Page 25 of Fever

“Who else knows?” Oh my God, they know there’s a…traitor in their midst, and they will surely get rid of me. Sotay won’t put up with a traitor no matter how much he likes or wants me, no matter that I’m an Omega. My hands shake.

Mike notices. “Taking the gate control from the Regha male will be a simple task.”

I laugh hysterically. “If it’s so simple, why haven’t you taken it?”

“I don’t have access to histilor his private quarters. You do.”

“And let’s say I find it and take it. I can’t leave the Stronghold. Sotay holds a vigil over me. Not to mention this place is full of Collectors.”

“I will pull you out. Once you bond the Hordesman, he will enter transition, a limited period of time when a Regha male is vulnerable. He will shed his armor and regenerate a new one. The moment he goes down, you will leave. I will watch and know when you’re ready. No Regha male enters the nest while another Alpha is inside. It is forbidden. It is also forbidden for another male to defend you. Only Sotay can do that. Hence, the timing has to be perfect, the execution flawless.”

“The control is the round crystal thing. Right?”

“Correct.”

“Your general has one. Why haven’t you taken it from him?”

“He is not a general,” Mike bites out.

I rear back, startled at his tone.

Mike composes himself. “Dreikx is nothing but a thief. We are all thieves.”

“Well then, I’d say that makes you perfect for the job.”

Mike smiles, showing me his sharp teeth. “Why, yes, Omega, you’re wise to conclude that. You will take the control, and I will steal you.”

“Sotay will follow.”

“Undoubtedly. However, Sotay will die.”

I look away, tears clouding my vision. “He is kind to me.”

“They will release your mother.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I don’t, but you don’t have a choice. The Hordesmen will fall. The Earth king’s army is greater and smarter. They use the tech we’ve developed, and they use it wisely, whereas the Hordesmen reject progress. This school of thought will cost them this planet.”

A cup of inder in my hand, I stand on wobbly feet. “Thank you for the coffee,” I say.

“Inder.”

“Right.”

Dazed, I climb the steps to the top floor, where the four Hordesmen have gathered in the office with other Regha Alphas. Tamika slaps a paper holder on top of the reception desk. “Good morning. The prince is out of the office. Officially, the command has been transferred to the Guardian Alpha.”

I point. “The prince is there.”

“He’s lingering, God knows why. Try to ignore him. Technically, you don’t work for him anymore. Sotay is taking command until the gate is fixed. I’ve made a list, but I’m not sure if Sotay works in the same way the prince does, meaning he’s likely less anal. We’ll take it day by day, and please don’t quit and leave me alone.”

“Thanks,” I say and lock eyes with her brown ones. I want to tell her everything. I want to unload the burden. I can’t steal from Sotay. This gate is everything to them. It’s how they arrived and waged a war. They won’t give it up easily. I can’t get involved in this mess. And yet I can’t not get involved.

Tamika’s gaze softens. “Girl, you all right?”

“I’m fine. Just fine.” I read the list. My nesting, heat, and bonding aren’t on there and everything else seems minute. Breakfast items, laundry, and a Collector meeting. The Collector meeting is likely at Tabby’s. If I could only share this burden with her, it would be so much easier to carry, but I can’t. Tabby is now Terror’s Omega, and Terror and Sotay are close, not only as cousins but friends too. I have nobody. Oh God, I have nobody. My mom has nobody. We’re alone and separated, and I’m scared.

Chapter 10

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