Page 217 of Unhinged Omega

Never let them see weakness. Especially not the ones who matter.

"Your timing's improving," I say, forcing my voice to remain steady despite the pain. "Used to be you'd show up after the fight was over, looking pretty while I did all the dirty work."

Raven's laugh is bright and sharp, like broken glass catching sunlight. "And you're as ungrateful as ever. A simple 'thank you for saving my life' would suffice."

"Considering I'm only out here looking for you, let's call it even."

"Geo sent you?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

My throat burns as I swallow down the truth. "Who else?"

"And he saysI'mthe clingy one," he mumbles, stopping a few feet away. Those blue eyes sweep over me, cataloging every injury. I see the exact moment he spots the fresh knife wound, the flash of concern quickly masked by practiced indifference.

"You look like shit," he observes, head tilting slightly.

"And you smell like brothel," I counter. It's the truth. He smells like scent maskers and incense, but not anyone else. A fact I only give a shit about because he claims Cosima is his mate, too. "Making good on your promise to our mutual friend?"

Something passes across his face too quickly to read. "Gathering information, as promised. About that, actually?—"

"Save it," I cut him off, pressing a hand to my bleeding side. "We need to get back to the compound."

I'm sure he got what he came for. He always does.

Which means sooner or later, I'll have to deal with Azarel, too. Just haven't decided how yet.

Raven's eyebrows shoot up. "Well, this is new. Since when do you follow orders, Nikolai? Last I checked, you were the one giving them."

"Since that monster is fucking our omega," I snarl, the words escaping before I can stop them.

Raven rips the bandana off his face, revealing his blank expression. "He's what?"

"You heard me," I growl, hoping he doesn't stop to think too long about the 'our omega' part. "They're?—"

"No," Raven says, his hand shooting up to stop me. "I got that, I'm just stuck on thehow. He's fucking huge. I mean, his cock must be the size of my forearm, which means his knot would be…"

He trails off, making the imaginary circumference with his hands, and then his eyes get glassy. "Damn, girl."

Of course that's what he's fixated on. Why did I think he'd possibly be a reliable ally?

"Let's just fucking go," I snarl, turning back the way I came.

"You'rejealous," Raven sings out behind me, his boots crunching on the gravel as he follows. "The great Nikolai Vlakov, brought low by the green-eyed monster."

"Shut up," I growl, pressing harder against the knife wound in my side. Fresh blood seeps between my fingers, hot and sticky.

"Or is it the violet-eyed monster?" He catches up to me easily, falling into step beside me like no time has passed at all. Like we're still... whatever we were before. "Come on, admit it. You actually havefeelingsfor her."

I whirl on him, ignoring the way the movement makes my vision swim. "She's my fucking mate."

"And mine," he reminds me.

"Yeah. So it should fucking bother you, too."

He gives an elegant shrug. "Hey, omegas are rare. I always figured if I ever found my scent match, I'd probably be sharing her." His lips curl into that infuriating smirk I remember so well. "And you know me—I've never minded sharing."

"Don't fucking remind me," I mutter.

"This way," Raven calls out, gesturing toward a pile of rubble. "I... borrowed a car. And you're in no shape to walk back."

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