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Lianna turns on her heel, leaving me alone with my turbulent thoughts.
I close my eyes for a moment, allowing myself the briefest respite. Gunnar, Oberon…I’m so sorry. The ache for them is a physical pain, a sharp jab deep in my aching heart. I wish I could tell them the truth, make them understand why I had to disappear into the night without a word, why Vance was the only one I trusted with my plan.
The hardest part is that I’m not sure I can even justify it to myself.
“Come on, Aisling. It’s time.” Iris’ voice cuts through the fog in my head, and I open my eyes to meet hers. There’s an unsaid understanding there, a shared loathing for what’s about to happen.
“Let’s get this over with,” I say, squaring my shoulders as I step forward. Whatever tonight brings, I carry the fire of rebellion within me. As long as I draw breath, I’ll fight for my choice, my freedom.
And somewhere, deep down, a flicker of hope remains that I’ll see Gunnar and Oberon again, that we’ll tear this corrupted world apart together. But for now, I wear the mask of compliance, a queen walking into battle cloaked in flowers and falsehoods.
The heavy door swings open, and there he is–my father, the man who destroyed everything I loved. Jasper stands like he owns the place, which in a sick way, he does. He has my eyes, my grandmother’s eyes—and it makes me nauseous to see those eyes in the face of the man who killed my mother and twisted this place into a nightmare.
“Look at you, Aisling,” he croons, reaching out with hands that have signed off on too many atrocities to count. “You look beautiful.”
I recoil before he can touch me, my voice a low growl. “Don’t.”
He doesn’t appreciate defiance. His hand whips out, striking my cheek with a crack that echoes off the walls. Pain flashes hot across my face, but it’s the betrayal that stings more than the slap.
“Ungrateful bitch,” he snarls, eyes narrowed into slits.
That’s when they close ranks around me, the omegas, their presence a silent vow of solidarity. Ruby steps forward, her gaze fierce, challenging him. Iris is next to me, her shoulder brushing mine, a quiet pillar of strength. Lark flanks me, hands on my shoulders.
Even if they’re not allowed to speak, they try to protect me. That’s worth everything.
“Let’s go,” I say, my voice steady now, the sting in my cheek fueling my resolve. We move toward the door like cattle to the slaughter, Lianna already outside. And I know that what’s waiting out there is bad…
…but it’s better than being trapped here with the man who keeps telling me how much I look like my mother.
Chapter four
Luka
The heavy door to the temple courtyard grinds open, and I step out into a sea of white robes.
This is the big celebration everyone’s been talking about—the May Queen’s festival, where we’ll bow down in worship and drink from the chalice of ambrosia. Everyone in the cult seems to be here, all dressed in white and mostly men, each wearing nothing but a flimsy robe.
It’s not the first ritual orgy I’ve been to, otherwise I’d be losing it.
Like Isaiah, who is definitely losing it.
My fellow initiate is at my side, his jaw set tight, eyes scanning the crowd like he’s searching for an exit already. I can tell he hasn’t gotten into anything like this before—and this doesn’t exactly fit in with the pastoral image pitched to him on his escape from the Fates.
“Think they’ll bring out the Kool-Aid next?” Isaiah mutters, his voice barely above a whisper.
I chuckle, low and humorless. “Wouldn’t be the weirdest thing to happen tonight.”
“Which will be…?”
I glance over at him. “Ever sucked a dick before and had your ass eaten at the same time?”
His jaw drops.
“Not mine,” I clarify. “But…maybe someone’s. Maybe multiple someones. And I guess that’s not that weird, so…nevermind.”
“Wait a second, are you speaking from experience or making shit up? Luka–”
I don’t respond.
