Page 63 of Moon Kissed

“Put clothes on her, Nyx,” I clarified. “Please.”

Nyx did it without saying a word. Snapping his fingers, leaves and palm fronds flew in from outside and covered us both, fashioning into itchy, but effective knee-length forest dresses.

Nia barely took notice of this. She hadn’t moved from her corner. She hadn’t stopped crying.

My fates and I stared at each other some more, heavy clouds of silent judgement swirling around us. I broke first.

“What are you going to do?”

Nyx, Orion, and Edric shared a look, then they all turned to Badr—who hadn’t taken his eyes off me for a second. Of course, this decision was going to be his...

...and I was done for.

I killed Mason. There was no way around it. There was no way out of it. My scent was on his body. My witnesses were not on my side. It wouldn’t matter to Dagem that it was an accident.It wouldn’t matter what we came in here and found that low-down dirty shitheel doing to Nia.

He was an alpha and she was an omega. You didn’t kill an alpha to protect an omega. The value of a fish would never measure to a wolf. That was just the way it was in Wolf Nation.

What fitting irony that for all the awful things I’ve done proudly, I’m to go down for the one thing I did unintentionally... and right.

“No.”

I blinked. “What?”

“No,” Badr repeated. “I don’t decide what happens now.” He slid off me, and looked to Nia. “She does.” Badr crouched down, looking into her eyes, and the first expression that wasn’t hatred, malice, or disgust overcame his handsome face. “Nia, what do you want? Do you want Dagem to know what happened here?” Badr cast me the barest glance. “Everythingthat happened here?”

Her wide eyes nearly all white, Nia shook her head hard.

“Orion.”

Orion waved his hand in a sharp upward jerking motion, and Mason caught fire. My arms flew up, covering my face as flames hotter than the sun consumed Mason—body and steel. Within moments he was nothing but dust, and then even the dust was gone when Edric summoned a wind that blew it down the drainpipes.

I could only stand there in disbelief. Even though I knew they were doing it to protect Nia, not me. I still couldn’t believe they were giving up their chance to out me as the murderer they knew I was, and force the alpha council to get rid of me for good—video or no video.

Nyx stepped forward. “Here, Nia, let me help you—”

“No!”

My back nearly snapped in half. Nia grabbed me, shoving me between her and Nyx, and hugging me in a death grip that nearly finished the job.

I held up my hand. “Nyx, I don’t think she wants to be alone with any more naked alpha boys,” I said, tone hard. “Do you?”

He winced. “Of course not. I’m sorry.”

In another surprising move, he stepped to the side. They all did.

“Get her out of here, Volana,” Badr said. “Take care of her.”

Slowly, I made for the door—taking Nia with me. I didn’t take my eyes off of Badr for a second, going so far as to turn my back toward the door, and keep him in sight as we left.

He looked back at me just as steadily. “This one, and only this one,” he gritted. “I’ll let you have for free.”

THAT CONFUSING SENTENCE, and their shocking caring and considerate response to Nia—rattled my brain for the rest of the night.

After we left the mess hall, I asked Nia if she wanted to go to the infirmary and got a rough headshake and more tears in response. I then asked if she wanted me to wake up her friends to be with her, and got another headshake.

“Just... take me to my room,” she rasped.

I didn’t fight her. I led the silent walk to her room, letting my nose guide me to the place where her scent was the strongest. There were locks and warning signs on the entrances to the alpha wing, but none for the omega wing. Together we entered a space that was nothing like the one we left.

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