Page 72 of Of Daggers and Deceit

“And what will you do? Lead alongside me?”

“If that’s what it takes to be with you, then yes.”

I laughed more this time. “Is power what you truly want, Sly?”

Fury hardened his expression as he moved quickly towards me.

“No.” He gripped my cheeks between his hand. “I’ve told you exactly what I want, Riley. I’m jealous. I’m so fucking jealous that I have to stand there and watch him touch who I want for myself.”

My eyes widened as he continued. “I’m sick of it. I want you. It’s that simple, and I’m evidently fucking crazy to consider a plan as bold and as dangerous as trying to overthrow Zander, but I’ll do it. I’ll do anything in the hopes of having a life I dream about, a life where I actually enjoy waking up, not dreading I’ll have to watch you be with him, or dreading that you will bond him and just forget me. I’m stuck in this predicament of being your guard and having to endure that.”

His chest heaved, and I swallowed painfully, because I understood. I felt equally as trapped, but I cared about him, and I cared for improving the lives of all.

“Please, Riley,” he begged. “Please, just let me help you.”

It was the ocean in his eyes that dragged me under. We had already shared too much. He carried so many of my secrets. We were tied in so many loops, I wasn’t sure how you could separate us. We would forever, in some capacity, be connected. I didn’t know how he could ever think I would forget about him.

“Let me take your burden, Riley. Let me find the Omegas.”

My shoulders dipped in resignation as I agreed. It would be far easier for him to find the Omegas. Zander scarcely let me beyond his reach.

Sly smiled as his lips found my forehead, and he murmured his thanks.

“Everything else we can work out, right? You feel this, don’t you?”

I surveyed the sincerity in his expression as I exhaled, defeated because I did. Could I achieve my dreams and have him too? Was there a future that allowed that?

Probably not. I needed to end this before it all spiralled, but this was the one genuine thing I didn’t want tainted by lies. I would hurt him more.

“I do.” But doubt lingered. Answers to questions were no longer simple.

A single dimple dented his cheek before he kissed me tentatively. His lips tasted like hope.

I pulled my mouth away. “We can’t do this right now. He is already suspicious and may come back.”

“I know,” he replied as he continued to kiss me. His arms fell to either side of the bench, caging me in completely as I smiled. I had never felt so wanted, like he couldn’t force himself to step away from me anymore.

“Stop,” I laughed, and he pulled away and pecked my nose. He was lighter, so much lighter than Zander, and I craved it.

He retreated backwards, watching me, to stand where he was before, his arms folded in front of him, stoic and handsome.

“One day, Riley, I will never have to stop, and I very much look forward to spoiling you.”

I lifted a cup to my lips, quirking a brow as I sipped the water before making my way to my bedroom as I told Zander I would. The further away I walked from Sly’s warmth, the more the dark thoughts began to creep in again, my nausea heightening with every step. There were three things I thought of over and over that I still needed to resolve.

Death has called your sister’s name.

I made a deal with the enemy.

Zander would find out about the Benefactor’s death.

It was because of those three things, I knew this last fortnight in the month of thinnings would be the most dangerous of all.

And so many lives were quite literally dependent on what I chose to do next.

RAYA

“Mum, what are you doing?” I asked as I walked in through the garden gate two nights after the thinning to our door wide open. My mother’s head tipped down toward the floor as she stood outside our house.

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