Page 9 of Rebellious Harmony
“I hope you can fill me in on the rest of the perks, because when I woke up yesterday, I had no idea that I was anything but human.To say my life changed after meeting your father is putting it mildly.”
“Yeah, that would be intense,” Rex pipes back up.“When I learned about vampires, after meeting Nolan, I was like, ‘Oh, vampires are chill, man.’”
“We’re just people, Rex,” I say, grinning at him.
“Yeah, true, man, true.”
I’m leaning toward Ava again, and I give a start.I didn’t even realize I’d shifted closer to her.My biology makes being around an Omega unpredictable and intense.It’s part of why I avoid them with everything in me.The lack of control makes me feel uneasy, and I hate it with all my being.
I’m starting to worry about my dad’s mental state, sending a newly uncloaked Omega here.Going against Lord Stryker—his boss—could be hazardous to his health and life.At a minimum, he could be banished from House Stryker.He could lose everything—his position as Lord Stryker’s chief of staff, even the security of my parents’ suite in the palace.
I need to call him.Sending Ava here was a mistake.She shouldn’t be on tour with us.She should be in San Diego, at the Omega Sanctuary.
Nodding at Stella, I step away from everyone and call my dad, needing to figure this out.He answers the video call on the second ring and clears his throat, and I see defiance in his eyes.
Marcello Szasz isneverdefiant.He’s always calculated, to a fault.
“What were you thinking, Dad?Does Lord Stryker know?Tell me he knows.”
“Well.…” He glances behind him as if someone might overhear.“She’s not yet known to Lord Stryker.She’ll be promised to House Stryker once you return from tour.It’s only a few extra days.You’ll need to protect her and teach her what she needs to know.I’m sure I don’t need to stress the importance of that.But listen, she’s great!You’ll like her, trust me, and you guys need her more than she needs to be sequestered away immediately.She’s creative and good at her job, and hiring her takes care of this nasty Larissa business in two ways.”
I stare at him.“Dad, this is such a bad idea.I’m focused on the end of the tour—I don’t need another woman hanging around.We have plenty of those.”
He looks at me sternly.“You will teach her everything she needs to know about Alphas.You can give her a perspective that the sanctuary can’t.She also needs to learn about Omegas and becoming a vampire.”
“I’m not a preschool teacher, and I don’t know many Omegas apart from Mom.I’m a busy musician.”
“Ava is unlike other Omegas.She was barely phased when she learned about her Omega status, and she’s famous in her own right as an influencer.Your fame is a nonissue for her.Plus, when she told me what she did for a living, I would have been stupid to let this opportunity pass.I wouldn’t have sent her to you if she wasn’t special.If it doesn’t work out, and I’m wrong, she’ll return to San Diego and join the rest of the Omegas in the sanctuary sooner, but I don’t see that happening.She’s very much her own person.”
“Well, there’s nothing I can do about it now, thanks for that.I guess it’s only for a few shows.But I’m not happy about this.”
I guess rebelliousness runs in the family.It shouldn’t surprise me that my dad always seems to get away with things when it comes to Lord Stryker.That uncanny ability just might need to save us both in this situation.
“I know.”He smirks.“Just help her by answering her questions.Omegas aren’t bad, Nolan.”
“Sure, Dad, whatever you say.I gotta go.”
I can’t believe he put me in this position.If anything happens to this Omega—Ava—both my dad and I will be in some serious shit.Thankfully, it’s only for a few nights—a little more than a week in all.
“Okay, Nolan.Call me in a few days and let me know how it’s going.I trust that the two of you will get along.She’s a sweet girl.I’ve never met someone quite like her—Ava will fit in well with the band.Your mom and I are looking forward to having you home again.We miss you.Love you.”
“Love you too, Dad.See you soon.”
He disconnects the call, and I’m unsure how to feel about all of this.
An Omega has been thrust into my life against my will.Ava can’t be allthatspecial.Where did my dad even meet her?
I lean against a wall and stare out onto the stage, lost in my thoughts.This is going to end horribly.Ava will be a pain in my side, and now, this tour can’t end soon enough.We head to Vegas tonight after the show, and I dread being stuck on my bus with her, an absolute stranger.
I know what he’s trying to do.He wants me to fall for her.I’ll tell her what she needs to know, but after the tour is through, it’s straight to Lord Stryker and the sanctuary for her.I need to offload her as quickly as possible, for all our sakes.
As I go back to the group, Ian and Torin are talking about the set list, and Rex laughs at their bickering, but I’m checked out.I should be pissed at my dad, but I can’t be.He’s wanted me to meet the Omega who would make him a grandfather ever since I was born.My father has always been a hopeless romantic.The only person worse than him is my mother.Ava is probably a master manipulator and gave Dad the wrong impression.Sending her here out of the blue to work for us is crazy, even for him.
I sit down beside Ava again, studying her.“How much has my dad told you?”
Those damn hazel eyes flash to silver, and I try not to be mesmerized.“Not much.We just met last night.”
“And then you just…packed up your things and got on a stranger’s jet?”With this girl’s lack of judgment about her own safety, I need to teach her more than just about being an Omega and becoming a vampire.The Alpha in me wants to punish her for putting herself at risk.
