Page 171 of Unhinged Omega

"Does it hurt?" Cosima asks softly.

The Knight's gaze shifts to her. He doesn't reply. Obviously. But he doesn't nod or growl, either.

My eye narrows. "Can you feel pain?"

This time, he stares at me instead.

Interesting. The last time I saw him, he seemed completely disconnected from physical sensation. Just a relentless killing machine.

But now...

"Can you speak?" I ask.

More staring. More silence.

I study the Knight's metal mask, trying to figure out what's going on behind those feral blue eyes. His gaze holds mine steadily, but he makes no move to respond.

"So that's a no on speaking," I mutter. "Question is…physicallycan't, or just won't?"

"His mouth has... problems," Cosima says carefully.

She's still perched on the edge of the bed, one delicate hand resting on the Knight's massive forearm. The contrast between them is striking. Her perfect fingers against his scarred flesh and cold metal. Like a fairy tale princess and her cursed beast.

Only this one won't be turning into a foppish prince.

Huh. Guess Raven can fill that role for her.

"Yeah, I caught a glimpse at the airfield. Pretty rough," I reply with a wince, remembering the horrific glimpse of exposed muscle and sharp teeth where his original mask was broken.

The Knight lets out a soft sigh that's barely audible but unmistakablyhuman. The sound startles me more than his earlier growls and snarls.

"Well shit," I say, unable to keep the surprise from my voice. "There really is someone in there, isn't there?"

Those blue eyes fix on me again, and this time I catch something in them. Not just animal instinct or programmed responses. What is that? Resignation? Like he actually gives a shit that he's fucked up.

You and me both, big guy.

Not that I'd ever admit it.

"Alright," I say, running a hand over my face. "I'll get my doctor to take a look. Assuming he hasn't quit after the shit Raven and Nikolai did."

The Knight tenses at the mention of Nikolai's name, a low growl building in his chest. Cosima's fingers tighten slightly on his arm, and he stops.

I've seen plenty of alphas wrapped around an omega's little finger before, but this is something else entirely. The level of control she has over him, the way he responds to her smallest gesture...

Kind of sweet, actually.

"My doctor's good," I continue, scratching the stubble on my jaw as I watch them both carefully. "Specialist in combat trauma. Done work on soldiers with prosthetics before. Nothing quite like... this." I gesture vaguely at the Knight's metal arm and bladelike claws. "But he can treat the wounds. Get you on the path to at least partially healing."

Cosima nods, relief evident in the slight relaxation of her shoulders. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet," I warn. "First I have to convince him to come back after your boyfriend's little stunt in my dungeon."

She arches one delicate silver brow. "And which 'boyfriend' would that be?"

"Take your pick," I grunt. "The pretty pain in the ass or the psychopath from your motherland."

A ghost of a smirk touches her lips. "That's funny, I thought the pretty one wasyourboyfriend."

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