Page 23 of The Safest Place She Knows

“Oh. That.Yeah. I haven’t asked Tamara about it yet. The timing never seemsright.”

Tamara perkedup. “What do you need to ask?”

“Do you thinkyou could survive in foster care?”

“What? No. Yousaid I would always have a home with you.” Tamara got mad.

“Yes, I did,but I didn’t know that the centre would penalize me every monthuntil I couldn’t afford food.”

“But you havethe money Mom left.”

“I spent it onthe house so that it couldn’t be taken. Your college fund is stillrock solid, but my portion is done. I was keeping us above wateruntil that asshole slammed me into the wall. The hospital workupexposed my use of suppressors.”

Ymer wasstaring at the snake images on the wall. “This was your snake?”

“Yes. One ofthem. They were a breeding pair.”

“You soldthem.”

“Yes. An alphawanted to give them to a business partner who collects snakes. Sheeven showed me the habitat that they were going to, so I sold them.The female was a moonglow, and he was an eclipse.”

Oren blinked.“I have seen those before.”

Tonlya smiled.“I hope that they were well.”

He smiledkindly. “He knows snakes. Don’t worry.”

Brexel asked,“How did you get around the effects of omega classification?”

“The house isin Tamara’s name. She will inherit it when she’s eighteen.”

Tamara finallybegan to pay attention. “Why are you talking like you aredying?”

Oren saidsoftly. “Because she is. The suppressors that have been letting herlive and work have caused a collapse of her immune system andleeched calcium from her bones. She is going to be sick for a whileunless she can find an alpha to draw from.”

Ymer murmured,“I have contacted his partner to come and take a look. He may ormay not be with her.”

Iris asked.“What did you do?”

Ymer smiled. “Icontacted an alpha with an affinity for serpents and his businesspartner, who is an excellent healer.”

Tonlya chuckledweakly. “Trying to accomplish what the Omega Centre couldn’t?”

“No, miss.Trying to get you and your sibling to a safe place. These twoalphas are trustworthy.”

“Oh, sure. Youall are until someone says Get your hand off my ass, you fuckingpervert.” She chuckled and lay back with her eyes closed. “Thenit is smacking into a wall and waking up in the hospital.”

Tamaraswallowed. “You said you tripped.”

“Oh, honey. Ididn’t want to upset you.”

Iris smiled todistract them. “Well, I was shot last night, and I am feeling muchbetter now. Maybe some alphas to take energy from will be just thething.”

Denel andBennet spoke together. “What?”

Chapter Five

When two tall figuresarrived at the door, Tonlya laughed. “No room for them either.”

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