Page 10 of Forbidden Bonds
“What the fuck is so important that you had to drag me out of bed?” he grumbles.
I hang back as Ethan walks over to meet him. The elevator closing behind me leaves me feeling very trapped.
“I need a favor,” Ethan says, his voice fading as he walks out of my earshot.
Recognizing that this is important to me and my future, I have no issues crossing boundaries and listening to their thoughts.
Like fuck you’re getting a favor,the other alpha—Lucian—says.Fuck off and annoy someone else. I’ve had a lifetime’s worth of your assholery.His suspicious gaze shifts to me.Who the fuck is that?
His mind fills with the image of a pretty redheaded omega that he just left in his bed. Whatever Ethan is doing here is news to Lucian, and further, he does not appreciate the interruption.
I need to hide her somewhere safe, and your building is like a fort,Ethan says.Other than that one time—Lucian raises a brow, bristling—but I’m going to assume you’ve sorted your shit out after that slip.
Haven’t you been off on some super-secret black op? Who. Is. That?Lucian stabs a finger at me, again.
Larissa Olsen,Ethan says.I want her ruined. A big, mean motherfucker who’s going to break the bitch’s ass.His lips curl as he spits the words.
My blood drains for the second time in as many minutes, and I rescind all former charity I felt toward Ethan. I try to reason that his guilt is driving him to be purposely cruel, but it still fucking stings.
What the fuck is wrong with you?Lucian growls in a perfect representation of my sentiments on the subject.I don’t have a ready supply of bull-cocked alphas waiting to defile terrified omegas. Fucking insulting! What do I look like, a fucking pimp?!
My eyes shift between Lucian’s pissed expression and Ethan’s cold one. Ethan enjoys tormenting me, but he’s kept it to verbal or mental abuse so far. I can’t quickly decide if this is simply another game or whether he really did bring me here to be broken on some random alpha’s cock. I take a tentative step backward, closer to the elevator, scanning the room for exits.
I need leverage in case Governor Brach decides to screw me over again,Ethan says.
And you’re going to hide the most infamous omega in the Empire for leverage against the Governor? Further, you want me tohelpyou do this? And… ruining her? Really?
Ethan rubs his jaw. He looks tired and tense. His thoughts are chaotic and difficult to pin down.Yes,he says.You owe me.
Lucian huffs out a breath and narrows his eyes.I don’t fucking owe you. After Lyus, you’re all out of favors. Also, she’s standing right there, listening to every word we say.
Ethan glances over his shoulder at me and curls his lip in disgust before turning back to Lucian.She can’t hear us from over there.
Asshole.Yes, I can.
He absently touches the center of his chest, and a desperate longing rises within him for his mate, one that might have softened me toward him were he not trying to palm me off to be ruined.
Lucian frowns at me.I thought she was supposed to be a mind reader?
She is—I’ll owe you.
You already fucking owe me,Lucian says, but this time he says it with calculation, and his mind turns toward speculation as to how this might benefit him.
Meanwhile, Ethan alternates between longing for his mate, guilt at what he did with me, and a sharp rage that leaves no doubt that he still considers snapping my neck an option if Lucian doesn’t come to the table.
My gasp is involuntary—satisfaction floods Ethan’s mind; he enjoys that I’ve picked up on his thoughts.
Fine then,Lucian says.I’ll work something out. This is a temporary arrangement?
It is.Ethan’s thoughts shift to his mate, his sorrow deep, making me feel terrible all over again for what I made him do.A few weeks. Maybe more.
Lucian shrugs in a way of acceptance. Ethan nods and stalks back toward me, past me to the elevator.
“Ethan?” The name slips out, and I hate myself for the weakness in it.
He pauses, not looking in my direction, but his finger stays poised over the elevator call button like he’s waiting for me to say more.
I bite my inner cheek hard enough to taste blood. Fuck him, really, just fuck him.
