Page 62 of Aine

“Let’s go,” I mumble, patting Olivia on the back.

She flinches, her red-rimmed eyes meeting mine before she begins to move. I want to ask what happened but figure I already know. It doesn’t take a genius to realize Freya must have walked in on an intimate moment between Olivia and Alex and freaked out.

Despite Freya’s reputation, the beasts glared at Olivia like she was in the wrong, which is surprising. It’s ridiculous to expect Alex to remain abstinent after his mate rejected him.

Damien and the others are nowhere to be seen when we near the house, and I let out a sigh of relief as I lead Olivia inside. I was worried he’d be slowed by the fighting pair and we’d make it here before him.

It’s nice to know his long legs are good for something.

Olivia continues to try to hold back her tears as I walk with her up the stairs and push open her bedroom. I pause in the doorway, taken aback by the clutter, before lingering as she sits on her bed and drops her head into her hands.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

It’s a stupid question, but I’m not sure what else to say. Her chest expands as she sucks in a deep breath, and I fiddle with the ends of my hair as she clears her throat and shrugs.

“I’m fine. I brought it upon myself.”

I shake my head, disagreeing completely. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you and Alex being together.”

The fact that she and Damien had their little moment in his office only a few weeks ago is a bit uncomfortable, but that’s an issue for her and Alex to sort out themselves. I’m not really in a place to judge anybody for their decisions. I kicked my husband into a fire, so I’m not exactly a saint, either.

“It doesn’t matter, anyway. I’ll be dead by the end of the month.” Olivia laughs hollowly.

She lies back on her bed and stares at the ceiling like what she said wasn’t a complete shock. What’s that supposed to mean? I clear my throat, running her words through my mind again in an attempt to see if I heard them wrong. I must have.

“What?” I blurt out, looking for clarification.

Olivia turns her head in my direction, her eyes wet. “Damien’s going to a human village in a few days. I know he’s looking to replace me. I’ve been distracted by Alex and haven’t been performing as well as I should be.” She pauses to peer out her bedroom window. “I’m not a mate, so if I’m no use to the beasts, there’s no reason for me to be here. They’ll make me leave, but no human village will welcome me after spending so much time here. Either I become a prostitute or I kill myself. It’s an easy decision for me.”

My brain struggles to process all that she’s saying. “But you’ve been serving Damien for years. I doubt he’d suddenly up and replace you after only a few weeks of poor performance.”

Olivia shakes her head and lets out a dry laugh. “He’s taken all my work and hasn’t given me a thing to do in days. I knew what I was getting myself into when I agreed to work for the beasts, but I did it anyway. I was stupid and thought I’d find love here or something.”

My throat is dry, and I struggle to swallow past the lump in it. While Olivia and I aren’t exactly friends, the thought of her dying makes my blood run cold and my head throb. She doesn’t deserve that.

“He might be going to visit humans for a different reason,” I suggest, hoping to help settle her.

Olivia’s hair flies around her head as she aggressively shakes it. My chest burns, and I suck in a deep breath to try to calm down.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” I ask.

Damien doesn’t care much for me, but I’ll do whatever I can to help Olivia keep her job.

“I don’t want to outwardly ask him to keep you,” I tell her, “since he might get angry we’re talking about it and do what I ask him not to do out of spite, but maybe I can ask to go with him to the human village and keep him distracted so he doesn’t find anybody to replace you with.”

Olivia looks doubtful, but I’m still able to see the slight hope in her expression. Her lips purse before she stands from the bed and pulls me into a tight hug. I’m stiff within her arms, but after a second, I find myself relaxing.

She looks noticeably less gloomy as she turns and looks out her window.

“He’s coming,” she warns, sitting back down. “I appreciate you trying.”

I nod and return to my room to think through a plan.

Damien’s footfalls are loud as he walks up the stairs, and I hold my breath until I hear him enter his bedroom. I wait, struggling to build up some nerve, before approaching his door. I hesitate for a moment, debating whether or not this is a stupid idea, then tap my knuckles against the wood.

It’s pulled open immediately, and I gulp at the sight of Damien standing shirtless only inches from my face. I hope he can’t feel or sense my anxiety as I take a step back and pick at the skin of my fingers.

There’s a small smattering of blood along his jaw and ear, but I refuse to let myself be distracted by it as I voice my request.

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