to ignore the slick smearing onto his hands. Merlin’s eyes flash gold as they shamble past the hearth, it jumps to life with eager flames.
The prince steps out of his boots before setting Merlin down on the bed.
Desperate to get out of his clothes, Arthur starts yanking his armor off, not allowing a chance for Merlin to help.
The omega sits there dazed for a moment, yet highly amused as Arthur fervently fights his chainmail. Merlin smothers his laugh and starts undressing as well, uncaring where his clothes end up.
Arthur is close to growling at the damn armor for impeding his ability to get to the wanton omega on his bed, but he is finally able to untangle himself from the tiny villainous rings of metal.
The prince shakes his hair out after being so mussed in his battle, only for the air to be knocked out of his lungs.
Merlin is fully nude on his bed, bent over, presenting.
His chest and shoulders pressed into the silken red blankets covering the mattress, pale thighs spread comfortably, pert arse propped up into the air, the smell of his slick heavy in the air in a devilish invitation. The omega’s eyes are pleading as he looks back over his shoulder yet there’s something so inexplicably, vexatiously, Merlin about his gaze.
He is submitting to Arthur, a silent plea to be filled and bred.
Arthur doesn’t bother taking off his gambeson or trousers, needing to get his hands on the divine being in front of him. A possessive almost feral snarl rips out of him as he pounces on Merlin.
Arthur grips his slim hips and flips the servant over onto his back, the omega lets out a startled yelp that only fuels the prince’s primal instincts. Merlin’s eyes are wide in surprise, having expected Arthur to just take him then and there as he presented. The prince’s possessive growls don’t stop as he brings his mouth down onto Merlin’s.
The omega keens as Arthur’s tongue slides past his lips, Merlin’s hands tangle into the alpha’s hair, he wraps his ankles around the back of Arthur’s thighs, pulling their bodies flush. The kiss is heated and ravenous as Arthur all but devours Merlin’s mouth. The servant’s hips hitch upwards, he sputters a moan into Arthur’s lips as their groins grind together, one bare one still irritatingly covered.
The prince’s demanding mouth and hedonistic scent have Merlin’s mind growing cloudy with rapacious desire, the heat in his abdomen swelling to a blaze. Merlin’s fumbles through the blissful haze, his fingers blindly pulling at the laces of Arthur’s trousers.
Merlin whines, his breaths quickening as the want starts to become overwhelming. “Please,”
The words reverberates through Arthur’s entire body. It’s as if he’s possessed and can’t help but relent to the request. Every part of him yearning for nothing more than to please his omega.
Arthur shucks off the rest of his clothes in a flurry of movements, Merlin gives another one of those low lascivious purrs that goes straight to Arthur’s stiff cock. Which happens to be exactly where Merlin is looking when the prince looks back to him. The alpha preens, happy to be deemed satisfactory by his omega.
Merlin tugs him back down, running slender hands down Arthur’s toned chest. The prince can’t help but puff out with pride at Merlin’s blatant admiration of his body, especially as Arthur knows the fool is stubbornly difficult to impress.
As much as Arthur just wants to rut senselessly into the omega, the omega is Merlin, he can’t mess this up. He wants to be the perfect alpha, wants to show Merlin he would be a worthy mate. But that is getting harder with each of Merlin’s needy mewls as he writhes underneath him, thrusting his hips up so their cocks rub together, his hands greedily grip at Arthur’s muscles.
Merlin tosses his head back, lightning shooting down his spine as his leaking prick slides against Arthur’s. “Mmph please Arthur.” The omega’s voice is sensually breathy.
Arthur nips at the fluttering pulse point under Merlin’s jaw, “please what?” the alpha drawls, a hand sneaks between them to softly pinch one of Merlin’s nipples.
“Prat.” Merlin hisses, arching into the touch.
“Please what? What do you want?” Arthur asks again, his voice far more commanding yet still smug and prattish in nature.
Arthur’s challenging gaze and flare of aggression have Merlin’s inner omega eagerly baring its belly, all fiery insolence snuffed by the need to be filled and dominated by this perfect alpha. By Arthur, the other half to his whole.
“Fuck me, please, alpha.”
Another pleased growl tumbles out of Arthur. The prince shifts his weight, one hand threading through Merlin’s hair to pull at his tresses, sending delicious sparks shimmering straight to the omega’s wanting hole. Arthur’s other hand caresses Merlin’s knee before slowly sliding down his inner thigh. The omega’s entire body is wrought with warmth but the heat is magnified as Arthur’s hand slowly makes its way to Merlin’s sodden entrance.
Arthur’s knot throbs when his fingers slide through Merlin’s slick. It’s warm and viscous and deliciously fragrant.
