Page 102 of Iris
I glance at the patrons as Alphas start to sniff the air and look around.
He stops as the door opens and two more figures, both cloaked, come in, like it’s some damned religious sect.
And I slap a hand to my forehead as people in the bar look over, the Alphas starting to really pay fucking attention. “Bar’s closing early tonight.”
A grumble rises up, but no one argues. We close abruptly for myriad reasons. The patrons put down drinks and file out.No one wants to cross me, and they certainly don’t want the calculated pain that’ll come from Xavier.
I’m a tripwire, and fiery. He’s…he’s a different beast. He gets as furious as me, but he’ll mete it out, hide it in the coolness of his muteness, and then he’ll systematically crush someone.
They don’t want that from either of us, so they go. And then it’s us.
“Iris?” I ask, even though I know what’s going on. How the fuck can I help? My own body’s in freefall and it’s calling to her. So is Xavier’s. Even the kid who’s there with her and her sister’s keeping his distance.
And he’s a fucking Delta.
He’s signing fast with Xavier.
But before I can pry information out of Iris, she moans and doubles over.
I want her, and when I have her it’s going to be hard to control myself. It’s always been a when not if. But I thought it would be her in her non-lethal form. When she’s like this? Impossible.
“You’re her sister?” I say to the exceptionally pretty blonde. The girl nods and the guy next to her, the Delta who’s clearly a servant, stands a little too close. “She can’t be here like this.”
“Tell that to the universe.” The girl flicks me an irritated look. Then she focuses on Iris. “Iris, it’s Mari, hold on. We need you to hold on until we get you there, okay?”
Get her where? “You need to get her out of here. You know what’s happening?—”
“Yes,” The girl says sharply, more than a little of Iris showing in that sharpness. “But I can’t.”
“We’ll take you home. She needs?—”
“I know what she needs.” Mari’s firestorm whips in the air, her arm around her sister. “Not. You.”
“Drugs…” Iris groans again.
“Drugs?” I ask.
Mari’s head snaps up. “Do you have anything that can help her pain? Or push this off?”
I glance at Xavier. “No. Only contraceptives.”
“That won’t help.” She shakes her head. “We had a flat tire. Our driver is calling for a tow truck. And Iris thought…”
“Xavier will take you. Home’s best.” Xav’s got more control than me.
“No one from the Lower Side can turn up at our place. That’s scandal.” Mari rubs her sister’s back as the boy steps up to her other side.
“Mari, we need to do something,” he says. “Maybe get help with the car?”
I’m about to nod, but the girl isn’t done.
“Our brother’s furious,” she whispers, hand on the boy’s arm. “He’s had her pretty much under lock and key after the terrible things the Queen Bee wrote about her.” The girl swallows. “I’m her sister, Marigold.”
Another Omega, one with the air of floating through life, like Emmie’s mom had, except…I think Marigold’s comes from sheltering. She’s big eyed and, as she gives the place a quick once over, smart. She’s assessing, making decisions.
Then Mari sets those fiery big eyes on me.
“You’ll do.” She steps up to me. “You’re rebels, aren’t you? Part of the Shade? You want to change the way everything is?”
