Page 164 of Juliet & Her Romeos

Ambrose’s eyes twinkle. “Happy New Year, Juliet.”

“Happy New Year, Amby.”

Ambrose leans down. His lips sensually meet mine, as the fireworks whistle and crackle above our heads.

The moment feels timeless in the dark of the night, and on the cusp of one year to the next. Heat rises in my cheeks. Our tongues entwine, passionate and electric.

I moan, hungrily asking for more.

Ambrose deepens the kiss and then…

Unexpectedly, his phone rings in his pocket.

I frown, pulling back but still feathering kisses onto Ambrose’s jaw. “Ignore it.”

“It’s midnight. It’s probably Mom or Laurent. Either way, I need to take this.” Ambrose lowers me, before steadying me back onto my feet, while keeping his arm around my waist.

I watch the fireworks die above his head.

Ambrose slips his phone out of his pocket and holds it to his ear. “Happy New Year.” Then his smile dies faster than the fireworks. “Why the fuck are you calling me, Silas?”

I suck in a shocked breath.

It’s my cousin?

Conflicted emotions surge through me. But yearning hits me the strongest. I haven’t spoken to Silvanus for years.

I miss Silvanus, as much as I can see Ambrose hates him in the way that he’s clutching his phone with whitened knuckles like he wants to crush it.

“Speaker phone,please,” I whisper.

I need to hear Silvanus’ voice. At least that would be something.

Ambrose’s expression becomes icier, but he turns his phone onto speaker.

“Happy New Year,” Silvanus’ smooth voice is slurred. Has he been drinking? “You have a member of my pack. Is she there? Hey, Juliet?Juliet, are you…?”

“Shut up,” Ambrose snarls.

“I’m here,” I answer, hurriedly.

“Good,” Silvanus replies, more calmly. “Are you okay? I know you can’t tell me. I understand. Just say if—”

“What do you want, Silas?” Ambrose’s eyes are like chips of ice. “We have nothing to say to each other.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Silvanus’ voice sobers. “I know that you invoked the Ballet Bonding Tradition, you fucking Alphahole. We’re rivals. I gave you a hard time at school. But what kind of man takes that out on another pack’s Omega?”

“You’re mistaken about me.” Ambrose is wearing the mask that I hate. “You always were.”

“Yeah, right. Just like you took the time to get to knowme, before you ripped away every record, achievement, and success that made my life worth living. And now you’ve taken my cousin.” Silvanus is breathing too fast like he’s struggling to hold himself together. “But this time, I’ve caught you. You bonded without my cousin’s Head Alpha’s permission. So, meet me tomorrow at the Sanctum Circuit, where we used to secretly meet. I’ll message you the time. If you can beat me in a race, thenmaybeyou can keep Juliet.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Sanctum Circuit, Sanctum

“Silvanus sounded like he was sure that he could beat you.” I anxiously bite my lip. “I’m not an Omega prize that can be used in a bet between competitive Alphas. Why are you smiling?”

I glare at Ambrose.

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