“God you’re so perfect,” Arthur coos, “so wet and ready for my cock, hmm?”
“Please Arthur,” Merlin sobs out, tired of all this waiting.
Arthur presses a finger to the source of the slick before gently pushing in. Merlin gasps, his eyes fluttering from finally being touched where he needs it the most.
Arthur’s own arousal explodes as he leans back to watch his finger disappear into Merlin’s glistening hole. He gives a few perfunctory thrusts of his finger but when he’s met with no resistance he adds another.
“Gods yes,” Merlin groans, his cock dribbling precum onto his stomach.
“God, look at you. Your hole is just begging for more.” Arthur says, genuinely astounded when he still finds no resistance with two fingers.
Merlin plants his feels onto the mattress on either side of the prince before grinding his hips downward onto the callused digits needing more.
“Shit.” The prince groans, watching stunned as his omega so beautifully fucks himself on his fingers, each movment causing obscene squelching sounds. Every puff of air that escapes Merlin is practically a mewl as he loses himself to the burgeoning heat expanding inside his stomach.
Arthur takes a deep breath trying to ground himself, but it only has Merlin’s thick scent further filling his lungs. He pulls his fingers away, earning a distressed whimper from the omega.
“Present.” Arthur rumbles in a low demand.
Goosebumps erupt down Merlin’s body as a chill runs from the base of his skull down to his toes. He scrambles up, Arthur gives scoots back to give him enough room. Merlin bends over again, flush cheek pressed into the bed as he displays his entrance for his alpha, he sways his hips ever so slightly trying to entice the larger man. The omega lets out a startled gasp as three of Arthur’s fingers press into him. Even with all the slick there’s a slight sting, but it"s a pleasant kind of pain.
Finally sensing some resistance Arthur goes as slow as his eagerness allows, after a few moments Merlin starts meeting each thrust with his own hips. The prince, unable to ignore such a divine sight any longer leans forward to lav at the muscle enveloping his fingers.
A beautifully broken moan spills from Merlin as he hitches forward from the unexpected feeling. But he is quick to start canting back into the feeling of Arthur’s hot tongue lapping up his slick. The sensation is enough to push Merlin to the deepest throes of his heat.
A pleased growl that sounds a bit like a whine rips out of the prince as the decadently sweet slick coats his tongue. He maneuvers his fingers in and out of the omega, slick dribbling out with each thrust of his fingers. The prince spreads his three digits making sure Merlin is well prepared, and perhaps so he can ravish him with his tongue a bit more.
It isn’t until Merlin is a babbling mewling mess and tries to reach for his prick from some kind of relief, that Arthur pulls back, slapping Merlin’s hand away.
Merlin is shocked once again when Arthur manhandles him onto his back.
The omega gives a confused and pitifully upset sound, his brow furrows not understanding why his alpha still won’t take him.
“I want to see you.” Arthur brings a hand to gently cup Merlin’s cheek.
Merlin bashfully averts his gaze, as much as he tries to he can’t stop the scent of affection and adoring love from flooding his scent.
The alpha’s sunny delight and deep love cut through the heady scents of their mixed arousal and desire.
Merlin turns back to him, mouth agape at the prince’s soft smile.
A disbelieving laugh bubbles out of Merlin and Arthur is quick to follow, but soon the alpha cuts them off with a soft yet searing kiss. Their tongues dance together in a familiar game of push and pull, Merlin keens at tasting himself on Arthur.
“Please Arthur,” Merlin breathes out between them, “I need you, please.”
“Yeah, alright. I’ve got you, I’ll take care of you.” Arthur breathes back just as reverently. He grabs a pillow and slides it under Merlin’s hips before lining himself up. Merlin squirms restlessly waiting, Arthur can’t help but smile at his omega’s endearingness.
The prince slowly pushes forward, the head of his cock pressing against Merlin’s furled entrance, with all the slick it doesn’t take much effort for him to slip in. They both gasp at the feeling.
Arthur tries to take his time but Merlin’s hands reach around his neck and grip at his shoulder, pulling him closer, encouraging him to slide in more.
Merlin’s face scrunches in pleasure at the halfway mark, his lips are part and his eyelashes flutter at the sensation of being filled for the first time during a heat. It’s the best feeling he’s ever experienced, like something that has been missing his entire life snapping into place. But maybe that’s because it’s Arthur.
The prince leans forward, rating his forehead on Merlin’s shoulder as he sheathes himself to the base. His hands dig into Merlin’s hips as he fights against his primal urge to rut into the boy and stuff him with his knot. Merlin may be in heat but he will not risk hurting his omega.
