Page 93 of Broken Omega

“You’ll need to blot to keep the color from wearing off.”

I put the palette away and go to the nearest bathroom to dispose of the applicator and tissue when Ember’s done with it. I check on my prosthetic while I’m gone. It’s still in place, still looking like a realistically painful mess of a burn. I go back to the table with a smile on my face.

It only starts to disappear when I notice the place cards on the table, in front of the plates.

Oh, you have got to be kidding me. Edith can’t be serious with this shit.

I look at each place setting as I sit back down.

It’s as bad as I thought. Maybe worse.

“Boy-girl-boy-girl. How original.”

Ember just stares at the name plates, looking like a horror movie heroine who just realized she’s exactly the serial killer’s type. She’s clearly lost for words.

I’m a little bit stunned myself. I’m not sure why.

We should have expected this. Of course, the seating’s been arranged. She’s arranged specific dates for each of us. I’m supposed to be sitting at the other side of the table, across from this Kellan person who apparently remembers me from some random time in the past. She’s supposed to be sitting a seat apart from me, across from the awful Garrett who went to her high school.

“Find your actual seats, ladies,” Edith calls out as she comes toward the table.

Apparently, all the Omegas are now in the room. I roll my eyes at Ember.

I don’t know if it makes her feel any better. She seems like a bundle of nerves, barely containing her anxious energy and showing all her terror in her eyes.

I squeeze her hand as we get up, trying to reassure her with my touch.

She barely notices. This stupid dinner is too stressful for her.

I wish there was something I could do.

Guilt rushes through me at the thought of leaving her behind if I go.

I’ll find a way to get her out, too, but I can only do that if I leave.

“Good,” Edith tells us, once we’re all in our assigned seats. “Now, the Alphas will be arriving shortly, so please be ready to receive them. These are men of extremely good breeding and this social will determine if we allow other Alphas to apply to have access to the academy and its less outgoing Omegas.”

God, the tension in the air is so thick it could choke a horse.

One of the Omegas raises her hand, waving it around until Edith notices.

“You do not need to raise your hand to speak, Holly,” Edith snaps.

“Oh. Well, I just wanted to say this isn’t how things have ever been done before.”

“I can see that,” Edith tells her, before she lets her gaze move around the faces spread around the table. “And look where it’s gotten this academy. We have twelve Omegas here who’ve been avoiding their purpose and leaving countless Alphas out there without the mates they deserve. I can’t allow this selfish behavior to continue. Change is necessary for growth. You could all use a little change.”

There’s nothing quite like blaming women for problems men are having.

Apparently, not all misogynists are male. A lot of them do seem to be Alphas though.

I somehow manage to keep my mouth shut. Now isn’t the time to piss off our leader.

“Would anyone else like to say something?” Edith asks, her tone sharp.

The room stays silent. We all know better than to question her.

That smug smile that she plasters on when she feels her complete control over every Omega in the room is a serious temptation. If I get out of here, and I get the chance to meet her out in the real world, I’m not going to hold back.

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