Page 71 of Of Daggers and Deceit

I just wanted Zander to leave me alone. I didn’t want to cause Sly this pain, even if we both knew I didn’t have a choice right now.

“What’s wrong, my Rose?” Zander asked as I pulled away with a fake smile on my lips for the second time this morning. His expression seemed concerned, though something glinted in his eye that unsettled me.

“I’m sorry,” I began as I ran my fingers up his arms and cupped his cheeks, dragging my thumb down his deceitful lips. “I still feel unwell today.”

Those same lips turned down as he pecked my cheek. “Do you want me to send for a nurse?”

I shook my head. “I think I just need some rest is all.”

He reached around and grabbed his mug, lifting it to his lips as he watched me curiously. I did my best to ensure I looked unwell, though I honestly felt like I didn’t have to try as much; his presence was enough of a deterrent. The weight of everything that had occurred within the past day was even more of a burden.

“I am heading out today. I will have Sly watch over you whilst I am gone.”

I could have groaned internally. Not him. Anyone but him. I didn’t want to be alone with him, not after everything that had happened. He was the one person I wanted to avoid because he was making my plans impossibly hard.

Because you like him. Because you want him.

I swatted the thoughts away quickly. I couldn’t like him.

“Okay. I’ll just be in bed today. Hopefully, it is just a short-term illness. I look forward to you coming home later.” I forced my head forward to scrape my lips just against his mouth in a barely-there kiss. I wanted it to be quick, to get it over with, to get him out of the house to leave me in peace.

But he couldn’t even let me have that. Instead, he gripped the back of my head and forced my mouth open, his tongue dipping inside to stroke against mine. My hairs stood on end, my stomach somersaulting with nausea, because Sly was forced to watch all of this, and I hated it. I needed to let him down sooner rather than later, before things became more complicated than they needed to be.

Zander slowed our kiss down with a few pecks to my lips. Satisfied, he stepped back with a warm smile before promptly making his way to the elevator and leaving.

When the doors closed, I finally turned around and got back to making my own breakfast. But the tension in my body didn’t seem to settle.

Soon, he would notice the missing Benefactor and take action. My stomach revolted as I lifted a piece of bread to my mouth, forcing me to promptly put it back down and push the plate away.

“You need to eat, Riley.”

Sly had already moved closer, and I sighed.

“I can’t.” There was too much weighing on me, too many lives dependent on me.

“You will draw attention if you don’t.”

Another sigh. He pushed the plate closer to me again.

My hands curled into fists. “I need to find Omegas to trade.”

His fingers tapped the bench. “Let me help you.”

“You risk too much, Sly. I ca-”

“Or I’m clearly not doing enough.” He stepped around the bench towards me.

“I don’t like his hands on you.” He stepped closer.

“I don’t like you living with him, nor do I like his mouth on you.” He frowned down at my lips, as if they were visibly tainted by Zander.

“We need to stop this, Sly. It won’t end well.”

He reached for me, but I pulled back in the same way I did to Zander.

“But what if it does end well? What if there’s a future where, together, we overthrow Zander and you lead this city, Riley?”

I laughed in reply. The idea was ludicrous.

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