Page 50 of Beta Lies and Cursed Lives
“We’re all meant for one another,”he goes on.“Even though we haven’t mated, I’m immune to Mira’s curse, and we are certain Aubrey is, too. And when we touch, there’s this...calm…”His head shakes slow.“I can’t really explain it, but I know the significance is huge.”
Nyx’s expression turns earnest, and her jaw works like it wants to speak aloud while I’m pretty sure she’s thinking hard at Colt.
He puts his hand up to stop her.“I don’t know anything for sure, but I would place a high cash bet that you have the same kind of bond with Erich Byrne and Laurant.”He says the headmaster’s name with a touch of distaste.“At this point, with what we know, everything points to fate. Mates, pack.”His head shakes slow again.“We know these things are forbidden. Alphas and Omegas can’t take a shit without Beta approval, and we Cursed have it even worse.”Colt turns to me, a flare of anger in his mismatched eyes.“We never know what histories are hidden from us. What if this...our bond...is the way it’s supposed to be?”
Everything Colt says makes such perfect sense that I’m mad at myself for not thinking of it, even though Rai and I only mated last night. I hadn’t had much time to consider what was going on since the murders at the assembly, and then worrying about Aubrey’s fate.
“But we are all in even more danger than before.”
Nyx looks both frustrated and concerned.
Colt tells her about everything that she missed today at the assembly. When he finishes the morbid retelling, she looks like she might be sick.
“There’s more,”he continues.“Aubrey is being auctioned today.”Colt takes his hand from mine to rub both his palms down his face and lets out a deep sigh.“Your man Laurant told me after our session this morning, and no one’s seen Aubrey all day. I haven’t been able to access his thoughts, either. I don’t know if that means he’s already gone.”
He isn’t. I can feel he’s still here, though I can’t explain how.I place my hand on Colt’s knee, trying to comfort him. His hand rests on top of mine.
Three loud bangs on the door make me jump out of my skin, or more accurately, off the bed.
I know who it is before I even open the door.
Aubrey.
He stands in the doorway looking ragged, his mocha skin pale, like he’s in shock. His shoulders rise and fall with huge breaths.
He’s safe!
Tears fill my eyes, and my lips part, but no words escape. I jump into his arms, wrapping mine around his strong shoulders before pressing my lips to the side of his neck and keeping them there, soaking in the warmth of his skin and his juniper and chili pepper scent.
“You’re not going to die, Aubs.” Colt speaks these words out loud, and it makes me back up to look Aubrey in the face before I place my bare hands on either side of it.
He’s whole. He’s mine.
I guide him into the room and shut the door, seeing the moment he realizes the dorm is packed and everyone else looks nearly as bad as he does. When his gaze lands on Rai, his eyes uncovered, Aubrey looks at Colt, who translates his thoughts. “It’s good to see you, and to be seen, brother.”
Rai gives him his beautiful smile before standing and clapping Aubrey on the back. “I wasn’t sure I’d see you again, my friend.”
Aubrey’s gaze falls to the ground before his head shakes.
Colt lets out a frustrated sigh, then tells us all, quietly, what Aubrey is thinking. How he had been brought to auction. How they made him demonstrate his curse, and they bid on him. How he was going to be taken to the Kingdom of Russia first thing in the morning.
My mind whirls with the information, and as it does, that creature in my chest growls. That protective anger turns into a roar that I let escape, and every eye in the room snaps to me. Seething, growling, my voice is not entirely my own when I spit, “No. They will not separate us.”
Colt takes that moment to tell Aubrey about the assembly. When he mentions the pack’s execution and the Councilman’s mention of the rebellion, Aubrey signs,What can we do?
I have no idea, but I do know I would rather die than live without my Alphas.
“I’ve intercepted some interesting thoughts over the past few months. One person gave a possible location to find the rebellion.”Colt looks at each of us in a sweeping motion.“It’s a long shot, but...we may find help there. Even if no one’s there, it could be a place to lay low. It’s supposedly north of here, but way too far away to go on foot.”
“How would we make it?” Rai asks aloud, his hand gripping the glowing collar around his neck. The same one anchoring us all here. The thing they’ll use to kill us if we run.
Aubrey stiffens beside me, then signs again.Diplomats are staying here tonight. They may have a helicopter fueled and ready to take them to the airport.
“I heard several helicopters today.” Rai’s eyes close, and he lets out a long breath, slow and steady, his posture straight. Every once in a while, his head ticks slightly in different directions. When his eyes open again, he looks...surprised. His voice is airy and quiet. “There are two still here. I can feel them.”
“We have to try.”Colt’s voice in my mind is more determined than I’ve ever heard it. Then his head whips to Nyx who has risen from her bed, sporting that “don’t fuck with me” look she wears so often when challenged.
“What?” I ask on a whisper.
