Page 30 of Hunted
Sadavir rubbed a hand over my back in soothing circles.“Omega,” he said softly.As if that explained everything.And, well, it did.I had come completely untethered for a moment there.And only his magic—his natural alpha aura—had been able to ground me again.
Sanka rubbed my arm.“Feeling a little better now?”
I snuffled, feeling messy and unattractive.“I want to find a hole and hide in it.”I wasn’t even completely sure I understood what had just come over me.All I knew was that Sanka’s instincts were impeccable, as always.Simply being near Sadavir, sensing his calm, grounded power, feeling his touch, had reminded me who I was.
Sadavir moved his arm, and I thought he might be signing to Sanka.It was confirmed when Sanka replied aloud.“Oh, don’t worry,” he said in a grim voice.“If our precious dragon doesn’t get her head out of her ass soon, I’ll murder her myself.”
“It’s not her fault,” I said, attempting to sit up, but not fighting too hard when Sadavir’s strong arms held me right where I was.
My statement got me two matching masculine snorts of disbelief.
“She’s overwhelmed and feeling lost right now,” I said defensively.“And the creator knows weallhave our share of unhealed trauma around here.She didn’t mean to do any harm.In fact...she was trying tosaveme from harm.I think.”
“All of that might be true,” Sanka said firmly.“And you know I trust my alpha, and I love Robin with all my heart.But that doesn’t mean she can’t also be stubborn, stupid, and flat outwrong.” He raked his hand through my hair.“You’re putting me in a tough spot here, Ru,” he said, his deep voice laced with rueful humor.“But you know I won’t just stand by and see you get hurt.And if that means betraying my alpha by saying what I’m about to say...well then, so be it.”
He took a deep breath, as if bracing himself.“Robin’s responsible for her own mess.You’ve got an amazing alpha right here, ready and willing to treat you the way you deserve.I don’t think you should ignore that just to keep from hurting Robin’s feelings.She’s a big girl.She’ll get over it.Consequences of her actions and all.”He sighed.“I think you should bond with your snake, Ru.Let Robin sort herself out.The naga is good for you.”
I froze.We were all quiet as what he had just said soaked in.I knew Sadavir wanted the bond.I wanted that with him too.But I had skirted around it, and we hardly ever spoke about it, because while I knew she was doing her best to share my affections, I also knew it would break Robin if I formed a true mate bond with another alpha.
And I wasn’t kidding when I said she was already overwhelmed and lost, torn apart by her deep past trauma and her missing magic.I didn’t want to excuse her often abrupt or cold behavior, but...I could absolutely understand why she acted the way she did.
Sadavir cupped my face in his hands and tilted it toward him.“I will always be here for you,” he said, slow and serious.“No pressure.No expectations.I am yours.”He was here.Whenever I wanted him.No hesitation.No concerns about tying ourselves together.He had interacted with omegas before.Even had an omega lover who he’d planned to bond with once, though according to Josh that had been a bad experience.The point was, Sadavir had none of Robin’s hangups about our relationship.He had made it clear from the very beginning that he believed we belonged together.He was just patiently waiting for the day I would accept him.Not if.When.No cockiness.Just...this calm, unshakable confidence in who he was.In whoIwas.In what we could be together.
I let out a long sigh and closed my eyes.Everything in me was crying outyes.This man was ours.There was no denying it.He could be our shelter and our comfort.Our alpha.Our master and our devoted servant.Mine.
But...
I clenched my hands, gripping Sadavir’s arms so tightly it had to hurt.Robin.The court.Josh.Our actions would affect more than just the two of us.
“Sanka,” I said, my voice hard and flat.“I need you to take me to my room please.Right now.Even if I fight you.”
He heaved a heavy sigh.“Sure, Ru.I’d love to separate a needy omega putting out ‘take me vibes’ from yetanotherpowerful alpha.Sounds fun and not at all like a suicide mission.Every beta’s dream job.”
But he did as he was told, standing and gently prying my hands off Sadavir.The naga hissed again, and a surge of magic told me Sadavir might not be fully human-shaped right now.A responding surge of lust and need coursed through me and I moaned, reaching for him again.
“Ah-ah, bad girl,” Sanka said with tired humor, moving so I couldn’t reach the naga.
Then to Sadavir, he said, in averycalm and collected, non-threatening voice.“Okay, alpha.I see you.Movingrealslow right now, okay?I’m not stealing her away from you.Just taking her for a little nap.She asked me to take her out of here, remember?”His beta voice.All smooth, deep, and soothing.Non-confrontational.“Just doing what Ruya asked me to big guy.No need for violence.”
A sudden movement, shifting shadows to my blind eyes.Sanka tensed, and his magic flared around him as he prepared to try to defend himself against an alpha.But Sadavir simply leaned down and pressed his forehead to mine.“Love you,” he managed, with a distinct distortion that wasn’t part of his usual speech pattern—probably from speaking around fangs.
He moved back, and Sanka spoke while Sadavir apparently signed.“He says...fuck this is awkward, you know?”He sighed.“He says you are his mate, and no bond or lack of a bond will ever change that.He says he’ll deal with Robin however he needs to, find a way to get along or...Hey now, wait a minute there, asshole.Sheisstill my alpha you know?And my girlfriend.Gods.”He huffed, then resumed translating.“He says he’ll find a way to deal with her, whether that means getting along with her...or ripping her head off and gifting it to you as a bonding present.Fucking don’t look so gleeful when you say that, dude.”He turned us away and headed out the door.“Nope.Done translating.I’m already going to be in deep shit for getting in the middle of all this.Peace out, snake man.”
I chuckled and leaned my head against Sanka’s shoulder, trusting him to carry me to my room and away from temptation, even when I couldn’t trust myself.
“You might be the strongest person in this entire court,” I informed him seriously.He had just faced down a possessive alpha.No small feat for a beta.
He just snorted.“Nah, not the strongest.Just the stupidest.Who the hell gets between two alphas fighting over an omega?Not one of my brightest ideas.”
I reached up and touched his cheek, then gave him a gentle kiss there.“I appreciate your stupidity then.And your lack of self-preservation skills.”Sanka had been saving me and protecting me since the moment we first met.Without him, I’d be lost.“Thank you, Sanka.”
He didn’t make me feel silly about the situation or my unhinged behavior.Instead, he carried me to my room, tucked me into my bed with instructions to rest and let my aura settle, then left me with a lingering kiss to go get me some tea and whatever other magical concoction Yukio could come up with to lift my spirits.
I felt better by the time he left me alone.Safer.More myself.And yet...this unsettled feeling lingered in my gut.I never asked to be an omega.Sometimes I could see the beauty in it, and sometimes I hated the complications that came with it.But regardless of how I felt about the matter...this mate situation had to be resolved.Sanka was right, I had options.I just wasn’t sure if I was brave enough to take them.Brave enough to put my own wellbeing and my own wants and needs above those of others.
Groaning, I pulled the covers up over my head and tried my best to escape into sleep.
