Page 225 of Filthy Royal

The only meal he wanted was her. He was nowhere near done celebrating.

So he hoped she was ready to be tossed over his shoulder in front of their family again.

Picturing her shriek of outrage, he smiled.

Despite everything, he was happier than he’d ever been, and he knew she was too.

Scarlett was finally his prime omega. And, fuck, he loved her more than words could ever express.

As he neared the galley, he heard the clatter, the laughter. Maddox’s snark. Anya’s quick retort. Luc’s answering groan. Nikolai’s gruff rumble.

Damien’s chest tightened. So many he loved united. And soon, he swore, Zaya would be with them too.

They’d set their trap this rotation, and Darvish would tell them where Zaya was, then they would bring her home. She would meet Scarlett, and he and his omega would make more beautiful memories like the ones they’d made the previous night.

For as long as he was able, he would hold his family together as best he could.

It might not be everything he wanted and not last nearly as long as he wished, but it would have to be enough.

Maxheim’s door slid open, and his brother flew out, almost clipping him in the process.

“Whoa. Watch it, big brother. There’s plenty of food left—”

“I have news.”

The look on Maxheim’s face froze Damien in place, his muscles tensing.

“I was up all night doing what I do best.” His brother grabbed Damien’s arm and led him back the way he’d come. “I’ll break down what I know while we walk.”

Damien simply nodded and hauled ass.

“First,” Maxheim continued, “I found out who Andor is and why he’s working with Darvish.”

“That, I can’t wait to hear.”

“Second, I picked up chatter on the monitor. An anonymous source, aka Darvish or Andor, tipped off the Brotherhood about someone stealing huge chunks of funds from the Golden Dome—and thus from them—and that they’re being hidden by the Skolov family in the dome. A few Brotherhood family heads and their soldiers are on their way to collect the three named culprits from us and bring them in for questioning and execution.”

“Not fucking going to happen,” Damien snarled. “I’ll take on the whole damned Brotherhood before I let them near Scarlett or her brother and Kadon.”

Maxheim just moved faster and kept on talking. “Third, I’ve been tracing Darvish’s payments, trying to figure out where he’s spending his money and who he might be paying off. About five heartbeats ago, I discovered one name none of us will like.”

His brother stopped in front of the med room door.

Stomach dropping, fangs flashing, Damien caught up quick.

“Fuck.” He slammed the door panel, and the door slid open.

Empty.

A frantic search of the rest of the shuttle revealed that both the doc and Scarlett were gone.

42

SCARLETT

Scarlett woke to the sound of raised voices.

She rolled her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Strange. Her mouth was dry, her head fuzzy, and her limbs heavy. No… not heavy. Restrained.

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