Page 14 of The Devil Takes

He’d take one look at it and either rib me for answers, or try to steal the damn thing. I wasn’t a fashion expert, but even I could tell it was pretty magical. In the light of day, I’d taken it out more than once to admire the swirling embroidery, and to chide myself for stupidly believing in magic at all. I’d spent too long tracing over the frankly realistic bones till I had their shapes memorized before I’d guiltily shoved it back into the box and tried to forget about it all over again.

The ribcage embroidery was particularly gorgeous.

Which wasn’t something I’d thought I’d ever say, so yeah.

Apparently, I was full of surprises lately.

By the time I reached the convenience store, I was huffing and puffing and my lungs were frozen stiff. I bought my donuts, a soda, and a pack of Cheez-Its with a nod to my favorite cashier before I sat down on the curb out front to stuff my face, trying to forget the dreams that had haunted me since the night I’d spent in the graveyard.

I shoved three donuts in my mouth at once, my flashcards in my other hand as I glared out at the highway. It pissed me off to watch the cars that zoomed by, seemingly without a care in the world. I only wished I was that carefree. I was a scholarship student, despite being stupid, so grades mattered. Which was why I was studying for a test in my least favorite class by inhaling my scribbled notes with my eyeballs one-handed while stuffing my face with the other.

Every moment mattered when it came to my schooling. I hadn’t decided on a major yet, but my counselor assured me there was still time.

Dad didn’t think I’d make it here.

Hell, I hadn’t thought I could either.

But here I was. It had been a year and a half and somehow—miraculously—I hadn’t flunked out yet. In fact, I was pretty much enjoying it. I liked the schedules. I liked learning. Most of all, I liked being far, far away from home. The greenhouse I worked at on campus had become my safe space the second I’d stepped inside it. So, without college—without the boring as hell classes—I wouldn’t have found my favorite plot at the back of the garden.

The money helped too, even though working part-time didn’t really pay much.

I was grateful.

Although, it often felt like my brain was about to bleed out my ears.

I finished my donuts in silence and moved on to my crackers, stuffing my cheeks full like a chipmunk as my saliva did half the work, my fingers smudging salt on my index cards. Jesus. Had I been high when I wrote half of these? I didn’t think so. But they didn’t make any fucking sense.

I mourned the fact that studying at college meant, well…studying.

A horn blared and without looking up, I tore my Cheez-It-delivering hand out of the bag and flipped off the oncoming vehicle. Stupid of me, sure. It could’ve been someone bigger than me, stronger too—but I was more scared of flunking out of school than I was of some territorial asshole in the middle of a public parking lot.

The horn blared again.

Jee-sus.

I rolled my eyes and raised my head, ready to tell whoever was interrupting me to fuck off, only to stop short when I realized I was looking at my own fucking car.

“Get in.” Tommy’s familiar head was shoved out the driver’s side window and his shit-eating grin ate up the delicate real estate of his face. I didn’t argue, used to taking orders from him and everyone else. Instead, I just shoved my cards back in my hoodie pocket along with my soda and half-eaten crackers, then chucked my donut wrappers in the trash.

It was warm inside the car. Warm enough that it made me realize just how cold I’d gotten on my walk over.

I cranked up the heat and reclined my seat, chewing on my lip as I waited to hear what sort of nonsense Tommy was about to spew.

Tommy knew everything about everyone, ever.

And that wasn’t even an exaggeration.

“How was work?” I asked after a few tense seconds, when it was clear that the other omega wasn’t about to speak.

“Same old, same old.” He was subdued. Which was entirely unlike him.

I turned to look at him for probably the first time since that night. I knew it would be hard to dodge his questions, so I’d spent the majority of the week avoiding him. I didn’t really want him knowing my business. And I knew it was only a matter of time before he asked about the massive bandage I had pasted to the back of my neck. This was the first time we’d really talked since I’d showered off Haden’s scent, went to the store, and splurged on turtlenecks. The bite had healed quicker than it should’ve, but I hadn’t known what else to do to cover it up.

Having a mating bite made me a red fucking flag. I couldn’t claim to be beta walking around with an alpha’s mark on my skin.

I could count on one hand the number of people that knew I was an omega, and I wasn't ready for that number to expand. Fuck, I didn’t even want to know what my dad would say—what he’d think—what he’d do to me if he found out I’d rolled over and presented my ass like a bitch in heat. His reactions were always over the top, and his rage sometimes blinded him, even though realistically, I knew a bitch in heat was kinda what I was. Not that I’d ever say that to him.

I knew there was no shame in being an omega.

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