Page 146 of Defiant Beta

I should have known. “Did you come alone?”

I sigh when he doesn’t answer. “All of you?”

He spins me.

Not only is he in a suit and shirt, a stark difference from the ripped blue jeans and T-shirt he was wearing when I left the house, but he’s gotten better at dancing since I saw him dance with Everleigh at their mating ceremony.

“Not Rune. You’d have seen that big blond head of his clear across the room. He’s sitting this one out. He’s at home with Everleigh.”

My muscles tense. “Does Ever know?”

He snorts. “You nearly died the last time you came here. Do you honestly think she’d have waved you off if she knew where you were coming?”

She’d have killed me herself. Nope. She’d havesaton me. “True. Where’s Cian?”

He shrugs. “Around. He’s making sure that any anxious omegas aren’t pressured into anything they don’t want.”

I ask myself why I didn’t go to him for help.

Having a family like this is new. Unexpected. I always had Mom until she betrayed Everleigh and me. And I had Everleigh, but I would never put her in a position where she was in danger. Haven Academy is no place for her.

So, it just left me.

“What’s the mission here?” he asks.

Something about the way he asks it makes me whisper, “Why? Did you bring a gun with you?”

He offers me a lazy smile as he dances us around a woman eyeing him like dessert.

“Can I have it?” I envision forcing all the teachers into the chiller and the omegas outside.

“Do you know how to shoot?” he asks, his lips barely moving.

“It can’t be that hard, can it?”

He gives me a long look, and I groan in frustration because it’s clear this conversation will not end with a gun in my hand.

“I’m looking for my friend River, and to end this ball by any means necessary.” It doesn’t seem wise to tell him that I intend to set this place on fire, starting with the buildings farthest away from the ballroom.

I’m looking to destroy the place, not kill anyone.

Unless they deserve it.

He lifts an eyebrow. “Anymeans? That sounds messy.”

“If messy gets the job done, then messy it is.” I spot a gray stare directed at me from over his left shoulder and curse as I yank my head to the right to evade Vincent’s penetrating gaze.

“What?” Kylian frowns.

“I just saw someone. Move to the right.”

“Someone you need me to kill?”

I love that he goes straight to the killing. He’s like the big brother I never had. “Someone who shouldn’t be here. He can’t see me here.” I need to get out of here. But first. “Have you seen a girl with long, curly blonde hair and brown eyes? I’ve been trying to find her.”

It’s why I’m not already on my way to the science building in search of explosive chemicals with the lighter I tucked into my strapless bra.

He shakes his head. “It’s packed in here.” His eyes flick over my shoulder, and he curses. “Fuck.”

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