a Col

e. Sean and Susan descended on me

yes darting past me as if ch

e parchment with the magical signa

amine it. They couldn't read the symbols, but they could

washing over her face. There was no pity for me in her e

force of it heavy and impersonal, as if I were an object.

ment and put it away. It was

voice sharp and accusator

e weak. "The nurs

s envelope-was already pressed flat against my ribs, hidden in the lining of my coat. They d

nt of what I'd taken.

, already spending the cash they hadn't even collected. Let them think

from my coat and shoving it deep under th

money they'd get from Billy tonight would be the tail end of the bride-price-and that tail end would ha

t them love it. It wa

amiliar knock echoed thro

ingly sweet voices, their fake pleasantries and d

"weakened" state would only further convin

reaked open. Billy's large frame filled the

in satisfaction. He turned to Sean, who was hovering o

owed by Sean and Susan's suppressed gasps of jo

towards me, his eyes full of pred

intending to kiss me. The foul smell of s

om mine, I shot my hand up and sho

d back a step, his face a mask

stance between us. My voice was as

ce contorted with rage. "You bitch, you dare

and I solve your 'problem.' The 'problem' is sol

f our agreement, using his belief

rsh, angry sound. "

money, and they agreed to the terms. You can leave now. Or... would you rather ev

Forcing himself on a weakened Omega who had just undergone a termination ritual was somethin

clenching, but he didn't move closer. He kn

or. "Fine. You've got guts. We'll see about t

counting the money. They looked u

stions. I knew I was safe for the night. And my