Page 149 of Shattered Omega: Part Two

Finally, we stopped at a door, and the guard dug in his pocket, pulling out a set of keys. He unlocked it, opened it, and waved us through. A few of the howls rose louder in the air, their owners clearly now far off.

“Cell twenty-three.”

Decebal thanked him, and we entered. It became warmer as we stepped in, diverted into the limited capacity they had for the living spaces.

The hallway was wide, and understandably so, as the cells were on either side. Flaking paint along the floor marked the safezone the guard had warned us about at the gates. A flailing few arms, taut as they reached from between cell bars signalled the cost of a misstep. The auras were thick in the space, though there was a heavy mist of scent dampeners in the air, a small attempt to limit chaos. The scent of dampeners didn’t hide everything, though, not the musty dampness that lingered in every crack, or the acrid tang of sweat, fear, and madness from the alphas within.

Decebal led the way, and I lingered, unable not to peer into every cell we passed, to meet the vacant eyes of the alphas within.

And each was a harrowing mirror of what I knew I’d once been.

THIRTY-SIX

RANSOM

“Am I going to have to carry you in there?”

Shatter was very cute to watch, stumbling up the pathways to the main building, continuing to let go of me so she could get her practice in before the ball.

“I think I basically got it—oop!” She caught the back of her heel on her dress and stumbled. I caught her before she fell, captivated by the grin on her face.

Once we got to the entrance hall, she made me escort her to the bathroom so she could check her makeup and hair before she took off her shawl.

She might be smiling for me, but inside, she was a ball of wound-up anxiety. I peered around while she was inside, noticing a worker tugging open the entrance to the stairs, opening up the balcony above, a rather cheeky idea popping into my head.

When he returned, I swept her into my arms, ignoring her squeak of surprise as I carried her up the side stairway instead of through the main doors.

“What are you doing?”

“Detour,” I told her.

She was too nervous, still.

I could fix that.

I set her down before the balcony railing that overlooked a beautiful ballroom. The evening had begun below; music played, and the party had begun with drinks and dancing. The low sound of chatter rose in the air. I’d picked a spot on the balcony that was above the side of the room where the platformed seating was set up. That meant we could neither see the Lincoln pack nor Dusk.

Good, and good, since he’d denied me the opportunity to watch them the other night.

“Hands on the railings, Little Reaper,” I told her. “And don’t let go.”

“Uh… Why?” Her voice was suddenly nervous as I used the bond.

If she was starting to believe dark bond commands meant sex, she was dead on. I enjoyed how blindsided she was by everything, though, so I didn’t say anything. “Tonight, Dusk is going to put you on a throne, so I’m going to fuck you in front of all the peasants.”

She let out a breath of shock. “Ransom. That’s really rude.”

I chuckled, nipping her ear, cupping her neck. Fuck, I loved how she melted against me at any sign of dominance, the faintest vibration of a purr in her chest like she couldn’t help herself.

“Hold up,” she said, as if trying to fight her reaction to my touch. “Aren’t there people up here?” she said. “And anyone can look up and see us.”

She was so precious. “They can, can’t they?”

“But we’ll be late,” she whispered, eyes still darting about for passersby.

“You know, Umbra was right. Seeing you and Dusk was quite the show. But I can’t say it didn’t make me a little jealous. If I delay him seeing you like this because you’re—what were his words… letting me use your holes without complaint? I think I can live with that.”

“Right now?” she asked.

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