Page 53 of Knot Dead Yet

It wasn’t the whole thing with my bastard of an uncle that had me unnerved though. Casimir had told his parents about me and stated his intentions. When? How? Did that even fucking matter? His folks were sizing up my worth right this second.

“Kienna!” Someone else called my name and I stood on my toes to see Dad coming toward us through the lounge. Both relief at seeing he was fine and dread filled me as he neared. He came over and hugged me, kissing me on the head. “Hello, sweetheart. I’m so happy to see you here tonight. It’s like old times when we went to games together. Are you feeling better?”

Had he thought I was sick? I couldn’t even remember telling him any such thing. “I’m good.” The Velkys waited patiently beside us. “Dad, I would like you to meet Casimir Velky’s parents, Maxim and Ivania. Mr. and Mrs. Velky, this is my father, Marcos Birk.”

They greeted one another and shook hands, all very friendly. Dad was a natural charmer, and he was fast winning over the Velkys in the whole minute he was here. They talked about their flight to Winnipeg and the team, particularly how great Casimir was.

My heartbeat didn’t slow. My dad was here. That was good, but not so great they were going to start talking about me and Casimir any time. I wanted to just have five minutes with my dad to get myself booked on a flight out west. It would solve my stalker problem and now this bigger issue of people other than me and my lovers involved in my love life. I was going to strangle Casimir next time I saw him. Whether it be before or after I let him knot me, that was besides the point!

“Kienna and I used to attend games together all the time, and I’m so happy she’s still a hockey fan now that she’s grown into a lovely young lady.” Dad saying my name brought me back to the present conversation. He smiled affectionately at me. “Wait until you see the arena in Chicago, hon. It’s spectacular. I’ve been talking to some of the architects and having them make plans for improvements for this arena.”

“Chicago?” I blinked. Did I miss something?

“Yes, after this game, we head to Chicago for the rest of the semis. I figured you would want to come and see the city. We haven’t been since you were five or six years old.”

Chicago. I could catch a plane to anywhere at any time from there. “How soon are we leaving?”

“We leave with the team in two days to drive down.” The buzzer signaling the end of the first period went off and Dad glanced at his Apple Watch. “I’ve got to get to the locker room and give a speech, but it was great to meet you, Maxim, Ivania.” He shook their hands and they exchanged pleasantries. “We should all have dinner together in Chicago.”

Oh no. The second I was in Chicago, I was heading to the airport and I was out of there.

Dad hugged me once more and took off before I could say anything else.

“I know a few excellent restaurants in Chicago. Do you have any particular preferences, Kienna?” Maxim was an absolute gentleman. Casimir definitely inherited that from him.

“I’m adventurous. I’m good with anything.” I briefly glanced at the door. How was I going to get away without seeming rude?

“Also, dear.” Ivania gave me a motherly smile. “You are welcome to fly with us to Chicago in our private plane rather than ride in the buses with your father and the team. He seems rather…” She paused, searching for a word. “Relaxed in his safeguarding of you. As you are yet unclaimed, you should have an escort. We would be more than happy to do so and get to know you better.”

I bit my tongue and touched the spot on my neck where Kane had marked me. The bite was hidden beneath the high collar of my sweater. While the Velkys were nice, were they the type to frown upon an Omega having several mates? Usually the rich and entitled Alphas felt that way.

“That’s very generous, thank you. I’ll discuss it with my father when he returns to the hotel tonight.” On one hand, flying with them would get me to Chicago faster. On the other hand, I’d be flying with Casimir’s parents, and the more time I spent with them, the more it cemented their son being paired with me. Not that I objected to Casimir himself, but all that formality made me want to scream.

Another man called out in Russian and the Velkys turned. Maxim smiled and waved, saying something back to the other person. He turned back to me and dipped his head. “If you would excuse us, Kienna.”

Maxim went over to the other man and they started talking. Ivania reached out and took one of my hands in both of hers. “It was such a pleasure to meet you. I do hope we can spend some time together and get to know one another very soon. Casimir has never brought up any other Omega to us, and so we know that he’s quite taken by you. He says you are…” She smiled and laughed a little. “There is an old Russian saying he used: he said you are the rainbow in the storm. I don’t know if that translates correctly, but I see the bright light in you, dear. Casimir lives his life very regimented, ordered. You are exactly what he needs.”

My cheeks heated. I could hardly believe Casimir said that to his parents. And was she saying I was wild? Not that I minded, but I guessed they made assumptions because of my hair. Everyone always did. “That’s very sweet.”

“I must join my husband, but I look forward to getting to know you.” Ivania leaned forward and kissed my cheeks. Very European of her.

I kept my smile until she was out of sight and then slipped out of the lounge. The Velkys were nice, but dammit. I didn’t have it in me to deal with anything about that situation right now.

Maddox had told me to stay in the lounge for the whole game until one of them fetched me, but I couldn’t be in there any longer. I went down the hall and waited in line to use the bathroom. Once I did that, I debated where to go.

Every man that stared at me as they walked by made my paranoia spike a little more. If my stalker knew who I was, he’d probably know I was at the arena right now. He could be literally anyone. There were thousands of men here.

I pressed my back against the cement wall and tried to tell myself to stay calm. No one would do anything with all these witnesses. I was safe.

Then why did I feel like I wanted to run?

I needed my Alphas. Fuck.

There was no way I would be let into the locker room, but if I could get somewhere near, one of them could slip out. I texted them, trying not to make it sound like an emergency. Casimir responded almost immediately and mentioned a maintenance corridor.

I spotted an arena worker go through an unmarked door and ran, grabbing the door before it fully closed. The worker didn’t notice and had went down a side hall as I snuck in. I knew the general direction of the locker rooms, but being closed in a plain hallway, I wasn’t quite sure which direction. The locker rooms were to the right, so I took the first right turn.

The hall looked the same. Dimly lit and unmarked.

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