Page 75 of Of Daggers and Deceit

I exhaled. I would have had to resort to more drastic plans had she disagreed.

“We just have to get Riley and Bodhi,” I confirmed, and she shook her head.

“No. We go first and come back for them in a week once we explore, once we confirm it is safe for us all. They are safe enough here for now.”

I opened my mouth and closed it again. My mother could be stubborn, and I could see determination set in her face. I was doubtful we could pull a return off, but we had to try, didn’t we? The only option we had was to leave.

I would just need to make sure my gift was enough to execute it.

Because it was my mother’s life I was now gambling on.

RAYA

The toll of the city bell clanged loudly, and my hand involuntarily shook, messing up the line of a star I was trying to draw as panic began to mount inside me.

Bodhi bounded down the stars as my mother walked out from the kitchen and cast a worried glance towards me. We had firmed up a small plan since our agreement to leave yesterday now that the house was in much better shape.

“It’s never long enough between these meetings,” Bodhi muttered as he shoved on some shoes. I rose, leaving my drawing on the coffee table.

I knew why this meeting was called the second they had announced it earlier this morning. I knew it in my heart that Zander had finally realised the Benefactor was missing, or maybe he already knew he was dead.

It had been days, and I had not seen Riley at all, except for on the TV next to Zander at his usual afternoon address. She had looked entirely normal, unfazed even. I didn’t know how she could move on like that. I was barely holding it together.

Bodhi came over and grabbed my hand as we all left the house and merged with the crowd of Alphas making their way to the Inner Ring, funnelled in by the many guards I could see flooding the streets.

Today’s afternoon address was commanded to be in person, and it would be a lie to say I wasn’t utterly petrified. My stomach had been aching painfully, and my lungs burnt from the pressure of my distress.

Bohdi had spoken few words to me all day, though his jaw got the workout of a lifetime. Meetings like this unsettled everyone.

We funnelled in through the iron gate leading towards the Inner Ring, a line of guards marking our path towards the city square directly in front of the famed podium. It was a rare occasion for Alphas to be granted access to the Inner Ring, with it only happening a few times a year. The difference between the Inner and Outer Ring was distinct, right down to the clothing, with the Omegas dressed in suits and extravagant daywear standing closest to the podium, the Outer Ringers standing at the back in simple attire.

I turned to glance behind me, the world around me growing smaller as guards flanked the crowd from behind. I was grateful to be surrounded by others in the defence as they stepped up around us, my eyes catching Hayden’s and Apple’s, who had pushed through the crowd towards us. I would rather blend in with any crowd in this city than stand out.

The crowd murmured around us, the town square completely filled. Bohdi gripped my hand tighter as we waited for our city’s leader to emerge. Meanwhile, Apple continued jumping around beside me, trying to see over the tall figures in front of us. Hayden laughed quietly whilst watching her, but he didn’t bother to intervene. Usually, I wouldn’t worry too much about this, but today of all days, I didn’t want any attention cast my way.

My hand reached out and gripped her arm to still her as she frowned and turned towards me. I gave her a strained smile.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just eager to get this over with,” I replied, and she rolled her eyes.

“They are probably just going to announce a new advancement for Omegas and talk about how undesirable it is to be an Alpha in that roundabout way he always does where we all know what he truly means.”

I laughed, but I was nervous. “That is better than any of the other reasons he calls these meetings.”

Her face turned grim, and she raised her eyebrows in agreement. Every other reason involved punishment or death.

The crowd turned quiet as we turned back toward the podium, watching as Zander and Riley made their grand entrance. When you looked at them from afar, they were a perfect pair.

Today, she was wearing her usual white dress, though she had red chandelier earrings hanging from her ears, her dark hair pulled back from her face, showcasing her striking features. She looked beautiful and elegant, and the crowd seemed to agree as her name, not her true one, was whispered through the crowd.

Riley took her place beside Zander, stoic as ever, before he turned towards us. I twirled the rings on my fingers nervously.

“Good morning, residents of our beautiful city. Thank you so very much for gathering here today for my report.” His eyes scanned the crowd of people standing below him with a warm, almost loving smile.

“As you know, three nights ago, an Omega was taken from our city.” A mournful cry rang out from the crowd as Zander looked towards the sound in sympathy. Everything about him was so insincere. I didn’t know how Riley could stand to be around him, let alone let him touch her.

“A failure,” he continued as his eyes dragged across the crowd, “on the part of our defence. A failure,” his eyes found mine and held them, “on the part of our Ace.” I clenched my jaw, and Bodhi’s hand clutched mine tighter.

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