Merlin’s soft keens start to break into needy whimpers, “please alpha, move, fuck me please alpha!”
Arthur leans back to see his omega’s needy little whines. The prince slowly drags his hips back just until only the head of his prick is still seated, earning a groan from the man below him.
In that moment Arthur vows to himself that he will do whatever it takes for Merlin to be his, he will woo him for years if that’s what it takes.
The alpha snaps his hips forward, pleasure tears through both men at the feeling. No longer able to hold himself back Arthur falls into his alpha instincts. He sets a slow yet deep and thorough pace, prying pleased moans from his omega.
Merlin’s cock bobbles against his stomach each time their thighs meet in thorough thrusts.
“Fuck,” Arthur groans, “So good, feel so fucking good Merlin, God.”
“Yes! Nngh fuck, alpha. So good so full, please, more.”
Arthur doesn’t give in, wanting to take his time with his omega, he doesn’t want it to be over too soon. He takes time to admire how Merlin’s arse clutches him tightly, how the slick squelches between them, how Merlin’s flush tapers off on his chest, the glistening of his kiss swollen lips.
“So fucking pretty, taking my cock like a good little omega.”
The praise has the fire in Merlin flare through his limbs, the hearth grows a bit brighter. “More please alpha, need more. Want your knot please.” Merlin eyes are wide and begging as he pleads for more.
Arthur’s hips sputter forward with a growl, “Fuck, want your alpha’s knot? To be stuffed full by your alpha?” His thrusts start to speed up, Merlin’s dribbling cock bouncing fervently with each movement.
“Yes!” Merlin cries out, his scent somehow pullulating further, dripping with unrestrained want. “Please alpha!”
The prince’s heart stops in his chest as Merlin lolls his head to the side, exposing his mating gland. Arthur’s body keeps moving with the guttural need to satiate his omega even though his mind is thrashing at him to take what is his.
“Merlin,” he grits out, fighting a losing battle against the beast raging inside him, “Don’t, not if you don’t mean it.”
The seriousness of Arthur’s tone has a bit of the fog cleaning in Merlin’s eyes but not enough. The omega whines, shoving his head into the pillow trying to further show off his unmarked skin.
“Merlin.” Arthur doesn’t realize he is using an alpha command until it’s too late, but it’s the only thing he can do to stop himself at the moment. “Look at me.” He says, unwilling to demand anything else of Merlin while he can’t refuse.
Arthur’s thrusts down slightly as Merlin slowly turns to look at him, the shock of Arthur using a true alpha command on him clearing up a majority of the fog.
The omega slides his hands from the back of Arthur’s neck to cup either side of his face, his lashes still fluttering as Arthur’s prick drags in and out of him. The smile on Merlin’s face is soft and so loving Arthur almost wants to look away, but he doesn’t, he can’t. He’s not sure he’ll ever be able to look away from Merlin again.
“My alpha,” Merlin purrs calmly. Another pleased rumble forms in Arthur’s chest. “Always wanted you Arthur. Perf- mmph- perfect alpha; strong, caring, resourceful, prat.” Merlin’s smile grows on the last word. “My alpha,” he repeats steadily.
There’s the faintest smell of fear in Merlin’s scent but it strikes Arthur in the nose so harshly his hips stop, fully seated in the omega. Arthur searches Merlin’s eyes, he can see the clarity along with the worry that he’s said too much, pushed too far. It’s more than enough for Arthur to know he means it.
The prince leans down for a deep kiss filled with adoration. When he opens his eyes Merlin’s gaze is searching his. Arthur places a gentle kiss to Merlin’s lips before breathing out a soft, “I love you.”
Merlin’s smile lights up his entire face, he can’t stop his purring as he speaks, “I love you too.”
Arthur smiles and noses under Merlin’s jaw, placing gentle kisses along his path, “My omega.”
Merlin’s hands move back to Arthur’s hair and his shoulder, “Your omega.”
The words purred from Merlin’s lips have Arthur spurring back into action. He wastes no time, giving a sharp roll of his hips. The motion brushes right against Merlin’s prostate, he tosses his head back with a salacious moan.
“Fuck, nngh ri-right there, mmph- yes, alpha,” He speaks through his purrs.
Arthur’s thrusts quickly become unrelenting, pushing each moan and mewl out of his little omega at a punishing pace. Every sound that spills past Merlin’s lips pushes Arthur closer to his primal instincts until he is merging with them, snapping his hips in sporadic thrusts that have his omega crying out.
With each of his alpha’s thrusts blots of lightning sear of Merlin’s spine as he repetitively hits that wonderful spot inside him. The soft grunts of pleasure and the movement of coiled muscles flexing under his fingers have Merlin rapidly approaching his climax.
