Page 79 of The Omega's Bloodline: Part One

It hadn’t been hard to see he wanted her, but Iknewhim. It was more than that now. I hadn’t properly believed him when he’d said he’d do anything for her. I also knew Logan would deny them both if I gave the word. I could separate them with one request and she would give me that.

I couldn’t ask.

“You two go get ready for bed. I’ll be along in a bit.”

Thatsurprised Seth even more and he looked at me like I’d grown a second head. It went against my most basic instinct to leave them alone together, but it was better for all of us if I got comfortable with it.

I wandered into the kitchen and checked through the cupboards, finding a small collection of teas. It was too late for coffee, so I settled on a cup of peppermint tea instead. I could give them the time it took me to drink it.

Had Seth been lonely in our years apart? Should I have done better when he was younger? I hadn’t been as good to him as I was to Logan, but I’d been young and not remotely prepared to be in charge of another person. If someone dropped a two-year-old on me today, I still wouldn’t enjoy myself, but I felt a lot more equipped to deal with it.

I sighed. I always had the choice to rebuild, and if we were going to stare death in the eye, now was as good a time as any, even if part of that rebuilding was adjusting to Logan loving us both. I loved both of them, in different ways, but one didn’t diminish the other.

By the time I’d finished my tea, I was restless. I got ready for bed slowly. My limbs were heavy, my mind fuzzy, and my eyes burned with exhaustion. I should stay up and guard, but I was so fucking tired.

Logan was sound asleep when I stepped into the bedroom, tucked into Seth’s chest. His arms around her and his eyes were on me.

You okay?he asked.

Getting there.

I slipped in on the other side of Logan. She woke enough to reach behind her to tug me closer, humming contentedly as she pulled my arm around to press along her torso.

Thank you…for today. Seth’s gaze was nervous, almost pleading.For everything, really. I haven’t said it enough.

Don’t worry about it.

No.You don’t get it. I stayed away because you didn’t want me around and I tried to respect that, but I missed you sofucking much. I know we’re fleeing for our lives but I’mgrateful, as stupid as that sounds. I didn’t think I’d ever get you back.

Guilt sat heavy in my gut. I’d been totally fine not having him around, beyond occasionally wishing things were different. I hadn’t given much thought to what Seth had wanted because I’d been pissed about Rachel and had never looked any deeper.

I’m sorry I held on to my anger for so long. We should have talked a hell of a lot sooner than we did. And I want to talk more, but I also need to sleep.

I stretched my hand under the pillows until it reached Seth. I left it there, gently touching his shoulder as I drifted to sleep.

The world warped and the forest erupted around me. Thick, verdant trees above me, mossy ground below me, and a giant moon hanging overhead that illuminated all of it with a silvery glow. It was eerily quiet, but didn’t feel particularly off-putting.

A woman with long, dark hair down to her feet and pale moon-kissed skin materialized out of the dim light of the forest.Hello, Caden.

Every hair stood on end. Her voice was intimately familiar. She smiled warmly and stepped closer.

Do you remember me?she asked.

I nodded, not quite able to form words as I stared at her. She reminded me of the ocean at night, where the moonlight slanted over the water like a shower of diamonds.

Danger is approaching. More than one direction holds risk. You must make hard choices soon, but help is near.

“How do I protect Logan?”

Sweet one, you are already doing everything you can. Make room for others to protect her by your side.

“Do you mean Seth?”

She smiled again, indulgently, as if I were a toddler hanging on her nonexistent skirts.No. Many are eager for a piece ofLogan. Some you will have to enforce boundaries with for her, but others you must surrender to and trust her.

“I haven’t been as good at trusting her as I should.”

You trust her with your heart. That is most important. The rest of your concern comes from knowing how dangerous the world is. She will need you.

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