Page 40 of Of Daggers and Deceit

“He’s already left. He had business to attend to and said he would meet you there.”

I stuffed down my rising disappointment and gave Sly a thin smile, stepping up next to him and pushing the button to descend.

“You look incredibly beautiful, Rose.”

My heart stuttered at his familiar boldness as warmth spread through my chest.

“Please don’t call me that,” I responded. The rose was a manicured piece of me, not all of who I was. For some reason, my relationship with him felt different. I didn’t want him to treat me like everybody else did. I was desperate for a friend.

The elevator dinged, and we stepped inside, Sly glimpsing briefly in my direction.

“You look incredibly beautiful, Riley.” He enunciated my name on a soft, velvety murmur, goosebumps pebbling my skin under its caress. It was a thrill to hear my name like this. Not my love. Not my Rose. Not The Rose. Just Riley.

My lips twitched in amusement as I cast my eyes towards the cheeky gleam in his, though alongside that, I saw sincerity. I turned back towards the elevator and frowned. When was the last time another had complimented me so authentically?

My chest clogged up at the thought. When was the last time another had used my real name like that?

Zander had never.

I focused my attention back on the scene before me as we both stepped out into the foyer.

“Aren’t you going to compliment me?” I shot a confused glance over to the guard beside me giving me his best pleading eyes.

I blinked at him and then huffed, his humour wiping away whatever grief had stirred inside me as a small laugh burst out of me.

“Because you give me a compliment, I have to give you one?” I asked incredulously.

The brilliant blue of his eyes bore into me. “I dressed up just for you today,” he said, the sunlight illuminating a lighter blue around the centre of his irises, making them almost sparkle.

I looked down at the usual guard attire, then back up to the red rose embroidered on his front pocket before rising to catch his eyes again. We stared intently at each other for a moment, me wondering if the man was honestly well.

His chin and eyebrows trembled as a raucous laugh burst out of him.

“Gotcha.” He smiled brightly, putting his perfect white teeth on display.

“You didn’t at all get me,” I huffed, my own mouth twitching up.

It was there, in the sunshine, the rays beaming down on his face, his joy so palpable I felt it in my chest, that I noticed something. I had thought Zander was the most attractive Omega in all the Haven, but this male was fierce competition, his light personality growing on me.

He pushed open the door, and we walked through the garden, taking the path he had shown me the other night. It was there that my toe caught a loose brick, and I lurched forward.

“Fucking hell!” Shock pulled the words from my lips before I’d even had a chance to catch them just as two strong arms caught me.

The Omega beside me inhaled sharply, orienting me upright again before leaning in closer to me, right beside my ear. “Did you just swear?” he whispered conspiratorially, glancing around the garden for anyone nearby.

I stepped away from him, heaving in a heavy breath. “No,” I whispered back to him aggressively.

He stepped back up beside me and continued walking as if nothing happened, coming up towards the nearby gate. “I like it,” he murmured in that soft, velvety voice I was starting to like so damn much.

For the most part, the city was quiet today, with most people indoors, working and preparing for the next thinning of our shield. A few of the local eateries had a handful of people filling their tables, sipping their warm drinks behind the tall glass windows that lined every shop along the main business strip. I longed for a life where I could go about my day however I wished.

As we walked, people greeted us, passing by in their designer wear crafted by the Outer Ring community. I sighed. There was so much work to do to bridge the gap between the rings.

The main drag may as well have been a fashion runway. Omegas had a good eye and even better taste in textures and colours, some of which had rubbed off on me since my move into the Inner Ring. Nobody wore white, though. That was reserved for me and Zander, ensuring I always stood out and was noticed. Watched.

Despite my appreciation, I still preferred the humble Outer Ring, with a simple pants and singlet combo and some casual sneakers. Sigh. I missed wearing comfy clothes.

We veered down a side street, past a closed bar with electric pink signage declaring it ‘Rose’s Quarter’. Zander’s obsession with roses had been absorbed and shared by the community. His desires, likes, and dislikes were now a living, breathing thing that the community consistently evolved and responded to. It was evident everywhere you looked.

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