Page 114 of Omega Sanctuary

"I know, but I want to."

"There's a good chance Deja is going to nag you about Rayth anyway."

I waved a hand. "I'm not planning on bonding, him, Nova."

"Well..." Nova bit her lip, but Duke Fancypants came over.

"Was that unruly merchant bothering you?" He asked Nova, even though Rayth barely glanced at her.

"I'm fine," Nova said faintly.

I wanted to drag her away from him. He just drained her energy and assumed he owned her time since he was a duke.

One of the benefits of being around alphas should have been I knew them well enough to know who would be a good fit for Nova.

So far no one had rated high enough that I thought to mention them to Nova.

I spent the next hour milling around, listening to half conversations and watching people dance. If I moved around enough, the priestesses didn't notice that I wasn't dancing with anyone.

Or so I told myself.

I kept an eye out for Rayth, who had disappeared into the crowd. But when I found him, he was standing next to Asano.

Asano was frowning and gesturing with his hands. They stood near a double door balcony leading to a terrace, their body language focused on each other.

But Asano was shaking his head. Rayth shrugged and gestured with his hands, like he was apologizing for something.

Oh, hell no. I marched over to them, the alphas parting for me like water. I'd never seen Asano so angry. Rayth was going to find out what it was like to mess with someone I cared about.

"What are you doing to him?" I stopped in front of Rayth.

Asano paused, his face lighting up. "Zara. You look amazing."

"What am I doing?" Rayth looked between me and then Asano. "Apologizing?"

Asano frowned. "I'm sorry, Zara. I didn't know Rayth was the idiot alpha you were talking about."

I blinked looking at them. I was missing something. "Why would you know?"

"Rayth isn't normally that much of a—well yes, sometimes."

"Hey!" Rayth covered his chest with his hand. "She said no one asked her to dance. You see why I was skeptical."

Asano sighed. "You didn't have to bet her on it."

I grinned. "Yes he did. He owes me baking supplies."

"I would have gotten them for you," Asano said, looking wounded.

"I know, but now that it's from an alpha the priestesses won't complain." It was hard not to puff up at my brilliance.

"They will," Asano said. "But you'll keep the gifts anyway."

"Why?"

Asano cocked his head. "Can't you sense the bond?"

"What bond?" I looked between them again, and suspicion grew in the back of my mind.

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