Page 62 of Bonds of Hate

“Sit down.” Logan’s voice cracks like a whip, even if it lacks the compulsive force that would actually prevent me from refusing. He didn’t forget the prohibition on Alphacommands in our contract, which surprises me. “We’re not finished here.”

But my legs are already carrying me toward the door before conscious thought catches up. I hear chairs scraping behind me as I flee, but I don’t look back to see who follows.

They can’t see me breakdown.

I just need space to think, to breathe, to process that the trauma reaction I thought I could delay indefinitely might finally rear its ugly head. The desperation and adrenaline that had propelled me through the last few weeks are now muted by bone deep exhaustion.

They don’t deserve to see me like this.

My obedience might be contractually obligated, but the least they can give me is five minutes to myself.

But the sound of footsteps echoing behind me suggests otherwise.

Chapter Thirteen

POE

When Ares jumps up to follow Maya out of the room, Logan immediately snaps at him to sit the fuck back down.

“You’ve had as much alone time with her as you’re going to get,” Logan announces in response to the wide-eyed innocent response that Ares can’t quiet pull off successfully. “Don’t think I haven’t smelled her all over you, asshole. I said no touching her.”

“You said no fucking her,” Cillian points out, sounding somehow both smug and annoyed. “I’d suggest making finer distinctions in the future if you’re actually interested in turning your little Omega whore into a housewife.”

Logan looks at him like Cillian suddenly grew a second head. “The fuck did you just say?”

Cillian returns his attention to the agenda in his hand, but his murmured words are still clearly audible. “You heard me.”

“Is there a problem here?” Logan asks silkily.

“Of course not,” Cillian replies. He doesn’t actually rollhis eyes, but the gesture is practically audible in his tone. “I suggest you run and fetch your precious Omega. We have preparations to make.”

Logan face slowly reddens with rage as he glares at the side of Cillian’s head. Violence is imminent if the tension doesn’t break soon.

Ares silently watches the back-and-forth between them like he is following the ball at a tennis match. His silence speaks volumes. If he isn’t making a stupid joke or unnecessary sexual innuendo, then something must really be wrong.

Logan and Cillian don’t argue. The beta is more like an extension of the prince than wholly his own person. That’s why Cillian has been entrusted as a royal guard, despite his designation. The two of them fighting together, as a team, is like watching a moon orbit its planet. They always worked in tandem, completely in sync.

I’ve never seen them antagonistic like this.

But I do know exactly who to blame for it.

I rise from my chair, the screech of the legs scraping against the floor enough to distract them. “I’ve got it.”

Logan turns his angry gaze on me. “Do you?”

My neck still throbs from yesterday’s punishment. Logan can kill me later, but I plan to nip our Omega problem in the bud first. This much discord is going to get us all killed. “I’m just going to bring her back. We’re wasting time.”

“Nobody has forgotten how much you hate her,” Ares accuses. “She isn’t any good to us in pieces.”

“Shut up, Ares.” Logan’s jaw clenches as he turns back to me. “Fine. But don’t?—“

“Touch her? Threaten her? Offer her money to leave again?” I arch an eyebrow. “Anything that might leave an impression would take at least ten minutes. Feel free to come find us if I’m not back in five.”

Cillian’s stylus scratches against the textured glass screen, pointedly ignoring us all. The sound grates against my nerves like nails on a chalkboard.

“Just bring her back,” Logan orders, but his attention has already shifted back to Cillian as the temperature in the room drops another few degrees.

I exit before I have to witness whatever reckoning is brewing between those two. Nothing has been right between us recently and the realization that an easy fix isn’t forthcoming has started to worry me.

---