Page 100 of Of Daggers and Deceit

She was no beautiful, delicate Omega.

No. As I watched my sister, the moonlight casting severe shadows across her face and the wind whipping her long black hair around her, I realised one thing.

My sister was the most beastly of us all.

RILEY

Iblinked blankly at Raya as she poured all her hatred and grief into her fiery gaze. She didn’t understand her life was at stake, and I knew she would never go without a fight.

The severing of the bond between her and Bohdi was an unfortunate casualty for a greater cause. He would have never let her leave. He would have thought he could have protected her.

I pulled myself away from the intensity of the emotions, sorting and compartmentalising my pain and hers within the recesses of my mind.

Sacrifices had to be made, and I could never lead if I was led by my emotions.

Raya’s tears dampened her cheeks and dripped rapidly onto the sand below. It was the only bit of water this landscape had felt in many months.

The extra darts Sly had hit Bohdi with were concerning, but I couldn’t show I didn’t know what I was doing. The savage crack that had echoed towards us the moment his body hit the ground had me wanting to turn and run to check that he was alive.

But I was a leader now, and I needed to ensure I never turned my back on anyone who resembled a threat to my dreams.

Raya’s mind ticked over a moment until understanding dawned on her face. Her mouth fell open, lips parting on a savage, piercing scream when her grief finally erupted.

I didn’t flinch.

I couldn’t flinch.

Not even when the might of her fury in her eyes was directed solely at me.

Something ruptured between us in that moment, the severing of a tie held since we were little, trying to survive in a harsh world and support a struggling mother. I was different from the child who was once so carefree and wild. So different, I could tell my darling sister didn’t even recognise the Omega standing before her, couldn’t quite pinpoint when it had all changed. Sometimes, neither did I.

She didn’t know that so much of it had been burning inside me for so long. I learned long ago that in becoming a leader, you would know sacrifice intimately.

Despite the feelings of loss etched on her features now, she didn’t know her sister standing before her was the greatest loser of them all. I would give my life for her, but I couldn’t have her seek me out here. I had a plan, one I needed to see through. Taking her out as a player was a spontaneous part of its execution, a spontaneous way to save her life.

I pinned my shoulders back and lifted my head, glaring defiantly to spite my inner turmoil and those who bore witness to the exchange.

“It’s time to go.”

I directed the words to Raid, who seemed to be leading the group tonight. I fought to suppress the shake in my hands as doubt began to slither its way into the crevices of my mind. I had to keep reminding myself that there was no alternative, no other path. Raya had a use-by date, one that expired tonight, her power a legitimate threat to Zander’s sanctuary of secrets. She wasn’t an Omega. She would find her way.

Just maybe, she would find our dad.

My eye developed a nervous twitch, the exchange eating away at more of our time, posing a risk to us if we were caught.

We had to leave.

Raya’s heaving sobs quietened under the gentle hand of Silver carrying her until she hung heavy in his arms, unconscious. He looked down at her tenderly, shifting her weight to one side and softly wiping his thumb across her cheeks, stroking away the evidence of her pain. Hope crackled to life within me at his care.

It would be okay.

She would be okay.

I squatted down to pluck the small box they had tossed towards me out of the sand, shaking it a few times to rid it of any grit. The worn wooden box creaked as I opened it to examine the purple crystal that sat delicately on a red velvet pillow, watching it pulse with a soft light in time with my breaths. It was exactly what I had asked for. Satisfied, I closed the lid shut and stuffed it into my bra, a place that would likely go unchecked by Zander.

I stood back up next to Sly, a quick side glance and a sharp nod thrown in his direction to confirm all was well. He stared back at me with an indecipherable expression on his face as I searched his haunting, turquoise eyes.

“Thank you for maintaining the agreement, Rose, and for the added bonus.” Raid’s smooth voice cut across the short distance between us, pulling my attention away from the male beside me.

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