Page 35 of Omega Sanctuary

Valens scanned the crowd and lifted his hand up. He gestured for me to get down.

I climbed down with his help. Once I was touching him again, it no longer felt like horses were galloping on my head.

A good-looking man with light brown skin and curly black hair made his way over to us.

Nova watched Valens's face for direction. The good-looking man trotted over to us. "Thank you for bringing her to me."

Nova’s was radiant. "I'm sorry. I thought it would be okay." She hugged him.

Branson watched the display, jealousy writ all over his face. Maybe I should have let Kivai pretend to be a ghost after all.

Valens leaned closer to me, his arm around my waist a solid weight anchoring me down.

Alpha energy radiated off Hashir. Nova hugged him like he was a balm, and sighed. "I hope the ship came in after all this fuss."

"It did, love, it did." Hashir pulled away, looking into her eyes like there was no one else in the world. "Let's get you back to the house." He looked over at Valens. "Brother, thank you for taking care of her for me.

"Of course." Valens mumbled.

Branson cleared his throat. "I'm glad she got back safely. She wasn't doing well."

Hashir frowned at Nova. "It happened again?"

Goodness, he was a good actor. I was trying to remember if Nova had some reoccurring condition before I realized it was part of the ruse.

"It did. I guess we'll try another treatment."

"Say no more." Hashir winked. He kept his arm around Nova's waist, alpha energy blasting the radius. It rushed over me but Valens broke it up like a tidebreaker.

"Might we impose a little further?" Branson smiled at Hashir. "It's been a long journey, and your sister-in-law is such an excellent cook."

I pasted a smile on my face. Pushy bastard. I looked at Hashir. "I don't mind if you don't?"

I didn't know what Branson was digging for, but we weren't going to let him see us sweat.

"Of course not." Hashir threw a hand into the air. "It will be a regular feast."

We climbed back into the cart, Hashir in the back with Nova and me on the bench with Valens, and headed to Hashir's house.

Which he hopefully had in the city. I didn't know how Valens managed to have Hashir ready to go on no notice, but I was dying for the story.

I curled under Valens's arm and pretended like I was tired. Iwastired, but I wanted an excuse for questions.

"Why is he so suspicious?" I whispered.

"He's an alpha," came the reply.

I couldn't ask any more questions, so I satisfied myself with remaining curled next to Valens.

Valens led the cart to a modest townhouse, still lavish by my standards. There was a small carriage house next to the townhouse. Valens paused to let Nova and Hashir out.

"Well, love, you're home again." Hashir helped Nova out of the cart. "You okay with the horses, or you need a hand?"

Valens grunted.

Branson dismounted. "I hope we can keep our horses here a short while?"

Hashir chuckled. "Of course. You must think me a rich man to house so many horses."

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