Page 40 of Filthy Royal

Scarlett’s pupils expanded. “Does she get in a lot of trouble?” He could only imagine how shocking such actions would be to an omega forced to conform to Consortium rules her whole life.

“Nah, she gets away with a lot, but she’s also left out of a lot of family stuff because she’s the youngest and an omega and I, well, I know a bit of how that feels so… I should tell, but I don’t.”

“Yes.” She threw herself into his arms, the pleased look on her face making his chest puff wide. “Because protecting her is important. I feel the same way about my brother. He’s done so much for me. More than I could ever repay.”

“My brothers have done everything for me too.” Damien stroked a hand down her spine. “They kept me alive when it would have been much easier to dump me and focus on saving themselves. That’s why I’m here. To finally give back.”

“I admire that.”

“We do whatever we can for family.”

“Right.” She blinked up at him, the tender expression in her eyes stealing his breath. He wanted to see that look forever. “I think, Alpha Damien Skolov, that under all that toughness, you’re a softy.”

He pulled back, pretending to scowl. “You calling me soft, Omega?” He took her hand and slid it down the planes of his stomach to the hard bulge that was always present whenever he was with her. “Want to consider rephrasing that?”

She laughed—and his heart tripped over itself.

He’d always thought his value lay in his fists, but when she made that sweet sound and gazed up at him with that mix of fire, mischief, and joy in her eyes, it felt like his greatest achievement yet.

“Hmmm.” The stroke of her thumb over his balls was pure invitation, especially when she backed it up with that sweet soft purr that drove him wild. “How about hard in all the right places and soft in the one place that matters the most?”

He leaned down until his mouth was inches from hers. “I can live with that.”

10

SCARLETT

Rotation three of the tournament

The next evening, Scarlett waited impatiently for Damien to come get her.

It seemed to take Egan forever to finish his lecture and inspect the room. Then, for the two guards Damien had bribed to convince the other two on duty to slip down the hall and have a party of their own.

But only a few heartbeats after the guards’ heavy footfalls faded, the lock on her door turned, and there he was.

Like the night before, Damien untied her from the bed without a word, scooped her up, and held her to him as if they’d been apart forever.

She held him just as tightly, her arms twining around his neck as he carried her bridal style through the tunnel, the crystals lighting their way.

She wasn’t sure how he was faring, but it was getting harder for her to be without his touch, and the tournament felt as if it were dragging on forever, winding her nerves tighter.

“You’ve eaten?” His gaze roamed every inch of her.

“Yes.” She wasn’t hungry for food. Not after spending all rotation watching him fight and aching for his touch.

“Good. I’ve got plans.” There was an excitement in his tone, an anticipation in his touch, that fueled her own.

Once inside their special room, he carried her straight to the mattress piled high with soft, worn blankets.

Damien sank to his knees and he placed her in the middle of the bedding.

Smiling, she stared up at him. “So what’s this big plan?”

“First—he pulled at the laces of her sleeping gown—“I need you naked.”

“I like this plan.” She tugged the flimsy fabric over her head.

“Gorgeous.” His low growl rippled straight to her core.

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