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Latif’s best friend was the sweetest person I had known. His smile could melt even the coldest of hearts. Even as children I had been fascinated by him, following him around and nicknaming him Lili, until we were too old to play together anymore and had to be separated.
I didn’t know what Alil saw in my brother or why he wanted to be friends with him. I hoped it wasn’t because they had been lovers as I’d suggested to Latif. That idea disgusted me and made me feel something even filthier than revulsion. It made me feel jealousy.
In this life, there was no guarantee that one would win the omega they wanted, but I fantasized over the day Alil finally went to auction. That was, if the auctions even continued after the way things had gone the last two times.
There had been rumors about it being cancelled permanently.
But if we acted now, if we got the support of the rest of the city, then perhaps we could stop what had already been put in motion.
“What do you say?” Kazm asked.
Fari nodded at once.
“You know I’m in,” he said, rubbing his hands together.
I took a deep breath and then nodded as well.
“You have my support.”
He looked at Ossad next, who had been silently thinking for some time.
Finally, he looked up at Kazm and nodded.
“I will do whatever I need to in order to have an omega mate,” he said. “I will go forth with your plan if you believe we will be successful.”
Kazm glowed with pride.
“That is my promise,” he said. “By the end of this, we will each have our mates at our sides.”
My heart swelled with excitement but at the same time, unease filled me.
I hoped this was the right thing to do.
I just had to trust the others.
three
. . .
ALIL
“He wants nothing to do with me ever again!” Latif practically shouted. “I cannot understand how anyone—let alone my own brother—can care more about tradition than someone's happiness. Is that not more important?”
I watched my fiery friend, frowning as he paced the small lounging park we were sitting in. I had never seen him so worked up. He was breathing hard, anger and betrayal clear in his expression.
Latif had finally spoken to his brother yesterday evening. He had been rehearsing a speech with me all week, planning to corner Addy the next time he saw him, but apparently it hadn’t gone to plan. Latif was always fiery, but he hadn’t stopped this passionate rant in almost an hour.
And it looked like there was more coming, like he was on the verge of breaking.
Without thinking, I stood and marched to him, halting his pacing by putting my arms around his shoulders.
For a moment, he was stilled and then suddenly, he started crying.
He pressed his forehead to my shoulder and I simply held him while he shook.
“Blaine doesn't understand,” he choked. “He thinks I should cut ties with him. I don't blame him. Addy has never been anything but terrible to him, but... he's still my brother.”
My heart ached for my friend. Especially since there was nothing I could do to make things better.
