Page 8 of Beta Lies and Cursed Lives
My body goes stiff.
“You’ll get used to things around here in time,” he says aloud.
“Don’t react. Just listen.”
“I...thank you,” I whisper, responding to the words he’s spoken aloud.
“Of course!” His tone is jovial.
“Always keep your guard.”
“After you’ve finished eating, I’ll introduce you to your roommate. I believe you two will get on quite well.”
“She is trustworthy.”
“That...sounds good,” I reply weakly.
“You’re going to settle in before you know it.”
“You can always come to me if you need to talk.”
Laurant taps my forearm once before getting to his feet. “We’ll have weekly counseling sessions in my office until you’re accustomed to our way of life here. Once that happens, we can determine the frequency of your sessions going forward. Now, you finish eating. I’m going to deal with the dishes, and when you’re done, we’ll go to your dormitory.”
Conversation over, that was precisely what we did.
Laurant leads me down the hallway and down a bend to a wooden door like all the rest. The number carved into the heavy mahogany and painted gold was 332.
He lifts his fist and knocks three times rapidly, and a moment later, the door swings open, revealing a beautiful young woman. Her skin is almost as pale as mine, but a bit more rosy in the cheeks and neck despite the golden glow of the collar dangling from her neck. Her eyes are a deep chocolate brown, framed by dark lashes and dramatic smokey makeup, and her wavy hair falls well past her shoulders, the color of fresh blood blooming from an open wound.
She tilts her head, much like Laurant had numerous times when in thought. She looks at him, not me, and there is something in the air—a sizzle or crackle I can’t explain.
There is something between this Omega and the Alpha counselor.
Laurant clears his throat, and I catch him subduing a smile beside me. “Nyx, this is your new roommate, Mira.” He looks down at me, and the smile returns a bit, an attempt at comfort. “Mira, this is Nyx. She has been in the system for over a decade and knows all the ins and outs. I trust you two will get along swimmingly.”
“Hey,” she says, her voice a melodic alto. “Nice to meet you. Well...as nice as it can be.”
I nod at her in response.
“Nyx, I know tomorrow is your day off, but if you could show Mira around campus, that would be fabulous. She has her assessment in the morning and will begin training the next day. Mira, your schedule won’t be set up until after your assessment. I’ll be sure to bring it to you along with some supplies once everything is ready.” He nods in Nyx’s direction. “Nyx will be able to tell you what to expect.” His hand grips my clothed shoulder. “Remember what I said,”he whispers in my mind.
“Oh, and Nyx? Would you please bring Mira to the infirmary first thing tomorrow for her suppressant evaluation before the assessment?”
The world around me turns dark, as if I’m in a tunnel that begins to spin all around me, dizzying and nauseating.
Suppressant evaluation?
“Well,” his hands clap quietly, “I’ll leave you two to get acquainted. Rest up, Mira. Tomorrow will be a busy day.”
With that, he turns and leaves us, not looking back.
I stand in the hall, an awkward feeling overwhelming me. Never before have I been around so many people in general, not to mention Cursed. And people my age? Not since I was twelve. It’s been Dad and me for the last ten years, keeping to ourselves and not socializing with anyone for longer than necessary.
But I suppose that is the least of my problems.
“Hey.” Nyx’s voice is quiet and soothing. When I look at her, the expression that meets me is one of compassion and concern. “Come on inside. I’ll show you your bed and we can chat for a bit, if you’re not too tired.”
Grateful for her understanding, I nod again, enter the room, and Nyx closes the door behind me. The room is small, which I expected, and bare, which I also expected. There are two small beds against opposite walls with two small nightstands, each with a few drawers and a lamp atop them. One small desk and chair on the back wall separates the two beds. The floor is stone-like the walls, just like most of the castle-like structure, so the warmth is surprising. There’s an area rug that nearly fills the room, and it matches the ornate runners in the hall, dark with accents of gold, silver, and blue.
