Page 28

Over my dead body.

I set my whiskey down, slide my hands into the pockets of my jeans, and cross the room until I’m standing next to Soren. Everyone else has backed away, which leaves just the three of us.

“You’re right about one thing,” I tell her. “You’re not leaving.”

The way her eyes light up with surprise makes me believe she’s thought we’d be trying to get rid of her this entire time.

Ignorant.

We could have let her go any time.

There are good reasons why she’s still here. And now, those reasons have multiplied.

“You’ll return to the cells, which is the safest place for you as well as us.” Soren tries to object, but I cut him off.

“It’s also exactly where you belong now that we have irrefutable proof of your lies.”

Soren’s lips part. I don’t miss the way his canines are much sharper than they were moments ago, or how his eyes brighten into a much lighter green as his pupils contract and focus on me.

His Beast is obviously right at the surface. The tension is so thick the air is practically buzzing. Idril’s soft, uncertain voice somehow manages to filter through the wall of pheromones fighting for dominance.

“Proof? What proof?”

“Did you think we let you and Soren meet because we were being nice?”

The crease between Idril’s brow deepens. She bites down on her lower lip and shrugs. “I didn’t think about it, really. I just thought Silas had me confused. I thought maybe Soren was speaking about someone else.”

“Nothing Daxen does is without a plan.”

She glances across the room toward the sound of Gavran’s voice. Now that he has the couch to himself, he’s spread out, whiskey glass dangling from the tips of his fingers. He brings the glass to his mouth and sips, looking for all the world like a male just here for the show.

He takes another sip before setting the glass on the coffee table next to Kane's abandoned drink. Clasping his hands over his stomach, he pins Idril with a level stare.

“Do you know how many documented cases exist of an Omega with Fated Mates from both Species?”

“N-no.” Her eyes bounce from Gav to me, then back to Gav. Sighing, he looks at me and nods, giving me the go-ahead to take over.

“Zero.”

I answer and watch her face pale, draining of color and turning an unnatural grey. “Zero as in none, Omega. There are no documented cases of an Omega Fated to more than one Species. On top of that, humans who wind up Fated to a supernatural only Mate a lone Alpha. Never a Pack. It simply doesn’t happen. It’s impossible.”

Silence. I have no idea what the others' reactions are because I can’t look away from the Omega. She holds my gaze, and I get the sense that she’s searching for… something.

Whatever it is, she clearly doesn’t find it. But instead of looking away, it feels like she doubles down, searching harder. Like she’s trying to see into my fucking soul.

What is it that she thinks she’s going to find?

“Sit down, all of you. You’re giving me a headache.” Gavran’s voice causes Idril to startle and finally drop my gaze.

“What, exactly, does Caelan have to say about all this? Didn’t he tell you the truth before all this shit went down? Did you even bother to ask him?” Soren’s the only one of us left standing, refusing to move from Idril’s side. He looks like a knight guarding his queen.

“What a genius idea,” I reply flatly. “I can’t believe we didn’t think of it before.”

“He’s in a coma,” Idril reminds him gently. “And I don’t know why he didn’t say anything before that night. He never even came right out and told me he had a Pack. Maybe if we’d had more time before…”

“What happened before doesn’t matter,” Vae snaps from behind me. “All that matters is we now have proof that you lied about your Bond with Caelan.”

“It’s not proof,” Idril argues weakly. “You’re just assuming based⁠—”