Page 30 of Terror

Dripping wet, Sotay walks into the den. He swam in his clothes, so that’s a relief. At the door, he swings his blond braid and wrings it out. “You called, dear?”

“I’m not in a funny mood,” Arkin says. “Tabby. The names and locations. Give it to him.” Arkin leaves, and I hear the water running in the kitchen. When he returns, he’s got a bucket and a coffee cup. Bending, he waters my plants.

“I want Travis dead,” I blurt.

Arkin plucks dead leaves but doesn’t reply.

“Names,” Sotay orders.

I nod and approach him so I can share the holo screen and point at the list. “Dr. John Hollywood.” I point at his name. “That’s the plastic surgeon. Can’t remember his clinic’s name, but it’s the only one in the business district right outside the new Stronghold walls.”

Arkin appears next to me, his rattle loud and clearly not a purr.

Sotay swipes though the holo with his claw. “You’ll give yourself an aneurism, cuz. Let me work here.”

Arkin mumbles something in Rahkan.

Sotay smirks. “Go on, Omega.”

And so I do. I point out everyone I know with a residence in San Diego and some I know who are on vacation in other states. Sotay takes the list and leaves us. Arkin continues watering the plants. I don’t believe this male is leaving. I think he’s moved into my house. Strangely, it’s good to have him.

Chapter 12

Arkin

The woman who exposed the first Betaren dealers is Princess Anna’s aunt. She also makes delicious Omega pussy cookies using crushed Betaren as an ingredient, and Chef Kade, the former mayor’s chef I dragged here from next door, replicated the recipe. Since I couldn’t find a single fucking Betaren pill for months, he hasn’t worked on this. Today, I handed him my kitten’s baggy. At the kitchen island, I sit sipping tea while the chef bakes.

Kade turns and places a tray before me, then, with a smirk, slips off his oven mitts to fix the many rings on his fingers. He’s in his mid twenties and, I’m fairly certain, an undeclared male Omega. He sits down across from me and purses his lips. “Try this one.” He points at a lone cookie placed at the top of the tray.

I pop it in my mouth. The sweet tang of Omega pussy makes me want to eat someone, namely the Omega tanning outside by the pool. “Mmmm,” is all I can say before I reach for another.

Kade pulls the tray away.

I rattle off a warning.

He laughs, green eyes lifting at the corners. “Did you taste anything different?”

“No,” I say. “Same as always.” In a swift move, I snag another one, open my mouth.

“Wait!” He puts his hand up. “Take a tiny bite, and don’t swallow.”

I throw the whole thing into my mouth.

“A tiny bite.” Kade stands, watches me chew, bites his fingernail.

Omega pussy flavor spreads over my tongue right before it turns sour. I stop chewing. I must’ve made a face, because Kade passes me a tissue. I spit and place it on the island. Red crumbs. I spread out the tissue and stare. "Why are the crumbs red?

“I think the poison mixes with saliva, and it all turns red.”

I snap my head up. “Poison?”

“Don’t know which one.”

I’m trying to wrap my head around what he’s telling me, and I can’t…won’t come to terms with the discovery. My heart beats against my chest, armor itching under my skin. Kade turns around and goes about his business in the kitchen, prepping a tray of food for Tabby while I sit there in shock.

“It must be a new batch,” he says as he chops an onion, making my nose sting. He swipes a forearm over his eyes. “I’m trying to think which poison they’re using.”

“Does it matter?”

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