Page 106 of The Omega's Bloodline: Part One

“Bed rest for a couple of days. They did a blood transfusion to replace what that thing took and I’m starting to feel better already, but she’s not sure about my shifting.”

“What do you mean?” Logan stood up, her eyes scanning over me.

“I got into this form because of your magic. When I’ve been hurt before, I’ve still been able to sense that inner spark of power even if it wasn’t strong enough to use. Now, it’s like it’s been…snuffed out. Nothing’s there when I reach for it.”

Tears welled in Logan’s eyes. “Oh gods. Seth. I’m so sorry. This happened because of me.”

“Hey, no.” I snatched her hands in mine. “There was no way I was going to let that thing take you. I’d pay the same price tomorrow or any other day if it means I get to be here with you.”

She sniffled, a sob sneaking through. “I don’t suppose there’s room for two in this bed?”

“We’ll borrow Yelena’s,” Caden said. “At least until they get us something of our own.”

“I’ll need help getting there.”

“Your bed has wheels,” Caden pointed out. “That’s not an issue.”

He and Logan flipped off the wheel locks and rolled my hospital bed across the suite. They unlocked and lowered the guard on one side, pressing it against the bed. Logan stretched out next to me, snuggling as close as she could get—tossing a leg over mine and draping an arm over my chest—and Caden took up her other side.

We lay there quietly, just enjoying the warmth and closeness for a while, before Logan broke the silence.

“I kissed Yelena.”

I tensed so hard it sent a shooting pain through my ribs and made me hiss. Caden sat up sharply, and Logan squeaked at the brisk movement.

“What?” Caden stared down at her. “If she forced you, I’ll toss her out a window, consequences be damned.”

Logan curled tighter against me, not looking at either of us. “She didn’t. I don’t know why I did it.” Logan sighed. “I was a little loopy from charging the artifact and she held me for a really long time until I kinda came to properly. I just felt a pull for a second there and?—”

“Like with Seth?” Caden asked quietly.

Logan nodded, but kept her face tucked.

Caden pulled in a deep breath and let it out as a sigh. “Do you think it’s because Yelena’s an alpha and you’re reacting as anew omega? Or do you think she’s one of the ones Hecate told us about? I didn’t expect them to show up this fast.”

“You and me, both,” Logan mumbled against my skin. “I don’t know which it is.”

I wasn’t entirely certain how to process this development. It had only been a few days since I’d been accepted by the two of them and now I already had another person to contend with—one who held a considerable amount of power over all of us.

I hadn’t been awake long enough to form a proper opinion about Yelena, but I trusted Haru. He’d made Orlando bearable and he’d been open about his experience here while we’d waited for Logan and Yelena to return. He’d also held my hand through a lot of the procedures, drawing my focus when I was lucid enough to be bothered by what the doctor had to do to get me functional again. It was hard to be suspicious of them after that.

“I don’t like her and I don’t trust her,” said Caden.

No surprise there. Caden didn’t trust most people and I probably trusted too many.

“To be fair,” I said, “you didn’t like or trust me either. Things could change.”

Caden’s brow pinched. “She’d be a strong ally, but she’s going to have to prove herself first.”

“How is she supposed to do that?” I asked.

“I don’t know yet.”

“Are you mad?” Logan whispered.

Caden lay back down and curled around her. “I’d appreciate a heads-upbeforekissing but I—” He paused. “She has a particularenergyabout her. I understand why you’d have been swayed by it.”

I absorbed his words, processing them slowly.

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