Page 138 of Harley & Her Ferals

I try to hide my grin that he’s a worse dancer than I am.

“I told you that I was coming to the ball. I don’t disappoint pretty Omegas,” Harbinger says. “So, are you going to try to lead with me as well?”

“Nope.” I smile at him sweetly, before stomping on his toes. He growls. “I’m going to stand on your toes though for eavesdropping. Stalker.Still want to dance with me?”

We both know that we’re not talking about right now.

I hope that we do.

“I’ve always known that you were dangerous.” When Harbinger leans closer, his sweet, vanilla bourbon scent wraps around me. My breath stutters. “Just how I like my Omegas. Fuck, you’re beautiful, Kitten.”

“Wow, is that an actual compliment?”

“I know. I must be sick or something.”

“Well, you look handsome too in that suit.” I wrinkle my nose. “Perhaps, we’re both going down with the flu. I feel like I may be. Why do you wear all white? The Hades pack wear black.”

I don’t expect the uncomfortable way that Harbinger avoids my gaze. “It’s the one thing that Vinnie allowed me, after I won my first fight. He said that I could choose my signature look. This is the one that I wore…before.”

“Before?” I try to hide my excitement that I’m finally learning something about Harbinger’s life Above.

Harbinger’s gaze snaps to mine again. “In the real world, you know,Above. I fought up there as well. I needed to hide it though from my younger brother and sister, who only had me to rely on. Being able to put on a pure white suit each day not only hid the bruises and pain underneath from them, but it also meant that I could pretend the black and blue canvas of my skin was wiped clean.”

I stare at him.

My expression softens with sadness.

Did Harbinger raise his brother and sister alone? Did he fight to provide for them?

Is that why he’s in debt to Vinnie now?

My eyes smart with tears at the image of Harbinger wearing white to hide from himself, as much as his siblings, the damage that was being done to his body.

And he’s still doing it.

“I know about hiding my pain.” I brush my fingers gently over Harbinger’s shoulder. How injured is he underneath this suit? “Whatever’s going on with Vinnie and you, you don’t need to do that with me. We can help each other. I know that you don’t trust me but I’m not your scent match. You can’t claim that I’m not thinking clearly like Laurent.And I want you too.”

Harbinger draws in a shocked breath.

Before he can answer, however, there’s a loudclinkingof a champagne glass.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Dad calls from the stage, “it’s time for the most important part of the evening: The reason I invited you all to my estate. I am about to announce the winner of the Heir Contest. Allegra and Harley, get up here.”

“Kick their asses,” Harbinger whispers, releasing me.

I tilt up my chin, trying not to show how hard my heart is hammering in my chest, as suddenly everyone in the room is looking at my sister and me.

I struggle not to fall flat on my face, unaccustomed to walking in heels, as I weave through the silent crowds to the stage.

The tension in the room is like a vice on my chest.

When I pass River, he gives me a quick thumbs up.

Allegra revels in the attention, unlike me.

She smiles like she’s already a queen, sweeping down the path that people make for her. She leaps up onto the stage to stand proudly at Dad’s shoulder.

Romilly gives me an encouraging nod.

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