“Please alpha! Arthur! Yours,” Merlin tilts his head to the side again needing his alpha.
“Mine.” Arthur snarls, he bites Merlin’s lips before viciously licking into his mouth, “My omega. All mine.” The base of Arthur’s prick starts to swell, his knot catching on each thrust in and out of his omega’s sopping hole.
“Yes! Mark me alpha! PLease Arthur! Al- mmph Always yours.”
Arthur pants into his omega’s mouth until he feels his knot even further. The prince grunts, forcing it into the omega’s entrance once last time.
Merlin gives a shout of pleasure as Arthur’s knot slips in. A feral growl reverberates through Merlin as Arthur bites down on his mating gland in the crook of his neck.
A beautiful keened whimper tumbles out of Merlin as his orgasm shudders through his body, his seed smearing between their bodies.
Merlin’s hole clenches around his knot, his orgasmic scent flooding Arthur’s senses. The alpha’s hot cum spills into Merlin in long drawn out spurts, milked by the omega’s arse. He gives another animalistic growl sinking his teeth even further into his skin.
Merlin goes limp under him, fully submitting to his alpha, reveling in the cum filling his arse, unable to escape with the alpha’s knot tying them together.
Arthur gives a pleased purr, only increasing the volume of Merlin’s own purr. They stay there for a few moments until Arthur finally removes his teeth. Merlin gives a hiss at the feeling but lets Arthur clean the fresh bonding mark.
Once done Arthur rolls them on their side, unable to separate until his knot dies down.
Merlin smiles at him bashfully.
Arthur smiles back. They lay there lazily enjoying the sensation afterglow of mating, Arthur’s prick still spurting cum every now and then, much to Merlin’s enjoyment and amusement. Arthur starts slowly scenting him in calming post-mating pheromones. Merlin chuckles but returns the favor, scenting Arthur in pheromones that aren’t rife with arousal.
“Are you okay?” Arthur asks once he’s fully scentint his omega.
“More than okay.” Merlin purrs, not opening his eyes.
“And your heat?” Arthur places a kiss to the corner of his mouth.
“Better, for now.”
“Mmm.” Arthur hums in acknowledgment. He runs his hand through Merlin’s hair for a while, just watching his omega’s beautiful face and how the light of the hearth flickers across his skin. “I love you.”
Merlin’s eyes crack open, a sleepy smile creeping onto his face, “I love you too Arthur.”
“Rest.” Arthur kisses his forehead, “I’ll fetch us some food and water when my knot dies down.”
Merlin chuckles but cuddles closer, “Mmkay, g’night.”
Arthur glances to the window, the first rays of sunlight starting to appear in the sky. “Goodnight Merlin.”
Arthur struts into the throne room with a hubristic confidence only a freshly mated alpha could expel. His knights give him respectful and knowing nods as he enters.
Merlin on the other hand, is uncharacteristically meek, scampering right on the prince’s heels, trying to hide behind his larger frame, his neckerchief nowhere to be seen. A few of the council member’s eyes flick to Arthur but their expressions are as plain as always. As usual they pay no mind to the prince’s servant.
“Ah. Arthur.” Uther hands the parchment he had been reading over to a servant, “I am glad to see you well. When your return was delayed I presumed the weather to be at fault.” The king’s expression is listless but his eyes narrow in the next moment, “Gaius had said you were unwell and needed rest. Are you alright now? It isn’t unexpected to catch the cold having been delayed so long.”
“Yes father. I’m alright. But that is not the reason I wish to speak with you today.” Arthur’s confidence doesn’t waver in front of the king in the least. Though the distress slowly starting to seep from Merlin has him wanting to get this over with as fast as possible, solely to be able to comfort his omega.
“What is it then?” The man asks imperiously from his throne.
“I have bonded.”
Uther stares unblinking for far too long before he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, “I believe I misheard you.” It is clear in the king"s tone that he did not misheard, but he is giving Arthur a chance to retract the statement. Dangerous dominating pheromones waft off the king, daring Arthur to repeat himself.
“I have bonded father. I have found my mate.”
“Arthur.” The king growls out. Arthur’s knights stealthily bring their hands to their pommels.
Arthur takes a half step to the side to show Merlin, bonding mark on display for all to see. Though Arthur is sure to stay postured in front of the boy, he knows Merlin is well capable of protecting himself, but the prince’s instincts won’t allow him to make his omega any more vulnerable than he is, especially with his growing distress and trepidation.
The utter shock of his son’s mark on the serving boy has the king faltering for the first time Arthur has ever seen.
