“Such an obedient little Omega,” Master Pillar murmurs. “I’m proud of you, Miss Marvel.”
“Wait until she runs,” Craze mutters.
“She won’t run from me,” Master Pillar returns. “Right, sweet one? You’ll do exactly what I say.”
My chin nearly dips down, my instinct to nod overriding all rational thought.
“Because you’re cheating,” Craze drawls.
“I’mcharming,” Master Pillar returns.
Craze snorts. “If that’s what you want to call it.”
“Stop,” Beast interjects. “We don’t have time for games. Cloak her, Catum.”
Master Pillar sighs, his thumbs drawing a line beneath my eyes. “It’ll be a shame to cover all this beauty, but alas…” Energy warms my skin as his palms move again to my neck and down over my shoulders.
Craze releases me, allowing Master Pillar’s hands to roam along my arms and then over to my abdomen and up my sides.
I seem to stop breathing, my body no longer my own.
Because I can’t believe he’s touching me like this.
I’ve dreamt of it. Fantasized about it. All because of his voice. It’s a forbidden obsession, one I told myself would never become a reality. It was also a silly desire, one born of a presence I barely knew.
But now that I’ve seen his face, experienced his touch, my mind has short-circuited. This all feels very real.Tooreal.
He crouches before me as his palms go to my hips, then down my exposed legs to my ankles. Craze grabs my sides, pulling me back as Master Pillar lifts one foot to run his finger from my heel to my toes.
I shiver as he switches limbs, repeating the action while Craze holds me from behind.
This is madness, I marvel, my lungs demanding air.Utter madness. This whole place, this scene, thiseverything. I’ve… I’ve lost my mind.
We’re still standing in the orange-colored desert, yet I can’t feel any of the residual heat. Just a cool mist against my skin.
I lift my arm to examine it, startled by the inky fabric covering me all the way to my wrist. It’s… it’s translucent.
Glancing down, I see that the garment flows all the way to my feet in a gown of sorts, reminding me a bit of smoke. It actually feels like air against my skin, yet it moves as though it’s a dress. And it completely masks my white undergarments.
Master Pillar lifts the skirt to show me a pair of flats that actually fit my feet. “How…?” I trail off, unsure of what I even want to ask.
There are a dozen competing questions in my head.
And a dozen more statements.
“She’s ready,” Master Pillar says as he stands.
“Ready for what?” I blurt out.
“Dinner,” he replies with a wink before stepping away and holding out an arm. “Shall we, Miss Marvel?”
“I…” I blink from him to Beast. “No. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
Craze chuckles behind me. “I see the surprise has finally worn off. That took a little longer than I expected.”
I bristle at his words and spin around to face him. “Excuse me for being a little flabbergasted by… by…” I gesture to Beast, then to Master Pillar, and finally to the damn world. “It’s a lot.”
“It is,” he agrees. “Thankfully, you have the three of us to see you through it.”
