Page 18 of Sidone

A small smile plays on his lips. “Is it true what he said?”

“I’m not sick. I’m in transition.”

“Because of me?”

“Because I bonded you. Transition is a good thing.” Provided I grow red armor in the places I’ve shed my old one. I keep that to myself.

Chapter 8

Kade

Midnight nears, and so does the yacht. Sidone and I are trapped inside the hotel room, with her grimacing every few minutes and me washing the scales from her body. Under the scales, her skin is raw. This must hurt, but she sits there, not making a peep. I think she’s amazing. I’d be crying like a baby. And I tell her so.

She chuckles and takes the sip of water I offer. She wipes her mouth and says, “Alphas don’t cry.”

It’s my turn to chuckle. “Real men don’t cry.”

“Hm?”

I sit beside her, eyes on the door, where I hear more men are gathering. They’re preparing, waiting for the right time to barge in here and kill us. I’ve got a few rounds left, so I’ll take some out as I go down. If I don’t die from a bullet, the Regha king will surely kill me for putting his sister in this position. “Real men don’t cry, Mom used to say. Hell, most people I know say that to boys. We’re not allowed to cry like girls. People think it makes us weak.”

“I see. I used to think Omegas are weak. One span, I met an Omega girl who cried. She also shot the king. Twice. I’ve changed my mind about Omegas since.”

“She shot the king?”

“Mm-hm.”

“And lived?”

“She’s my sister-in-law.”

“Nice family. I’ll fit right in. My mom got it in her head that Dad was cheating and once tried to shoot him too.”

“Was he cheating?”

“Nah. Mom was just paranoid to the point of madness. She left when I was young, after the invasion.”

Sidone covers my free hand. The other, I keep on my gun and pointed at the door.

“Do you know why we invaded?” she asks.

“For the Omega pussy.”

Sidone laughs. “I can tell you worked for my nephew. But no. Tayseer, the Regha king, sent Dreikx and me through the gate to establish contact with your people and ask for Omegas. We came in peace. Hell, I didn’t even bring weapons.” She looks up at the ceiling. “Your leaders captured us, put us away, tortured us, and when we didn’t return to Regha, the king sent the Horde.”

I am mute.

Sidone continues. “That man out there, your vice president, is an evil man. I’m going to kill him if it’s the last thing I do.” Sidone grunts and stands, then wobbles on her feet.

I vault up and hold her upright. “Easy, now.” I try to make her sit on the bed, but she stands firm. She cranes her neck to see out the window. “And the challenge is accepted.”

“What challenge?”

She points at the docked yacht where those pale green males with stars over their eyes unload. There’re probably a couple of dozen. “A small army,” I say. “This is not a fair challenge.”

“I am offended there are only two dozen.”

“Oh, I’m not. I wish there weren’t any.” I grab her shoulders and lock eyes with her. “Sidone, you can’t go out there. Yet. Give it a few more hours. Rest more.”

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