Page 237 of Unhinged Omega

I think of Cosima, with those brilliant violent eyes and silver hair that catches every hint of light like it's made from captured stars. Everyone else might just see a beautiful omega, but I've glimpsed the steel running through her. Delicate on the surface, unbreakable underneath. From the moment I first saw her, something locked into place inside me that I didn't even know was missing. Like my scrambled, messed-up life suddenly made perfect sense.

Worth it? There's nothing in this wasteland of a world I wouldn't risk for her.

A smile curves my lips, genuine this time.

"She is."

Chapter

Fifty-One

COSIMA

Iwake to the gentle rise and fall of Knight's massive chest beneath my cheek. For a moment, I keep my eyes closed, soaking in the comfort of my alpha’s presence. His warmth seeps through me, chasing away the perpetual chill of the underground.

Forty-eight hours.

The realization hits me with a jolt. Today marks the deadline I set—the end of my bargain with Raven. Time to leave this bizarre sanctuary with its bickering alphas and improbable comforts.

Time to go find Azarel.

Moving carefully, I extricate myself from Knight's arm, which is draped possessively across my waist. His low growl follows me as I shift away.

"Shh," I whisper, pressing a soft kiss to his masked cheek. "Go back to sleep."

I know he won't listen. Even half-asleep, he's too vigilant, too protective. Sure enough, as I slip into the adjoining bathroom, I hear the distinct creak of the mattress as he sits up.

The face staring back at me in the mirror looks different somehow. Softer. My silver hair falls in waves around my shoulders, no longer tangled with dirt and blood. My skin has regained some of its color. Even the perpetual wariness in my violet eyes has dimmed.

I look almost… happy.

Dangerous territory.

The dress laid out for me is another gift from Raven. A deep burgundy this time, designed to complement my hair and skintone. I have to hand it to him, the alpha has better taste than my tailor back in Reinmich ever did. Probably trying to spoil me into staying longer with pretty things, a strategy I've encountered from alphas my entire life. The difference is, his gifts don't make my skin crawl.

I could get used to this.

That thought alone should send me running.

As I slip the dress over my head, the soft fabric whispers against my skin. I turn in the mirror, admiring the way it hugs my curves before flowing gracefully to the floor. A dress fit for a high council gathering, not an underground black market.

Knight stands in the doorway, watching me with those intense blue eyes. Even with the elegant mask covering his face, there's no hiding his appreciation. A low rumble vibrates from his chest. A sound I've come to recognize as approval.

"Since you're already awake," I say, turning from the mirror to face him. "Ready?"

He nods, the motion still slightly stiff but improving. I wonder if he dreamed last night. I wonder if he dreams at all. Ever since I've started falling asleep in his arms, he's stopped haunting my nightmares.

I wonder what I'm going to do with him when we leave here.

Because weareleaving. We have to be. No matter how much a part of me has settled into this strange limbo, this isn't real life.Real life is out there, with Azarel, with whatever future awaits us in Reinmich.

If there even is a Reinmich left to return to.

All I know is that I can't stand the thought of being separated from Knight. But could we even make it past the border without them trying to attack him? Or imprison him and use him as a weapon?

The thought makes my blood boil, and my pointed nails dig into my palms. They're freshly painted now, a shade of violet suspiciously close to my eye color. Courtesy of Raven.

I realize I haven't indulged that particular painful habit lately. Haven't had reason to, even without the sedatives my father swore my “fragile” omega psyche would collapse without. Must not be as on edge here.

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