Page 11 of Filthy Beginnings

The vise around her chest tightened.

Was Luc right? Should she agree to this plan? Settle, and be content within the consortium’s rules and its cage, just as her brother appeared willing to be?

Should she take surviving as a win and decide that was enough?

Everything inside her rebelled at the idea.

But maybe that was the recklessness of youth.

She had the ability to give Luc something he needed after all.

We could see each other. Stay a family.

And all she had to do was sacrifice her dreams and let the consortium win, using her as they wanted.

“Let me think on it.” She still had time. The guard she planned to bribe wasn’t going anywhere. “I can’t promise, but—”

“Time’s up! Back to it!” Nars’s shout made her jump. He was one of the more aggressive guards, always more than happy to throw his weight around.

But this time, Scarlett was almost relieved to have her brother go, and not just because she was worn down after their conversation.

She rubbed at the skin beneath her collar. Her conversation with Luc had momentarily distracted her from the sensations, but now they were back, stronger than before.

Her throat and wrists throbbed, hot to the touch. Her skin strangely sensitive, every muscle in her body alert, as if waiting for something monumental.

“Right.” Luc backed toward the exit, the flare of hope in his gaze making her stomach churn. “I’ll check in with you soon. They’re waiting for me to return to the arena.”

She suspected it wasn’t only the fighters who were waiting. A slew of omega groupies followed him everywhere and more than a few prizes-in-training cast him longing looks. He was an obvious favorite among the females, though he only had eyes for one.

On impulse, she reached out and seized his hand. “I know how hard this is for you and I don’t want you to think I’m ungrateful. That I don’t see how much you’re willing to sacrifice. I-I know…” She paused. They’d never before spoken aloud about all he was giving up, about how he continued to pine in vain for a mate and a life outside the consortium that could never be. “I know that if things were different for you—”

“I’m fine.” His gaze snapped to hers. Now it was his turn to smile wide. To lie. “I’m a fighter. A warrior. That’s enough for me.”

“Right.” She squeezed his hand and let it drop.

What was one more lie between them?

He secured his scent mask back into place, a concealer all its own.

The spotlight in her display case flashed on. Its glare sent her brother hustling out before he got them both in trouble, but she suspected he’d been more than ready to leave.

She pulled the curtain closed and fought to bring her body back under control.

Swiveling, she raised her arms above her head and swayed her hips as the music swelled once more and another line formed, blurred figure after figure tromping by once more.

It should have been the same old, same old.

But there was a flush across her skin, that odd sense of anticipation, the folds of her sex swelling so that each subtle movement sent pleasure rippling to her core.

She fought it.

Whatever was wrong with her, it needed to stop.

She needed to stay focused and decide her path: stay and hope that her brother’s plan went as expected or run.

It crushed her to think of deserting her brother, but she knew he would not leave. From her glass display, she’d had the chance to watch him plenty. It was easy to see that he loved the training and the fighting and the camaraderie.

Plus, his heart was here.

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