Page 22 of Prodigy & Tybalt
Ireally meant to fight Prodigy on the ten more books thing, but I came out of that shop with ten hardcovers, twelve paperbacks, five bookmarks, and a red dragon plushie that wasso softI couldn’t stop rubbing my cheek against it. I was still a little dazed from his growl, and maybe my heart had melted at his protectiveness.
I couldn’t help but obsess over the way he’d gone all Scary Alpha Mode to defend me from the guy who sniffed me. I mentally filed it in the same folder as Tybalt beating the ever-loving crap out of my buyer. I pulled that thought out every night, remembering the dull, fleshy noise each punch made, unleashing justice and rage upon him.
I startled when the comforting growl of Prodigy’s bike cut out, finding the clubhouse in front of us. I hadn’t even noticed us pass through the gate.
“Doing okay, ray of light?” Prodigy asked, looking at me over his shoulder.
No. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
I was glad for the helmet, although less glad when he kicked down the stand and helped me remove said helmet. I knew I was a mess, my face flushed, pupils dilated, lips parted with rapid breaths I couldn’t find a way to slow down.
“Giant might have something to ease the transition into your heat,” he said, hanging the helmet over the handlebars and running his fingers over my face. My lashes fluttered at the touch, at the cool relief. “But it’s too close to give you any heat blockers.”
“I know,” I rasped, my throat hoarse, my whole body ravaged by flames. Sweat had stuck my shirt—well,hisshirt—to my back, and as we looked at each other, a bead of it rolled down my forehead. Prodigy leaned forward to kiss my head. He licked the bead from his lips when he drew back, his eyes almost as dark as mine.
“You want me and Tyb to help you through it?” he asked, so calmly that any mortification I might have felt never formed.
I flexed my hands, licking my dry lips. “It’ll hurt, if I try to tough it out alone. I’ve done it before and it’s… unpleasant.”
Prodigy was quiet for long enough that I looked up at him. His expression was something like a wince.
“What?”
“Now you’ve met your mate, and he…”
“Rejected me,” I said harshly. “It’s fine, you can say it. The truth won’t kill me.”
“My brave girl,” Prodigy murmured, and before I could blink, I was off the bike and in his arms. His warm, earthy scent bathed my senses as he tucked me close to his chest, a sense of safety massaging the tension from my bones. “With the rejection, enduring a heat alone won’t just hurt, Miraya. It could kill you.”
I jolted, my heart crashing into my ribs. “I…” Fuck.Fuck.“I didn’t realise it was that bad.”
And something in me shrank and curled up and wanted to cry.
“That’s why you’ve been hovering like a mama hen. No wonder you’re protective if I’m on death’s door.” Every alpha instinct he had would be howling at him to protect me, along with the regular instincts of an alpha scenting an omega approaching heat. I let out the mother of all groans, wishing I could disappear into the solid muscles of his chest.
“Miraya.”
“I’ll be fine, I just need to be dramatic first.”
“Ray of light.”
Oof, the name hurt. “Just give me a minute.”
“I’m the strongest alpha in the MC. Possibly even in the city.”
“Not that you’re cocky,” I muttered into his chest.
“I am entirely in control of my alpha impulses at any given time. I’m fully rational, and Ichoseto spend time with you this morning. I didn’t drive you to a bookshop and spoil the shit out of you because my instincts are roaring that you need saving. I wouldn’t see you through your heat for that reason, either. I did it because I like what I see when I look at you, and you’re so damned strong, and I admire that. It’s an attractive quality.”
“Trauma’s hot to you?” I drawled.
“Youare hot to me. Your fire, your courage, your scent, your humour. The fact you read. Even the theft of Tyb’s shirt makes me like you. The fact that it belonged to me pleases the alpha in me very much.”
My chest expanded, my omega side preening, thrilled mostly by the compliment to my scent. It was an intimate thing to compliment an omega’s scent, when we were so guided by our senses.
“You’re welcome to approach any other single alpha in the club, and they’d jump at the chance to join you in your nest. But please don’t. The thought of someone other than Tyb and I getting to witness you in your heat makes me a little…”
I drew back so I could see his face. His expression was utterly even, controlled. I wanted to see what lurked behind it, what fuelled these words he spoke so passionately that they soothed my soul. “A little…?”