“You bonded a male peasant beta?!” The king seethes, he stands up from his throne, his rageful eyes snapping to his moronic spawn.
“What?!” Arthur guffaws, offended. It’s fruitless for an alpha to mark a beta; the bite does nothing for either alpha or beta as they aren’t able to properly mate. “No.” Arthur shakes his head, his nose scrunching in distaste, “He is an omega.”
The king marches down the steps of the dias. “The boy is a beta Arthur! He has been serving you for years!”
Merlin’s distress spikes, the pungent pheromones are quick to fill the air. Arthur steps in front of him again, a warning growl low in his throat has his father stopping before he can get any closer. The knights fidget restlessly as murmurs come from the council members.
Uther’s eyes are locked onto the serving boy over his son"s shoulder. Even with his acrid distress he meets the king with a strong gaze. “You’re an omega.” The king states, now seeing the truth in his son’s words.
“He is.” Arthur answers tersely, not liking how close his father still is.
A myriad of emotions flash across Uther’s face, something he has spent years perfecting on not doing.
“Sire.” Geoffry of Monmouth speaks up from amongst the council members, “You know the laws.”
Merlin turns his head to the man in confusion, but Gaius sits next to him perfectly at ease, as if this is an everyday occurrence.
Arthur watches warily as Uther grimaces thinking over what to do.
“Sire, if I may,” Geoffry speaks up again, the king looks to him waiting for him to continue. “Omegas are rare creatures, let alone male omegas. That alone is a prize enough for the prince to boast. The bonding of alpha and omega does not only guarantee healthy heirs but it is a near unbreakable bond of fidelity, one that will show Camelot’s strength and power.”
Uther’s narrow eyes slide back to the omega, “A rare commodity indeed, tell me boy what is your lineage.”
“Your majesty, I really don’t think you want to know.” Merlin winces.
“Now.” The king uses an alpha’s command.
Merlin’s words spill out of his mouth over Arthur’s infuriated growl, “My mother is a farmer, my father…” Merlin tries to fight the words down, “he… I, I grew up without a father.” Not a lie technically.
“You may be a male omega but you are a peasant and a bastard.” The king glowers.
“Father!” The prince snarls, “If you dare command him like that again I will not hesitate to usurp you.”
Uther’s eyes flick between his son’s and the omegas before he releases a weary sigh, he knows the laws. The laws that give control of an omega to their bonded alpha, laws that protect the bond of alpha and omega. Uther hadn’t written them out as he never thought Arthur would come across an omega, at least not one that hadn’t already been bought by royalty. And if another kingdom was able to offer him a bond then the laws would even further protect them.
The sacred bond between alpha and omega is one even Uther knows better than to interfere with.
“He will be put through extensive training. Do not think for one moment I will allow him to embarrass our name.” The king says sternly. What they lose in potential blood bindings with other kingdoms will be made up with from the power of the bond, Uther knows that all too well.
“Merlin is my mate, I will be the one to oversee him.” Arthur stands tall, head held high.
There’s a swell of unexpected pride in the king’s chest, his son is finally starting to come into his role not only as crown prince but as an alpha. He is no longer the brash and arrogant boy he was those years ago. And begrudgingly Uther knows who is to blame for that.
“Merlin.” The king’s voice comes out far less menacing this time.
“Yes, your majesty?” The boy asks tensely.
The king"s tone is dry as he speaks, “When I had asked you to watch over him, I hadn’t meant like this.”
A red flush creeps up Merlin’s face to the tips of his ears.
The faintest smell of amusement is almost undetectable in Uther’s scent but it"s there. Everyone in the room relaxes all at once, though Merlin is still a bit on edge, not sure what the king had truly intended by his words.
The king turns back to his Arthur, “Very well son, the boy is under your protection, any matters related to him will go through your first.”
The pride and elation that explodes from Arthur’s scent nearly has Uther fondly rolling his eyes. His idiot son must truly be besotted. At least they will be guaranteed an heir, and if that heir is also a dragon lord, well, Uther certainly doesn’t need to know.
Arthur turns around to his mate, smile plastered onto his face.
Merlin opens his mouth but is interrupted by Arthur pulling him close and happily scenting the top of his head.
The knights slyly make their way over to congratulate their leader and his omega where they all fall into a group scenting session. Uther goes back to matters of the court with his council, and if his eyes sneak prideful glances at his son, no one says anything.
That night Arthur, Merlin, and their pack, spend the evening celebrating with tankards of ale, games, and drunkenly affectionate pack bonding. The reality of Merlin becoming a royal doesn’t hit him until much later, but everyone knows he will make an excellent leader, ruling side by side with the once and future king.