Page 96 of Petals and Strings
He was above us. In station, status, money, freedom… just about every way that mattered.
It was hard not to feel like a teenager here, with our strict schedules and lack of say in our lives. I was growing to hate it more and more each day.
Ares stood just inside the door to our wing, waiting until we were all in before locking the door behind us.
“The guards can kiss my ass. You won’t be out here sleeping and have just anyone walking in,” he muttered as he walked past.
We watched on as he pulled a device out of his pocket and went around the room, holding it out as if scanning something. Then he did the same for each room, including his own.
He approached us, holding it out. “I won’t touch you with it. May I?”
I nodded, holding my arms up like this was airport security. He scanned quickly, not meeting my eyes before moving methodically over us one by one. I reached for Ansel’s hand as he did his, then turned it on himself.
“Okay, what in the spy shit is this?” Rydell asked when Ares finally tucked it away.
“We have some things to discuss and I don’t need prying ears on us. Everyone just sit and we can talk. This will take a while.”
“Okayyy,” I said, dragging the word out as we moved toward the chairs he’d arranged for group chats like this.
I sat, tucking my legs under me. The chair squeaked as Rydell pulled me closer so my chair was touching his. A thick hand rested on the back of my neck as Ansel pushed his chair closer. It was nice to be wanted, needed, touched all the time.
Ares was on edge as he waited for us to settle. More than we’d seen so far, at least. The man was hard to read in general.
When we were ready, he dropped into his chair, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and hands folded under his chin, staring hard at us.
“For this discussion, I need your word that I can trust you all with the truth. If you can’t keep a secret, tell me now for my safety and yours. This is life and death. I can’t take chances.”
The words took me by surprise. What the hell could he possibly have to say that could risk our safety if we divulge it?!
“This is starting to freak me out. Do we want to know?” Caspian asked. He looked just as startled as I did. Honestly, Ledger and Rydell were the only ones who seemed unaffected. Then again, they both had impenetrable masks most of the time.
“It’s for the best,” Ares said firmly. “I think you need to know. But again, it’s a risk. For all of us.”
“Okay,” I said, bracing my shoulders. “I can’t speak for everyone, but I can keep whatever this is to myself unless you threaten us or something. Then you’re fair game.”
He snorted out a small laugh. “No, princess. You’re safe with me.”
“We’ll see,” Ledger said as he sat back. The picture of calm and deadly. How he pulled off both was beyond me but I loved it. He was the rock of the group, the steady force, and I was glad he was being that now.
“Ansel?” The omega nodded his head at Ares’s question. “Kane? Caspian?”
The others nodded, too, including Rydell.
“Alright, I’m going to just be blunt. Keep your voices down, though. My name is Aeron Murphy. According to my paperwork here, the name is Ares Sinclair. I work for the Alliance. It’s a government run group dedicated to putting a stop to designation related crimes, like trafficking, breeding rings, fighting rings… and the disgusting plethora of other combinations there are out there.”
He let those words sink in. My eyes widened and Ansel snatched my hand, squeezing hard.
“Breathe, omega,” Ledger told him, voice steady and strong. He rested his hand on the arm of Ansel’s chair, not touching him, but close enough his omega calmed.
“In and out, baby,” I urged, his own panic calming mine.
Caspian and Kane seemed stunned. Rydell was staring him down as if that alone would give him more answers.
When everyone was more or less together, Ares continued speaking.
“I’m here because of the disappearances that are happening. They aren’t normal. These missing patients aren’t fucking runaways. This place has too much security for that to be the case. What I’ve found so far, only drives that point home. HoldenCross is a colleague of mine, but he needed backup. That’s why I’m here.”
“You’re kidding,” I scoffed. This was out there, even for this place. He was so serious, though. His voice steady and eyes imploring us to listen.
