Page 46 of The Omega's Bloodline: Part One

“I like diners.” Logan leaned against me and I summoned up a purr to help her relax.

“Get yourself dressed,” I told her, though I had no clothes on either. “We’ll bring everything with us just in case. The last thing we want is to come back from breakfast and find that thing crawling all over this place with our stuff inside.”

We parted ways long enough to all get dressed for the day and get our supplies packed and loaded into the car.

It wasn’t until we sat down inside the diner that I realized how hungry I was. Or how exhausted. We ordered enough food to feed an army and I gulped down some creamy coffee with extra sugar to ease the roar of my stomach while we waited. Seth was eyeballing the sugar like he might pour it straight down his gullet to tame his hunger.

I was ready to chew my own arm off by the time the server returned. A whole pancake disappeared in three bites withouteven the benefit of syrup. I washed it down with coffee and sat for a moment as the spongy sweetness tempered some of the growls. We polished off the breakfast platters so quickly the server’s eyes widened when she returned to top up our coffees.

My phone pinged, a notification from the forums popping up. Hope inflated a bubble in my chest. I pulled up the thread and read the reply.

My bestie is an omega witch and she said it sounds kind of like something they’ve been having problems with. They lost six of their coven in an attack a few months ago and haven’t been back together since. It drained their magic. They died before anything could be done.

Revulsion turned my gut. I read it over again. I didn’t personally know any witches. Logan was a practitioner, but she was a religious witch, not the kind this person was talking about.

I turned to Seth.Know any omega witches?

Don’t think so. Why?

I passed my phone to Logan and she clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh gods.” She took a shaky sip of her coffee.

I’d explained the difference between religious witches and omega witches to her before. Omegas of all species wielded more magic than alphas and betas, though no one was quite sure why, and like shifters, witches were born with a core of magic. It let them influence their bodies and the world around them if they mastered their skills. Humans had adopted the term and applied it to their limited capacity for magic and their spirituality.

I stared at the text, willing it to give me more answers. Why was this thing following us if it hunted witches? Maybe it hunted anything with magic? We were so small in number compared tothe humans. We couldn’t afford to lose entire groups or we’d face extinction.

I chewed my lip, trying to formulate some semblance of a plan. I wrote back and asked for a list of a few nest locations in case we got desperate. We couldn’t run forever. Eventually our supplies of money would deplete while we were paying for the gas, hotels, and food without being able to replenish our accounts. If this thing was targeting anyone with magic, then someone had to figure out how to destroy it.

Would Logan be safer if she wasn’t with us? She was human, and if this creature wanted to eat our magic, maybe we should circle back, drop her off. Seth and I could disappear. The idea choked me. I didn’t want to leave her, but I would if it meant she was safe…

I’d never forgive myself if she died because of me.

“What’s going on in that head?” Logan asked, leaning against my arm.

It wants magic. It wants us. You don’t have to run.

Her face pinched. “The fuck I don’t. I’m not leaving you.”

“You don’t need to be in danger.”

Logan was nothing if not stubborn, and I knew the idea of abandoning us chafed her as much as leaving her bothered me.

“Don’t you fuckingdaremake me break down in a diner.” She sniffed back tears.

I didn’t push the issue until we were out in the car. “I don’t want to separate but I also don’t want you dead.”

She looked ready to punch me. “You can’t evenseethis thing. Youneedme.”

“She’s got a point,” said Seth.

“Shut up, Seth.” I focused on Logan. “I need you safe.”

“If you think for one fucking second I’deverforgive myself if that thing got you because you couldn’t see it coming…” Shehiccuped and wrapped her arms around herself. I reached for her, but she pulled away. “Don’t touch me.”

Guilt tore through me.I’m sorry.

She closed her eyes and curled up in her seat, looking out the window instead of at me.

“Logan, please,” I whispered.

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