“He said she’s under that Alpha’s control.” Curtis didn’t cringe as Tobias whirled on him, didn’t even flinch when the enraged Alpha came towards him and slammed a fist against the wall.
“Get Rey on the line,” Tobias ground out between clenched teeth, shoving his fist further into the wall so as not to choke Curtis. Wanting to silence the words that still hung heavy in the air between them, he stared hard at the cracks forming in the plaster. White dust mixed with his blood to seep down the wall in thick rivulets.
He’d demand a shipment. Rey could figure out how to get it to him in Highriver, because damned if Tobias would wait. He’d go ahead, take a fucking army of his men. He’d lay waste to the whole fucking city if he had to.
He’d make them all bleed.
“Sir, are you sure—”
“I said get Rey on the fucking line,” Tobias roared. And now he couldn’t hold himself back, hand wrapped around Curtis’ throat, lifting him from the ground until their eyes were level. The low growl in his chest wouldn’t stop, growing louder, rougher, with every breath. “Get him on the fucking phone!”
Curtis twitched his head in a nod of assent, his dark umber skin turning a bruise tinged purple before Tobias all but threw him towards the open door. Lesser Alphas and Betas milled beyond, agitated with Tobias’ lack of control. He didn’t give a damn, slamming the door on their wary eyes.
Chapter 6
Eyes snapping open the moment he entered her room, Quinn remained frozen as she listened to the heavy footfalls coming closer to the bed. She didn’t flinch when the thick duvet was pulled back to reveal the warm burrow she’d created. Turning bloodshot eyes up in the weak half-light of early morning, she regarded Lee with dispassionate grays.
The murky brown of his eyes narrowed as he took her in. Curled tight around Elise, face blotchy and tear stained, she no doubt looked a wreck. Kahler’s voice was still ringing in her ears, his scent thick on her tongue. Even trying to tell herself it was just a dream, a hint of the insanity that awaited her, she found herself hoping that Ilya had told her some truths. That Kahler would hear her in those moments, would know somehow.
Would come get Elise and keep her safe.
The moments seemed to stretch, melding into hours that passed in the blink of an eye. They stared at each other, something passing between them that Quinn wasn’t sure she understood. She didn’t recoil when he climbed into the bed. Let him arrange her body to suit him, only fussing over Elise when she made sleepy sounds of protest.
Forcing her body to relax, concentrating on each muscle to ease it into stillness, she cuddled with the man who would hand her over to another. That planned on taking her daughter.
He’d promised her he wouldn’t do that. Smiled through the lie as he assured her that Elise was hers alone. Cheek pressed against his chest, she breathed him in and remained quiet. She had no idea how much time passed like that. Her pressed against his side, Elise tucked between them. The light brightened, losing the misty quality of dawn and easing into true morning.
Her breasts began to ache, and Elise started to rouse. It was her cue to slide from the bed, out from under Lee’s heavy arm, to pad on silent feet to the nursery with Elise in her arms. Once seated in the rocking chair after Elise’s morning ritual, her daughter sucking in noisy fits, Quinn took her first true breath.
Staring out at the morning light coming through the large windows, she saw none of the beauty in the brilliant green of the trees or the bright blue sky. Hearing nothing of the singing birds, her thoughts went down darker paths.
She was going insane.
The pain, the black outs, the nightmares. They were all getting worse. The few minutes she felt whole were spent with Elise, but with Lee’s increasing demands, those moments were becoming few and far between. Now he would hand her off to Ilya to be mated, a convenient breeder without any of the responsibilities. He would take away her daughter and any child of his after that.
And Ilya would allow it.
There was no question she would fight. It was inevitable she would lose. Two Alphas, intent on their demands, would not let one crazed Omega stop them. The only outcomes were that she would die, leaving Elise alone, or they would subdue her and go along with their plans anyhow. Neither was a future she wanted, but as had always seemed the case, she was at their mercy.
Shudder tripping down her spine as she thought of Lee’s idea of mercy, she smoothed back the cottony fluff of hair from Elise’s forehead. Pushed away the feeling of crackling ice in her belly to smile at the wide eyes staring back at her. Already Elise was looking like Kahler. The promise of the same evergreen gaze blossoming under the blue of infancy, the angle of her nose and brow so like what Quinn could imagine his was as a child.
Like it or not, Kahler would forever be imprinted on Elise.
Humming over Elise, petting her soft skin, Quinn began to think. She may have made the decision of what could very well be her final act, but there was time still. Time to execute some new plan that would alter the course of things.
“I’d do anything for you, sweetheart,” Quinn whispered when Elise began to drift off, mouth going slack as sleep pulled at her. Doting on her until she dropped off into a deep sleep, Quinn took another slow breath before putting her into the crib.
She would do anything to save Elise.
Slipping back into the bedroom, she found Lee still drowsing in her bed. Something Ilya had said clicked into place, a plan unfolding to the quickening thump of her heartbeat.
She could do this. Shewoulddo this.
Allowing herself one more moment to strangle her nerves down into something contained and bearable, she cocked her head and allowed her gaze to drift over his lounging form. Letting the slow admiration show on her features, Quinn put the hint of a smile on her lips as she walked closer to the bed. A sway in her hips, one perfected under the scrutiny of paying customers at Wicked, she came alongside him. Drawing the corner of her lower lip between her teeth, her attention flicked from the muddy brown of his hooded eyes to the body spread out before her.
Her touch was a question, fingertips gliding in a feathery caress up his leg. Splaying over his thigh to feel the thick muscles, palm skimming over his hip. Another furtive glance showed his brows drifting closer, the beginnings of a frown etching his features. Suspicious, wary of this new attention.
He had every right to be. Skepticism had no place in her plans though.
