Page 5 of Omega Sanctuary

And stopped.

Jaiyen leaned against the countertop, grinning at Marella, one of the tailor's daughters.

Hot energy shot through me. Sparks flashed in my vision, and I almost dropped the tray. I grabbed the top of the display case hard enough to turn my knuckles white.

It was fine. He was just incredibly handsome, with short brown hair and dimples he deployed on a regular basis. I could act like a normal person around him.

I shuffled over. "Hello," I mumbled. Jaiyen's energy raced around the room, musky and jittery, like coffee beans. Being around him was like drinking an energy potion after baking for three days straight.

Jaiyen didn't even glance at me. "Penrith is easily four times the size of Stonebriar. We stayed at the Holmesford Inn, of course. Softest sheets for miles around."

Marella giggled and looked away.

Jaiyen smirked. "I should take you with me next time, when I'm allowed company."

"You can't suggest such things." Marella glanced over at me, but I was doing a good job impersonating a bread loaf. I was just the baker, no one paid attention to her.

Jaiyen kept talking about all the training he'd done with the Royal Army. His alpha designation came in when we were both fifteen, but I'd had a crush on him well before the switch. I'd always craved his attention.

My favorite daydream as a teenager was Jaiyen discovering my interest before he switched to alpha. He would realize my affection was for him, and not his designation. We would fall madly in love and be bonded.

It was just a daydream, and a silly one at that. Alphas were expected to bond omegas, not beta girls. It was just a stupid crush. And yet, it was hard not to stare at him, to memorize the small hairs on his forearm. His bicep flexed as he leaned on the counter top, and heat flushed over me at the thought of his arms around me.

"Priestess Sabine is due for another visit." Jaiyen adjusted his khaki-colored coat. It was the same coat every soldier wore when he wasn't on duty, but it seemed like he was trying to remind us all he was in the Royal Army.

Marella leaned closer. "She already came and left."

"Curse my luck." Jaiyen deflated.

The electric zip was back, darting up my belly and down to my core. I wanted him. I always wanted him, but it was much more distracting today. The fireflies were back, dancing just out of the corner of my eye.

He pushed off from the counter top, and headed to a table in the center of the bakery. "I'll have to come earlier next time. Or wait for her to return for me herself." Some of his swagger came back, and he winked at Marella.

My fingers ached and I looked down. I had a crushed loaf of bread in my hands. I stuffed it into my basket, before grabbing the big tray.

"Hello, baker." Jaiyen sauntered over to me. "I don't believe we've met officially."

We had, many times. My heart fell. The knowledge that Jaiyen literally did not know my name didn't stop heat from following his gaze on me.

"I'm Zara," I said, my voice faint.

"You're the reason why Priestess Sabine keeps coming back."

"I am." My voice sounded stronger.

His charm was fully deployed now, a net around me I was helpless to be free from. My heart beat harder in my chest. I just wanted him to notice me, to see me. But he was oozing the same charm he used on everyone to get what he wanted.

One would have thought he was born an omega. The thought was enough to clear my head.

"Perhaps you could tell me next time she decides to drop by?" He moved closer, almost close enough to touch.

I suppressed another shiver.

"I could," I said with a croak. I was really wowing him with my womanly charms.

"I would be in your debt." He didn't look me over like he'd looked at Marella, I reminded myself. I told the hot feeling coursing through my veins that this wasn't true interest.

My body didn't care.

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